When the ABC comedy The Goldbergs returns for Season 10 on September 21, 2022, it will be without its family patriarch Murray Goldberg (Jeff Garlin). Garlin exited the show last season following an investigation over multiple complaints of inappropriate conduct on set and the upcoming season’s reveal will be that his character has been dead for several months. Season 10 will introduce a new member when newlyweds Erica (Hayley Orrantia) and Geoff (Sam Lerner) have their first child. But the happy event comes with mixed emotions, as the Goldbergs are also getting used to a world without patriarch Murray who will have already died when the season begins.
Co-showrunner Alex Barnow spoke to EW about the decision to kill off the character played by Garlin. Barnow added that the loss of Murray, along with the excitement surrounding Erica’s pregnancy, felt like a huge reboot for them.
“This is going to be a family that has not reconciled the fact that their father's gone but has sort of moved on and has dealt with a lot of that. So, we're starting with optimism about a baby (Erica’s) coming and looking forward to the future. It's an opportunity for this interesting emotional basis for the way people are behaving."
Barnow said that he has spoken with Garlin, who is “aware that he’s not being replaced.”
“The truth is, I don’t know if he knows what his fate is, but I’m assuming he knows, would be the answer to that question. We haven’t had a subsequent conversation since the beginning of writing that he would have any specific clarity on that.”
Barnow added that the loss of Murray, along with the excitement surrounding Erica’s pregnancy, felt like a huge reboot for them.
The Goldbergs Lost Two Patriarchs Within One Year
After staffers on the ABC sitcom complained about Garlin’s inappropriate language and unwarranted touching, he had this to say at the time:
“It’s always the same thing. It’s about me and my silliness on set. They don’t think it’s appropriate. I do. That’s where we’re at. I’ve not been fired because of it. We just think differently.”
Nevertheless, Garlin was gone at the conclusion of human resources investigation and reportedly, he and Sony Pictures Television had reached a mutual agreement. The Goldbergs said goodbye to cast member and veteran actor George Segal, who died in March of last year from bypass surgery complications. He was 87. In the season 9 premiere, it was revealed that Pops had quietly passed away in his sleep.