The show centers on the Thatcher family living in suburban Chicago: Drew, his wife Libby, and their children Paige, Rebecca and Charles, who is known as Corky.

The show is set in the Chicago suburb Glenbrook, Illinois, which is named after the high school which one of creator Michael Braverman's children attended at the time.

Apparently forgotten by the family in their rush to get ready for the day, he sits in the kitchen with his empty food bowl in his mouth and lets it drop to the floor.

The show's producers received a constant trickle of letters each week from viewers who thought this was cruel, so in the final episode's opening credits, a bag of dog food spills out of a nearby cabinet.

The Thatchers sought to have Corky interact with regular society after spending years socializing him amongst other kids with Down syndrome in "special" classes.

In addition, during the first three seasons, episodes included Tyler Benchfield (Tommy Puett), Becca's high school crush, who also had a brother with Down syndrome.

The series itself ended ambiguously but on an upbeat note, showing Becca five years later, married with a son named Jesse.

In the United States, reruns have previously aired on The Family Channel, FX and PAX TV.

The DVD release has a replacement theme song at the beginning of each episode, with the exception of the show's pilot.

The new song aptly titled "Life Goes On" was written by composer Marc Jackson of MoonLab Music and sung by singer/songwriter Tara Johnston.

[88] In January 2022, it was announced that NBC had given a pilot commitment for a new series with Martin set to return as star.