However, upon hearing he was returned thirty times, he decides to keep him and love him, something no one has ever done. Ben is having serious doubts about Junior, and decides to take him back to the orphanage. Finally, Junior displays his effective but unethical method for winning in Little League, which involves hitting rival players in the crotch with a baseball bat after they bullied him. He then terrorizes his neighbors' daughter's birthday party, after Lucy, the snobby birthday girl, bans him from her magic show. He messes up a camping trip with the neighbors by urinating on the campfire, and manipulating a practical joke played on the kids by their father. Junior's bedroom catches fire when he shorts out the clowns in his new bedroom, and Big Ben calls him "The Devil." Junior throws the cat at Big Ben and they both fall down the stairs. Shortly after Ben and Flo bring Junior to their home, Big Ben visits, and is shocked that they adopted. The film is interspersed with an imprisoned Beck looking to escape and meet up with Junior, whom he miscontrues as a fellow criminal named "J.R."
Devilish and incorrigible, the child leaves a path of serious destruction in his wake, and is even pen pals with Martin Beck (Michael Richards), a notorious serial killer. Ben and his social climbing wife Flo (Amy Yasbeck) have been unable to conceive, and Ben approaches an adoption agent, Igor Peabody (Gilbert Gottfried) with his dilemma, and Igor presents Ben and Flo with a cute 7-year-old boy named Junior (Michael Oliver). He lived in 30 foster homes, and even at a Catholic orphanage.īen Healy (John Ritter) is a pleasant but brow-beaten yuppie working for his father, "Big Ben" (Jack Warden), a very successful tyrannical sporting goods dealer running for mayor. Not only was it amazing to see these (now grown-up) kids all together, but their collaboration to support this worthy cause was icing on the cake," says Amy Yasbeck.Ĭurrently on, the Problem Child reunion includes exclusive filmed interviews, never before seen behind-the-scenes images and of course the incredible "throwback" photos.įor more information on Snakkle's Problem Child reunion, or to interview producer Brian Pocrass, please contact Los Angeles publicist Eileen Koch of Eileen Koch & Company Inc.Junior's mother abandoned him after he was born. "The outpour of love for John has been incredible. The special relationships that the actor shared with his peers, casts and crews, is the reason everyone has gathered in commemoration of John's life and foundation. The Problem Child reunion, which follows Snakkle's Parenthood reunion from earlier this year, manifests the kindness, compassion and warmhearted persona of John Ritter through the lens of his former co-stars. "Both Michael and Ivyann live private lives out of the industry and we were honored to be granted their first interviews since 1991 in support of their late co-star," Pocrass continues. "We were so thankful to have the film's young stars, Michael Oliver, who played red-headed devil child Junior, and Ivyann Schwan, who played blonde troublemaker Trixie, involved in this special project," says the reunion's producer, Brian Pocrass.
With the purpose of creating awareness for The John Ritter Foundation ( ), run by John's widow and Problem Child 1 and 2 co-star, Amy Yasbeck, the reunion also includes interviews recalling the cast and crew's tight bond, as they reflect upon the film(s) and wonderful memories of John. Highlighting the cherished moments of John's life, the now-adult cast reunited for the first time in 22 years to participate in a special "throwback" photo shoot, where the actors re-visited their on-screen characters through costume and similar scene setups. Now, the cast and crew from two of his beloved comedic films, Problem Child (1990) & Problem Child 2 (1991), come together to celebrate the legacy of Ritter, for what would have been his 64th birthday this month, by teaming up with entertainment website, for a thrilling reunion. LOS ANGELES, CA-(Marketwire - Sep 20, 2012) - On September 11, 2003, the world unexpectedly lost John Ritter at the young age of 54.