Hersheypark's SooperDooperLooper gets some TV sitcom love

October 11, 2018, 2:02 PM · A network sitcom is airing an episode set in theme park next week. But it is not going to Disney World, for a change. ABC's "The Goldbergs" is hitting the road to Hersheypark, instead.

Disney-owned ABC typically sends its sitcoms to the Walt Disney World Resort whenever a script calls for a theme park visit (or an executive wants some sweet corporate synergy to drive reservations). But with "The Goldbergs" set in 1980s suburban Philadelphia, a high school class trip to nearby Hersheypark made a lot more sense.

"One of my greatest memories from school was going to Hersheypark on a field trip," series creator and executive producer Adam Goldberg said in a press release from Disney. "I vividly remember going through Chocolate World, where I bought a giant-sized Hershey kiss in the gift shop and ate it for the next year."

'The Goldbergs' at Hersheypark
Adam Goldberg (played by Sean Gentile Sean Giambrone) and his classmates dig in at Hershey's Chocolate World in this publicity photo from ABC.

"The sooperdooperLooper was the first looping roller coaster I had ever seen," Goldberg said. "Even though my Mom insisted I not go on it, I ignored her and still did as a point of pride. Sure, I ended up losing consciousness on the coaster for a bit, but I still did it! It really is an amazing destination if you live in the Philadelphia area."

In the episode, the character Adam Goldberg and his friends try to ditch their parents on a planned high-school trip to the theme park. But — as on sitcoms as well as on theme park rides — it all goes horribly (and hilariously) wrong.

Now, sharp-eyed theme park fans likely will notice that the bulk of the episode was not shot on location in Hershey, Pennsylvania, but at the series' home base in Southern California. I have not seen a preview of the episode to confirm where they filmed it, but if producers needed a coaster that looks like Hersheypark's Schwarzkopf Sooperdooperlooper, its older sibling (New) Revolution runs just up the road at Six Flags Magic Mountain.

The Hersheypark episode of "The Goldbergs" airs on Wednesday, October 17 at 8pm Eastern and Pacific and 7pm Central and Mountain times.

What's your favorite TV episode set in a theme park?

Replies (7)

October 11, 2018 at 2:25 PM

Always a fan of the Brady Bunch episodes that feature a brand spanking new Kings Island. The contrast between the park then in 1972 and now is fascinating.

October 11, 2018 at 2:55 PM

You know I'm always going with "The Amazing Race." Season 9, episode 11: Fuji-Q Highland.

October 11, 2018 at 8:02 PM

I've always loved the episode on Roseanne where they go to Disney World. Same when they did on Full House as well.

October 12, 2018 at 4:58 AM

Sean Giambrone plays Adam, not Sean Gentile. Troy Gentile plays Barry.

October 12, 2018 at 5:59 AM

WOOHOO HERSHEYPARK!!! I heard on the radio this morning that camera crews were at the park this summer for this show. So hopefully some footage makes it into the episode. The only clinker is the Superdooperlooper's track was orange in the 80s and now it's blue. And to this very day, the "I Survived the SuperDooperLooper" tee-shirt is Hersheypark's number one selling item! ^_^

October 12, 2018 at 5:50 PM

Sorry about the mis-ID of the actor. That was a mistake in the press release which I didn't catch. Fixed.

October 14, 2018 at 11:40 AM

Brady at Kings Island and The Partridge Family also paid a visit to KI.

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