Now and then

Every passing generation believes they enjoyed the best in life- whether it's music, films, tv shows or just the million ways we would kill time as kids. And while everything may change, this inherent belief only grows stronger with each passing decade. I have been fortunate enough to see some amazing tv shows singing along to the theme song of He-Man or weeping buckets of tears as Giant Robot finally meets his end in Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot. The shows struck a chord, and taught me a lesson or two in my formative years. Rewinding back to that glorious time, we take a look at some popular kid's shows of that era, and find out more about the child actors who gained fans and fame with them.

Small Wonder
Plot Ted Lawson an inventor creates a robot girl known as V.I.C.I. (or "Voice Input Child Identicant") who becomes a party of his small, loving family.
Child actors of the show Tiffany Brissette aka Vicki, Jerry Supiran aka Jamie Lawson and Emily Schulman aka Harriet Brindle.
Where are they now? According to reports Brissette quit acting as a teen and is now a registered nurse in Boulder, Colorado in America. Supiran spent time living in a homeless shelter after a stripper ex-girlfriend stole his trust fund money. In an interview in 2013 he told TMZ that he had plans to make a TV comeback with the show Dancing with the Stars. Schulman became a theatrical agent and reportedly works in LA.

Full House
Plot The story revolved around a TV news anchor and his three kids. After his wife is killed in a car crash, his brother-in-law and best friend move in to help him with the kids.
Child actors of the show Candace Cameron aka DJ, Jodie Sweetin aka Stephanie Tanner, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen aka Michelle Tanner
and Andrea Barber aka Kimmy Gibbler.
Where are they now? Now Candace Cameron Bure, married NHL hockey player Valeri Bure in 1996. She participated in Dancing with the Stars, and made it to the finals, and ultimately placed third in the competition. Stephanie admitted to a crystal meth addiction for which she voluntarily entered rehab in 2005. Sweetin later wrote about her struggle with drug addiction in her memoir, 'UnSweetined,' and is currently filming a movie about Walt Disney's life, called Walt Before Mickey.The twins' last movie together was 2004?s 'New York Minute.' After dropping out of NYU, the Olsens continued to work together on their various fashion ventures, though Mary-Kate has also continued to act, with roles in 'The Wackness,' 'Beastly' and on 'Weeds.' MK, who battled anorexia in the past, is currently dating 42-year-old Olivier Sarkozy. Ashley dated 'Hangover' actor Justin Bartha for two years before calling it quits in 2011.After retiring from acting after 'Full House,' Barber married and had a family. Based on her Instagram account, she is a marathon runner and is still very close to Candace. In 2012, Barber even briefly reprised her role as Kimmy Gibbler in a comedy short with Dave Coulier.

The Wonder Years
Plot The series looks at the life of a boy in a typical American suburb from 1968 to 1973, covering his ages of 12 through 17.
Child actors of the show Fred Savage aka Kevin Arnold, Danica McKellar aka Gwendolyn "Winnie" Cooper and Josh Saviano aka Paul Joshua Pfeiffer.
Where are they now? Following The Wonder Years, Fred, the teen star turned director, while Danica went to UCLA to study maths and wrote several young adult books on the subject. Josh has retired from the world of showbiz and is working as an attorney.

Doogie Howser MD
Plot The story looks at the life of a teenage physician who also faces the problems of being a normal teenager.
Child actors of the show Neil Patrick Harris aka Doogie Howser MD, Max Casella as Vinnie Delpino and Lisa Dean Ryan as Wanda Plenn.
Where are they now? Neil moved on to do other shows and is now best remembered as Barney Stinson, on How I Met Your Mother. Max had similar success after the show went off air – in 1994 he played Paul Marco in the film Ed Wood, and most notably, played Benny Fazio in The Sopranos for a handful of episodes. He's also been in a few episodes of Boardwalk Empire in 2010. Also, he was in the original Broadway cast of "The Lion King" playing Timon. Lisa acted in a thriller movie called Twisted Love.

Who's the Boss?
Plot A widower and former unemployed baseball player Tony Micelli meets up with Mona, the mother of Angela Bauer at the local community college, and moves in with his daughter and starts working in her home.
Child actors of the show Alyssa Milano aka Samantha Micelli and Danny Pintauro aka Jonathan Bower.
Where are they now? Best remembered for her role in Charmed. In 2009 she tried some voice-over work with Ghost Busters: The Video Game, and in 2011 she acted in the movie Hall Pass. Alyssa is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for the United States, and helps to advocate vegetarianism through PETA. Danny didn't act too regularly after the show ended, but did continue to act in stage productions. He's currently said to be managing a restaurant in Las Vegas.

Different Strokes
Plot The series revolved around an adoptive father of two young African-American brothers.
Child actors of the show Gary Coleman aka Arnold Jackson, Todd Bridges aka Willis Jackson.
Where are they now? The former child actor Coleman passed away in 2010. After the show Todd's life spiraled out of control. In 2010, Bridges appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show to open up about some of his darkest days, including his battle with addiction, his numerous arrests, and the sexual abuse he suffered as a child. He also revealed that he has managed to stay sober for 20 years.