Family: Seasons 1 & 2
Family is the hit dramatic series that explores the lives, loves, and hardships of a contemporary 1970s American family, told with heart and humor. Originally given a six-episode run, the show became a surprise hit in the fall of 1976, and won two Emmy Awards for the second season. This groundbreaking series was the brainchild of Academy Award-winning film director Mike Nichols (1967 Best Director, The Graduate), screenwriter Jay Presson (Cabaret) and the powerhouse producing team of Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg (TV's Charlie's Angels and Starsky & Hutch).
Family follows the saga of the Lawrence family of Pasadena, California ' parents Kate (Sada Thompson) and Doug (James Broderick) and their three children: young, divorced mother Nancy (played by Elayne Heilveil in the first season, and by Meredith Baxter Birney in the second season), high school dropout Willie (Gary Frank), and young teenage daughter Buddy (Kristy McNichol). Notable guest stars include Helen Hunt, James Woods, and Tommy Lee Jones.
Member Reviews
Childhood Favorite - Morgj72
I remember watching this show as a youth and enjoying it. I am rewatching it as an adult and still enjoy it but watching it as someone that is quite liberal and find it funny how it could be so very cutting edge in the way it handled some topics such as teen pregnancy and so conservative in the way it handled other to topics such as the mother advising the daughter to grin and bare it when her husband has an affair because that is what she did 20 years earlier not really taking into account that they were now in the seventies and women now had educations and careers and that the daughter had more options than she might of had in the fifties.Very cool blast from the past - kaerbaer
this show was out originally while I was just little - but I remembered bits and pieces of it from when my older sister used to watch it.
I was absolutely amazed at how current some of the issues were and how well handled they were. This is a show that is definitely well worth watching - and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants true family television viewing because this was suitable for everyone even my 9 yr old nephew enjoyed it.An Enjoyable Return to the Past - E
I submitted a request to ZIP for this DVD series, and waited excitedly for it when notified that it was added to their library. IT WAS WELL WORTH THE WAIT !! I loved this TV series when I was 8-11, and it was a great trip down memory lane rewatching some episodes had faint memories of and watching missed episodes for the first time. I was delightfully surprised by how "hip" or "topical" this show was for its time, even while based on a traditional family (bread-winner father, stay-at-home mother)in the 1970's. The episode in which Doug the father reprimands his son, Willy, for his negative reaction to his childhood best friend coming out of the closet, and then Buddy's positive acceptance of it blew me away. They had this on TV in the 1970's? I loved Kate for a mom and always wanted Buddy as my friend. Watching this series reminded me of the joy I had as a kid looking forward to Monday nights to watch this show. I highly recommend this series, and I hope that subsequent seasons will be released (I think there are 5 total?). The series is far superior to most TV shows on the regular networks these days!
Member Reviews
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Childhood Favorite - Morgj72
I remember watching this show as a youth and enjoying it. I am rewatching it as an adult and still enjoy it but watching it as someone that is quite liberal and find it funny how it could be so very cutting edge in the way it handled some topics such as teen ...Very cool blast from the past - kaerbaer
this show was out originally while I was just little - but I remembered bits and pieces of it from when my older sister used to watch it.
I was absolutely amazed at how current some of the issues were and how well handled they were. This is a show that ...An Enjoyable Return to the Past - E
I submitted a request to ZIP for this DVD series, and waited excitedly for it when notified that it was added to their library. IT WAS WELL WORTH THE WAIT !! I loved this TV series when I was 8-11, and it was a great trip down memory lane rewatching some ...