March 9, 1976 (1976-03-09)– June 25, 1980 (1980-06-25)
Familyis an American television drama series aired on ABC from March 9, 1976, to June 25, 1980. It was initially broadcast as a six-episode limited series;[1] high Nielsen ratings led to the production of 86 episodes.
The pilot episode of Family was written by Jay Presson Allen and developed under the supervision of producer Mike Nichols, who was involved only in the pilot’s casting and production. Leonard Goldberg and Aaron Spelling assumed oversight of the series.
Family received widespread critical acclaim for its emotional realism and pioneering approach to family issues in network drama.
Overview
Family centers on the Lawrences, a suburban family living in Pasadena, California. Kate and Doug Lawrence reside with three of their children: Nancy, Willie, and Letitia, known as “Buddy.” A fourth child, Timmy, died at the age of ten in a boating accident five years prior to the beginning of the series.
The series depicts everyday family life while addressing a range of contemporary social issues.[2]
Characters
Kate Lawrence (Sada Thompson) is a homemaker guided by a strong sense of personal responsibility. She reassesses her role within the family, returns to college, and becomes a music teacher.
Doug Lawrence (James Broderick) is an attorney with aspirations of becoming a judge. He is devoted to his family, but his workaholism and a past affair cause friction with Kate.
Willie Lawrence (Gary Frank), age 18, is an aspiring writer who leaves high school with his parents’ consent. His romantic relationships and career ambitions are central to many episodes.
Letitia “Buddy” Lawrence (Kristy McNichol), 12, is a tomboy known for her honesty, loyalty, and emotional sensitivity. She frequently seeks guidance from her mother and has a close bond with Willie.
Nancy Lawrence Maitland (Elayne Heilveil in the miniseries, then Meredith Baxter) is the eldest daughter, whose marriage ends after she discovers her husband’s infidelity. At age 24, she moves into the Lawrences' guest house with her infant son, Timmy, and enrolls in law school.
Annie Cooper (Quinn Cummings), 11, is adopted by the Lawrences in the fourth season after her parents, college friends of Kate and Doug, are killed in a car accident. Academically gifted, Annie struggles to adjust socially and emotionally.
Storylines
Episodes of Family frequently address topical subjects. The series opens with Nancy discovering her husband’s infidelity. Other storylines include Kate facing a breast cancer scare and Buddy grappling with whether to have sex. The 1976 episode “Rites of Friendship” portrays the arrest of Willie’s childhood friend during a police raid on a gay bar, while “We Love You, Miss Jessup” (1977) explores Buddy’s friendship with a lesbian teacher.
The series also examines alcoholism and dementia. In a 1979 episode directed by Joanne Woodward, Henry Fonda guest-stars as Doug’s father, who is experiencing cognitive decline. Fonda later portrayed a similar condition in On Golden Pond, for which he received the Academy Award for Best Actor.
The initial showrunners of Family were Nigel McKeand and Carol Evan McKeand, former writers for The Waltons. After the fourth season, the McKeands departed[3] and were replaced by Edward Zwick.
Exterior shots of the Lawrence family home were filmed at 1230 Milan Avenue in South Pasadena, California.[4]
Reception
The show attracted widespread critical acclaim during its original run. Critics praised Family for its realistic quality, contrasting it to escapist ABC shows such as Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley and other Spelling-Goldberg productions such as Charlie's Angels and Fantasy Island.[5][6]
Despite the series' occasional adult themes, the National Parent-Teacher Association consistently praised Family, saying it contained "good parenting lessons" and "slightly controversial" but "excellent" content.[7].
In the fourth season, some critics took issue with the show's "crisis-of-the-week approach"[8] and sex-related plots.[9] In spring 1979, ABC shifted the show to Friday nights, and ratings declined.[10]
Although Family had a loyal following, ABC was criticized for failing to promote the show; chiefly, the network never aired summer reruns, which could have expanded the audience.[11] Near the end of the original run, cast members and former showrunners expressed dissatisfaction with the network’s level of support.[12][13]
Post-Series and Legacy
Family raised the profiles of all its main actors, particularly Kristy McNichol and Meredith Baxter Birney.
Seven years after the series ended, a Family Reunion TV movie was planned for the 1987–88 season, written by Carol Evan McKeand.[14] The plot was to involve the Lawrence children gathering for Kate's remarriage. (James Broderick had died of cancer in 1982.) There was speculation that if the movie's ratings were strong, the series could be revived by ABC.[15] Ultimately, the 1988 writers' strike halted production, and the project was abandoned.
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