Eine amerikanische Familie

This was a must-see for me in '76 -'80. It was my guiding light and the topics it touched upon were indeed concerns of mine. They were beautifully written and seemingly resolved with love. It's a wonderful cast that almost became my second family. Now streaming on Tubi its entirety.

I was a bit young to have watched Family during its original run, though my older sisters watched this show religiously. I must admit that as an adolescent young man, my tastes tended to run more towards the action fare and cop shows of the time. Nevertheless, I have gained an appreciation for Family over the years while watching it occasionally on various classic TV stations. MeTV+ currently runs the show each weekday morning in the NY/NJ area.

Set in Pasadena, CA, the show depicts The Lawrence Family, with parents Kate and Doug (Sada Thompson, James Broderick) and their three children Nancy (Meredith Baxter Birney), Willie (Gary Frank) and "Buddy" (Kristi McNichol). Kate and Doug were both happily married and parented in a very rational, loving manner. Episodes centered around topical relationship, work and school issues facing a "typical" middle class family. Occasionally, subjects not usually discussed on prime time family shows like homosexuality, breast cancer, alcoholism and sexual harassment were covered in "special" episodes and presented thoughtfully and professionally, avoiding the heavy-handed treatment we sometimes see on TV.

The show was well-received by critics and widely acclaimed, bringing Emmys to Thompson, McNichol and Frank during its run and making McNichol a big star. Shows like this are always a bit dated in some respects, but Family is nonetheless relevant in many ways today and undoubtedly brings back fond memories to those who remember it from their youth. Recommended watch.

This show was great. I started watching it on the Nostalgia Network but now that network is nostalgia itself. The Pasadena setting was perfect for this family. In LA but off in a more quiet, normal and realistic location. Everything about this show is 70's and that adds to its coolness. Bellbottoms everywhere and the people in them with such problems!!!!!

I imagine I'd find it rather simple and uninteresting today, but I have fond memories and I had a big crush on Kristy Mcnichol, who was maybe only a year older than I was. Now I look at her and I see a kid, but at the time, I saw someone, slightly older than me, slightly more together and someone I could relate to.

One time at summer camp, I was an aide, and most of the people around were counselors, they were 18 or 19, I was 16 and they were talking about women who they thought were hot and I mentioned my crush on Kristy and I never heard the end of it. They said "she's a kid". But . . . did they not realize, so was I. That's life and growing up I suppose. I remember one or two plots with this one, how people would have different opinions but the father would always work things out in the end. It was kind of like a slightly more mature and better written Brady bunch. Not quite at the level of James at 16, but somewhere between the two.

I don't know if I'd recommend anyone watch this show now unless they want to experience a time capsule, but I remember it fondly. I used to look forward to catching it Sunday nights I think it was, might have been Fridays.

I remember 'Family' as a very well acted show about chronically upset, depressed people. It was full of angst. Thirtysomething had the same producers so that should tell you something. Kristy McNichol was quite good as Buddy. I wish she would do more acting.