DarkVader
Second Unit
- Joined
- May 30, 2021
- Messages
- 399
- Real Name
- Carlos
"Family" the seminal 1970s television drama created by Jay Presson Allen is now available to stream on Tubi. The show has been rarely seen and to my knowledge has only been shown sporadically on the Decades network during their weekend Binge-a-Thons. The show was a precursor to such family dramas as "Thirtysomething" and "Brothers and Sisters" and was produced by Mike Nichols, Aaron Spelling, and Leonard Goldberg. Mark Rydell directed the pilot episode and was the show's executive consultant. It starred Sada Thompson, James Broderick, Gary Frank, Kristy McNichol, and Meredith Baxter (then known as Meredith Baxter-Birney). Quinn Cummings joined the show beginning with the show's fourth season. The show was a critic's darling and garnered several Emmy nominations and wins. Thompson, Frank, and McNichol won for their performances. McNichol actually won two. I believe Broderick and Baxter-Birney were nominated.
In rewatching the show, it really does hold up, some really groundbreaking themes were addressed for a show of its time. It boasted a team of excellent writers and an impressive roster of guest stars appeared throughout the series 5-year run. One episode was directed by Joanne Woodward and guest-starred Henry Fonda as Broderick's ailing father.
The first three seasons are re-cropped to fill widescreen televisions but the remaining seasons are presented in their original aspect ratio. All episodes look to be remastered as well.
This is one of those shows that really deserves to be rediscovered. Hopefully, if it gains enough renewed interest Sony will see fit to release the show on DVD or license it out to Mill Creek. Sony did release the first two seasons way back in 2009 but failed to release any other seasons. That set is now out of print.
In rewatching the show, it really does hold up, some really groundbreaking themes were addressed for a show of its time. It boasted a team of excellent writers and an impressive roster of guest stars appeared throughout the series 5-year run. One episode was directed by Joanne Woodward and guest-starred Henry Fonda as Broderick's ailing father.
The first three seasons are re-cropped to fill widescreen televisions but the remaining seasons are presented in their original aspect ratio. All episodes look to be remastered as well.
This is one of those shows that really deserves to be rediscovered. Hopefully, if it gains enough renewed interest Sony will see fit to release the show on DVD or license it out to Mill Creek. Sony did release the first two seasons way back in 2009 but failed to release any other seasons. That set is now out of print.
