"Family" (1976) TV series 1976-1980

Creator:

Jay Presson Allen
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

9 March 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family

Plot:

The joys and heartaches of the Lawrence family of Pasadena, California.

Plot Keywords:

California | Suburbia | Marriage

Awards:

Nominated for 7 Golden Globes. Another 9 wins & 18 nominations

Cast

Sada Thompson	...	Kate Lawrence (86 episodes, 1976-1980)
James Broderick	...	Doug Lawrence (86 episodes, 1976-1980)
Gary Frank	...	Willie Lawrence (86 episodes, 1976-1980)
Kristy McNichol	...	Letitia 'Buddy' Lawrence (86 episodes, 1976-1980)
Meredith Baxter	...	Nancy Lawrence Maitland (47 episodes, 1976-1980)
Quinn Cummings	...	Annie Cooper / ... (36 episodes, 1978-1980)

Series Directed by
Richard Kinon		(22 episodes, 1976-1980)
Edward Parone		(10 episodes, 1977-1980)
Glenn Jordan		(9 episodes, 1976-1977)
John Erman		(4 episodes, 1976)
Kim Friedman		(4 episodes, 1978-1979)
Philip Leacock		(4 episodes, 1978-1979)
James Broderick		(4 episodes, 1979-1980)
James Sheldon		(3 episodes, 1976-1978)
Randal Kleiser		(2 episodes, 1976)
Robert Hartford-Davis		(2 episodes, 1977)
Alf Kjellin		(2 episodes, 1977)
Harvey S. Laidman		(2 episodes, 1977)
E.W. Swackhamer		(2 episodes, 1977)
Peter Levin		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)
Stuart Millar		(2 episodes, 1978)
Gwen Arner		(2 episodes, 1979-1980)
Marshall Herskovitz		(2 episodes, 1979-1980)
Edward Zwick		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Jay Presson Allen		(86 episodes, 1976-1980)
Carol Evan McKeand		(6 episodes, 1976-1978)
Hindi Brooks		(5 episodes, 1976-1978)
Diana Gould		(5 episodes, 1977-1979)
David Jacobs		(5 episodes, 1977-1978)
Emily Shoemaker		(4 episodes, 1976-1979)
Marshall Herskovitz		(4 episodes, 1977-1979)
Liz Coe		(4 episodes, 1978-1980)
Lawrence Konner		(3 episodes, 1976)
Len Jenkin		(3 episodes, 1977-1978)
Sally Robinson		(3 episodes, 1979-1980)
Edward Zwick		(3 episodes, 1979-1980)
Michael Barlow		(2 episodes, 1976-1977)
Leonora Thuna		(2 episodes, 1976-1977)
George Lefferts		(2 episodes, 1976)
Nigel McKeand		(2 episodes, 1976)
Linda Palmer		(2 episodes, 1976)
Gregory S. Dinallo		(2 episodes, 1977-1978)
Barbara Elaine Smith		(2 episodes, 1977-1978)
David Michael Jacobs		(2 episodes, 1977)
Channing Gibson		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)
Paul Huson		(2 episodes, 1978-1979)
Ron Cowen		(2 episodes, 1979-1980)
Daniel Lipman		(2 episodes, 1979-1980)
Margaret J. Schibi		(2 episodes, 1979-1980)
Thom Racina		(2 episodes, 1979)

Series Produced by
Leonard Goldberg	....	executive producer (2 episodes, 1976-1979)
Nigel McKeand	....	producer (2 episodes, 1976-1979)
Carroll Newman	....	associate producer (2 episodes, 1976-1979)
Aaron Spelling	....	executive producer (2 episodes, 1976-1979)
Marshall Herskovitz	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Carol Evan McKeand	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Mike Nichols	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Edward Zwick	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Pete Rugolo		(1 episode, 1976)
John Rubinstein		(unknown episodes)
Mark Snow		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Emil Oster		(1 episode, 1976)

Series Film Editing by
Jim Faris		(1 episode, 1976)
Frank Morriss		(1 episode, 1976)

Series Casting by
Joel Thurm		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Les Gobruegge		(1 episode, 1976)
Paul Sylos		(1 episode, 1976)

Series Set Decoration by
Sal Blydenburgh		(1 episode, 1976)
Dorcy Howard		(1 episode, 1976)

Series Makeup Department
Ted Coodley	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1976)
Joyce Morrison	....	hair stylist (2 episodes, 1976)

Series Production Management
Norman Henry	....	executive production manager (2 episodes, 1976)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Fred Giles	....	assistant director (1 episode, 1976)
John Ashley Hamilton	....	trainee director (1 episode, 1976)
John M. Poer	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes, 1977-1978)

Series Art Department
Claudia Gilligan Ivanjack	....	paint foreman (6 episodes, 1977)

Series Sound Department
John Oliver	....	sound engineer (1 episode, 1976)
Tommy Thompson	....	sound engineer (1 episode, 1976)
Joseph Holsen	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Richard LeGrand Jr.	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Greg P. Russell	....	sound recordist (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Teri Ann Moyer	....	stunt double (3 episodes, 1976-1979)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Scott Hamilton	....	still photographer: publicity stills (84 episodes, 1976-1980)
Dave Friedman	....	still photographer (unknown episodes)
Ronald B. MacKenzie	....	electrician (unknown episodes)
Rolf Mendez	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Claire Newell	....	casting supervisor (1 episode, 1976)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Michael Castellano	....	costumes (1 episode, 1976)
Robert Harris Jr.	....	costumes (1 episode, 1976)
Sylvia Liggett	....	costumes (1 episode, 1976)
Thelma Strahm	....	costumes (1 episode, 1976)
Noel Taylor	....	wardrobe: Miss Thompson (1 episode, 1976)

Series Editorial Department
Virgil E. Hammond III	....	post-production (11 episodes, 1977-1978)

Series Music Department
Rocky Moriana	....	music supervisor (2 episodes, 1976)

Series Other crew
Carol Evan McKeand	....	executive story consultant (2 episodes, 1976-1979)

Production Companies

• Spelling-Goldberg Productions

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1976-1980) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Columbia TriStar Domestic Television (2001)
• Columbia TriStar Television
• Sony Pictures Television (2002-)

Runtime:

60 min (86 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

South Pasadena, California, USA

Company:

Spelling-Goldberg Productions

Trivia:

Cheryl Ladd auditioned for the role of Nancy.

Movie Connections:

Featured in America's Teenagers Growing Up on Television (1998) (TV)

An hour with the Lawrences made for TV time well spent

I first caught this show in re-runs on Lifetime and WOR 9 from New York in the late 80's, and I taped as many episodes as I could manage. I greatly admire the production values and story lines this frequently mawkish, yet unflinchingly progressive piece of late 70's serial TV "dramedy" had to offer in virtually every episode of it's four-year run. All of the key players were exceptional actors, and made for riveting television that has been largely taken for granted. With so much bunk arriving weekly on DVD, Columbia/TrisStar should really pick up the ball on this project and start compiling a comprehensive DVD collection while Sada Thompson and the rest of the crew are still with us, and can offer insightful reminiscence on a long-overdue and much-needed addition to the growing list of good and bad television shows available on DVD.