"Family" (1976) TV series 1976-1980

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Edward Zwick

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 (45 episodes, 1976-1980)
Quinn Cummings	...	Annie Cooper / ... (36 episodes, 1978-1980)

(more)

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
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)
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)
Lawrence Konner		(2 episodes, 1976)
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
Jane Bogart	....	associate producer (1 episode, 1976)
Leonard Goldberg	....	executive producer (1 episode, 1979)
Nigel McKeand	....	producer (1 episode, 1979)
Carroll Newman	....	associate producer (1 episode, 1979)
Aaron Spelling	....	executive producer (1 episode, 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
John Rubinstein		(unknown episodes)
Pete Rugolo		(unknown episodes)
Mark Snow		(unknown episodes)

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

Series Casting by
Joel Thurm		(unknown episodes)

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

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

Series Makeup Department
Ted Coodley	....	makeup artist (1 episode, 1976)
Joyce Morrison	....	hair stylist (1 episode, 1976)

Series Production Management
William A. Calihan Jr.	....	production manager (1 episode, 1976)
Norman Henry	....	executive production manager (1 episode, 1976)
Russel Wiles	....	post-production supervisor (1 episode, 1976)
Al Kraus	....	unit production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
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
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 (85 episodes, 1976-1980)
Dave Friedman	....	still photographer (unknown episodes)
Ronald B. MacKenzie	....	electrician (unknown episodes)
Rolf Mendez	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Robert Harris Jr.	....	costumes (1 episode, 1976)
Thelma Strahm	....	costumes (1 episode, 1976)

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

Series Music Department
Rocky Moriana	....	music supervisor (1 episode, 1976)

Series Other crew
Rita Joelson	....	secretary to director (1 episode, 1976)
Phill Norman	....	titles (1 episode, 1976)
Helen Parker	....	script supervisor (1 episode, 1976)
Carol Evan McKeand	....	executive story consultant (1 episode, 1979)
Edward Zwick	....	story editor (1 episode, 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:

In 1988 a reunion movie was planned and the entire cast agreed to reunite for the project. Unfortunately the writer's strike would have the project be placed on hold, and then later dropped from production.

Movie Connections:

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

One of the best shows ever

This was one of the best drama shows to ever be broadcast on network television, or cable for that matter, and yet it never appears in any of those best of lists. Which may explain why it has yet to be released on DVD. Uniformly well-acted and heartfelt this was a drama that spoke to us all as the various members of this typical (if upper class) family dealt with the problems of everyday life. Sada Thompson won an Emmy for best actress one year. She should have won one for every year that Family was on the air. But it is unfair to single her out from such a great cast. Simply superb. There is nothing on television right now (2006) that can touch it for its quality and relevance.