Family

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.

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!!!!!

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 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.

This was a great wholesome show for all ages. Even though it took place in the 70's, the issues and problems that the family members faced are still relevant today. I have contacted TV Land about bringing it back but received no response. Are there any other stations that would be willing to show it again in syndication ?