United States

I watched this show with great interest and quickly got hooked by this family who was actually intelligent and did not find quick and easy solutions to their problems. They were educated, upper class, and had respect for each other. Fine writing, beautiful sets and creative humor was the highlight. Of course it would not hold up on commercial television, it was far too interesting and well written, but I do hope the studio will release all 6 episodes on DVD. This series would surely find an audience with today's more sophisticated viewers. How times have changed and today we openly talk about the subjects this show brought up. It's time has come!

Just did not remember the name of the series. Was looking for the show on which Beau Bridges discussed e.g the education of the children etc. with his wife. A very unusual series. So different from the mainstream. A couple really trying to solve their problems. Obviously not a series for a wide audience. Never understood why Beau Bridges was more or less forgotten. The relationship seemed so equal. A kind of marriage to be envied. For me the quality of this series almost equaled "The wonder years". A real television Icon. Both series made you think about life. I really was surprised finding out that there were only 6 episodes of United States, seemed like so much more. Unfortunately, I think that a series like this, today would not be appreciated enough by the advertisers.

Comparisons to that other whine-fest "Thirty-Something" are apt. This show was 90 percent talk with virtually no action! The topics were mundane, to say the least, the effect quite snooze-worthy.

It might do better today when broadcast TV is an entirely female medium with prime-time soaps dominating the schedule. This transformation was incomplete in 1980 so naturally a good portion of the audience said "Huh?' when the show premiered and never again tuned in.

After this experience Beau Bridges, a very talented actor, stayed away from TV. The idiosyncratic Helen Shaver has since found her true métier: as a director.

When I was in my early twenties I saw this show in the Netherlands (I am Dutch and still live in the Netherlands). It was totally different from other sitcoms. It was even so different that I found out just now through IMDb that it actually was a sitcom. I will never forget the husband (played by Beau) telling about having a "rear view mirror affair". When I see either Helen Shaver or Beau Bridges in a movie or on TV I always remember their role in that show and hope that it comes back. After a couple of items suddenly the show was gone and I missed it. It really influenced my outlook on life and relationships. Still I could understand, because sustaining such a high level of dealing with true issues in life, in a very funny and amusing way is extremely difficult. Now I am in my forties and can understand that probably there was a lack of interest in going on with the show. Thanks for sharing the information on IMDb! I surely hope that this comes out on DVD. When someone knows, please let me know.

I remember seeing all 6 episodes of this on TV in 1980. I only tuned in because the critics were raving about it. At first it was off-putting--it was a sitcom without a laugh track. But (slowly) it drew me in. The acting of Beau Bridges and Helen Shaver was excellent and they had great chemistry together. Also the show dealt with real issues (love, sex, marriage) in an adult upfront manner. No talking down to the audience. Of course this bombed completely-- it was simply too good for TV. It was pushed by the network nonstop and critics praised it up and down--but it wasn't enough. It MIGHT work today but I think the absence of a laugh track still might bother viewers. Well ahead of its time. Recommended.