United States

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.

For anyone who enjoyed the honest dialogue of the show, "thirtysomething", "United States" would definitely have been a show to see. The conversations between a man and his wife (we find out that she has been married before) are a stream-of-consciousness discussion, weaving in, out, and around the original topic.

In one episode, the husband finds out that a friend has been having an affair. The topic of marital fidelity is discussed, and the wife reveals that she had cheated on her first husband. Her state of mind at the time of the affair and her new husband's altered opinion of her are addressed, very compellingly.

Rather than simply have talking heads, the camera rarely points at the characters' faces. In this episode, for example, the couple is changing clothes to attend a function at which the unfaithful friend will be present.

The camera is directed at the busy hands and fluttering clothing of each speaker in turn, until they finally leave the bedroom.

If this series is now or is ever available for purchase, I am eager to own it.

What a priceless gem this show was! It lasted just six weeks, but it had a timeless freshness, a bright optimism that Americans really did want more than the standard, predictable sitcom fare. I would love to get the episodes on DVD or video. Every time really good TV comes along, it just doesn't seem to have a chance to last. Such was the case with "United States." The husband and wife actually talked WITH each other instead of yelling or purring one-liners at each other. The children were actually listened to by their parents. I so appreciated that everything didn't turn out neatly in 22 minutes plus commercials. The statements that were funny were indeed funny rather than fodder for knee-jerk reactions to canned or prompted studio laughter.

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.

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.