MovieChat Forums > Family (1976) Discussion > Blown away by the pilot, but hesitant to...

Blown away by the pilot, but hesitant to watch any more

posted 8 years ago by GuyOnTheLeft
5 replies | jump to latest

I've never seen a family drama this "real", certainly not on network TV and not even on cable that I can think of. Amazing. I can see why TV Guide reported that ABC was reluctant to air it because it was "too good for TV".

But in looking through the episodes, I see that the show creator only wrote the pilot? I'm feeling doubtful that any of the subsequent episodes written by other writers are going to measure up. Not to mention that the pilot's cinematography was by the legendary Laszlo Kovacs, but again he does not seem to have lensed later episodes.

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[–] justinaames 8 years ago

I hope you overcame your skepticism about the show...it's my very favorite show of all time with excellent writing and excellent acting. There are other episodes on YouTube as well. They're closing down the IMDB message boards and I'm not really into Facebook, Twitter, etc. If you ever want to discuss anything Family related, email me some time. Thanks, and enjoy your Family viewing. -Justin [email protected]

[–] sjbradford 8 years ago

Yes, Jay Presson Allen only wrote the pilot, but most of the episodes during the first couple of years are similar in tone. I'd say that the show can get a bit soapy (Doug goes blind; Willie gets involved with a dying girl, the family adopts an orphan), but that's the Aaron Spelling influence at work.

A worthwhile series on the whole. And there are so few quality family dramas out there, so you really can't pass a good one up, even when it has a few flaws.

[–] justinaames 8 years ago

It's true, there are few if any quality dramas of its caliber airing today.

[–] Owlwise (1536) 5 years ago

Absolutely agree. Allow for the occasional soap opera touches, but focus on the quality of the series at its best. The early episode with Mildred Natwick as Kate's mother/Willie's beloved & supportive grandmother is a gem about family love & family loss, for instance.

[–] joi2049 (5572) 4 years ago

I also liked that episode as well, and have also been disappointed that we never got to see whatever happened to that farm.

Someone is taking care of the place, but Willie is suppose to inherit it.

Right?

Yet his father also keeps bugging him all the time about needing a job???

And when his father goes blind Willie also BEGS his boss to let him have the photography job back again that he HATES (in case he's the one who would be the MAIN BREAD WINNER for the FAMILY)???

Why worry so much about money when he owns that FARM???

Buddy also mentioned how Willie would be living in POVERY after quitting his job (as if she's also forgotten about how he inherited the FARM).

It was also amusing when WILLIE pretends to be the HUNCHBACK character as his unbearable BOSS is BOSSING him around.

😄