From my favorite movies..

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Black kid with Irish and Native American ancestry born in early 70's & grew up in "metropolitan" city in North Carolina. I loved this show...still do. Mom Kate reminds me of my own mom, although mine dressed less conservatively. Mom loved that Kate wasn't svelte, but still attractive as a lead actress, much like herself. Kate & my mom had the same aloofness, but my mom was more outwardly affectionate. Rules were made & adhered to...kids deferred to their parents, but were allowed to speak their minds, within reason. Mostly caught this show in syndication during summers in the 80's. I thought Kate & Doug had a great dynamic. Gary Frank's Willie-a great big ham in & out of character but believable & very much of his time. Good looking, self-assured, and finding himself. I got a bi-vibe from his portrayal of Willie, but that's just my take on things. He and Season Hubley played very well together as a couple. Nancy-not MBB's best role, but very believable and played frankly. Buddy was Kristy's best acting job hands down...she slept walked through "Summer of My German Soldier, allowing Esther Rolle to walk away with the movie & the Emmy-even in her supporting role. I haven't seen Kristy in much since that was worth writing home about, but she was outstanding as Buddy. I believe that Buddy may have been closest to her real self, and that's why she played so easily against other lead characters...just my take on things. James Broderick as Doug was a tender and subtle actor, playing straight man and confidante to Kate & his kids...a real pro-you knew he'd walked the walk with his own "Family". Sada Thompson was the greatest!!!!! She was attractive, intelligent, witty, elegant, and the perfect foil to her children's storehouse of tricks---especially Nancy's. I loved how gently she let down her recently divorced neighbor-Howard Stone-who had romantic delusions about Kate. From the long exterior shot when she briefly lands home & pleads with Doug "not to go away", to her arrival on Howard's front stoop and rear yard, she plays it with total class...such an elegant and refined woman. She knew that acting involved far more than mere dialogue. Can't say enough how much I still enjoy watching this well played and well written family drama. Nothing compares to it these days...nothing! I hope it comes back in syndication-METV or elsewhere. Sada Thompson and Esther Rolle were probably the best actresses on television during that time, and remind me so very much of my own mother and grandmother's-except mine were prettier, for what that's worth. They had grace, style-when allowed, and could deliver the most subtle and moving dialogue with profound subtlety. Thanks for indulging me folks! -easyasdell

I remember 'Family' as a very well acted show about chronically upset, depressed people. It was full of angst. Thirtysomething had the same producers so that should tell you something. Kristy McNichol was quite good as Buddy. I wish she would do more acting.

Having just finished watching Homefront again on TVLand, it occurred to me that Family would be an ideal show for them to run. It has everything a successful show should have -- excellent story line, terrific cast and acting and great family appeal. There are very few shows on today that can compare to all that Family has to offer.May I suggest that anyone interested, please contact TVLand and see if we can persuade them to run this series as they did Homefront.

What I remember about this show is that it was a family show, with good moral values. I do not remember very many details about it. I remember that Kristy McNichol played "Letitia "Buddy" Lawrence" an adolescent going through troubling trouble teen years. They had a very nice house. Mom was very nice and solved a lot of family conflicts. "Doug Lawrence" James Broderick (I), the father was an attorney. I remember the divorced daughter but without the cast list I would not be able to tell that "Nancy Lawrence Maitland" was played by Meredith Baxter (Family Ties). We used to enjoy watching the series. There is not one show now days that has the same family type environment The show won several awards.