Family: The Complete First and Second Seasons

The Emmy-winning brainchild of Oscar-winning filmmaker Mike Nichols (The Graduate), noted screenwriter Jay Presson Allen (Cabaret), and producers Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg (Charlie's Angels), Family was initially intended for a six-episode run in the spring of 1976. Highly acclaimed and instantly popular, the show was added to the fall lineup and remained on the air until 1980. The secret to Family's success was honesty and sincerity: more than any other network series up to that point, the ensemble drama portrayed an American family readily recognizable to viewers coping with the same problems and challenges faced by the Lawrences: lawyer dad Doug (James Broderick), homemaker mom Kate (Sada Thompson), eldest child and recent divorcee Nancy (Elayne Heilveil in the first season, Meredith Baxter Birney from the second on), high-school dropout Willie (Gary Frank), and young teenage daughter Buddy (Kristy McNichol). The episodes dealt with topical subjects, and the writers didn't shy away from crafting touchy situations that allowed characters to express genuine emotions—a relative novelty on TV, then and now. The initial six installments are fine, but Family really comes into its own with the 22 episodes of the second year, which strengthen the character of Nancy (well-played by Birney) and allot more screen time to McNichol, the show's breakout star. Presented on an extra-less six-disc set, this is recommended. (E. Hulse)