Family (1976) ABC - Sometimes Women Just Want OUT!

From the pilot episode of ABC's "Family", filmed in 1975 - a year before the series was actually picked up.

We see a more boisterous and angry Kate Lawrence here. I do love the calm and centered Kate of the regular run of the series, but it's fun to watch Sada Thompson let it all out here. Hell it would be fun to just listen to Sada read the telephone book.

James Broderick plays foil to her very well and looks eerily like George W. Bush.

And don't miss cute little Kristy McNichol as Buddy, hidden away eavesdropping on the stairs!

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Family
• 1976
• Sada
• Thompson
• Meredith
• Baxter-Birney
• Kate
• Lawrence
• Doug
• 70's
• series
• James
• Broderick
• Kristy
• McNichol
• Gary
• Frank
• ABC
• TV
• Spelling
• classic
• television
• angry
• woman
• women
• argument
• fight
• pilot
• episode

[pynchonfan]

Isn't there a plot hole here? Kate says she bore three children, but wasn't there another son (Tommy or Timmy) who died fairly young--I think he drowned.

Can you ever post scenes of Willie's short-lived marriage?

[AppallingRetroTrash]

@pynchonfan Yes you're right. But at the pilot stage, they hadn't considered that yet. And after that Timmy Sr episode, it was never spoken of again. ;-)

I would LOVE to post scenes of WIlly and Lizzie's brief marriage...but Sony has STILL not released those seasons! HINT HINT

[rebel70s]

I love this show when i was kid during the 70s that was when televison show was normal and family Oriented but does any on know what year it was first started and what year it was canceled?

[AppallingRetroTrash]

@rebel70s

The pilot of Family was filmed in 1975, but not shown until March 9, 1976. The show lasted until June 25, 1980.

[Kaykay940]

Do you have any more from this episode, because I would sure love to see it in its entirety. I loved Family as a kid...I even LOVE the theme song and can watch it without tiring of it.

[AppallingRetroTrash]

Yes! I'll try to post more in the coming weeks.

[2harts4ever]

my gawd, sada was FANTASTIC!! geez, i miss good television.

[mike309]

Wow. Sada Thompson would have won more than one Emmy if they'd given more scenes like this in the regular series.

[ICETVNetwork]

KRISTY KRISTY KRISTY!

[Janpeeples]

It is so wonderful to see this again, I loved this show so much and still do. Sada Thompson was excellent, a brilliant actress. I can't even watch the crap on TV now. So happy to have found this on youtube.

[MyFreddy68]

She's so right! Nancy is just as immature as they make Jeff out to be.

[2degucitas]

My mom tried to abort me herself with a knitting needle. She just managed to dislodge the placenta half way. I was born low birth weight. She felt so guilty all the rest of her life. I forgive her, she did the best with me that she knew how. I even look like Kristy McNichol and am the same age! How's that fro coincidence??

[AvalonMorley]

Wow! That is so different from anything on TV today, on so many levels. Intelligent, passionate writing, with shading and ambiguity. What a performance from Sada Thompson! Makes me want to see that series, which I never saw at the time (was living overseas, and rarely watched TV, even when I had access to it).

[Jaydublus]

R.I. P. Sada Thompson. As you can see from this clip, she was a fine actress and woman.

[MsTexas73]

@Kaykay940 Seasons 1 and 2 of Family are on DVD....please buy it...maybe if more ppl buy it Sony will release the rest of the series.

[MsTexas73]

Sada Thompson was a WONDERFUL actress. I've seen her in other projects and as in Family she showed her acting chops were tough. LURVED her on Family as Kate Lawrence also. She didn't always have thew right answer, but she wasn't always wrong either. RiP Ms. Thompson.

[picoharmotimpo]

What excellent acting! Sada Thompson is wonderful here.

[pete0969wi]

The most uptight people of the 20th century..Take it easy Kate,,,always on Nancy..