where to watch An American Family

Storyline

Originally intended as a chronicle of the daily life of the Louds — an upper-middle-class family in Santa Barbara, California — the groundbreaking program documented the break-up of the family via the separation and subsequent divorce of parents Bill and Pat Loud.

First Aired

1973-01-11
Last Aired

1973-03-29
Creator

Craig Gilbert
Genre

Documentary
Seasons

1
Episodes

12
Status

Ended
Language

English
Network

PBS

Keywords:

No keywords have been added yet

Stream and watch An American Family

Season 1

1. Episode 1

Opens with scenes from the last day of filming, December 31, 1971. Pat Loud and four of her children a...More

Opens with scenes from the last day of filming, December 31, 1971. Pat Loud and four of her children are having a New Year's Eve party in their Santa Barbara, California, home. Bill and Pat's marriage has ended in separation. Their eldest son, Lance, is still living in New York. The scene changes to the first days of filming when the family gathers for an early breakfast one morning in mid-May, 1971 [58 minutes]Less

60mins 1973-01-11

2. Episode 2

Pat Loud visits her son Lance in New York City. She takes a room in his hotel, the Chelsea, and spends...More

Pat Loud visits her son Lance in New York City. She takes a room in his hotel, the Chelsea, and spends a week with him meeting his circle of friends. [58 minutes]Less

60mins 1973-01-18

3. Episode 3

Before returning home from her New York trip, Pat stops in Baltimore to check on a shipment of equipme...More

Before returning home from her New York trip, Pat stops in Baltimore to check on a shipment of equipment that her husband Bill is expecting for his business. Bill meets her plane when it lands in California; they go out to lunch, during which they discuss their children. Later they attend a dance recital in which their daughters, Delilah and Michele, perform. [58 minutes]Less

60mins 1973-01-25

4. Episode 4

Pat returns to her birthplace in Eugene, Oregon, and visits her mother, who still lives there. They dr...More

Pat returns to her birthplace in Eugene, Oregon, and visits her mother, who still lives there. They drive around town together, stopping at the important places in Pat's early life and the first years of her marriage. After attending her mother's birthday party, Pat returns home. [58 minutes]Less

60mins 1973-02-01

5. Episode 5

The girls are leaving with Pat for a vacation in Taos, New Mexico; Kevin leaves for Australia with Bil...More

The girls are leaving with Pat for a vacation in Taos, New Mexico; Kevin leaves for Australia with Bill's business associate; and Lance calls the family from New York. [58 minutes]Less

60mins 1973-02-08

6. Episode 6

After Pat returns from Taos with Michele, she has lunch with Bill and again the topic of discussion is...More

After Pat returns from Taos with Michele, she has lunch with Bill and again the topic of discussion is their children. Lance is visiting Paris with a friend. A brush-fire in the hills threatens the Loud home. [59 minutes]Less

60mins 1973-02-15

7. Episode 7

The growing antagonism between Pat and Bill comes out in the open. Grant is criticized by his parents ...More

The growing antagonism between Pat and Bill comes out in the open. Grant is criticized by his parents for not working hard enough, and, shortly afterward, gets into an accident while driving home from work. [58 minutes]Less

60mins 1973-02-22

8. Episode 8

While Bill is away on a business trip, Pat decides to file for divorce. She spends an evening with her...More

While Bill is away on a business trip, Pat decides to file for divorce. She spends an evening with her brother and sister-in-law discussing this decision. [57 minutes]Less

60mins 1973-03-01

9. Episode 9

Bill returns from his business trip, learns from Pat that she plans to divorce him, and spends the nig...More

Bill returns from his business trip, learns from Pat that she plans to divorce him, and spends the night at a motel. The next day, the Loud children rally around their mother. [58 minutes]Less

60mins 1973-03-08

10. Episode 10

Bill looks for an apartment; the children register for their first day of the new school year; and Kev...More

Bill looks for an apartment; the children register for their first day of the new school year; and Kevin masterminds a pep rally. Lance is in Copenhagen, Denmark. [58 minutes]Less

60mins 1973-03-15

11. Episode 11

After living in New York City and Europe for seven months, Lance returns to his Santa Barbara home for...More

After living in New York City and Europe for seven months, Lance returns to his Santa Barbara home for a visit. [58 minutes]Less

60mins 1973-03-22

12. Episode 12

Grant and his rock group audition for a job at a Santa Barbara Lounge. Bill meets Delilah in his offic...More

Grant and his rock group audition for a job at a Santa Barbara Lounge. Bill meets Delilah in his office and asks her to deliver a pair boots and a dress that he bought for Pat. At the Loud home, Pat tries on Bill's gifts and decides that she doesn't like them. Over drinks with a friend, Bill talks about the breakup of his marriage and his feelings about Lance and the other children. Pat also talks about the divorce with two of her friends and reveals her tentative plans for the future. [58 minutes]Less