From watching an incredible weight loss journey, we’ve watched family television evolve before our eyes, over the years. The days when such TV shows focused on portraying the perfect family, we are now in an era where what matters most is that the content audiences find is more entertaining. While most of these shows kept us entertained, only a few of the famous TV families possess the charisma to transport their audiences, making them feel like they grew up together.
More than a few decades have passed since the inception of family television which was primarily depicted in sitcoms. Now, reality shows involving real issues in some famous TV families are quickly taking over the stage to the delight of viewers. Audiences have come to love and look forward to 411 in the glamorous, lavish lifestyle often portrayed in some shows.
From Ancient to Modern, Let’s Quickly Recall some of the famous TV families we’ve come to love and love since the 1970s. You might be shocked to find one or two that represent your own family or lifestyle. Good reading!
Famous TV Families
Brady’s band (1969–1974)
Although the show has been running since 1974, it is still remembered as one of the pioneers who set the tone for other family shows and of course we learned a thing or two from this band. This American sitcom depicts the life of the Bradys, a large blended family in which six children – three from their parents’ previous relationship – come together to start a new home. The series was created by Sherwood Schwartz and aired on ABC. Although it started in September 1969, the last episode aired on March 8, 1974.
To this day, the Brady Bunch is considered an American cultural icon and was among the shows that ushered in a new era in family sitcoms. The show, however, did not have much critical or rating success.
The Simpsons (1989 to present)
The longest running American sitcom in history, The Simpsons series has released 639 episodes and still has more on the way. Created by Matt Groening, the show is an animated sitcom where working-class life is ridiculed. The family consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie. The show continues to entertain audiences even if not as much as its time. He also came under heavy criticism. For example, President George H. W. Bush condemned the show for falling behind core family values in 1992.
The Huxtables (The Cosby Show) (1984-1992)
Starring now-ashamed comedian and actor, Bill Cosby, the Huxtables poke fun at family TV. The upper-middle-class African-American family, led by Cliff, was a commercial success, dominating the highest-rated show on television for five consecutive seasons. The Cosby Show is one of two shows in Nielsen ratings history to achieve this feat. Plus, when it’s not at the top of the list, the series is in the top 20, making it one of the greatest in family television history and, of course, among families. famous on television to this day.
Modern Family (2009 to present)
Modern Family was the breath of fresh air we all needed at a time when shows like American Idol and other dramas threatened to take over television. The American television family sitcom debuted in 2009, depicting the complex life of Jay Pritchett and his family. At first, the show received a favorable reception from viewers, but the level of popularity it enjoyed at the time faded over time.
He currently has 22 Emmy Awards among his 75 nominations. Also, there are other prestigious awards and recognitions associated with it. The show is popular for its depiction of a gay couple raising a child as well as some other controversial issues that abound at the time.
Keeping Up with the Kardashians (KUWTK 2007–Present)
Amid negative reviews, reality TV show KUWTKa thrived for a decade and is still going strong with its cast members commandeering Hollywood’s glamorous aura by simply living their lives of glitz and glam on television. The American reality series aired on E! cable since October 14, 2007. A few years later, it is considered the longest running reality series in the country.
The main focus on the show is pretty much all about the Kardashian-Jenner blended family. Unlike sitcoms, the cameras follow the cast members daily, living their normal lives, falling in love, breaking up, divorcing, having children, and building a multi-million dollar empire. KUWTK is, as of August 5, 2018, in its fifteenth season. Despite the media backlash that marred the show early on, it has maintained a prominent place as E! the network’s most successful shows, enriching attendees by the minute.
Capitalizing on its commercial success, the KUWTK series spawned spin-off groups such as Kourtney and Kim Take Miami, Kourtney and Kim Take in New York, Khloé & Lamar, Kourtney and Khloé Take The Hamptons, Dash Dolls, Rob & Chyna and Life of Kylie. Hate ’em or love ’em, it’s become clear that the Kardashian-Jenner clan is here to stay and haters of the sort may have to follow them. The family of Kris Jenner, Caitlyn Jenner, Kourtney Kardashian, Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Rob Kardashian Kendall Jenner, and Kylie Jenner have become one of the most famous TV families of all time.
All in the Family (1971-1979)
Arguably among the most influential in its category, the show, which featured a working-class bigot and his family, leveraged some controversial issues to cross boundaries in the 1970s. like racism, abortion, homosexuality, rape, women’s liberation and many more were somewhat banned on TV. Touching these areas made the show popular and led to a spin-off series called Archie Bunker’s Place.
Roseanne (The Conners 1988-1997)
Premiering on ABC on October 18, 1988, Roseanne remains one of the best sitcoms to bring to the table that other famous TV families didn’t have. It held the top spot in the Nielsen rankings from 1989 to 1990 and remained in the top four for six out of nine seasons. Other successes were also achieved by the show which went on hiatus in 1997 but was able to be revived to run from March 27, 2018 to May 22, 2018. The show portrays gay characters remarkably and addresses the issue of contraceptives.
Married… with children (1986–1997)
This American television sitcom is the longest-lasting live-action sitcom that has aired on the Fox network so far. It focused on the Bundy family and their twisted lifestyles in suburban Chicago. The show features 259 episodes spanning 11 seasons and ranks at number 94 on Entertainment Weekly’s 2008 “New TV Classics” list.
The Osbournes (2002-2005)
The life of heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne, as well as that of his family, has been chronicled on this American reality series. After its debut on March 5, 2002, it was MTV’s most-watched series. The final episode aired on March 21, 2005. Ozzy, alongside his wife Sharon, and their children (Jack and Kelly) all played the show’s usual family role.
Nevertheless, there remains a missing piece in the puzzle. One of the rock star’s children, a daughter named Aimee, declined the offer to appear on the show, which she considered a waste of time and antics. As such, she doesn’t mince words when calling them out in public. It had become so real that her image was not present in the family photos used on the show or she had simply blurred it. The show detailed Sharon’s battle with cancer and several other major events in the family.
Black-ish (2014 date)
Premiered on September 24, 2014, this American sitcom TV series has seen several renewals since its debut – thanks to the rave reviews it has racked up since the start. The ABC show is a single-camera comedy that features Hollywood’s biggest hits like Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross. Viewers loved their portrayal of an upper-middle-class African-American family, opening the door to critical acclaim and awards.
Among the many awards and nominations from the show are; a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – won by Tracee Ellis Ross, followed by Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for the Outstanding Comedy series. The show was also honored with the TCA Award, for Outstanding Achievement in Comedy. This milestone also places him among the famous TV families of all time.
After four successful seasons, nothing stood in the way of a fifth installment. Fittingly, ABC picked it up on May 11, 2018 for a renewal. Fans are eagerly awaiting the fifth season of the series, scheduled for October 16, 2018.