I was quite the precocious child at 7. Instead of coming home and watching cartoons, I preferred serialized dramas. This show was my favorite at the time. Even at that young age I knew what I was watching was good. Flash forward 30 years. I have now watched the episodes on DVD and this show truly is/was leaps and bounds ahead of anything in its day. The writing and direction was just phenomenal, credible, and so well executed. The acting is spot on, with nary a clichéd moment. It is great to watch these episodes again and see how a family drama should be produced. One can see why Sada Thompson Gary Frank and Kristy McNichol won Emmys for their work. James Broderick definitely should have been awarded one.
