PBS’ KOCE to broadcast landmark ‘An American Family’

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‘An American Family,’ the rarely seen 1973 series credited with being one of the key sparks in the reality TV genre, will be broadcast on PBS SoCal (KOCE-TV) to coincide with the premiere of HBO’s ‘Cinema Verite,’ an original dramatic movie focusing on the behind-the-scenes drama of the controversial project.

All 12 episodes of ‘An American Family,’ which has not been seen in its entirety for more than 20 years, will air April 23 starting at 11 p.m., as well as a marathon showing on PBS SoCal’s World channel on April 24 starting at noon. ‘Cinema Verite,’ which stars James Gandolfini, Diane Lane and Tim Robbins, premieres April 23 on HBO.

PBS SoCal has the exclusive West Coast rights to the series, which followed parents Pat and Bill Loud and their five children, who lived in Santa Barbara. Provocative moments of the series, which had no host, interviews or voice-over narration, included Pat Loud asking for a separation from her husband and the lifestyle of their gay son, Lance. The first episode aired on PBS on Jan. 11, 1973.

-- Greg Braxton