A New Kind of Family
Encyclopedia
A New Kind of Family is an American sitcom
that aired on ABC
from September 1979 to January 1980. The series stars Eileen Brennan
, Rob Lowe
, and Telma Hopkins
.
), and her daughter Jill in an effort to save money.
Halfway during the series' first season, it was pulled from the schedule and re-tooled in an effort to boost ratings. The characters of Abby and Jill Stone were written out and new characters, Jess and Jojo Ashton (played by Telma Hopkins and Janet Jackson
respectively), were added to the series. Despite the cast change, the show was cancelled in January 1980.
Coincidentally, Lauri Hendler and Telma Hopkins would later star alongside each other again on Gimme A Break.
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
that aired on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
from September 1979 to January 1980. The series stars Eileen Brennan
Eileen Brennan
Eileen Brennan is an American actress of film, television, and theater. Brennan is best known for her role as Doreen Lewis in Private Benjamin for which she received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She reprised the role in the TV adaption and won a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy...
, Rob Lowe
Rob Lowe
Robert Hepler "Rob" Lowe is an American actor. Lowe came to prominence after appearing in films such as The Outsiders, Oxford Blues, About Last Night..., St. Elmo's Fire, and Wayne's World. On television, Lowe is known for his role as Sam Seaborn on The West Wing and his role as Senator Robert...
, and Telma Hopkins
Telma Hopkins
Telma Louise Hopkins is an American singer and television actress. A member of the 1970s pop group Tony Orlando and Dawn, she later starred in several television sitcoms, including Bosom Buddies, Gimme a Break!, Family Matters, Getting By, and Half & Half...
.
Synopsis
Eileen Brennan stars as Kit Flanagan, a widowed mother of three who shares a home with a divorced woman, Abby Stone (Gwynne GilfordGwynne Gilford
Gloria Gwynne Gilford is an American actress. She appeared in several television series in the 1970s and 1980s, including A New Kind of Family, The Young Lawyers and The Waverly Wonders, and had a role in the 1987 film version of Masters of the Universe.Gilford was born in Los Angeles, California,...
), and her daughter Jill in an effort to save money.
Halfway during the series' first season, it was pulled from the schedule and re-tooled in an effort to boost ratings. The characters of Abby and Jill Stone were written out and new characters, Jess and Jojo Ashton (played by Telma Hopkins and Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
respectively), were added to the series. Despite the cast change, the show was cancelled in January 1980.
Coincidentally, Lauri Hendler and Telma Hopkins would later star alongside each other again on Gimme A Break.
Cast
- Eileen Brennan.....Kit Flanagan
- Rob Lowe.....Tony Flanagan
- Lauri HendlerLauri HendlerLauri Hendler is an American actress, best known for her role as the middle child Julie Kanisky on Gimme a Break!Her television guest appearances include CHiPs, Lou Grant, Three's Company, Magnum, P.I., Mr...
.....Hillary Flanagan - David Hollander.....Andy Flanagan
- Gwynne Gilford.....Abby Stone (September – October 1979)
- Connie Ann Hearn.....Jill Stone (September – October 1979)
- Telma HopkinsTelma HopkinsTelma Louise Hopkins is an American singer and television actress. A member of the 1970s pop group Tony Orlando and Dawn, she later starred in several television sitcoms, including Bosom Buddies, Gimme a Break!, Family Matters, Getting By, and Half & Half...
.....Jess Ashton (December 1979 – January 1980) - Janet JacksonJanet JacksonJanet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
.....Jojo Ashton (December 1979 – January 1980) - Chuck McCannChuck McCannChuck McCann is a film actor, television actor, stage actor, and a voice actor from Brooklyn, New York.-Early career:...
.....Harold Zimmerman
Episodes
| Episode # | Episode title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1-1 | "I Do" | September 16, 1979 |
| 1-2 | "Are You Sure Barnum and Bailey Started Like This?" | September 23, 1979 |
| 1-3 | "The Hero" | September 30, 1979 |
| 1-4 | "The Break-up" | October 7, 1979 |
| 1-5 | "Invasion of Privacy" | October 14, 1979 |
| 1-6 | "Andy's New Dad" | October 21, 1979 |
| 1-7 | "Thank You for a Lovely Evening" | December 15, 1979 |
| 1-8 | "Is There a Gun in the House?" | December 22, 1979 |
| 1-9 | "Fair Weather Friend" | December 29, 1979 |
| 1-10 | "No Smoking, Please" | January 5, 1980 |
Award nominations
| Year | Award | Result | Category | Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Emmy Award Emmy Award An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various... |
Outstanding Video Tape Editing for a Series | Nominated | Marco Zappia (editor) (For episode "I Do") |