How "An American Family" Began (Spoiler Alert: It's Crazy)

How "An American Family" Began (Spoiler Alert: It's Crazy)

Author: The Loud Family May 6, 2024 Duration: 51:35
Breaking a 50-year silence, Kevin, Grant, Delilah, and Michele Loud tell the story of the initial pitch and how a detective novel, a big lie, and a "deal with the devil" changed their lives forever....uh, "in perpetuity." About The Loud Family UnShattered - Billed as "The Most Important Television Series in History," the 1973 docuseries “An American Family” became an overnight sensation and is now widely considered to be the inception of Reality TV. Opening with an image of the Loud family sh...

It’s 1973, and a television experiment forever changed how we see family, privacy, and truth on screen. The Loud Family-UnShattered: "An American Family" on Filming the First Reality TV Show is narrated by the family members who lived it, offering an intimate, behind-the-scenes account of the groundbreaking PBS series that captivated and divided a nation. This podcast moves beyond the headlines and the sensational collapse captured on film to explore the actual experience of being filmed for twelve months, the unexpected weight of becoming cultural symbols, and the lasting personal echoes of that unprecedented year. You’ll hear firsthand reflections on the production’s methods, the immediate fallout, and the complex legacy of being part of "the first reality TV show" decades before the term even existed. Recognized with a 2024 Signal Awards Silver Award for Best TV and Film Podcast and Best Indie Podcast, this series is not just a historical analysis but a personal reckoning. Each episode delves into specific moments from the series, the family’s interactions with the crew, and their perspective on how their story was shaped and edited for public consumption. For anyone fascinated by the roots of modern reality television, documentary ethics, or simply a profound human story, this podcast provides the rare, authentic voice from inside the phenomenon.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 6

The Loud Family - UnShattered: "An American Family" on Filming the First Reality TV Show
Podcast Episodes
The Legacy of “An American Family”: Our Final Thoughts & Thanks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:45
In our last conversation, we cover the aftermath, legacy, and some final thoughts about our history with An American Family -- learnings that are perhaps even more complex and relevant now than they were 50 years ago. Be…
The Media Circus: Our View From Center Ring [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:10
A year of silence after the shoot was followed by a deafening media blitz. So, what happened to that conversation about shared experiences and our partnership in a grand experiment? Hello? Uh...hello? About The Loud Fami…
The Divorce: The Night Everything Changed [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:48
For the first time we share our individual memories of the night Mom asked for a divorce. On camera. About The Loud Family UnShattered - Billed as "The Most Important Television Series in History," the 1973 docuseries “A…
7-Month Shoot: They Came, They Filmed, They Wouldn't Leave [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:14
Two weeks turns into 7 months and deepening tensions erupt on both sides of the camera. How real is reality? Suffice to say that it requires a lot of planning, negotiations, and rules written in sand. About The Loud Fami…
Lance Loud, Reluctant Icon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:10
Overdue praise for dad, undiminished love for mom and what Lance went through as the first gay man outed on national TV. About The Loud Family UnShattered - Billed as "The Most Important Television Series in History," th…