The Loud Family - UnShattered: "An American Family" on Filming the First Reality TV Show

After hearing about and wanting to watch An American Family for years, the internet finally came through and made it available to me. To say I’m obsessed would be an understatement, so for this podcast to come out right now is serendipitous. It shocks me to hear the Louds felt at the time that they were represented poorly; as I’m watching the show, I feel it’s pretty even handed, especially compared to today’s standards. I’m very much enjoying this podcast, for some perspective on what I’m watching. Pat Loud, you are an icon. I could only dream of being as chic and together as you. I am the parent of an LGBTQ+ child, and the middle-aged child of a widowed mother living in another city, and I look to you for inspiration. RIP

This has been so delightful and I just stumbled upon it. To be able to deconstruct your lives this way and share it once again helped me go back and wish I could do the same. My family is all gone except for one brother I am hoping for a book to follow this as it was so short and a book could take the time to have more detail. How open and honest and lovely you all are. Thanks for sharing…

Thank you so much for doing this. I hadn’t realized the megaton feelings I had about An American Family until I started listening to this podcast. It recalled for me the curtain lifting from all our protected, spaced out lives to show what was real and important. I so remember the shock of my parents’ generation that such things would be discussed on TV and while my friends and I were shrugging our shoulders. Still wish this would have allowed for a more in depth exploration of each living family member’s reaction, i.e., a Kevin chapter, a Grant chapter, etc. Anyway..great show, happy to know you feel cleansed.

I never watched the show nor do I plan to but knowing the history of reality TV definitely had me intrigued. The back stories and first person accounts were very interesting.