The document discusses two pioneering television series from the 1970s that centered around real families: An American Family from 1973, and The Osbournes from 2002. Both shows were media phenomena as they gave viewers an intimate look into the daily lives of families. The Osbournes in particular blended elements of a sitcom like introducing conflicts and resolutions with each episode, but was considered the first reality sitcom as it was unscripted and simply followed the family at home.

1. By:
Jason
Marcus
Latisha

2.  It has been almost 30 years since a television series
has centered on an actual family. The first time they
started to film this modern day family series for
television was 1973.
 The 1973 PBS documentary series “ An American
Family featured the loud family of Southern
California, who were subjected to similar media and
viewer interest as nearly a year of their lives unfolded
in 13 television episodes.
 As the title of their series indicated, they became an
emblem for the American Family of the early 70’s.

3.  Both An American Family and the Osbournes were
media phenomena. That is were idiosyncratic texts
command a sudden, high degree of attention during
initial runs.
 First trace of how the terms “genre” and “family” are
linked through television.
 Every concept of a real television family points
squarely to questions of genre and family. Each
category establish limits within edge, in order to
succeed.

4.  Genre , and family are narrative concepts that
described limited categories: text or social grouping
it is only considered as a example of a particular
genre or family.
 The process has been fundamental to television,
where ideals of both genre and family have
systematically organized representation.
 Television genres delimit narrative and
representational parameters, facilitating audience.
 The normative television family is a fully scripted set
of generic expectations.

5.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuIMXU
GRn_I&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list
=PL11A2600DCE3C26A6
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=invBjPm
Y8iE
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5uuMr1
YEyE
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkT4CXz
qgKk&feature=related

6.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51sIqzEo
7h4
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37dG__jR
5RI&feature=fvst

7.  American Family
 The Osbournes
 John Corner
 Documentary
 Argument
 Exhibition
 Reality

8.  The Osbourne family first made their
appearance on one of MTV’s hit shows Cribs.
 The Osbournes were willing to share their
mansion with America thinking that in
exchange they would gain publicity.
 They were right!

9.  Producers were able to manipulate the footage
as if it were an actual sitcom.
 Using generic codes: problems are introduced,
conflicts play out, and the end of the episode
reaches a mild resolution. (same format as a
sitcom).
 Therefore creating a reality sitcom. No script,
no set.

10.  The Osbournes, although on camera still
functioned as a normative unit. They cursed,
kissed, wrestled, revealed their bodies, used
the bathroom, and became famous for over
using the “F” word.
 The show reflected the “Cleavers of Leave it to
Beaver and the Brady’s of The Brady Bunch.
 Their home is a divided space of public and
private areas, just as in any family sitcom.

11.  Being that the Osbournes contained mostly
everything a normal family sitcom would have
they are known as the first reality sitcom.
 Minus the script, set, and props.
 The show did not focus on Ozzie old rock star
career but more on the present times of them as
a whole family. (elaborate)