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United States

30min

Drama

Comedy

United States is a short-lived half-hour comedy-drama that NBC added to its Tuesday primetime schedule in March 1980. Larry Gelbart, the show's executive producer and chief writer, said the name United States was not a reference to the country but rather to "the state of being united in a relationship". Gelbart envisioned a series that would be "a situation comedy based on the real things that happen in my marriage and in the marriages of my friends". Episodes tackled such topics as marital infidelity, household debt, friends who drink too much, death within the family, and sexual misunderstandings. United States focused on Richard and Libby Chapin, an upwardly mobile couple who lived in a Los Angeles suburb. Beau Bridges played Richard, and Helen Shaver played Libby. Gelbart reverted to black-and-white script for the show's titles. He said that was to convey the mood of "a sophisticated '30s film." Gelbart also avoided use of background music and a laugh track. Scripts featured dialogue such as, "Just for once I'd like to be treated like a friend instead of a husband," and "Maybe you and Bob can go out and get yourselves one redhead with two straws." United States premiered at 10:30 p.m. on March 11, 1980. NBC pulled it from the schedule within two months, after only six of 13 episodes had aired. The remaining episodes were not broadcast until 1986, when the A&E cable channel aired United States.

Episodes

Cast

Season 1

All Our Weapons

1. All Our Weapons

30min

11th Mar 1980

""sex, death and television..."" When Uncle Charlie dies, the Chapins have to figure out how to explain it to their sons.

Uncle Charlie

2. Uncle Charlie

30min

18th Mar 1980

""getting ready..."" The Chapins' dinner party with another couple turns into a disaster when the main topic of conversation becomes the husband's infidelity.

A Touching Story

3. A Touching Story

30min

25th Mar 1980

""advantage Richard..."" An old friend for the past 30 years suddenly reveals to the Chapins that he has been hiding his homosexuality all that time.

Sometimes

4. Sometimes

30min

8th Apr 1980

""April, '67 moo goo gai panic"" The Chapins panic when they think that Libby is pregnant.

Better Than Burning

5. Better Than Burning

30min

15th Apr 1980

""the Late Show..."" Richard and Libby have a fight over his refusal to ask her father for a loan.

Room Service

6. Room Service

30min

22nd Apr 1980

""breaking out..."" Libby's ex-husband makes a surprise visit to the Chapin home.

Josh

7. Josh

30min

29th Apr 1980

""sometimes it's like this... he's wrong""

Windmills

8. Windmills

30min

15th Apr 1980

Richard and Libby separately reveal their thoughts to interviewers for a book survey.

Touching Story

9. Touching Story

30min

""night shift..."" Libby finally confesses a shocking childhood secret.

Slide Area

10. Slide Area

30min

""good samaritans..."" A severe storm causes their friends to have to stay over because their house is about to slide away. Richard questions his emotions when he cries for no apparent reason.

Broccoli

11. Broccoli

30min

18th Mar 1980

""$28 a day... plus tax."" Staying in a motel after a fight with his wife, Richard is tempted to stray when a female friend visits to console him.

And Baby Makes Two...

12. And Baby Makes Two...

30min

1st Apr 1980

""Laura..."" When Nicky's teacher comes to talk to them about his difficulties learning how to read, Libby feels pangs of guilt that her son seems to be inheriting her learning disability.

Lysdexia is No Joek

13. Lysdexia is No Joek

30min

""Monday, probably..."" An already depressed Richard becomes even more so when Libby tells him that their son Nicky is part of a gang of kids who are going around killing cats.

First air date

11th Mar 1980

Last air date

29th Apr 1980

Status

Ended

Type

Scripted

Original language

en

Networks