United States

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.

Loading countdown...
Side Order of Life

Side Order of Life

2007

Rags to Riches

Rags to Riches

1987

My Favorite Martian

My Favorite Martian

1963

Clueless

Clueless

1996

The L Word

The L Word

2004

Agony

Agony

1979

Moesha

Moesha

1996

The Bill Cosby Show

The Bill Cosby Show

1969

What About Brian

What About Brian

2006

The Colbys

The Colbys

1985

Models Inc.

Models Inc.

1994

Grady

Grady

1975

Cannon

Cannon

1971

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Curb Your Enthusiasm

2000

Unpredictable Family

Unpredictable Family

2023

The Wacky Wife

The Wacky Wife

1987

Justice

Justice

2006

Boomtown

Boomtown

2002

The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin

The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin

1976

L.A. Law

L.A. Law

1986