MovieChat Forums > Family (1976) Discussion > Family Members

Family Members

posted 19 years ago by Victorias_Secret
6 replies | jump to latest

When I first watched this show, I really liked everyone in the family. Then, one by one, they started getting annoying. Willie really started getting on my nerves bigtime. Buddy was always a high-maintenance prima-donna. Nancy was OK. I liked that girlfriend of Willie, McGee. The one who was pregnant. But I hated the part when Willie's father, a lawyer, advised her to return her baby to the father although she had custody and he had kidnapped the kid. What bad legal advice! What bogus legal information to give the public!

Terry
Your soul and your body are your own, and yours to do with as you wish.

[–] LemonJokeKid 19 years ago

Willie was also a major prima donna and scenery chewer. Remember when his gay friend came out to him. Willie just flipped. I remember thinking at the time, "Jeez, Willie, you're such a mellodramatic queen!"

[–] Darrell-270 19 years ago

I remember that gay scene. I think the guy's name was Zeke or something like that. A really good looking guy too! Keep in mind that back in the 1970s, being gay WAS a huge ordeal. At least "Family" was one of the shows that helped make people realize that gay people are to be treated human. His mother had a talk to him. She said he was in for a meager life if he hated Zeke just because of his sexuality. I thought it was well done for its time.

[–] taylorje 18 years ago

Yes and it was in the years before AIDS, too. Both Willie and Nancy could sleep around (and they did) without fear. The name "Zeke" bothered me; in the 1950's when this guy's character would have been born, NOBODY named their kids names like Zeke. Names like Bobby and Jimmy and Steve were popular boy names, and girls were ALWAYS Kathy or Debbie.

[–] Joannakathryn 18 years ago

I agree with you about the given names of the 50s--they were pretty standard and overused. Now, it's a novelty to see a kid named Bobby or Johnny.

However, a lot of us from the 50s changed our names once we got away from home and got better, cooler ones, so maybe Zeke changed his name from something like Tommy or Billy.

As someone born in the 50s and hung with a horrible, awful name, I WISH girls had always been Kathy or Debbie. Mine was so horrible I had it legally changed, and not when I was 18 but when I was past 50.

[–] Darrell-270 18 years ago

Actually I did know a guy who's name was Zeke when I was in high school. He was born in 1960. It's actually an abbreviation for the name Ezekiel, which is a very old name. I was born in 1962 with the name Darrell. I think the name was kicking around, but yes, it was not all that common. It always reminds me of the name Kirk for some reason.

Are you sure that this guy would have been born in the 50s? The year was 1977. He may have been born in 1960. If it was the 50's, it definitely would have been the late 50s. When I watched this episode, I recall thinking that the guy was around my age (maybe a couple of years older).

Just in case some of you don't know, Family (season 1 & 2) is coming out on DVD.

[–] LoriO1225 18 years ago

The character Zeke did mention that his name was Ezekiel. It was toward the end of the episode, I think when he was talking to Kate.