Possibly the first "reality" show.
They called it "cinema verite" back then.
The film created a stir by documenting the troubles of one American family, bringing to hundreds of thousands of living rooms scenes of Bill and Pat Loud's crumbling marriage and Lance's evolving decision to declare openly he was gay.
"It's been called the most expensive home movie ever made,'' said Alan Raymond of the New York-based Video Verite production company. Alan and Susan Raymond filmed the original documentary for WNET and produced a follow-up HBO film in 1983, marking the program's 10th anniversary.
"I'm amused,'' said Lance Loud, who now lives in Los Angeles. "It's no big deal. We have nothing to sell or promote because of it,'' he said, adding that he has not seen the 12-hour documentary since its original broadcast on public television.http://www.current.org/prog/prog90-20L.html