United States(1980)

It will do to marriages what M*A*S*H did for war

United States is a comedy-drama that aired briefly on NBC in 1980, following Richard and Libby Chapin, an upwardly mobile Los Angeles couple navigating marriage's real complications. Beau Bridges and Helen Shaver star as the husband and wife whose relationship forms the heart of the series. Executive producer and chief writer Larry Gelbart created the show to explore authentic marital issues—infidelity, debt, family loss, and sexual misunderstandings—drawing from his own experiences and those of friends. The series deliberately avoided laugh tracks and background music, adopting a sophisticated visual style inspired by 1930s cinema. Despite Gelbart's ambitious vision, NBC cancelled United States after just six episodes aired in spring 1980, pulling it from the schedule within two months. The remaining seven episodes didn't reach audiences until 1986, when A&E cable channel broadcast the full run.