FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

April 19, 2011

KERA WORLD TO AIR AN AMERICAN FAMILY MARATHON

The Original Reality Series Returns to Television

DALLAS/FORT WORTH – KERA WORLD 13.2 will air An American Family, the original reality series that sparked a new television genre. Driven by HBO’s upcoming Cinema Verite, a dramatized behind-the-scenes look at An American Family, interest has surged for the original broadcast series. Not seen in its entirety for more than 20 years, An American Family will be shown in a 12-hour marathon on KERA WORLD 13.2 beginning Sunday, April 24, at 11:00 a.m. CST.

An American Family originally aired on public television in 1973 and was the most controversial and talked about television program of its time. The show followed the Loud family of Santa Barbara, California, chronicling the lives of its family members. The series made parents Pat and Bill Loud and their five children Lance, Delilah, Grant, Kevin and Michelle Loud household names. During the seven months they lived under the microscope of the camera, viewers watched significant life moments including Pat Loud asking for a separation from her husband, and the New York lifestyle of their gay son, Lance.

Unlike most documentaries of its time, An American Family had no host, interviews or voice-over narration.  Filmmakers Alan and Susan Raymond portrayed everyday life without embellishment. The first episode was broadcast by PBS on Thursday evening, January 11, 1973. In 2002, TV Guide named the series one of the Top 50 Greatest Shows of All Time.

The first An American Family 12-hour marathon will begin on KERA WORLD 13.2 on Sunday, April 24, at 11:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. CST. The series will be rebroadcast on KERA WORLD 13.2 on Monday, April 25 from 11:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. CST. Viewers can find related content at www.worldcompass.org.

Producer/Director is Craig Gilbert. Filmmakers are Alan Raymond, camera, and Susan Raymond, sound. Associate producer is Susan Lester. Film editor is Eleanor Hamerow. Sound editor is Thomas Halpin. Executive producer is Curtis W. Davis

ABOUT KERA

KERA is a not-for-profit public media organization that serves the people of North Texas. The station broadcasts to the fourth-largest population area in the United States. KERA produces original multimedia content, carries the best in national and international public television and radio programs, and provides online resources at www.kera.org. The station’s extensive coverage of the arts can be found at www.artandseek.org. KERA-TV broadcasts on Channel 13.1. KERA WORLD broadcasts on 13.2. KERA-FM broadcasts on 90.1 in Dallas/Fort Worth/Denton, 88.3 in Wichita Falls, 100.1 in Tyler and 99.3 in Sherman. KXT 91.7 FM, KERA’s new music station, KXT 91.7, is streamed online at www.kxt.org.

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CONTACT:

Christopher Wagley

Director, Marketing & Communications

KERA, KXT and Art&Seek

cwagley@kera.org

214-740-9377