Every once in a while, a show comes around that’s so powerful and groundbreaking, you can’t remember what it was like before you welcomed it into your life.
Sixteen years ago, that’s exactly what happened to audiences when NBC introduced the Braverman family.
Television was never quite the same after the pilot episode of Parenthood, which premiered on March 2, 2010.
Few could have predicted the cultural impact that the series, loosely based on the 1989 Ron Howard theatrical film of the same name, would have on the everyday viewer.
Audiences were drawn by the show’s raw honesty, a rarity for primetime television at the time. While every drama was leaning into high-stakes plot twists and cliffhangers to captivate audiences, Parenthood followed four siblings as they navigated parenthood in their California hometown. It was the show’s willingness to portray family life as an unglamorous reality that found the heart and drama in the mundane, yet relatable, moments like a parent-teacher conference or a sibling argument.
The cast had everything to do with it, too, pulling in audiences even further as an ensemble group that felt less like actors and more like friends you’ve known your whole life. The warmth and authenticity were brought by CraigT. Nelson, Bonnie Bedelia, Lauren Graham, Peter Krause, MonicaPotter, Dax Shepard, Sam Jaeger, Ray Romano, Mae Whitman and more, with one fan calling them “one of the best ensemble casts ever to grace network television drama.”
Easily watched by all ages, the drama made you laugh and sob, sometimes all in the same hour, leaving you convinced that a call to your own family was a good idea.
It wasn’t long before critics and fans both recognized that the series was something special, a breath of fresh air that wasn’t afraid to tackle the storylines that mattered or felt too deep, like the portrayal of autism that was praised for being one of the most accurate and compassionate on mainstream television
It didn’t just feel like a TV show; it felt like real-life playing out in front of you. Which is why, throughout its five-year run, it nabbed 40 nominations total, including 16 wins.
NBC took a moment this month to celebrate the series, which paved the way for others just like it to deliver that same raw dose of realness, most notably, NBC’s other hit series that filled the void six years later, This Is Us.
“On this day in 2010, we were reintroduced to the Braverman clan. 🥹 Parenthood brought the chaotic, real, and rewarding reality of raising a family to your screens every week. #NBC100,” the Instagram post read.
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Fans immediately took to the comment section to shower the drama and its accomplishments with praise.
“Parenthood changed me. I ❤️ that show!” one wrote, as another expressed, “I absolutely loved this show. We deserved more of it.”
Naturally, there were calls for more episodes, with one exclaiming, “Best ever. I demand a reboot,” and another adding, “We absolutely need a reboot! 🙌❤️.”
The “Greatest show of all time” and “One of the best shows ever!” comments kept going
“Definitely in my top 10 favorite shows ever!! Love it,” another stated, with many more calls to “bring it back.”
Erika Christensen, who played Julia Braverman-Graham, even chimed in feeling nostalgic, declaring, “What a time it was 🥹.”
If you want to catch up or relive the magic, Parenthood’s six seasons can be streamed on Prime Video with a subscription.