Nuclear Family (TV series)

*Nuclear Family*
Nuclear Family
Genre	Documentary
Directed by	Ry Russo-Young
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of episodes	3
Production
Executive producers	Liz Garbus; Jon Bardin; Julie Gaither; Jenny Raskin; Geralyn Dreyfous; Lauren Haber; Peter Saraf; Leah Holzer; Marc Turtletaub; Alex Turtletaub; Maria Zuckerman; Christine Connor; Ryan Heller; Barbara Dobkin; Eric Dobkin; Andrea Van Beuren; Joe Landauer;
Producers	Ry Russo-Young; Dan Cogan; Warren Fischer;
Running time	57 minutes
Production companies	HBO Documentary Films; Story Syndicate; Topic Studios; Impact Partners; Big Beach; Sustainable Films; Bunker;
Original release
Network	HBO
Release	September 26 –; October 3, 2021

Nuclear Family is an American documentary miniseries directed and produced by Ry Russo-Young. It follows Russo-Young's mothers as an unexpected lawsuit sends shockwaves throughout their family's lives. It consisted of 3 episodes and premiered on September 26, 2021, on HBO.^[1]

Plot

Sandra Russo and Robin Young have two children, Ry and Cade, each through a different sperm donor. Initially the relationship with the donors was pleasant, until one of them sued for paternity and visitation rights.

Episodes

No.	Title	Directed by	Original release date ^[2]	U.S. viewers (millions)
1	"Episode 1"	Ry Russo-Young	September 26, 2021 (2021-09-26)	0.131^[3]
2	"Episode 2"	Ry Russo-Young	October 3, 2021 (2021-10-03)	0.081^[4]
3	"Episode 3"	Ry Russo-Young	October 10, 2021 (2021-10-10)	0.062^[5]

Production

Ry Russo-Young had wanted to tell her story of her childhood for many years, and initially wanted to make a narrative film about her experience, but instead decided to make a documentary.^[6] She initially decided against making a documentary, feeling it would be a "me-and-my problems movie".^[7] Russo-Young had been shooting footage of her family over the course of 15–20 years.^[8] Russo-Young and her editors went through footage of her childhood and material documenting the case.^[9] Because of Tom Steel's death, Russo-Young interviewed his friends and family, and his former legal team to explore his motivations for the lawsuit.^[10]

In August 2021, it was announced Russo-Young would direct a documentary series revolving around her family, with Liz Garbus set to executive produce under her Story Syndicate banner, with HBO set to distribute.^[11]

Release

It had its world premiere at the 2021 Telluride Film Festival on September 2, 2021.^[12]^[13]

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 91% based on 11 reviews.^[14] On Metacritic, the series holds a rating of 83 out of 100, based on 6 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".^[15]

Accolades

Year	Award	Category	Recipient(s)	Result	Ref.
2022	GLAAD Media Awards	Outstanding Documentary	Nuclear Family	Nominated	^[16]
2021	Peabody Awards	Documentary	Nuclear Family	Nominated	^[17]

References

^ "Three-Part HBO Documentary Series NUCLEAR FAMILY Debuts September 26". WarnerMedia. August 18, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
^ "Nuclear Family". The Futon Critic. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
^ Metcalf, Mitch (September 28, 2021). "Showbuzz Daily's Sunday 9.26.2021 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
^ Metcalf, Mitch (October 5, 2021). "Showbuzz Daily Sunday 10.3.2021 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
^ Metcalf, Mitch (October 12, 2021). "Showbuzz Daily Sunday 10.10.2021 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
^ White, Abbey (September 26, 2021). "'Nuclear Family' Director Ry Russo-Young on Examining Meaning of Family and Gay Parenthood in the '90s". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
^ Soloski, Alexis (September 22, 2021). "In 'Nuclear Family,' a Filmmaker Frames Herself". The New York Times. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
^ Spector, Emma (September 26, 2021). "How Making Nuclear Family Helped Documentarian Ry Russo-Young Come to Terms With Her Past". Vogue. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
^ Carey, Matthew (September 22, 2021). ""Incredibly, Intimately Personal": 'Nuclear Family' Tells Story Of Lesbian Moms And Daughter Caught In Monumental Custody Battle — HBO TCA". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
^ Carlisle, Madeleine (September 23, 2021). "Inside HBO's Nuclear Family—and a Lesbian Family's Fight To Exist". Time. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
^ Baumgartner, Drew (August 18, 2021). "'Nuclear Family' Teaser Trailer Shows Same-Sex Couple Fighting to Keep Family Together in HBO Docuseries". Collider. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
^ Hammond, Pete (September 1, 2021). "Telluride Film Festival: Will Smith's 'King Richard', Peter Dinklage Musical 'Cyrano', Joaquin Phoenix In 'C'mon C'mon', Ken Branagh's 'Belfast' Set To Premiere". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
^ "Telluride Film Festival Program Guide" (PDF). Telluride Film Festival. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
^ "Nuclear Family". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
^ "Nuclear Family". Metacritic. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
^ "The Nominees for the 33rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards". GLAAD. 2022-01-21. Retrieved 2022-01-22.
^ "82nd Peabody Award Nominees Announced". PeabodyAwards.com. 2022-04-13. Retrieved 2022-04-14.

External links

Nuclear Family at IMDb

[1] "Three-Part HBO Documentary Series NUCLEAR FAMILY Debuts September 26". WarnerMedia. August 18, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021.

[2] "Nuclear Family". The Futon Critic. Retrieved September 6, 2021.

[3] Metcalf, Mitch (September 28, 2021). "Showbuzz Daily's Sunday 9.26.2021 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved September 29, 2021.

[4] Metcalf, Mitch (October 5, 2021). "Showbuzz Daily Sunday 10.3.2021 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved October 5, 2021.

[5] Metcalf, Mitch (October 12, 2021). "Showbuzz Daily Sunday 10.10.2021 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved October 13, 2021.

[6] White, Abbey (September 26, 2021). "'Nuclear Family' Director Ry Russo-Young on Examining Meaning of Family and Gay Parenthood in the '90s". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 26, 2021.

[7] Soloski, Alexis (September 22, 2021). "In 'Nuclear Family,' a Filmmaker Frames Herself". The New York Times. Retrieved September 26, 2021.

[8] Spector, Emma (September 26, 2021). "How Making Nuclear Family Helped Documentarian Ry Russo-Young Come to Terms With Her Past". Vogue. Retrieved September 26, 2021.

[9] Carey, Matthew (September 22, 2021). ""Incredibly, Intimately Personal": 'Nuclear Family' Tells Story Of Lesbian Moms And Daughter Caught In Monumental Custody Battle — HBO TCA". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 26, 2021.

[10] Carlisle, Madeleine (September 23, 2021). "Inside HBO's Nuclear Family—and a Lesbian Family's Fight To Exist". Time. Retrieved September 26, 2021.

[11] Baumgartner, Drew (August 18, 2021). "'Nuclear Family' Teaser Trailer Shows Same-Sex Couple Fighting to Keep Family Together in HBO Docuseries". Collider. Retrieved September 6, 2021.

[12] Hammond, Pete (September 1, 2021). "Telluride Film Festival: Will Smith's 'King Richard', Peter Dinklage Musical 'Cyrano', Joaquin Phoenix In 'C'mon C'mon', Ken Branagh's 'Belfast' Set To Premiere". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 6, 2021.

[13] "Telluride Film Festival Program Guide" (PDF). Telluride Film Festival. Retrieved September 6, 2021.

[14] "Nuclear Family". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 11, 2022.

[15] "Nuclear Family". Metacritic. Retrieved September 29, 2021.

[16] "The Nominees for the 33rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards". GLAAD. 2022-01-21. Retrieved 2022-01-22.

[17] "82nd Peabody Award Nominees Announced". PeabodyAwards.com. 2022-04-13. Retrieved 2022-04-14.

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