work. Their kids were now 19-year-old Allison (Marianne McIsaac), 14-year-old Greg (Sammy Snyders) and 10-year-old Lucy (Megan Follows). The format in all three versions was essentially the same. Unlike most other sitcoms, each episode was open-ended, the first half of each episode being a vignette featuring the Baxter family and presenting a situation or dilemma they faced, and the second half, an "instant analysis" talk-show format, giving a live studio audience and guests a chance to talk about the topic being presented. Stations carrying the show could choose between producing their own discussion segments locally, or presenting a national version of the segment which, during its first season, was produced in Los Angeles, and in its second season, Toronto. The discussion moderator in the second segment was different in each city, and in some local markets, viewers were invited to call in and voice their reactions. Cast On WCVB Frank Dolan as Stanley Baxter Anita Sangiolo as Susan Baxter Scott Evans as Dennis Baxter Tiki Furho as Amy Baxter Harriet Rogers as Grandma Lizzie Season 1 Larry Keith as Fred Baxter Anita Gillette as Nancy Baxter Derin Altay as Naomi Baxter Chris Petersen as Jonah Baxter Terri Lynn Wood as Rachael Baxter Season 2 Sean McCann as Jim Baxter Terry Tweed as Susan Baxter Marianne McIsaac as Allison Baxter Sammy Snyders as Gregg Baxter Megan Follows as Lucy Baxter Episodes Production The program originally began as a local production at WCVB-TV Boston, in early 1977, where it had been created by a former divinity student named Hubert Jessup as part of his Sunday morning public-affairs show. Jessup persuaded station management to try it in the early evening, where it gained a loyal following. During the WCVB-produced seasons, before syndication, the initial cast was primarily composed of local Boston actors. After two seasons as a local show in Boston, producer Norman Lear offered to produce the program in Hollywood and put it into nationwide syndication for the 1979–80 season. For the Lear incarnation of the series, the show was re-cast with nationally known actors including Larry Keith, Anita Gillette and popular teen actor of the time, Chris Petersen (credited by several online sources, including IMDb, as "Chris Peterson", but this is a misspelling). The show was slated to end production after its Lear-produced season due to poor ratings performance. However, the show was then acquired by a Canadian firm, Wilks and