Year in the Life on NBC

A poignant and intelligent drama about the joys and sorrows of a suburban Seattle family, based on (and picking up from) an Emmy-winning 1986 miniseries. Gracefully written and performed, with people easy to care about, the series came from `St. Elsewhere' creators John Falsey and Joshua Brand and deserved a far longer life. Richard Kiley won an Emmy as family patriarch Joe Gardner, and said at the ceremony that he had `nothing but sadness for the corporate myopia that killed a fine show.'