The Partridge Family is an American musical sitcom starring Shirley Jones and David Cassidy. It ran from September 25, 1970, until August 24, 1974, on the ABC network. The family was loosely based on the real-life musical family the Cowsills. The show proved popular, but the fame took its toll on several, if not most of the cast, particularly Cassidy.
In the pilot episode, a group of musical siblings in the fictitious city of San Pueblo, California (said to be "40 miles from Napa County" in episode 24, "A Partridge By Any Other Name") convinces their widowed mother, bank teller Shirley Partridge, to help them out by singing as they record a pop song. After more persuading, Shirley agrees that the family can go on tour. Subsequent episodes usually feature the band performing in various venues or in their garage. The shows often contrast suburban life with the adventures of a show-business family on the road.
