| Family Plots | |
|---|---|
| Genre | docu-series |
| Starring | Shonna Wissmiller-Smith Chuck Wissmiller Melissa Wissmiller, Rick Sadler, John Greeney, and David Moravee Emily Vigney |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 42 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Daniel Elias, David Houts |
| Location(s) | Poway, California, United States |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | A&E Network |
| Original run | April 19, 2004 – May 8, 2006 |
Family Plots is a critically acclaimed docu-series television show that followed the ongoing events and the employees that work at the family-run Poway Bernardo Mortuary in Poway, California. It ran for two seasons on the A&E Network.
The show centered on the relationships between the employees, for instance Chuck Wissmiller and his three daughters - all of whom worked together at the mortuary during the show's run. Each episode featured one to two funerals with families who shared their grief while celebrating the life and contributions of their loved ones. The departed themselves were seen from time to time on the show, but care was taken by the crew to portray their memory respectfully. While the work done in the preparation room was also shown, the more graphic portions of mortuary work were depicted deferentially.
Family Plots was not renewed by A&E in late 2006. Fan sites and clubs reacted strongly to the cancellation and there had been indications that A&E executives were reconsidering the cancellation. Rumors also abounded of the show being shopped to other networks. The show was also aired on the Seven Network in Australia.
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Since the last episodes of the series, most of the featured staff members have moved on from the funeral home. Chuck has retired and Shonna left in the summer of 2006 to retire early. Emily and Melissa left as well. Sue Wissmiller, the daughters' mother, has since passed away. Rick Sadler has left the business in California while David Moravee and John Greeney still work in the funeral service field. Poway Bernardo Mortuary still serves the people of San Diego and southern California continuing their legacy of care.
As opposed to fictional depictions of the industry like "Six Feet Under", Family Plots was a non-fictional and un-scripted series which gave viewers a window into a serving and hard-working family-run funeral home. Viewers appreciated the descriptions of the processes of funeral preparation which helped dispel the mystery and common myths about their purpose. Fans and critics especially liked the sensitive and sometimes humorous employee interactions proving that funeral directors were a loving, laughing and caring group of people just like themselves.