PBS is bringing the Loud family back to American television. The pioneering 1970s reality television program "An American Family" is returning in a two-hour version of the original 12-hour documentary series called "An American Family: Anniversary Edition."

The groundbreaking series–sometimes cited as the first reality show–has not been seen nationwide on PBS in more than 20 years. The new edition is set to air nationally on July 7, and is being accompanied by a number of online features.

The original filmmakers, Alan and Susan Raymond, adapted the 12-hour documentary, which originally aired in 1973, into the two-hour feature.

The story of the making of the original show was the subject of an April 2011 HBO film called "Cinema Verite," starring Diane Lane and James Gandolfini.