I agree wholeheartedly with every comment concerning this series. I was ten years old when The Americans appeared as a mid season replacement. I was already interested in American History and had a special fondness for the Civil War. It's a shame that this show, like the Gray Ghost was short-lived. Both were excellent. I believe I saw Daryl Hickman some twenty years later in the movie, "Sharkey's Machine". The alternating episode factor between the two brothers made the show very interesting. The writing and acting were superb. It's a shame that this program will never make it to DVD. It lasted only half a season as it came on as a mid-season replacement. I was both surprised and pleased that so many people remembered this series. It obviously made a lasting impression. Series like this wouldn't make it on TV today, too intelligent.

My brothers & I loved that show as kids. We even went to a Civil War re-enactment at Antietam to see the actors who played Ben and Jeff in person. I would love for Nick at Night or TV Land to air it again. Not many people seem to remember The Americans, probably because it only lasted a year. I even looked in a book at the library once titled "The Complete History of Television" and it wasn't listed!

1961 was the much-promoted Centennial of the Civil War. There were all sorts of specials, and docu-series, and articles in LIFE magazine, etc. This TV drama was excellent with a brother against brother theme. The fact that it lasted one year says a lot about the audience rather than the show. This was quality TV - and cross-reference "Arrest and Trial" (the precursor of "Law and Order") to see how long some quality shows last. I even remember in grade school trying to get classmates to watch "The Americans" with no luck. Their loss. And in this age of gutter, juvenile, and vicious humor a thoughtful drama like this won't ever be rerun or even on video. Too bad. With the right marketing there are enough Civil War enthusiasts to make video sales feasible. It was a memorable series showing how the war tore America apart.

I have remembered this TV series for nearly 40 years. It was a heart tugging series, about two brothers fighting the Civil War. One brother was in the Union Army and the other in the Confederate Army.You just knew one day they would meet face to face on the battlefield, and you just didn't want that to happen. You drew yourself to each of the brothers, in their individual stories of the war.Good history of times past, warm family feelings torn apart by war.There is room for a new TV series based upon this story line, today. I hope some producer picks it up and goes with it.