Michael (Jeff Bridges) drops out of college with the intention of finding himself. When his parents (Carl Betz and Vera Miles) balk, he talks them into joining him in traveling the country and educating themselves about the state of things. They, along with Grandma (Ruth McDevitt) trick out an old Greyhound bus and hit the road. The picaresque plotline brings the family into contact with a variety of colorful characters. The producers of In Search of America never declared outright that the made-for-TV film was intended as a series pilot, but it ends on an ambiguous note with plenty of loose plot ends. In Search of America was first telecast March 23, 1971.
Carl Betz
as Ben Olson
Vera Miles
as Jenny Olson
Jeff Bridges
as Mike Olson
Ruth McDevitt
as Grandma Rose
Renne Jarrett
as Kathy
Howard Duff
as Ray Chandler
Kim Hunter
as Cora Chandler
Sal Mineo
as Nick
Michael Anderson Jr.
as J.J.
Tyne Daly
as Anne
Glynn Turman
as Bodhi
Chris Gilmore
as Girl
