For most of its turbulent existence, "Brothers & Sisters" has been described as a primetime soap, which seems like a dismissive label when you consider the quality and star wattage of this cast, many of them "Alias" alums. [...] after looking at the pilot, with its familiar family conflicts, you have to concede that the description is fairly accurate. The producers claimed, through forced smiles a couple of months ago, that ABC loved this show so much that the network encouraged wholesale changes in cast and perspective to get it right.

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