I wouldn't say most American homes the front door opens to the living room, at least not in the Northeast where I'm from. Most have either hallways, like you de

I wouldn't say most American homes the front door opens to the living room, at least not in the Northeast where I'm from. Most have either hallways, like you described as European (usually called a mudroom or entrance-way), or side doors that are exclusively used. Even most apartments have a little entrance-way area for shoes and coats, if not a full room. The only time I ever lived in a home that opens directly into the living room was when I lived in a super shitty apartment and everything about that apartment made no sense. Don't take what you see on TV as a typical American home, those are sound stages that are laid out to be most convenient to film.