Family Ties

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NBC (ended 1989)
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Family Ties first aired in September of 1982 on NBC and was one of the first of a wave of family comedies that emerged in the 1980's. With a rocky start in the ratings, Family Ties rose to number 2 after it was placed in the prized time-slot right after The Cosby Show and remained there from 1984 until 1987. The series centered around the Keaton family, Steven and his wife Elyse, both flower children of the 1960's. They had four children, Alex, Mallory, Jennifer and Andrew, who was born in 1985. What was unique about Family Ties was that it blended family comedy with politics. The 1960's flower children, Steven and Elyse clashed with the 1980's conservative, Alex. The show, in a way, showed the changing values during the Reagan era. Besides political views, Family Ties covered a number of controversial topics ranging from suicide to racism to drug dependency. Skippy was a neighbor who had a never-ending crush on Mallory. Ellen was Alex's first serious girlfriend. After breaking up with her, he became seriously involved with Lauren, a psychology student and Nick Moore was Mallory's serious boyfriend. First Telecast: September 22, 1982 Last Telecast: September 17, 1989 Episodes: 180 Color Episodes Theme Song: Without Us Written by: Jeff Barry and Tom Scott Sung by: Mindy Sterling and Dennis Tufano (1982) Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams (1982-1989) NBC Broadcast History September 1982-March 1983----Wednesdays----9:30 p.m. March-August 1983----Mondays----8:30 p.m. August-December 1983----Wednesdays----9:30 p.m. January 1984-August 1987----Thursdays----8:30 p.m. August-September 1987----Sundays----8:00 & 8:30 p.m. September 1987-September 1989----Sundays----8:00 p.m. Nielsen Ratings: (Top 30 or Better) #5 in the 1984-1985 Season #2 in the 1985-1986 Season #2 in the 1986-1987 Season #17 in the 1987-1988 Seasonmoreless
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S 7 :  Ep 26 Aired 5/14/89
S 7 :  Ep 26
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S 7 :  Ep 25 Aired 5/14/89
S 7 :  Ep 25
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S 7 :  Ep 24 Aired 5/7/89
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Fan Reviews (29)

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  • I miss this show!

    7.0
    "Good"
    By Sian88, Jan 13, 2012
    Please someone bring it back w I have so many memories watching it with my little brother

  • perfect

    10
    "Perfect"
    By futuramarama, Jul 22, 2011
    I started watching this on the Hub network, and this is great. Michael J. Fox is great as Alex Keaton, Michael Gross is great as patriarch Steven Keaton, and of course, the female actresses (Meredith Baxter-Birney, Justine Bateman, and Tina Yothers) are great too. The plots, for the most part, are relatable to those watching and many episodes are very funny. All the characters are good and none really annoy me. Classic TV Show right here.moreless

  • I Loved this show back then and Still do Now!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By StarbucksAddict, May 10, 2011
    anytime i watch this show on TV Land brings back memories of when i was 4yrs old sitting in the living room with my folks and watching this show, I had my first Childhood crush on Michael J. Fox too and i still do to this day. Michael J. Fox, Michael Gross and the Rest of the Cast were great together! There will never be a show as good as this one.moreless

  • The one "family comedy" teenagers would actually like to watch.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By VaMpIrEsSuCk, May 10, 2011
    Family Ties is such a funny show! I've it since I saw reruns when I was six or seven and I still like watching now that I'm a teenager. Of the "family classics" my parents talk about, family ties is one of the few I actually like It deals with real-life situations that regular teenagers face on an everyday basis, but puts a hilarious twist on it. Between Mallory, Alex, and Jennifer, the audience really connects with their personalities. It is a must-see for all ages, anf families. Definitely one of my all time favorite shows to watch with family and friends.moreless

  • Without a doubt, one of the best television sitcoms of the 1980s which made the entire cast household names and launched Michael J. Fox into superstardom.

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By Lady_Lancaster, May 10, 2011
    The Keaton family, Steven,(Michael Gross) Elyse, (Meredith Baxter Birney) Alex, (Michael J. Fox) Mallory, (Justine Bateman) Jennifer (Tina Yothers) and Andrew (Brian Bonsall) became one of the best known and best-loved television families when their show began airing on 22nd September, 1982. Reminiscent of a 50s family in an 80s setting, the Keatons were a typical American family who had more than their fair share of ups and downs, most of them hilarious to the point of being side-splitting.

    Perfect comic timing and excellent writing as well as a string of talented regulars and guest stars such as Courtney Cox Arquette, Scott Valentine, Tom Hanks and Mark Price, kept the laughs coming from the first till the last episode. Michael J. Fox launced a highly impressive movie and television career after amassing a huge following among the show's loyal viewers. The names of Alex, Mallory and Jennifer were familiar to an entire generation of viewers and now, with the seasons moving to DVD, the show can be enjoyed all over again by old fans as well as grabbing a whole bunch of new ones! If you like good, clean, hilarious family fun, then "Family Ties" is a must-see series.moreless
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Comedy

Themes

cool parents, dysfuntional families, growing up too fast, parents and children, pressures of high school

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