Family Ties

Steven and Elyse Keaton were two hippies with liberal viewpoints who had married during the 1960s. The young couple had hoped their children would adopt the same values. How wrong they were, especially in the case of oldest son Alex. "Family Ties," which was based in Columbus, Ohio, explored the relationship between Steven (a public television station manager), Elyse (an architect) and their three children, Alex, Mallory and Jennifer. Alex was an avid Reagan devotee and card-carrying Young Republicans Club member who sauntered through the house in a shirt and tie and hung a picture of William F. Buckley over his bed. But as intelligent and over-achieving as Alex was, Mallory was as underachieving and, to say the least, a slacker; she was more concerned with shopping and cute guys. Jennifer was the precocious youngster who just wanted to be a normal kid. Skippy Handleman, one of Alex's best friends, was a geeky next-door neighbor with an unrequited crush on Mallory. During the 1984-1985 season, Elyse gave birth to Andrew, her and Steven's fourth child. Alex quickly took his young brother under his wing, and before long Andrew was reading the Wall Street Journal over his Froot Loops cereal. As the years passed, Alex graduated from high school (as salutatorian) and pursued a financial degree from Leland College. It was there he met his first serious girlfriend, the beautiful Ellen Reed (played by Fox's future wife, Tracy Pollan). After that relationship ended, Alex met psychology major Lauren Miller. Meanwhile, Mallory (who was in serious danger of flunking out of high school) found love in the form of Rambo-wannabe and high school-dropout Nick Moore, of whom Steven and Elyse (at least initially) strongly disapproved; Alex disliked the motorcycle-riding Nick even more. Mallory, however, did graduate from high school and became a fashion design major at Grant College. Nick also obtained his general-equivalency diploma. While there was time for fun and laughs, many episodes explored serious topics, such as: teen pregnancy, censorship, addiction to pills, the effects racial minority homeowners have on property values and grieving the loss of a close friend. Other episodes dealt with Steven's distant relationships with his own family, particularly his brother, Robert, while plenty of episodes presented flashbacks of earlier episodes featuring the Keaton offspring as young children. By the time the series wrapped up, Alex accepted his dream job offer...a job on New York's Wall Street.

Cast

• Meredith Baxter
• Michael Gross
• Michael J. Fox
• Justine Bateman
• Tina Yothers
• Brian Bonsall
• Scott Valentine
• Marc Price
• Courteney Cox
• Tracy Pollan
• John Dukakis
• Norman Parker
• Tom Hanks
• Philip Baker Hall
• Melinda Culea
• Michael David Wright
• John Hancock
• Margaret Marx
• Richard Venture

• Season 1
• Episode 1: Pilot
  When the kids are out Elyse suggests to Steve that they get romantic and play Johnny Mathis albums. ...
• Episode 2: Not with My Sister You Don't
  USA...
• Episode 3: I Know Jennifer's Boyfriend
  USA...
• Episode 4: Summer of '82
  The title is from the coming of age movie _Summer of '42 (1971)_ (qv)....
• Episode 5: I Never Killed for My Father
  The title parodies the movie _I Never Sang for My Father (1970)_ (qv)....
• Episode 6: Give Your Uncle Arthur a Kiss
  Mallory is scared and confused when "Uncle Arthur", a close friend of the family and her father's co...
• Episode 7: Big Brother Is Watching
  Jennifer Keaton: I scored a goal with my head.::Mallory Keaton: I'm really happy for you.::Jennifer ...
• Episode 8: No Nukes Is Good Nukes
  The title is from the old proverb: "No news is good news."...
• Episode 9: Death of a Grocer
  The title is a reference to 'Arthur Miller (I)' (qv)'s play 'Death of a Salesman' which opened at th...
• Episode 10: Have Gun, Will Unravel
  The title is from the TV Western _"Have Gun - Will Travel" (1957)_ (qv) starring 'Richard Boone (I)'...
• Episode 11: A Christmas Story
  Alex was born in Africa while Steve and Elyse were in the Peace Corps. Mallory was born in Berkeley ...
• Episode 12: Oops
  USA...
• Episode 13: Sherry Baby
  The title is from the lyrics of the 1962 song "Sherry" written by Bob Gaudio and performed by The Fo...
• Episode 14: The Fugitive: Part 1
  The title is from the TV drama _"The Fugitive" (1963)_....
• Episode 15: The Fugitive: Part 2
  The title is from the TV drama _"The Fugitive" (1963)_....
• Episode 16: Margin of Error
  USA...
• Episode 17: French Lessons
  USA...
• Episode 18: I Gotta Be Ming
  The title is from the song "I Gotta Be Me", popular with many saloon singers like Frank Sinatra....
• Episode 19: Suzanne Takes You Down
  USA...
• Episode 20: The Fifth Wheel
  The title is based upon the expression "the fifth wheel" meaning a useless extra item on a four whee...
• Episode 21: Stage Fright
  USA...
• Episode 22: Elyse D'Arc
  The title refers to the French martyr Joan of Arc....
• Season 2
• Episode 1: Tender Is the Knight
  The title is from the novel Tender Is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald....
• Episode 2: The Homecoming
  USA...
• Episode 3: The Harder They Fall
  The title is from the old proverb: "The bigger they are, the harder they fall."...
• Episode 4: This Year's Model
  USA...
• Episode 5: Not an Affair to Remember
  The title comes from the classic romance _An Affair to Remember (1957)_ (qv) starring 'Cary Grant (I...
• Episode 6: Speed Trap
  USA...
• Episode 7: Sweet Lorraine
  The title is from the 1928 song "Sweet Lorraine" by Cliff Burwell and Mitchell Parish sung by many, ...
• Episode 8: Batter Up
  USA...
• Episode 9: A Keaton Christmas Carol
  The title is from the Charles Dickens Christmas classic A Christmas Carol....
• Episode 10: To Snatch a Keith
  USA...
• Episode 11: Birthday Boy
  Because dad Steven has to be in Washington for PBS on the day of Alex's 18th birthday, ma throws him...
• Episode 12: Go Tigers
  Alex decides to apply at the college where Mallory's ex Jeff is. So when he goes for his interview s...
• Episode 13: 'M' Is for the Many Things
  USA...
• Episode 14: Say Uncle
  USA...
• Episode 15: Ladies' Man
  USA...
• Episode 16: Ready or Not
  USA...
• Episode 17: Double Date
  USA...
• Episode 18: Lady Sings the Blues
  The title is from the movie _Lady Sings the Blues (1972)_ (qv), the Billie Holiday biography with 'D...
• Episode 19: Baby Boy Doe
  USA...
• Episode 20: The Graduate
  The title is from the Dustin Hoffman movie _The Graduate (1967)_ (qv)....
• Episode 21: Diary of a Young Girl
  The title was the original published title of "The Diary of Anne Frank"....
• Episode 22: Working at It
  USA...
• Season 3
• Episode 1: The Gambler
  The title is from the name of the 'Kenny Rogers (I)' (qv) hit song....
• Episode 2: Here We Go Again
  Dad Steven was looking forward to a weekend camping with the kids, although only Jennifer volunteers...
• Episode 3: Little Man on Campus
  The title is the opposite of the collegiate expression: B.M.O.C. or Big Man On Campus....
• Episode 4: Love Thy Neighbor
  The title is a biblical quote that comes from Matthew: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all th...
• Episode 5: Keaton and Son
  Alex wouldn't even considering working with dad Steven, a respected producer; at the local TV statio...
• Episode 6: Fabric Smarts
  For once airhead Mallory impresses even Alex by being a really good salesperson in a clothes shop. W...
• Episode 7: Hotline Fever
  Per the title, the hot line was the Cold War phone line between the President of the United States a...
• Episode 8: 4 Rms Ocn Vu
  [Alex has turned the house into a hotel to pay for car damage while parents were away]::Alex P. Keat...
• Episode 9: Best Man
  Alex always was extremely tight with goofy Doug, now a fellow student, but when Doug falls instantly...
• Episode 10: Lost Weekend
  The title is from the drama _The Lost Weekend (1945)_ (qv)....
• Episode 11: Don't Kiss Me, I'm Only the Messenger
  The title comes from the common plea: Don't kill me, I'm only the messenger....
• Episode 12: Help Wanted
  Steven gets depressed from interviewing frightfully inept candidates as housekeeper-nanny for the ba...
• Episode 13: Karen II, Alex 0
  Alex is dead-set to be selected for the Alpha Phi Epsilon fraternity, snobs who fixate on prestige, ...
• Episode 14: Oh, Donna
  "Oh, Donna" is a song by 'Ritchie Valens' (qv)....
• Episode 15: Auntie Up
  Alex likes Mallory's favorite aunt Gertrude 'Trudy' Harris for one reason: the pair of airheads regu...
• Episode 16: Philadelphia Story
  The title is from the classic screwball comedy _The Philadelphia Story (1940)_ (qv)starring 'Kathari...
• Episode 17: Birth of a Keaton: Part 1
  The Keaton kids are utterly disgusted to have to participate every year in dad Steven's lame PBS tel...
• Episode 18: Birth of a Keaton: Part 2
  USA...
• Episode 19: Cry Baby
  Everybody else goes baby-crazy all the time, even Alex who can see the next Richard Nixon and Mickey...
• Episode 20: Don't Know Much About History...
  The title is a line from the Sam Cooke classic Wonderful World that played during the cafeteria scen...
• Episode 21: Bringing Up Baby
  The title is from the 1938 screwball comedy starring 'Katharine Hepburn' (qv)and 'Cary Grant (I)' (q...
• Episode 22: Cold Storage
  Alex wants to come along visiting grandma because she lives close to Lisa Tobin, Jennifer because sh...
• Episode 23: Remembrances of Things Past
  The title is from the autobiographical novel "In Search of Lost Time" or "Remembrance of Things Past...
• Season 4
• Episode 1: The Real Thing: Part 1
  The title is from the soft drink advertising campaign: "It's the real thing, Coca-cola."...
• Episode 2: The Real Thing: Part 2
  The title is from the soft drink advertising campaign: "It's the real thing, Coca-cola."...
• Episode 3: Mr. Wrong
  Steven Keaton: Who are all these boys coming over to our house wanting our daughter... I hate them....
• Episode 4: Designated Hitter
  Per the title, in baseball the designated hitter rule is the common name an official position adopte...
• Episode 5: Don't Go Changing
  Alex is feeling insecure about not being a part of Ellen's world of art and dance. Fearful that he m...
• Episode 6: The Old College Try
  Elyse is planning for Mallory's future by sending away for college applications. However, Mallory do...
• Episode 7: My Tutor
  Eugene Forbes: [after Jenifer leaves the room] I met the mother of my children....
• Episode 8: Mr. Right
  Nick is worried that the constant disapproval he receives from Elyse and Steven will ultimately cost...
• Episode 9: Just One Look
  Steven and Elyse are nostalgically excited by a visitor he arranged: Richard 'Richie' Schofield, fro...
• Episode 10: How Do You Sleep?
  Alex hasn't slept in over a week. Lonely nights are spent triggering the smoke alarm, and even askin...
• Episode 11: You've Got a Friend
  Mallory Keaton: My family is pretty simple. As long as you follow a few simple rules. Don't get my f...
• Episode 12: Nothing But a Man
  Dad Steven postulates for the job of regional PBS manager, interested in programming clout rather th...
• Episode 13: The Disciple
  Jennifer is tired of being outclassed by classmates, so she asks academically always excelling Alex ...
• Episode 14: Where's Poppa?
  The title is from the movie _Where's Poppa? (1970)_ (qv)....
• Episode 15: Fool for Love
  The title is from the play 'Fool for Love' by Sam Shepard....
• Episode 16: Checkmate
  When Alex, as Leland chess club champion, duels reputed Soviet guest Ivan Rozmirovich, he takes it a...
• Episode 17: Engine Trouble
  Alex committed the surprising error to vent his conviction there are male and female fortes in the f...
• Episode 18: A Word to the Wise
  Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA...
• Episode 19: A Word to the Wise: Part 2
  Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA...
• Episode 20: Art Lover
  Nick Moore: Look Mallory, I am only gonna say this once and if you don't believe me, I'm just going ...
• Episode 21: Teacher's Pet
  While Andy's inability to handle a toy the box recommends from an age two month younger makes worrie...
• Episode 22: My Buddy
  As Jennifer is growing up, Steven is feeling that he is no longer an important part of her life. Mea...
• Episode 23: Once in Love with Elyse
  The title is based on the song "Once In Love With Amy", the signature song of 'Ray Bolger' (qv), the...
• Episode 24: Paper Chase
  The title is based on the legal drama _The Paper Chase (1973)_ (qv)....
• Season 5
• Episode 1: Be True to Your Preschool
  'Brian Bonsall' (qv)'s TV debut....
• Episode 2: Starting Over
  The title is from the romantic comedy _Starting Over (1979)_ (qv) starring 'Burt Reynolds (I)' (qv)....
• Episode 3: The Freshman and the Senior
  Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA...
• Episode 4: My Back Pages
  Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA...
• Episode 5: Beauty and the Bank
  Mr. Heaney: [to Alex on his first day of work] "Very rarely have I seen someone with your lust for m...
• Episode 6: Mrs. Wrong: Part 1
  Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA...
• Episode 7: Mrs. Wrong: Part 2
  Mallory's determined to marry Nick so she decides to elope. Alex follows her to stop them but only a...
• Episode 8: The Big Fix
  The title is from the book/movie The Big Fix. The 1978 film starred Richard Dreyfuss and was directe...
• Episode 9: My Brother's Keeper
  The title is based on the common expression: "I am not my brother's keeper."...
• Episode 10: High School Confidential
  The title is from the Jerry Lee Lewis song High School Confidential written by Ron Hargrave and rele...
• Episode 11: Paper Lion
  The title is based on the nonfiction book Paper Lion, published in 1966 by George Plimpton about his...
• Episode 12: My Mother, My Friend
  Mallory brings a friend home from college who immediately becomes pals with Elyse. Mallory's friend ...
• Episode 13: O'Brother: Part 1
  Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA...
• Episode 14: O'Brother: Part 2
  Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA...
• Episode 15: Higher Love
  Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA...
• Episode 16: Architect's Apprentice
  Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA...
• Episode 17: A Tale of Two Cities: Part 1
  The title of this episode references 'Charles Dickens' (qv)' novel "A Tale of Two Cities"...
• Episode 18: A Tale of Two Cities: Part 2
  This episode's title references 'Charles Dickens' (qv)' novel "A Tale of Two Cities"...
• Episode 19: Battle of the Sexes
  Per the title, as a concept the Battle of the Sexes refers to the competition, disagreements and fig...
• Episode 20: Battle of the Sexes: Part 2
  Per the title, as a concept the Battle of the Sexes refers to the competition, disagreements and fig...
• Episode 21: Band on the Run
  One of the song Alex tries to get Jennifer's band to perform is Mr. Sandman, which was, quite approp...
• Episode 22: Keaton vs. Keaton
  Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA...
• Episode 23: A, My Name Is Alex
  Psychiatrist: How do you know about Grant College?::Alex P. Keaton: My sister Mallory goes there.::[...
• Episode 25: 'D' Is for Date
  Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA...
• Episode 26: Love Me Do
  The title is based on the Beatles song of the same name....
• Episode 27: The Visit
  Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA...
• Episode 28: Matchmaker
  The title is from the play The Matchmaker by Thornton Wilder about matchmaker Dolly Levi and her adv...
• Episode 29: It's My Party: Part 1
  The title is from the 1963 song "It's My Party" sung by Lesley Gore and became a number one hit....
• Episode 30: It's My Party: Part 2
  The title is from the 1963 song "It's My Party" sung by Lesley Gore and became a number one hit....
• Season 6
• Episode 1: The Last of the Red Hot Psychologists
  The title is derived from the Neil Simon movie _Last of the Red Hot Lovers (1972)_ (qv)....
• Episode 2: The Last of the Red Hot Psychologists: Part 2
  The title is derived from the Neil Simon movie _Last of the Red Hot Lovers (1972)_ (qv)....
• Episode 3: Dear Mallory
  Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA...
• Episode 4: The Other Woman
  Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA...
• Episode 5: Dream Date
  Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA...
• Episode 6: Super Mom
  Elyse gets caught up in work projects to the point of working a lot of overtime. This leaves little ...
• Episode 7: Walking on Air
  An intern job opens at the station where Steven works. He thinks Mallory should get the job. Mallory...
• Episode 8: Invasion of the Psychologist Snatchers
  The title is based on the movie "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" that has been made several times....
• Episode 9: The Way We Were
  The title is from the classic 'Robert Redford (I)' (qv)/'Barbra Streisand' (qv) romance _The Way We ...
• Episode 10: Mister Sister
  Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA...
• Episode 11: Citizen Keaton
  The title is based on the 'Orson Welles' (qv) film _Citizen Kane (1941)_ (qv)....
• Episode 12: Father Time: Part 1
  Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA...
• Episode 13: Father Time: Part 2
  While visiting the Keaton's, Rob's daughter Marilyn stays out all night with a guy she just met. Rob...
• Episode 14: The American Family
  The title is from the 1971 PBS documentary of the real life experiences of the Loud family which is ...
• Episode 16: Anniversary Waltz
  This episode was produced in 1983 and was originally planned to air in the second season (production...
• Episode 17: Miracle in Columbus
  Child actress 'Ellen Hamilton Latzen' (qv) who plays Michelle was deliberately put in a dress and li...
• Episode 18: The Play's the Thing
  Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA...
• Episode 19: The Spirit of Columbus
  The title is from the aircraft "The Spirit of Columbus" a Cessna C-180 flown by Geraldine Mock in 19...
• Episode 20: The Blues Brother
  The title is based on the movie _The Blues Brothers (1980)_ (qv) based on the Saturday Night Live an...
• Episode 21: Read It and Weep: Part 1
  Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA...
• Episode 22: Read It and Weep: Part 2
  Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA...
• Episode 23: Quittin' Time
  Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA...
• Episode 24: Spring Reminds Me
  A former neighbor, Evelyn, visits the Keatons. Her daughter was Mallory's friend, but recently commi...
• Episode 25: The Boys Next Door
  The title has been derived from the song "The Boy Next Door" by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane for the ...
• Episode 26: Sign of the Times
  Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA...
• Episode 27: Return of the Native
  The title is based on the 1878 novel 'The Return of the Native' by 'Thomas Hardy (I)' (qv)....
• Episode 28: Father, Can You Spare a Dime?
  The title is based upon the Depression Era song "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime," with lyrics by 'Yip...
• Season 7
• Episode 1: It Happened One Night
  The title is from the Frank Capra screwball comedy _It Happened One Night (1934)_ (qv) that starred ...
• Episode 2: Designing Woman
  The title is from the sitcom _"Designing Women" (1986)_ (qv) about a group of Southern friends....
• Episode 3: Truckers
  Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA...
• Episode 4: Beyond Therapy
  Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA...
• Episode 5: Heartstrings: Part 1
  Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA...
• Episode 6: Heartstrings: Part 2
  Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA...
• Episode 7: Heartstrings: Part 3
  Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA...
• Episode 8: Basic Training
  Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA...
• Episode 9: Deja Vu
  Per the title, Deja Vu is the feeling that upon reaching a new place or having a new experience and ...
• Episode 10: Nick's Best Friend
  Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA...
• Episode 11: Get Me to the Living Room on Time
  The title comes from the song Get Me To The Church On Time from the Lerner and Loewe musical/movie _...
• Episode 12: The Job Not Taken
  The title is derived from the poem "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost, published in 1916....
• Episode 13: The Wrecker's Ball
  Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA...
• Episode 14: My Best Friend's Girl
  Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA...
• Episode 15: 'Til Her Daddy Takes the T-Bird Away
  The title is a line from 'The Beach Boys' (qv) song "Fun, Fun, Fun"....
• Episode 16: Simon Says
  The title is from the child's game of the same name about be polite and following instructions....
• Episode 17: All in the Neighborhood: Part 1
  The title is a derivation of the TV series _"All in the Family" (1971)_ (qv)....
• Episode 18: All in the Neighborhood: Part 2
  The title is a derivation of the TV series _"All in the Family" (1971)_ (qv)....
• Episode 19: They Can't Take That Away from Me: Part 1
  The title is based on a song of the same name by George and Ira Gershwin....
• Episode 20: They Can't Take That Away from Me: Part 2
  The title is based on a song of the same name by George and Ira Gershwin....
• Episode 21: Rain Forests Keep Fallin' on My Head
  The episode's title refers to the song "Rain Drops Keep Falling on My Head" from the _Butch Cassidy ...
• Episode 22: Wrap Around the Clock
  The title is based on the song "Rock Around the Clock" from 1952, written by Max C. Freedman and Jam...
• Episode 24: Mr. Keaton Takes a Vacation
  The title comes from the 'James Stewart (I)' (qv) movie _Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (1962)_ (qv)....
• Episode 25: Alex Doesn't Live Here Anymore
  Mallory Keaton: The meaning of life? That's simple. Try to be happy, try not to hurt other people, a...