Family Ties (1982–1989)

TV Series  -   -  Comedy | Family
6.9
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A couple who were ardently leftwing political activists in the sixties face the problems of raising a family with children who have strongly conservative views.

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Title: Family Ties (1982–1989)

Family Ties (1982–1989) on IMDb 6.9/10

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Season:

7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1

Year:

1989 | 1988 | 1987 | 1986 | 1985 | 1984 | 1983 | 1982
Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 21 wins & 41 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Complete series cast summary:
...
 Elyse Keaton (176 episodes, 1982-1989)
...
 Steven Keaton (176 episodes, 1982-1989)
...
 Alex P. Keaton (176 episodes, 1982-1989)
...
 Mallory Keaton (176 episodes, 1982-1989)
...
 Jennifer Keaton (176 episodes, 1982-1989)
...
 Andrew 'Andy' Keaton (78 episodes, 1986-1989)
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Storyline

A couple who were ardently leftwing political activists in the sixties face the problems of raising a family with children who have strongly conservative views. Written by Kenneth Chisholm <kchishol@execulink.com>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Genres:

Comedy | Family

Certificate:

TV-G | See all certifications »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

22 September 1982 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Enredos de familia  »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (180 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

4:3
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Alex and Ellen's Love Theme was At This Moment by Billy Vera and The Beaters. The song was originally recorded and released in 1981 and went largely unnoticed. After being featured on the series, the single was re-released in the Fall of 1986, and reached Number One on the Billboard Top 100 Pop Chart in early 1987. See more »

Quotes

Alex P. Keaton: It's just like taking candy from a baby.
Jennifer Keaton: Brings back memories.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in The Making of 'Tremors' (1998) See more »

Soundtracks

"Without Us"
(Theme song)
Lyrics by Jeff Barry
Music by Tom Scott
Performed by Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams
See more »

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User Reviews

"Family" TV shows don't get much better
28 October 2007 | by (Topeka,Kansas,USA) – See all my reviews

If there's something that popular culture from the decades of the 1950s and 1980s share,it's the "family" sitcom(i.e. unitary parents and kids,all attractive and relatively free of deep problems). And while there was some variance of family types,from the more safe,traditional families of "The Cosby Show","Growing Pains" ,"Mr.Belvedere",to the not-so-conventional domestic groupings as "Full House", "The Hogan Family"(originally "VAlerie",which originally aimed to BE a conventional family sitcom) and "Who's the Boss"(or,for that matter,surface-traditional-looking shows "Roseanne" and "Married...With Children"),it seemed to me that as these shows went,none of them matched the wit,warmth and viability as "Family Ties".

The Keatons are about as polarized a unit as they come: parents Steven and Elyse(MIchael Gross and Meredith BAxter-Birney,both excellent!)are '60s Lefty IDealists,and as such,carried their idealism into their work as adults--Steven works for Public TElevision and Elyse carries her form of modified feminism into a successful job as an architect--but cannot seem to carry it into their children. Alex(Michael J.Fox,birthing much of his career out of one very iconic role,which is no mean feat!),a buttoned-down Conservative practically from birth,MAllory(Justine BAteman,who is STILL a babe IMHO),the dim,materialistic mall-girl younger daughter and Jennifer(Tina Yothers,who became as famous for disappearing from showbiz as appearing),the bright but resigned youngest,who is neither idealist or materialist. As the show ran along,you added such extra characters to the pastiche as Skippy(MArc Price,doing stand-up somewhere now),the dippy,well-meaning neighbor kid with a painful crush on MAllory,Nick(Scott VAlentine),MAllory's equally dim but cool boyfriend,Ellen(Tracy POllan,future Mrs.Michael J.Fox),Alex's unlikely liberal girlfriend and LAuren(Coutreney Cox,yes,THAT Coutrney Cox),another lock-horns girlfriend of Alex's and baby brother Andy(Brian "Mikey" Bonsall),Alex's potential protégé.

After a bit of a sluggish start,NBC wisely gambled to keep this on and it managed to hook on to Thursday and Sunday night schedules and ride steadily improving ratings over the remainder of the show's run. While it's been some years since I've seen any of the shows,I was a loyal viewer of the show and enjoyed it quite a bit. I'm not sure if or where this show is re-running,but I may have to check these shows out again soon,if for nothing else to re-visit one of the more well-crafted TV programs to grace the airwaves over that rascally decade of greed,spandex and hair.


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