"Family Ties" (1982)TV series 1982-1989

Creator:

Gary David Goldberg
(more)

Seasons:

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

Release Date:

22 September 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family

Plot:

A couple who were ardently leftwing political activists in the sixties face the problems of raising...

Plot Keywords:

Family | Sitcom | Brother Sister Relationship | Columbus Ohio | Ex Hippie

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 19 wins & 38 nominations

Cast

Michael J. Fox	...	Alex P. Keaton (164 episodes, 1982-1989)
Michael Gross	...	Steven Keaton / ... (164 episodes, 1982-1989)
Tina Yothers	...	Jennifer Keaton (160 episodes, 1982-1989)
Justine Bateman	...	Mallory Keaton (159 episodes, 1982-1989)
Meredith Baxter	...	Elyse Keaton (158 episodes, 1982-1989)
Brian Bonsall	...	Andrew 'Andy' Keaton (71 episodes, 1986-1989)

(more)

Series Directed by
Will Mackenzie		(14 episodes, 1982-1987)
Sam Weisman		(12 episodes, 1983-1987)
Andrew McCullough		(11 episodes, 1983-1989)
Tony Mordente		(6 episodes, 1982-1983)
Rita Rogers		(6 episodes, 1983)
Asaad Kelada		(2 episodes, 1982-1987)
Michael Zinberg		(2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Alan Bergmann		(2 episodes, 1982)
Dick Martin		(1 episode, 1982)
John Pasquin		(1 episode, 1983)
Debbie Allen		(unknown episodes)
Peter Baldwin		(unknown episodes)
Kent Bateman		(unknown episodes)
Matthew Diamond		(unknown episodes)
Lynn Hamrick		(unknown episodes)
Steven Robman		(unknown episodes)
Barbara Schultz		(unknown episodes)
Lee Shallat Chemel		(unknown episodes)
Mark W. Travis		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Gary David Goldberg		(35 episodes, 1982-1988)
Darryl Quarles		(28 episodes, 1987-1988)
Ruth Bennett		(9 episodes, 1982-1983)
Michael J. Weithorn		(8 episodes, 1982-1983)
Lloyd Garver		(2 episodes, 1982)
Joanne Pagliaro		(2 episodes, 1982)
Alan Uger		(2 episodes, 1983-1987)
Douglas Wyman		(2 episodes, 1983)
Marc Lawrence		(2 episodes, 1987)
Kimberly Hill		(1 episode, 1982)
Lisa A. Bannick		(1 episode, 1983)
Susan Borowitz		(1 episode, 1983)
Barbara Hall		(1 episode, 1983)
Richard Raskind		(1 episode, 1983)
Rich Reinhart		(1 episode, 1983)
Wendy Aaron		(unknown episodes)
Kate Boutilier		(unknown episodes)
Jean Kraynak Brinck		(unknown episodes)
Stephen Curwick		(unknown episodes)
Bruce David		(unknown episodes)
Shannon Gaghan		(unknown episodes)
Bruce Helford		(unknown episodes)
David Tyron King		(unknown episodes)
Lissa Levin		(unknown episodes)
Matthew Monaster		(unknown episodes)
Burt Prelutsky		(unknown episodes)
Jace Richdale		(unknown episodes)
Bill Steinkellner		(unknown episodes)
Cherie Steinkellner		(unknown episodes)
Lawrence Uger		(unknown episodes)
Alan Vejar		(unknown episodes)
Trish Vrandenburg		(unknown episodes)
Paul Wolff		(unknown episodes)
Jurgen M. Wolf		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Gary David Goldberg	....	executive producer (174 episodes, 1982-1989)
Carol Himes	....	co-producer / line producer (31 episodes, 1982-1988)
Lloyd Garver	....	producer / executive producer (31 episodes, 1982-1983)
June Galas	....	associate producer (29 episodes, 1982-1983)
Michael J. Weithorn	....	producer (9 episodes, 1983)
Marc Lawrence	....	supervising producer (3 episodes, 1987-1988)
Alan Uger	....	co-executive producer (3 episodes, 1987-1988)
Susan Borowitz	....	producer (1 episode, 1988)
Dianne Edwards Thorington	....	associate producer (1 episode, 1988)

Series Original Music by
Tom Scott		(31 episodes, 1982-1983)
J.A.C. Redford		(unknown episodes, 1989)
John Beasley		(unknown episodes)
Dominic Messinger		(unknown episodes)
Rick Rhodes		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Mikel Neiers		(30 episodes, 1982-1983)
Robert F. Liu		(3 episodes, 1987)
Richard A. Kelley		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Gary Anderson		(30 episodes, 1982-1987)

Series Casting by
Judith Weiner		(30 episodes, 1982-1983)
Donald De Line		(8 episodes, 1983)
Allison Jones		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
James F. Claytor Sr.		(29 episodes, 1982-1983)
James F. Clayton		(2 episodes, 1982-1987)

Series Set Decoration by
Chuck Rutherford		(28 episodes, 1982-1983)

Series Makeup Department
Rick Provenzano	....	hair stylist (22 episodes, 1982-1983)
Bron Roylance	....	makeup artist (22 episodes, 1982-1983)
Candida Conery	....	hair stylist (6 episodes, 1983)
David Dittmar	....	makeup artist (6 episodes, 1983)
Marina Hart	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Michele Payne	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Dulcie Smith	....	makeup department head (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ginger Grigg	....	associate director (2 episodes, 1982-1983)

Series Sound Department
Bob Lowe	....	audio (19 episodes, 1982-1983)
Norm Schwartz	....	audio (7 episodes, 1982-1983)
George Velmer	....	audio (3 episodes, 1982-1983)
Ross Deane	....	sound maintenance engineer (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Buck McDancer	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
Stuart St. Paul	....	stunts: UK Episodes (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Eric Clay	....	video operator (29 episodes, 1982-1983)
Paul Basta	....	camera operator (27 episodes, 1982-1983)
Rick Caswell	....	camera operator (26 episodes, 1982-1983)
Irv Waitsman	....	camera operator (26 episodes, 1982-1983)
Dick Price	....	camera operator (23 episodes, 1982-1983)
Joe Blaisdell	....	camera operator (4 episodes, 1982-1983)
Gareth Wilson	....	camera operator (2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Tom Karnowski	....	camera operator (2 episodes, 1982)
Ken Dahlquist	....	camera operator (2 episodes, 1983)
Hank Geving	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Adam Glick	....	set lighting technician (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sharon Sampson	....	costume supervisor (56 episodes, 1986-1989)
Stacey Phelps	....	costumer: women (29 episodes, 1982-1983)
Louis Infante	....	costumer: men (23 episodes, 1982-1983)
Gala Autumn	....	key costumer (10 episodes, 1988-1989)
Michael Castellano	....	costumer: men (7 episodes, 1982-1983)

Series Music Department
Tom Scott	....	composer: theme music (29 episodes, 1982-1983)
Mindy Sterling	....	performer: theme (8 episodes, 1982)
Dennis Tufano	....	performer: theme (8 episodes, 1982)

Series Other crew
Rosie Dean	....	production coordinator (45 episodes, 1987-1989)
Dianne Edwards Thorington	....	production assistant (30 episodes, 1982-1983)
Merilynn Marko-Sanders	....	script supervisor (30 episodes, 1982-1983)
Ruth Bennett	....	story editor / executive story consultant (29 episodes, 1982-1983)
Linda Nieber	....	production assistant (29 episodes, 1982-1983)
Andrew McCullough	....	stage manager (28 episodes, 1982-1983)
Parker Roe	....	technical director (28 episodes, 1982-1983)
Robert Schanche	....	production assistant (22 episodes, 1982-1983)
Heidi Schulte	....	production assistant (22 episodes, 1982-1983)
Valery Garrett	....	production assistant (21 episodes, 1982-1983)
Michael J. Weithorn	....	story consultant (21 episodes, 1982-1983)
Elaine Arata	....	production assistant (20 episodes, 1982-1983)
Bruce Bryant	....	main title designer / title designer (17 episodes, 1983)
James Castle	....	main title designer / title designer (17 episodes, 1983)
Janice Pober	....	production assistant (15 episodes, 1982-1983)
Elizabeth Ward	....	stage manager / production assistant / ... (15 episodes, 1982-1983)
Richard Allen	....	stage manager (15 episodes, 1983)
Denise Alexander	....	production assistant (9 episodes, 1983)
Shari Genser	....	production assistant (9 episodes, 1983)
Ana Krewson	....	production assistant (9 episodes, 1983)
Alan Uger	....	executive script consultant (9 episodes, 1983)
Ginger Grigg	....	associate director (8 episodes, 1982-1983)
Bill Moya	....	production assistant (7 episodes, 1982-1983)
Paul Ross Newman	....	production assistant (7 episodes, 1982-1983)
Sharl Scharfer-Rollins	....	production assistant (6 episodes, 1983)
Joanne Pagliaro	....	story editor (4 episodes, 1982-1983)
Tom Rickard	....	associate director (4 episodes, 1982)
Celeste Hines	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 1983)
Michael Villegas III	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 1983)
Michael Shelley	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1983)
Rita Rogers	....	associate director (2 episodes, 1983)
Charles Croughwell	....	stand-in: Mr. Fox (unknown episodes, 1984-1989)
Pablo Ferro	....	title designer: main titles (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Paramount Television
• Ubu Productions

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1982) (USA) (TV)
• Paramount Television

Other Companies

• Metromedia Square  videotaped at
• ShowBiz Enterprises  draperies

Runtime:

30 min (180 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | USA:TV-G

Filming Locations:

Metromedia Square - 5746 W. Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Television

Trivia:

The name of the public television station that Stephen Worked for was WKS.

Quotes:

[Steven's reaction to Alex turning their house into a hotel]
Steven: Alex, parents are conditioned to put up with a few minor accidents when they leave their children home alone. A broken vase, spilt milk on the rug... There was a kangaroo... in my living room.
Alex P. Keaton: ...He was just here for the party dad.
Steven: Then I guess I'm overreacting.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Moby Presents: Alien Sex Party (2003)

Soundtrack:

Without Us

Dear Mallory...

"Family Ties" is a classic sitcom. It is more than just a TV series. I grew up with it and it is not only one of the best TV shows from the 80's, but also one of the finest sitcoms ever made. This is pure classic humor: it is very entertaining, great fun and endlessly comical. Without a doubt, it is an endless fountain of good laughters.

This show focus on the coolest and funniest family of the cinema: the Keatons. The Keatons are the perfect example of how a family should be: friendly, united and humorous.

The Keatons are all great characters: Steven, Elyse, Alex, Mallory (our "Dear Mallory"), Jennifer, Andy, Skippy, Nick and Lauren. All of them are brilliantly portrayed by the actors and their chemistry is just perfect.

All of them are hilarious. However, the funniest of all are Alex, Skippy and Steven. The reasons? Alex because of his love for money, conservative Republican attitude, hilarious sense of humor and the way how he teaches his Republican ideas to his brother Andy. Skippy because he's so goofy, so shy and so nervous that every scene when he goes to the extreme is a full plate. Steven because of his genial sense of humor and sarcastic comments towards Nick.

Mallory... what can I say about our "Dear Mallory"? Not the smartest girl in the world, but beautiful, adorable, sweet and charming. Her boyfriend Nick, despite being eccentric and a Rambo-like artist, is a nice guy.

I also like Lauren (Alex's charming and pretty girlfriend). And, of course, Andy (a cute little boy and often as funny as his brother Alex).

By the way, in 1985 the great Noah Hathaway appeared on this TV show. Too bad that it was only in 1 episode.

I love the song "Without Us" (performed by Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams). It really captures the essence of this show and it is a very romantic and beautiful ballad, with that "nostalgia" feeling.

Overall, "Family Ties" is a timeless classic TV series and it brings back very good memories from the past. TV series like this are something they just don't do nowadays anymore.

Oh yes, just one more thing: I always loved Ubu Roi, the black Labrador retriever which appears at the end with a frisbee in his mouth and the famous line "Sit, Ubu, sit! Good dog!" told by a man's voice and then the dog barks.