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

Creator:

Gary David Goldberg
(more)

Seasons:

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

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:

Columbus Ohio | Young Republican | Advice | Politics | Sitcom

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 20 wins & 38 nominations

Cast

Meredith Baxter	...	Elyse Keaton (176 episodes, 1982-1989)
Michael Gross	...	Steven Keaton (176 episodes, 1982-1989)
Michael J. Fox	...	Alex P. Keaton (176 episodes, 1982-1989)
Justine Bateman	...	Mallory Keaton (176 episodes, 1982-1989)
Tina Yothers	...	Jennifer Keaton (176 episodes, 1982-1989)
Brian Bonsall	...	Andrew 'Andy' Keaton (78 episodes, 1986-1989)

Series Directed by
Sam Weisman		(60 episodes, 1983-1989)
Will Mackenzie		(37 episodes, 1982-1987)
Andrew McCullough		(15 episodes, 1983-1989)
Matthew Diamond		(14 episodes, 1987-1989)
John Pasquin		(13 episodes, 1983-1987)
Asaad Kelada		(8 episodes, 1982-1988)
Tony Mordente		(6 episodes, 1982-1983)
Lee Shallat Chemel		(5 episodes, 1984-1986)
Peter Baldwin		(3 episodes, 1986-1987)
Michael Zinberg		(2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Alan Bergmann		(2 episodes, 1982)
Barbara Schultz		(2 episodes, 1985-1987)
Lynn Hamrick		(2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Steven Robman		(2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Debbie Allen		(2 episodes, 1987-1988)

Series Writing credits
Gary David Goldberg		(80 episodes, 1982-1988)
Alan Uger		(38 episodes, 1983-1989)
Marc Lawrence		(31 episodes, 1984-1989)
Ruth Bennett		(26 episodes, 1982-1989)
Michael J. Weithorn		(26 episodes, 1982-1986)
Susan Borowitz		(20 episodes, 1983-1989)
Katie Ford		(13 episodes, 1987-1989)
Lloyd Garver		(8 episodes, 1982-1987)
Rich Reinhart		(5 episodes, 1983-1986)
Bruce Helford		(5 episodes, 1985-1989)
Stephen Curwick		(5 episodes, 1985-1987)
Douglas Wyman		(4 episodes, 1983-1989)
Joanne Pagliaro		(2 episodes, 1982)
Lisa A. Bannick		(2 episodes, 1983-1984)
Bruce David		(2 episodes, 1985-1987)
Shannon Gaughan		(2 episodes, 1988-1989)
Matthew Monaster		(2 episodes, 1988-1989)

Series Produced by
Gary David Goldberg	....	executive producer (175 episodes, 1982-1989)
Carol Himes	....	line producer / co-producer (123 episodes, 1982-1989)
June Galas	....	associate producer (93 episodes, 1982-1987)
Alan Uger	....	producer / co-executive producer (80 episodes, 1984-1989)
Michael J. Weithorn	....	supervising producer / producer (71 episodes, 1983-1987)
Lloyd Garver	....	executive producer / producer (69 episodes, 1982-1987)
Ruth Bennett	....	producer (42 episodes, 1984-1987)
Marc Lawrence	....	supervising producer (31 episodes, 1987-1989)
Susan Borowitz	....	producer (29 episodes, 1987-1989)
Dianne Edwards Thorington	....	associate producer (29 episodes, 1987-1989)

Series Original Music by
Tom Scott		(69 episodes, 1982-1987)
J.A.C. Redford		(unknown episodes, 1989)
John Beasley		(unknown episodes)
Dominic Messinger		(unknown episodes)
Rick Rhodes		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Robert F. Liu		(104 episodes, 1985-1989)
Mikel Neiers		(45 episodes, 1982-1987)
Dominic Palmieri		(31 episodes, 1985-1987)
Richard A. Kelley		(9 episodes, 1984-1986)
Bill Chapman		(3 episodes, 1984)
Tony Cestare		(2 episodes, 1984)
Tony Yarlett		(2 episodes, 1984)

Series Film Editing by
Gary Anderson		(118 episodes, 1982-1989)
Ed Brennan		(4 episodes, 1983-1984)
Jon Bellis		(3 episodes, 1986-1987)

Series Casting by
Judith Weiner		(93 episodes, 1982-1987)
Allison Jones		(32 episodes, 1985-1989)
Donald De Line		(10 episodes, 1983-1984)

Series Art Direction by
James F. Claytor Sr.		(119 episodes, 1982-1989)
James F. Clayton		(2 episodes, 1982-1987)

Series Set Decoration by
Chuck Rutherford		(65 episodes, 1982-1987)
Freddie Rymond		(28 episodes, 1987-1989)
Tom Cost		(25 episodes, 1985-1987)

Series Costume Design by
Stacey Phelps		(27 episodes, 1987-1989)

Series Makeup Department
Rick Provenzano	....	hair stylist (81 episodes, 1982-1987)
Bron Roylance	....	makeup artist (61 episodes, 1982-1989)
Dulcie Smith	....	makeup artist (48 episodes, 1984-1987)
Michele Payne	....	hair stylist (28 episodes, 1987-1989)
Elizabeth Rabe	....	additional hair stylist (12 episodes, 1984)
Candida Conery	....	hair stylist (7 episodes, 1983-1984)
David Dittmar	....	makeup artist (7 episodes, 1983-1984)
Bridget Cook	....	hair stylist (2 episodes, 1984)
Marina Hart	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Mitchell R. Semel	....	executive in charge of production (28 episodes, 1987-1989)
Augustine Melendez	....	post-production supervisor (26 episodes, 1988-1989)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ginger Grigg	....	associate director (62 episodes, 1982-1987)
Rita Rogers	....	associate director (34 episodes, 1983-1989)
Tom Rickard	....	associate director (5 episodes, 1982-1983)
Pat Fischer-Doak	....	associate director (2 episodes, 1989)

Series Art Department
Donald S. Foster	....	property master (12 episodes, 1986)

Series Sound Department
Bob Lowe	....	audio (66 episodes, 1982-1989)
Allen Patapoff	....	re-recording mixer (53 episodes, 1985-1989)
Larry Lasota	....	audio (44 episodes, 1984-1987)
Norm Schwartz	....	audio (7 episodes, 1982-1983)
George Velmer	....	audio (3 episodes, 1982-1983)
Gordon Klimuck	....	audio (2 episodes, 1984)
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
Rod Robertson	....	electrician (122 episodes, 1982-1987)
Eric Clay	....	video operator / video (120 episodes, 1982-1989)
Paul Basta	....	camera operator / camera (72 episodes, 1982-1989)
Rick Caswell	....	camera operator / camera (69 episodes, 1982-1989)
Dick Price	....	camera operator / camera (66 episodes, 1982-1987)
Irv Waitsman	....	camera operator (64 episodes, 1982-1987)
Joe Blaisdell	....	camera operator (8 episodes, 1982-1985)
Jim McConocha	....	electrician (8 episodes, 1983)
Ken Dahlquist	....	camera operator (4 episodes, 1983-1985)
Diane Biederbeck	....	camera operator (2 episodes, 1982-1984)
Gareth Wilson	....	camera operator (2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Tom Karnowski	....	camera operator (2 episodes, 1982)
Leigh Nicholson	....	camera operator (2 episodes, 1983-1984)
Tom Dasbach	....	camera / camera operator (2 episodes, 1987)

Series Casting Department
Judith Weiner	....	original casting (175 episodes, 1982-1989)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Stacey Phelps	....	costumer: women / costumer (72 episodes, 1982-1987)
Sharon Sampson	....	costume supervisor (54 episodes, 1986-1989)
Louis Infante	....	costumer: men (38 episodes, 1982-1987)
Gala Autumn	....	key costumer (10 episodes, 1988-1989)
Michael Castellano	....	costumer: men (7 episodes, 1982-1983)

Series Music Department
Jeff Barry	....	lyricist: theme song (176 episodes, 1982-1989)
Tom Scott	....	composer: theme music / composer: end credit music / ... (176 episodes, 1982-1989)
Johnny Mathis	....	singer: theme song (154 episodes, 1983-1989)
Deniece Williams	....	singer: theme song (154 episodes, 1983-1989)
Mindy Sterling	....	performer: theme (8 episodes, 1982)
Dennis Tufano	....	performer: theme (8 episodes, 1982)
John Beasley	....	composer: additional music (3 episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Transportation Department
Mitch Friedman	....	driver (3 episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Other crew
Parker Roe	....	technical director (118 episodes, 1982-1989)
Merilynn Marko-Sanders	....	script supervisor (93 episodes, 1982-1987)
Dianne Edwards Thorington	....	production assistant / assistant: Gary Goldberg (73 episodes, 1982-1987)
Andrew McCullough	....	stage manager (72 episodes, 1982-1989)
Werner Walian	....	production assistant / set production assistant (63 episodes, 1986-1988)
Robert Schanche	....	production assistant (61 episodes, 1982-1987)
Linda Nieber	....	production assistant (60 episodes, 1982-1987)
Bruce Bryant	....	title designer / main title designer (56 episodes, 1983-1987)
James Castle	....	title designer / main title designer (56 episodes, 1983-1987)
Denise Alexander	....	production assistant (52 episodes, 1983-1987)
Richard Allen	....	stage manager (51 episodes, 1983-1987)
Elaine Arata	....	production assistant (48 episodes, 1982-1987)
Sharl Scharfer-Rollins	....	production assistant (48 episodes, 1983-1987)
Ana Krewson	....	production assistant (46 episodes, 1983-1989)
Ruth Bennett	....	executive story consultant / story editor (44 episodes, 1982-1987)
Rosie Dean	....	production coordinator (43 episodes, 1987-1989)
Shari Genser	....	production assistant (41 episodes, 1983-1987)
Marc Lawrence	....	story editor (32 episodes, 1985-1987)
Michael Shelley	....	production assistant (28 episodes, 1983-1985)
Jim Hamilton	....	production assistant (28 episodes, 1984-1987)
Katie Ford	....	executive story editor / story editor (28 episodes, 1987-1989)
Jay Fukuto	....	production executive (28 episodes, 1987-1989)
Karen K. Miller	....	script supervisor (27 episodes, 1987-1989)
Gary Palmer	....	technical consultant (26 episodes, 1984-1987)
Lloyd Garver	....	creative consultant (26 episodes, 1988-1989)
Bruce Helford	....	creative consultant (26 episodes, 1988-1989)
Susan Borowitz	....	story editor (25 episodes, 1985-1987)
Alan Uger	....	executive script consultant (24 episodes, 1983-1987)
Heidi Schulte	....	production assistant (23 episodes, 1982-1983)
Valery Garrett	....	production assistant (21 episodes, 1982-1983)
Michael J. Weithorn	....	story consultant (21 episodes, 1982-1983)
Celeste Hines	....	production assistant (18 episodes, 1983-1987)
Janice Pober	....	production assistant (15 episodes, 1982-1983)
Elizabeth Ward	....	stage manager / production assistant / ... (15 episodes, 1982-1983)
Jessie Ward Dugan	....	production assistant / program coordinator (13 episodes, 1985-1987)
Terry Fleming	....	production assistant (12 episodes, 1985-1987)
Debby Maffioli	....	production assistant (11 episodes, 1985-1987)
Lisa Onodera	....	production assistant (11 episodes, 1985-1987)
Carol Johnsen	....	title designer (11 episodes, 1985)
Bill Moya	....	production assistant (7 episodes, 1982-1983)
Paul Ross Newman	....	production assistant (7 episodes, 1982-1983)
Carlo U. Quinterio	....	stage manager (5 episodes, 1984)
Joanne Pagliaro	....	story editor (4 episodes, 1982-1983)
Michael Villegas III	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 1983)
Judy Biggs	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 1985-1987)
Jim MacNerland	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 1985-1987)
Craig Zisk	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 1985-1987)
James N. Hamilton	....	stage manager (4 episodes, 1987-1989)
Harriette Regan	....	stage manager (2 episodes, 1983-1984)
Adam Scott	....	stage manager (2 episodes, 1985-1987)
Michele Briganti	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1987-1989)
Margien Burns	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1987-1989)
Brian Pulaski	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1987-1989)
Katharine Rager	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1987-1989)
Sue Norton	....	stage manager (2 episodes, 1987)
Shawn Shea	....	stage manager (2 episodes, 1989)
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

• Paramount Television (1982-) (worldwide) (TV)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1982-1989) (USA) (TV)
• Veronica Omroep Organisatie (1986-19??) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (season 1)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD) (seasons 1 and 2)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD) (season 3 and 4)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (season 5)

Other Companies

• Metromedia Square  videotaped at
• ShowBiz Enterprises  draperies

Also Known As:

Runtime:

30 min (180 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG (some episodes) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | USA:TV-G

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Paramount Television

Trivia:

Throughout the series' run, exterior establishment shots of the Keaton home were never used in any of the episodes, which is very unusual for a family sitcom. The vast majority of all scenes were played out in the kitchen.

Quotes:

Andrew Keaton:Alex is King!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Frasier: Our Father Whose Art Ain't Heaven (#4.8)" (1996)

Soundtrack:

Without Us

strong seven year run

"Family Ties" creator Gary Goldberg didn't like Michael J. Fox on his first audition, thought he played Alex a little too smart-assish. But on his second try, Fox approached it a different way and won the part that shot him to stardom. He quickly became the focal point of the show as the money obsessed teenager Alex P. Keaton. You could understand Meredith Baxter-Birney's disappointment, as the show was to be geared toward her character as the mother. But she and the rest of the cast pretty much faded into the background behind Fox. Not that he wasn't supported by a great group of performers. Michael Gross as the easy going father, Justine Bateman as the typical phone hogging, boy troubled teenage daughter, and Tina Yothers as the tomboyish younger sister. In later years some nice additions were Scott Valentine as Bateman's weirdo boyfriend, and making numerous appearances over the years was Marc Price as the nerdy next door neighbor, Skippy. High point episodes over the years were the Alex turns 18 one, the Alex rents out the rooms of the house one, and also the 4(!) part heartattack episode with the focus being on Michael Gross' father character, Steven. Shows major misstep occured during their final year when they tried to become too socially concious. Episodes dealing with book banning, oil spills, toxic fumes from household products, and racism seemed a bit out of place and more importantly, took away from the comedy. The last hurrah was a decent episode that saw Alex move to New York to be an investment banker. But most recommended from the series would be the shows middle years, where the writing was at its best. Show also must of set some sort of record with at least 6 or 7(!) of those flashback type episodes featuring clips of the past stories. But no harm done.