Family Ties 

Chronicles liberal ex-hippies Steven and Elyse Keaton, their conservative son Alex, daughters Mallory and Jennifer, and later, youngest child Andrew.

Creator:

Gary David Goldberg

Stars:

Michael J. Fox, Michael Gross, Meredith Baxter

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 22 wins & 43 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Meredith Baxter	...	Elyse Keaton / ... 172 episodes, 1982-1989
Michael Gross	...	Steven Keaton / ... 172 episodes, 1982-1989
Michael J. Fox	...	Alex P. Keaton 172 episodes, 1982-1989
Justine Bateman	...	Mallory Keaton / ... 172 episodes, 1982-1989
Tina Yothers	...	Jennifer Keaton / ... 172 episodes, 1982-1989
Brian Bonsall	...	Andrew 'Andy' Keaton 75 episodes, 1986-1989

Storyline

Steven and Elyse Keaton, once 1960s radicals, now find themselves in Reagan-era American trying to raise a traditional suburban family. Their three first kids are Alex (a very ambitious Young Republican), Mallory (a ditzy and boy-crazy fashionista) and Jennifer (whom we first get to know as a precocious nine-year-old tomboy). Later on, a fourth child (Andrew) was added to the Keaton family. Most of the comedy arose from the conflict between the ex-hippie parents vs the conservative Alex and the brainless beauty Mallory.

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Plot Keywords:

liberal | conservative | young republican | columbus ohio | overalls | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Family

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Certificate:

TV-G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 September 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

Family Ties

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Television, Ubu Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min (180 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

4:3

Did You Know?

Trivia

Some critics and other media observers have come to see this show as a reverse parallel to All in the Family (1971). Both shows largely centered around political or philosophical generation gaps, with this show reversing All In The Family's dynamic of conservative parents and liberal kids. Gary David Goldberg has said that hadn't been his intention, calling the reverse similarities a happy accident.

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Quotes

Andrew Keaton: Alex is King!

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Alternate Versions

The complete opening credit sequences in each episode were cut from one minute to thirty seconds in syndication. Episodes now airing on Nick at Nite have restored the complete opening credit sequences. Original syndication episodes released in 1987 retain their original versions of the Paramount Pictures ID Jingle. Current Nick at Nite episodes feature the current Paramount TV ID.

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Connections

Referenced in Private Practice: Good Fries Are Hard to Come By (2013)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Best of the 80's

Family Ties was one of the best shows in the 80's. The show that made Michael J. Fox popular. The show was funny and also a little bit dramatic. The actors were great. I wonder what some of the actors are doing nowadays.