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Family Ties

  • TV Series
  • 1982–19891982–1989
  • TV-GTV-G
  • 30m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
18K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
941
119
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Michael J. Fox, Justine Bateman, Meredith Baxter, Tina Yothers, and Michael Gross in Family Ties (1982)
When a winter storm puts paid to the family's ski vacation, the Keatons spend time reminiscing about earlier days - including the birth of their children.
Play trailer2:16
7 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Family

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

IMDb RATING
7.2/10
18K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
941
119
  • Creator
    • Gary David Goldberg
  • Stars
    • Michael J. Fox
    • Michael Gross
    • Meredith Baxter
Top credits
  • Creator
    • Gary David Goldberg
  • Stars
    • Michael J. Fox
    • Michael Gross
    • Meredith Baxter
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 68User reviews
    • 26Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 5 Primetime Emmys
      • 23 wins & 43 nominations total

    Episodes172

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos7

    Funny Women of Television
    Clip 3:41
    Funny Women of Television
    The Birth of Alex P. Keaton
    Trailer 2:16
    The Birth of Alex P. Keaton
    The Photo Shoot
    Video 2:44
    The Photo Shoot
    It Happened
    Video 2:24
    It Happened
    The Grass is Greener
    Video 3:00
    The Grass is Greener
    I'm Outta Here
    Video 2:13
    I'm Outta Here
    It's My Life
    Video 3:12
    It's My Life

    Photos325

    Meredith Baxter and Brian Bonsall in Family Ties (1982)
    Larry Cox, John Ingle, and Alexandra Powers in Family Ties (1982)
    Michael J. Fox and Tina Yothers in Family Ties (1982)
    Michael J. Fox, Justine Bateman, Meredith Baxter, Tina Yothers, and Michael Gross in Family Ties (1982)
    Michael J. Fox and Michael Gross in Family Ties (1982)
    Michael J. Fox in Family Ties (1982)
    Tracy Nelson in Family Ties (1982)
    Michael J. Fox in Family Ties (1982)
    Justine Bateman in Family Ties (1982)
    Michael J. Fox and Suzanne Snyder in Family Ties (1982)
    Michael J. Fox and Justine Bateman in Family Ties (1982)
    Meredith Baxter and Michael Gross in Family Ties (1982)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Michael J. Fox
    Michael J. Fox
    • Alex P. Keatonas Alex P. Keaton
    172 episodes172 eps • 1982–1989
    Michael Gross
    Michael Gross
    • Steven Keatonas Steven Keaton…
    172 episodes172 eps • 1982–1989
    Meredith Baxter
    Meredith Baxter
    • Elyse Keatonas Elyse Keaton…
    172 episodes172 eps • 1982–1989
    Justine Bateman
    Justine Bateman
    • Mallory Keatonas Mallory Keaton…
    172 episodes172 eps • 1982–1989
    Tina Yothers
    Tina Yothers
    • Jennifer Keatonas Jennifer Keaton…
    172 episodes172 eps • 1982–1989
    Brian Bonsall
    Brian Bonsall
    • Andrew 'Andy' Keatonas Andrew 'Andy' Keaton
    75 episodes75 eps • 1986–1989
    Marc Price
    Marc Price
    • Irwin 'Skippy' Handelmanas Irwin 'Skippy' Handelman…
    54 episodes54 eps • 1982–1989
    Scott Valentine
    Scott Valentine
    • Nick Mooreas Nick Moore
    45 episodes45 eps • 1985–1989
    Courteney Cox
    Courteney Cox
    • Lauren Milleras Lauren Miller
    19 episodes19 eps • 1987–1989
    Tracy Pollan
    Tracy Pollan
    • Ellen Reedas Ellen Reed
    13 episodes13 eps • 1985–1987
    John Hancock
    John Hancock
    • Gus Thompsonas Gus Thompson
    7 episodes7 eps • 1983–1989
    Terry Wills
    • Dr. Schulteas Dr. Schulte…
    7 episodes7 eps • 1983–1989
    Robert Schanche
    • Robertas Robert…
    9 episodes9 eps • 1983–1989
    Alan Blumenfeld
    Alan Blumenfeld
    • George Bellackas George Bellack…
    7 episodes7 eps • 1984–1987
    Enid Kent
    Enid Kent
    • Phyllis Evansas Phyllis Evans…
    6 episodes6 eps • 1982–1988
    Robert Costanzo
    Robert Costanzo
    • Andrew the Waiteras Andrew the Waiter…
    5 episodes5 eps • 1984–1987
    John Petlock
    • Ted Watermanas Ted Waterman…
    5 episodes5 eps • 1982–1986
    Norman Parker
    Norman Parker
    • Robert Keatonas Robert Keaton
    5 episodes5 eps • 1985–1987
    • Creator
      • Gary David Goldberg
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Steven and Elyse Keaton, once 1960s radicals, now find themselves in Reagan-era America 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 family. Most of the comedy arose from the conflict between the ex-hippie parents vs. the conservative Alex and the brainless beauty Mallory.
    • timeframe 1980s
    • sitcom comedy
    • timeframe 20th century
    • observational comedy
    • liberal
    • 22 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Family
    • Certificate
      • TV-G
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The cast wanted to end the show with the entire Keaton family dying in a plane crash. They absolutely didn't want to do a reunion show in the future.
    • Quotes

      Alex P. Keaton: Remember when we were kids and I run you over with my bicycle?

      Erwin 'Skippy' Handleman: Yes.

      Alex P. Keaton: I have a car now.

    • 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.
    • Connections
      Featured in The 36th Primetime Emmy Awards (1984)

    User reviews68

    Review
    Top review
    It's the "Michael J. Fox Show"
    "Family Ties" original plan was to center around two former hippy parents. It showed Meredith Baxter-Birney as television's first successful working wife and mother. Sure the 1970s started to showcase unmarried career women and single moms, but the sitcom world by the 1980s had yet to purge itself of wives serving as homemakers! The Keaton family showed a woman balancing a career and motherhood, only to be overshadowed by "The Cosby Show". In fact during the third season of "Family Ties" NBC sandwiched it on Thursday nights between two popular sitcoms: "The Cosby Show" and "Cheers"! After spending three seasons following Cosby the "Peacock Network" uprooted "Family Ties" and had it exiled to Sunday night, in order to make way for Lisa Bonet to star in a "Different World"; which was then a sorry "Cosby Show" spinoff! "Family Ties" served as great springboard for Michael J. Fox! As the series progressed the focus was taken off of the liberal parents and placed on MJF's character: the conservative Alex P. Keaton. It was clear to viewers that without Alex there wouldn't be much to the show! While Meredith Baxter had a proven track record, she was clearly overshadowed by Michael J. Fox. After Fox starred in "Back to the Future","Teenwolf" and other theatrical release blockbusters; he was clearly being groomed for superstardom! In fact he was being molded into the "All-American Boy"! Fox found himself correcting the media by saying he was an "All-Canadian Boy", because he was a native of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada! None of the juvenile stars of "Family Ties" had the screen presence of Michael J. Fox. He was the only one that had a promising future after the series ended.There was good chemistry between him and the adult stars. There were many laughs when Alex's conservative views clashed with the left-leaning views of his parents. This is also combined with the awkwardness of adolescense and taking pride in the fact that he was smart. He exudes the real world sarcasm towards his younger sisters. Everyone else seemed to serve as interchangable leggo pieces! "Family Ties" without Michael J. Fox was like "Corn Flakes" without the milk!
    helpful•4
    2
    • skillz
    • Dec 20, 2000

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 22, 1982 (United States)
    • Also known as
      • Familienbande
    • Filming locations
      • Metromedia Square - 5746 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Paramount Television
      • Ubu Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      30 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

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    Michael J. Fox, Justine Bateman, Meredith Baxter, Tina Yothers, and Michael Gross in Family Ties (1982)
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