Family Ties

Name: Family Ties
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Released: September 22, 1982
Rating: 68
Cast: Michael Gross, Brian Bonsall, Michael J. Fox, Tina Yothers, Meredith Baxter Birney

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Critic Reviews

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Series Details & Credits

NBC | Release Date: September 22, 1982

Starring: Michael Gross, Brian Bonsall, Michael J. Fox, Tina Yothers, Meredith Baxter Birney, Justine Bateman

Summary: Family Ties first aired in September of 1982 on NBC and was one of the first of a wave of family comedies that emerged in the 1980's. With a rocky start in the ratings, Family Ties rose to number 2 after it was placed in the prized time-slot right after The Cosby Show and remained there from 1984 until 1987.

The series centered aroundFamily Ties first aired in September of 1982 on NBC and was one of the first of a wave of family comedies that emerged in the 1980's. With a rocky start in the ratings, Family Ties rose to number 2 after it was placed in the prized time-slot right after The Cosby Show and remained there from 1984 until 1987.

The series centered around the Keaton family, Steven and his wife Elyse, both flower children of the 1960's. They had four children, Alex, Mallory, Jennifer and Andrew, who was born in 1985.

What was unique about Family Ties was that it blended family comedy with politics. The 1960's flower children, Steven and Elyse clashed with the 1980's conservative, Alex. The show, in a way, showed the changing values during the Reagan era. Besides political views, Family Ties covered a number of controversial topics ranging from suicide to racism to drug dependency.

Skippy was a neighbor who had a never-ending crush on Mallory. Ellen was Alex's first serious girlfriend. After breaking up with her, he became seriously involved with Lauren, a psychology student and Nick Moore was Mallory's serious boyfriend.

First Telecast: September 22, 1982
Last Telecast: September 17, 1989

Episodes: 180 Color Episodes

Theme Song:

Without Us
Written by: Jeff Barry and Tom Scott

Sung by: Mindy Sterling and Dennis Tufano (1982)
Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams (1982-1989)

NBC Broadcast History

September 1982-March 1983----Wednesdays----9:30 p.m.
March-August 1983----Mondays----8:30 p.m.
August-December 1983----Wednesdays----9:30 p.m.
January 1984-August 1987----Thursdays----8:30 p.m.
August-September 1987----Sundays----8:00 & 8:30 p.m.
September 1987-September 1989----Sundays----8:00 p.m.

Nielsen Ratings:
(Top 30 or Better)

#5 in the 1984-1985 Season
#2 in the 1985-1986 Season
#2 in the 1986-1987 Season
#17 in the 1987-1988 Season… Expand

Genre(s): Comedy, Drama

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Recent Episodes

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S7:E26. Alex Doesn't Live Here Anymore (2)
Air Date: May 14, 1989
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S7:E25. Alex Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1)
Air Date: May 14, 1989
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S7:E24. Mr. Keaton Takes a Vacation
Air Date: May 7, 1989

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Bruce Miller

Jan 28, 2022

Season 1 Review: Family Ties is the heir apparent to All in the Family. Equally relevant, it captures '80s home life better than anything else on television. [24 Sep 1982, p.B3]

Kay Gardella

Jan 27, 2022

Season 1 Review: [Fox's] performance alone puts the series in the winner's circle. [22 Sep 1982, p.61]

Marilynn Preston

Jan 28, 2022

Season 1 Review: Family Ties doesn't beat you over the head for laughs. The humor comes out of the situation. The situations come out of reality. [22 Sep 1982, p.6]

Lee Winfrey

Jan 27, 2022

Season 1 Review: A better-than-average new comedy series. [22 Sep 1982, p.8D]

Noel Murray

Jan 27, 2022

Season 1 Review: Remembered fondly by children of the '80s as a warm, goofy show about ex-hippie parents and their materialist kids, Family Ties hasn't held up too well. Read full review

Terry Kelleher

Jan 27, 2022

Season 1 Review: Broad strokes like these might be expected in a Norman Lear comedy of the '70s, but Goldberg's better instincts seem to be leading him to something subtler and more credible. [22 Sep 1982, p.4B]

Howard Rosenberg

Jan 27, 2022

Season 1 Review: Despite being written by producer Gary David Goldberg (one of the brighter young comedy minds in TV), the script speaks the narrow, doctrinaire language of bumber stickers. [22 Sep 1982, p.7]

SEE ALL 17 REVIEWS

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Seasons & Episodes

68

Series Overview
Season 7

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- Season 7 Overview
  Air Date: October 30, 1988
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  S7:E26. Alex Doesn't Live Here Anymore (2)
  Air Date: May 14, 1989
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  S7:E25. Alex Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1)
  Air Date: May 14, 1989
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  S7:E24. Mr. Keaton Takes a Vacation
  Air Date: May 7, 1989
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  S7:E23. Wrap Around the Clock (2)
  Air Date: April 23, 1989
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  S7:E22. Wrap Around the Clock (1)
  Air Date: April 23, 1989
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  S7:E21. Rain Forests Keep Falling on My Head
  Air Date: April 16, 1989
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  S7:E20. They Can't Take That Away From Me (2)
  Air Date: April 9, 1989
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  S7:E19. They Can't Take That Away From Me (1)
  Air Date: April 2, 1989
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  S7:E18. All in the Neighborhood (2)
  Air Date: March 19, 1989
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  S7:E17. All in the Neighborhood (1)
  Air Date: March 12, 1989
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  S7:E16. Simon Says
  Air Date: March 5, 1989
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  S7:E15. 'Til Her Daddy Takes the T-Bird Away
  Air Date: February 26, 1989
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  S7:E14. My Best Friend's Girl
  Air Date: February 19, 1989
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  S7:E13. The Wrecker's Ball
  Air Date: February 12, 1989
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  S7:E12. The Job Not Taken
  Air Date: February 5, 1989
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  S7:E11. Get Me to the Living Room on Time
  Air Date: January 29, 1989
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  S7:E10. Nick's Best Friend
  Air Date: January 15, 1989
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  S7:E9. Deja Vu
  Air Date: January 8, 1989
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  S7:E8. Basic Training
  Air Date: January 1, 1989
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  S7:E7. Heartstrings (3)
  Air Date: December 18, 1988
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  S7:E6. Heartstrings (2)
  Air Date: December 11, 1988
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  S7:E5. Heartstrings (1)
  Air Date: December 4, 1988
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  S7:E4. Beyond Therapy
  Air Date: November 27, 1988
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  S7:E3. Truckers
  Air Date: November 13, 1988
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  S7:E2. Designing Woman
  Air Date: November 6, 1988
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  S7:E1. It Happened One Night
  Air Date: October 30, 1988
Season 6

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- Season 6 Overview
  Air Date: September 13, 1987
Season 5

tbd
- Season 5 Overview
  Air Date: September 25, 1986
Season 4

tbd
- Season 4 Overview
  Air Date: September 26, 1985
Season 3

tbd
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: September 27, 1984
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: September 28, 1983
Season 1

68
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: September 22, 1982