SnoopyStyle
Elyse (Meredith Baxter) and Steven Keaton (Michael Gross) are former hippies with three kids living in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. The oldest Alex P. Keaton (Michael J. Fox) is a money-obsessed Reaganite. Mallory (Justine Bateman) is the boy-crazy middle child. Jennifer (Tina Yothers) is the youngest. At the end of season 3, the family gets new son Andy. Their neighbor Skippy has a crush on Mallory although she does get gruff boyfriend Nick Moore at the start of season 4. Alex has two steady girlfriends over the years. First, there is Ellen Reed (Tracy Pollan), and later Lauren Miller (Courteney Cox).In addition to Alex's two longtime girlfriends, there are many other future stars in their early works. Geena Davis is the memorable statuesque and adorably clueless short-term house maid Karen Nicholson. Of course, Pollan would be the real-life future Mrs. Fox. Fox is the breakout star. He plays well with others and holds the screen with ease. There is also that song with Pollan and Fox getting together in the season 4 premier. The memories flood back and it is a time. The romanticism is epic and meta going from fiction to reality. This is a top level network sitcom that isn't trying to break new grounds. Bateman is surprisingly great in her dramatic acting. It works for the simple fact that everybody is an appealing character and actor.
Emily Paul
When I was a little girl. I didn't have the best family. I wanted to be in the Keaton family. I watched it every week. I loved Michael J. Fox. I had a friend that told me she had his address she got out of a book. I was so excited. I wrote him a three page letter telling him how much I loved him and his family and if they would adopt me.. and sent it off in the mail. I was 10yrs old. I didn't tell my parents. I just checked the mail box everyday for a letter back. The day I didn't check the mailbox..the letter I sent came back in the mail and my father opened it and read it to the entire family and became a joke amongst friends. I was humiliated by this and sad that Michael never got my letter. But I continued to watch all of his movies growing up and now my 4 kids of course are also able to enjoy his movies. I have 6yr old (small for their age) twin boys, one whose name is Alex.. I have loved that name since family ties. Coincidentally he loves to wear a jacket and tie to school and carry a briefcase, just like Alex P. Keaton. Because I have direct TV,the hub channel allows me to watch family ties with my kids and hear my son Alex say "He's just like me".(with a big smile on his face that lights me up) Who would of thought...Thanks Family Ties for being the role model for my family.
HRHRaider
I loved the show during its NBC run, and have begun catching the reruns on HUB. Of course Michael J. Fox was the comic centerpiece of the show, but watching it again I am reminded how consistently and brilliantly funny Michael Gross was as father Steven Keaton. He was almost always a supporting player on a show that focused more on the children's lives, which allowed him to deliver some of the best lines, usually with a look of utter confusion. Although the character was a '60s Berkeley hippie, he was as over-protective of his daughters as any father on television. No matter how serious the main story line may have been in a particular episode, he would always provide the comic relief with either Alex or Jennifer. An underrated performer in an underrated show.
Kristie
I'm so thrilled that FAMILY TIES is finally out on DVD. To me, this was the best sitcom of the 80's. Even today, its themes are still relevant. I always thought it was great that the kids were allowed their own ideas, the parents weren't divorced, and that they were an imperfect family just doing their best. Unlike the Cosby Show, which was all about the dad, Family Ties let each character deal with their own issues in a very real way. I just watched the episode where a family friend makes a pass at Mallory, and that is something that some young people have to deal with. It dealt with racism, alcoholism, rape, politics, and a host of other things that kids are exposed to. It's still funny and is a great show that kids and parents can watch together and not be embarrassed.