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Family Ties

Family Ties
★ 7.2/10•1982•TV-PG•Comedy•Drama•Family
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Laughter. Tears. Politics... MEET THE KEATONS.

Former 1960s flower children Steven and Elyse Keaton raise their conservative son Alex, daughters Mallory and Jennifer, and later, youngest child Andrew.

Alan Uger · Writer

Gary David Goldberg · Writer

StatusEnded
LanguageEN
First Air DateSep 22, 1982

Episodes

Episode 1 - PilotE124m

Pilot

Alex escorts a pretty socialite to a dance at her country club.

Sep 22, 1982

Episode 2 - Not With My Sister You Don'tE225m

Not With My Sister You Don't

Alex heads the household when Elyse and Steven go away for the weekend.

Sep 29, 1982

Episode 3 - I Know Jennifer's BoyfriendE324m

I Know Jennifer's Boyfriend

Jennifer gets picked on when she befriends a boy at school.

Oct 6, 1982

Episode 4 - Summer of '82E425m

Summer of '82

Seduced by an "older woman" of twenty-one, the hitherto inexperienced Alex is devastated to learn that she thinks of their relationship as casual.

Oct 27, 1982

Episode 5 - I Never Killed for My FatherE525m

I Never Killed for My Father

A visit from Steven's father evokes confrontation between the two.

Nov 3, 1982

Episode 6 - Give Your Uncle A KissE625m

Give Your Uncle A Kiss

Mallory is horrified and confused when a close family friend and older business associate of her father's makes a pass at her.

Nov 10, 1982

Episode 7 - Big Brother Is WatchingE725m

Big Brother Is Watching

As the new editor of his school paper, Alex uncovers a cheating scandal and to everyone's chagrin, prints a list of students who were caught including Mallory.

Nov 17, 1982

Episode 8 - No Nukes Is Good NukesE824m

No Nukes Is Good Nukes

To the dismay of the Keaton children and their equally conservative grandparents, Steven and Elyse take time out Thanksgiving Day to attend an anti-nuke rally-and end up spending the holiday in jail.

Nov 24, 1982

Episode 9 - Death Of A GrocerE925m

Death Of A Grocer

Though Alex loves working at Mr. Adler's "Mom and Pop" grocery store, to the old man's dismay, he quits to "climb the corporate ladder" at an ultramodern supermarket.

Dec 1, 1982

Episode 10 - Have Gun, Will UnravelE1025m

Have Gun, Will Unravel

The Keatons consider buying a gun for protection after getting burglarized.

Dec 8, 1982

Episode 11 - A Christmas StoryE1125m

A Christmas Story

When a blizzard forces the Keatons to spend Christmas at home, Elyse's gift to Steven, an album filled with fascinating old photos, sparks flashbacks to the birth of their three children.

Dec 15, 1982

Episode 12 - OopsE1225m

Oops

Mallory resents Elyse for the advice she gives her pregnant friend.

Dec 22, 1982

Episode 13 - Sherry BabyE1325m

Sherry Baby

When popular sorority girl Sherry Marshall befriends Mallory to get close to Alex, Mallory brings them together in hopes of joining Pi Nu but her plan backfires.

Jan 12, 1983

Episode 14 - The Fugitive (1)E1425m

The Fugitive (1)

Elyse's younger brother and Alex's idol, Ned, makes a surprise visit. However, everyone is puzzled by the go-getter corporate executive's suspicious behavior.

Jan 19, 1983

Episode 15 - The Fugitive (2)E1524m

The Fugitive (2)

With the FBI hot on Ned's heels for embezzling 4.5 million dollars in corporate funds, Elyse's ethical brother and Alex's idol tells the family why and where he hid the money.

Jan 26, 1983

Episode 16 - Margin Of ErrorE1625m

Margin Of Error

Alex amasses a bundle by playing the stock market on paper for his economics class, and courts disaster by secretly investing his father's money.

Feb 9, 1983

Episode 17 - French LessonsE1725m

French Lessons

Mallory's handsome but shy French tutor, Jeff, finally musters up the nerve to ask her out and then courts disaster by enlistening Alex's advice on how to behave on the date.

Feb 15, 1983

Episode 18 - I Gotta Be MingE1825m

I Gotta Be Ming

As ""Big Brother"" to a 10-year-old Vietnamese boy, Alex tries to mold Ming into his own image, and he learns an unforgettable lesson when he breaks a promise to the adoring child.

Feb 22, 1983

Episode 19 - Suzanne Takes You DownE1925m

Suzanne Takes You Down

Soon after free lance architect Elyse Keaton hires her friend Suzanne Davis to handle clerical chores, she wants to fire the under-qualified, overly aggressive secretary, but Suzanne's marriage breaks up, making the new job her only salvation. After 20 years as a housewife, Suzanne feels she lacks an identity outside the home. Swamped with paperwork, Elyse decides to solve that problem while easing her friend's mid-life crisis. Unfortunately Suzanne's take-charge approach to business throws a wrench into Elyse's client dealings and threatens to ruin the women's friendship. On the brink of firing Suzanne, the frustrated Elyse faces a terrible dilemma when Ron Davis decides he ""needs space"" and leaves his wife.

Mar 15, 1983

Episode 20 - The Fifth WheelE2025m

The Fifth Wheel

Alex gets stuck babysitting for his little sister Jennifer, who is fed up with feeling in the way at his poker game and decides to disappear.

Mar 27, 1983

Episode 21 - Stage Fright (a.k.a. Video Jitters)E2125m

Stage Fright (a.k.a. Video Jitters)

While gearing up to face the TV cameras as captain of his high school's team on "Quiz Off," Alex panics at first when a teammate drops out. He then launches a major tutoring program for his sister Mallory.

Apr 3, 1983

Episode 22 - Elyse D'ArcE2225m

Elyse D'Arc

In her zeal for good causes Elyse devotes so much energy to committee work that a neglected Steven feels shortchanged. Ecstatic to have won an award for his public television documentary, Steven arrives home eager to celebrate, but every effort is foiled by Elyse's obligations to her various projects. Finally, the over-extended wife-mother-architect-committee volunteer begins to realize she's neglecting her most important committee.

Apr 10, 1983

Actors

Meredith Baxter

Meredith Baxter

Elyse Keaton

Michael Gross

Michael Gross

Steven Keaton

Michael J. Fox

Michael J. Fox

Alex P. Keaton

Justine Bateman

Justine Bateman

Mallory Keaton

Tina Yothers

Tina Yothers

Jennifer Keaton

Brian Bonsall

Brian Bonsall

Andy Keaton

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