Family Ties

1982

Seasons & Episodes

  • 7
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
  • 0
7.3| TV-PG| en| More Info
Released: 22 September 1982 Ended
Producted By: NBC Studios
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Info

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

Genre

Drama, Comedy, Family

Watch Online

Family Ties (1982) is now streaming with subscription on Paramount+

Director

Production Companies

NBC Studios

AD
AD

Watch Free for 30 Days

All Prime Video Movies and TV Shows. Cancel anytime.
Watch Now
Family Ties Videos and Images
View All

Family Ties Audience Reviews

Cubussoli Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!
FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.
PiraBit if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.
FirstWitch A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.
John Wayne Landry To all of you who had nothing nice to say about Family Ties,I get that this show wasn't obviously for everybody and it even had its moments of annoyance if you enjoyed it,but I'll gladly take this even over most sitcoms that aired in the same era,let alone those of today.I actually was one of the yew young boys who crushed on Tina Yothers(Jennifer Keaton),which is no knock whatsoever on Justine Bateman(Mallory Keaton)because she was a hot number then and even still is.Most of the political jargon that came out of Steven,Elyse,and Alex's mouths mostly went over my head then,but it was still entertaining how it was all delivered.I didn't watch as much of the final 2 seasons and that was mainly because it was switched to Sunday nights,it became apparent to me in the few episodes I did watch that the show had finally ran its course.At least it went out strong,unlike many of its counterparts.
eefan2001 I remember watching this show occasionally when it originally aired. Definitely not must see TV. A few years ago, TVLand aired the reruns, and I hated it! I dubbed it the sitcom that's all sit and no com. OK, now it's back on the Hub, and since I'm into masochism I thought I'd give it another try. I admit, it's not as bad as I thought. There are actually a few laughs to be had here and there. Most of them come from Mallory. At the time the show originally aired, I remember most people treating Justine Bateman as a joke. Michael is the real star, blah, blah, blah. Maybe it's because I'm a liberal, but I don't find the APK character or MJK to be all that funny. But Mallory...she has that subtle comic timing down, something missed by the other cast members. Justine, you were the true star of this show. By the way, who said Steven Keaton died in the last episode? He did have a heart attack somewhere in or near the last season, but he did NOT die. I never saw the actual final episode until the recent HUB reruns. I was expecting this big emotional episode, with Alex deciding to give up his Wall Street job and stay home to be the man of the family, but NO, Steven did NOT have a heart attack or DIE in the last episode. I was so disappointed. Aside from the funny comment about Mallory knowing the meaning of life, the finale was a letdown. I think the producers saw it as a big showcase for their acting "powerhouses" MJK and MBB. Yeah, right. Yawn!
Thorsten-Krings Re-watching it on DVD I was amazed that Family Ties really stood the test of time. What makes it stand out is the constant high quality of the writing. On the one hand Family Ties always tackles serious issues on a personal level (death, trust, love, sexual harassment) but also on a social/ political level. I find it absolutely amazing that the writers always manage to avoid the trap of becoming sentimental or moralizing but always keep a healthy distance. Politically Family Ties is the great liberal voice of 80s television and from that point of view plays in a different league from its arch rival at the time, The Cosby show. What I also find amazing is that they manage to pack a satisfying story in the fairly short format of less then 30 minutes. The cast of course is perfect. Michael Gross stands out for me because he has the best one-liners in the show and his delivery as naive Steve Keaton is incredibly funny. Michael Fox is Michael Fox (as always) but Meredith Baxter is a great and underrated comedienne (and actually hellishly attractive...). Pity Tina Yothers stopped acting as it is amazing what a quantity and quality of dialogue she delivered at a very young age (though the jury is still out on her real age). And let's not forget Justine Bateman as airhead Mallory but who can act a fine line between comedy and drama (see Give uncle Arthur a kiss.)
roghache I love this hilarious sitcom and catch it on re runs whenever I chance upon it. I think it is one of the funniest family comedy series ever, with some entertaining and unusual character portrayals.The series revolves around the Keaton family, with liberal parents Steven (a TV station manager) and Elyse (an architect). The couple have three children...a financially savvy, politically conservative son Alex, his shopaholic teenage sister Mallory, and a younger tomboy sister, Jennifer. Later Elyse gives birth to a fourth child, baby Andrew. Along the way, Alex develops love interests, first in the form of Ellen (played by the actor's future wife, Tracy Pollan) and later, Lauren, a psychology major. Mallory acquires a boyfriend herself, the motorcycle riding high school drop out, Nick, who incurs the disapproval of her parents and of course especially brother Alex.The acting is stellar with Meredith Baxter and Michael Gross portraying the parents and Tina Yothers the kid sister, Jennifer. However, it is really Michael J. Fox's show with his hilarious depiction of Alex P. Keaton, who has a tendency to wear shirt & tie everyday around the house and introduces little brother Andrew to the Wall Street Journal while he's still in diapers! My personal favourite is Mallory (charmingly played by Justine Bateman); she is so amusing and endearing as his dim witted, academically slack, clothes obsessed sister who cannot get enough of the mall and talking about cute boys. Of course her contrast with the smart, serious, & focused Alex could hardly be greater.It's a reverse generational tale to the expected. Normally the parents are the conservative ones, with the teenage offspring liberal rebels and rabble rousers. However, the Keaton parents are the left wing family members, former political activists back in their college heyday. Son Alex, on the other hand, is a die-hard and very vocal card carrying Republican who eventually finds his niche on Wall Street. The sparring between Alex and his parents (as well as with Mallory) makes for some wonderful comedy in this warm hearted family sitcom.