Family Ties
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Family Ties | |
|---|---|
 The Family Ties "family painting," used in the opening sequence from 1983 to 1985. |
|
| Format | Sitcom |
| Created by | Gary David Goldberg |
| Starring | Meredith Baxter Birney Michael Gross Michael J. Fox Justine Bateman Tina Yothers Brian Bonsall (1986–1989) |
| Theme music composer | Jeff Barry Tom Scott |
| Opening theme | "Without Us" Performed by Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams[1] |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 7 |
| No. of episodes | 180 (List of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Running time | approx. 0:30 (per episode) |
| Production company(s) | Ubu Productions Paramount Television |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | NBC |
| Original run | September 22, 1982 – May 14, 1989 |
Family Ties is a television sitcom that aired on NBC for seven seasons, from 1982 to 1989. The sitcom reflected the move in the United States from the cultural liberalism of the 1960s and 1970s to the conservatism of the 1980s.[2] This was particularly expressed through the relationship between Young Republican Alex P. Keaton (Michael J. Fox) and his liberal, former hippie parents, Elyse and Steven Keaton (Meredith Baxter Birney and Michael Gross).
Contents |
[edit] Overview
The show takes place in Columbus, Ohio.
The show ended in 1989 after Alex graduates from nearby Leland College, leaves home for the first time, and moves to a career on Wall Street. Over a decade later, when Michael J. Fox left his next series Spin City, his final episodes made numerous allusions to Family Ties. Michael Gross (Alex's father Steven) is a therapist for Michael Patrick Flaherty (Michael J. Fox)[3] and there is a reference to an off-screen character named "Mallory".[4] After Flaherty becomes an environmental lobbyist in Washington D.C., he meets a "conservative congressman named Alex P. Keaton."[5]
[edit] Cast
Main Cast
- Michael J. Fox as Alex P. Keaton
- Michael Gross as Steven Keaton
- Meredith Baxter Birney as Elyse Keaton
- Justine Bateman as Mallory Keaton
- Tina Yothers as Jennifer Keaton
- Brian Bonsall as Andrew Keaton (Seasons 5-7)
Recurring Cast
- Marc Price as Irwin "Skippy" Handelman
- Scott Valentine as Nick Moore (Seasons 4-7)
- Tracy Pollan as Ellen Reed (Seasons 4)
- Courtney Cox as Lauren Miller (Seasons 6-7)
- Tom Hanks as Uncle Ned, Elyse's Brother
[edit] Characters
The show had been sold to the network using the pitch "hip parents, square kids",[6] and the parents were originally intended to be the main characters. However, the audience reacted so positively to Michael J. Fox's character Alex P. Keaton during the taping of the fourth episode that he became the focus on the show.[2][6] Fox had received the role after Matthew Broderick turned it down:
- At the time, the show's producers felt Fox was simply too short for the gig. To make the point, NBC Entertainment Chief Brandon Tartikoff asked the show's creator Gary David Goldberg if he could imagine Fox's face on a lunchbox. Some years later, after Back to the Future, Fox's face did find its way to lunchboxes--and he was sure to send one to Tartikoff, with a note attached that reportedly read: "Dear Brandon, this is for you to put your crow on. Lots of Love, Michael J. Fox." Rumor has it Tartikoff kept the lunchbox in his office for the rest of his NBC career.[7]
Supporting cast and characters included neighbor Irwin "Skippy" Handelman (Marc Price), Mallory's boyfriend artist Nick Moore (Scott Valentine), Alex's feminist artist girlfriend Ellen Reed (Tracy Pollan who later became Michael J. Fox' real-life wife). Fourth child Andrew (Brian Bonsall) was eventually added to the cast.
Several Hollywood stars appeared on the show before they were famous; Tom Hanks appeared during the first and second seasons as Elyse's younger brother Ned,[6] Geena Davis portrayed an inept housekeeper, Courteney Cox was Alex' girlfriend Lauren at the end of the series, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus portrayed a lawyer in the two-part episode "Read It and Weep".
The show was originally set in Tenafly, New Jersey.
[edit] Ratings
[edit] Awards
[edit] Emmy Awards
- 1988: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (Michael J. Fox)
- 1987: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (Michael J. Fox); Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series; Outstanding Technical Direction
- 1986: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (Michael J. Fox)
[edit] Golden Globes
- 1989:Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series (Michael J. Fox)
[edit] Reunion
In 1989, Michael Gross appeared on The Pat Sajak Show as a guest to discuss the ending of Family Ties. According to The New York Times:
- Mr. Sajak asked Michael Gross of Family Ties what was going to happen to the Keatons in this, their last scheduled season. Mr. Gross: "I hope they die in a plane crash." He later explained that he would not like to see them being brought back for phony reunions.[12]
While there has not been a "reunion show", the cast did come together for the first time in 18 years on February 7, 2008 for an interview on the Today show.[13]
At other times, the cast members "reunited" on other shows/episodes such as on Spin City.
[edit] Episodes
[edit] Syndication
In January 2009, FamilyNet began airing the program as part of its "Families on FamilyNet" programming block, also featuring My Three Sons and Happy Days. In the summer of 2008, WGN America aired reruns as part of their Outta Sight Retro Night programming block. Previous reruns aired on Nick at Nite, TV Land, & Hallmark Channel during the early 2000's.
[edit] DVD releases
CBS Home Entertainment (distributed by Paramount) has released the first five seasons of Family Ties on DVD in Region 1. [1] Each release features music replacements due to copyright issues as well as special features such as gag reels and featurettes.
| DVD Name | Ep# | Release dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Region 1 | Region 4 | ||
| The Complete First Season | 22 | February 20, 2007 | April 9, 2008 [2] |
| The Second Season | 22 | October 9, 2007 | September 4, 2008 [3] |
| The Third Season | 24 | February 12, 2008 | April 2, 2009 [4] |
| The Fourth Season | 28 | August 5, 2008 | TBA |
| The Fifth Season | 30 | March 10, 2009 | TBA |
| The Sixth Season | 28 | TBA | TBA |
| The Seventh Season | 26 | TBA | TBA |
[edit] Notes
- ^ For the first 10 episodes, the opening theme was performed by Dennis Tufano and Mindy Sterling. IMDb (1990-2009). "Biography for Dennis Tufano". Amazon.com. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0876179/bio. Retrieved 28 October 2009.
- ^ a b The Museum of Broadcast Communications: Family Ties
- ^ Putting His Own Spin on ‘City’s’ Season Finale
- ^ Shales, Tom. "Michael J. Fox, Playing 'Spin City' to a Fare-Thee-Well." Washington Post, May 24, 2000, C1.
- ^ Michael J. Fox Database
- ^ a b c Reagan's Favorite Sitcom: How Family Ties spawned a conservative hero
- ^ Star Misses: 10 Career-Changing Roles That Weren't
- ^ TV hits '84
- ^ TV hits '85
- ^ TV hits '86
- ^ TV hits '87
- ^ "Review/Television; Late-Night Chitchat Additions: Pat Sajak and Arsenio Hall". NYTimes. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE7DE173AF932A25752C0A96F948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2. Retrieved 1989-01-11.
- ^ "Family Ties: Reunited After Almost 20 Years!". TVSeriesFinale.com. http://tvseriesfinale.com/articles/family-ties-reunited-after-almost-20-years. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
[edit] References
- Fox, Michael J. (2002), Lucky Man: A Memoir, New York: Hyperion, ISBN 978-078686764-6
- Goldberg, Gary David. "Comedy Stop: What Would Alex Keaton Do?." New York Times, March 3, 2008.
- Haglund, David. "Reagan's Favorite Sitcom: How Family Ties spawned a conservative hero." Slate. March 2, 2007.
- Hurst, Alex. "Remembering an icon from the 'Me-Decade'." The Daily Pennsylvanian, April 24, 2001.
- Patterson, Thomas. "What would Alex P. Keaton do?." CNN, November 1, 2006.
- Saenz, Michael. "Family Ties." - Museum of Broadcast Communications
- Stewart, Susan. "The Parents Ate Sprouts; the Kid Stole the Show. New York Times, February 25, 2007.
