Family Ties

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Gary David Goldberg

Meredith Baxter - Elyse Keaton (176 episodes, 1982-1989)

Michael Gross - Steven Keaton (176 episodes, 1982-1989)

Michael J. Fox - Alex P. Keaton (176 episodes, 1982-1989)

Justine Bateman - Mallory Keaton (176 episodes, 1982-1989)

Tina Yothers - Jennifer Keaton (176 episodes, 1982-1989)

Brian Bonsall - Andrew 'Andy' Keaton (78 episodes, 1986-1989)

Marc Price - Irwin 'Skippy' Handelman (54 episodes, 1982-1989)

Scott Valentine - Nick Moore (43 episodes, 1985-1989)

Courteney Cox - Lauren Miller (21 episodes, 1987-1989)

Tracy Pollan - Ellen Reed (13 episodes, 1985-1987)

United States

Gary David Goldberg - Executive Producer (175 episodes, 1982-1989)

Carol Himes - Line Producer / Co-Producer (123 episodes, 1982-1989)

June Galas - Associate Producer (93 episodes, 1982-1987)

Alan Uger - Producer / Co-Executive Producer (80 episodes, 1984-1989)

Michael J. Weithorn - Supervising Producer / Producer (71 episodes, 1983-1987)

Lloyd Garver - Executive Producer / Producer (69 episodes, 1982-1987)

Ruth Bennett - Producer (42 episodes, 1984-1987)

Marc Lawrence - Supervising Producer (31 episodes, 1987-1989)

Susan Borowitz - Producer (29 episodes, 1987-1989)

Dianne Edwards Thorington - Associate Producer (29 episodes, 1987-1989)

Sam Weisman (60 episodes, 1983-1989)

Will Mackenzie (37 episodes, 1982-1987)

Andrew McCullough (13 episodes, 1983-1989)

John Pasquin (13 episodes, 1983-1988)

Matthew Diamond (13 episodes, 1987-1989)

Asaad Kelada (8 episodes, 1982-1988)

Tony Mordente (6 episodes, 1982-1983)

Lee Shallat Chemel (5 episodes, 1984-1986)

Peter Baldwin (3 episodes, 1986-1987)

Michael Zinberg (2 episodes, 1982-1983)

Alan Bergmann (2 episodes, 1982)

Barbara Schultz (2 episodes, 1985-1987)

Lynn Hamrick (2 episodes, 1986-1987)

Steven Robman (2 episodes, 1986-1987)

Debbie Allen (2 episodes, 1987-1988)

7

180

September 22, 1982 – May 14, 1989

Jeff Barry & Tom Scott - Theme music composers

Opening theme "Without Us"
Performed by Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams

Judith Light | Tom Hanks | Geena Davis | River Phoenix | Courteney Cox | Julia Louis-Dreyfus | Crispin Glover | Wil Wheaton | Jeff Cohen | Christina Applegate | Stephen Baldwin Joseph Gordon-Levitt

BMI Film & TV Awards

1988 Won BMI TV Music Award Jeff Barry & Tom Scott

1987 Won BMI TV Music Award Jeff Barry & Tom Scott

Directors Guild of America, USA

1988 Won DGA Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series' Will Mackenzie; Tony Csiki (associate director) (plaque); Andrew McCullough (stage manager) (plaque) for: episode "My Name is Alex"

Emmy Awards

1989 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Michael J. Fox (NBC)

1989 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Comedy Series Robert F. Liu (NBC) for: episode "Alex Doesn't Live Here Anymore"

1989 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Technical Direction/Camera/Video for a Series Parker Roe (technical director); Paul Basta, Rick Caswell, Richard Price & Hank Geving (camera operators); Eric Clay (senior video control) (NBC) for: episode "Alex Dosen't Live Here Anymore"

1988 Won Emmy Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Michael J. Fox (NBC)

1987 Won Emmy Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Michael J. Fox (NBC)

1987 Won Emmy Outstanding Technical Direction/Electronic Camerawork/Video Control for a Series Parker Roe (technical director); Paul Basta, Tom Dasbach, Richard Price & John Repczynski (camerapersons); Eric Clay (senior video control) (NBC) for: episode "'A,' My Name is Alex"

1987 Won Emmy Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series Gary David Goldberg & Alan Uger (writers) (NBC) for: episode "'A,' My Name is Alex"

1987 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Comedy Series Gary David Goldberg (executive producer); Alan Uger & Ruth Bennett (supervising producers); Marc Lawrence (producer); Carol Himes (line producer); June Galas (co-producer) (NBC)

1987 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series Will Mackenzie (NBC) for: episode "'A,' My Name is Alex"

1987 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Editing for a Series - Multi-Camera Production Gary Anderson & Jon Bellis (NBC) for: episode "Band on the Run"

1987 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Justine Bateman (NBC)

1986 Won Emmy Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Michael J. Fox (NBC)

1986 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Comedy Series Gary David Goldberg (executive producer); Michael J. Weithorn (supervising producer); Alan Uger, Ruth Bennett & Carol Himes (line producer) (NBC)

1986 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Justine Bateman (NBC)

1986 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series Michael J. Weithorn (writer) (NBC) for: episode "The Real Thing", part II

1985 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Comedy Series Gary David Goldberg & Lloyd Garver (executive producers); Michael J. Weithorn (supervising producer); Ruth Bennett & Alan Uger (producers); Carol Himes (line producer) (NBC)

1985 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Michael J. Fox (NBC)

1984 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Comedy Series Gary David Goldberg (executive producer); Lloyd Garver (executive producer/producer); Michael J. Weithorn (producer); Carol Himes (co-producer) (NBC)

1984 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Series Mikel Neiers (director of photography 'e') (NBC) for: episode "Birthday Boy"

Golden Globes, USA

1989 Won Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical Michael J. Fox. Tied with Judd Hirsch for "Dear John" (1988) and Richard Mulligan for "Empty Nest" (1988)

1988 Nominated Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical Michael J. Fox

1988 Nominated Golden Globe Best TV-Series - Comedy/Musical

1987 Nominated Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical Michael J. Fox

1987 Nominated Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV Justine Bateman

1987 Nominated Golden Globe Best TV-Series - Comedy/Musical

1986 Nominated Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical Michael J. Fox

1986 Nominated Golden Globe Best TV-Series - Comedy/Musical

Humanitas Prize

1987 Won Humanitas Prize 60 Minute Category Gary David Goldberg & Alan Uger

Nominated Humanitas Prize 30 Minute Category Ruth Bennett for: episode "My Back Pages"

1985 Nominated Humanitas Prize 30 Minute Category Marc Lawrence for” episode "Hotline Fever"

30 Minute Category Gary David Goldberg & Alan Uger for: episode "Remembrance Of Things Past"

1984 Won Humanitas Prize 30 Minute Category Gary David Goldberg & Ruth Bennett

1984 Nominated Humanitas Prize 30 Minute Category Ruth Bennett for: episode "Say Uncle"

Kids Choice Awards

1988 Won Kids' Choice Award Favorite TV Actor Michael J. Fox

TV Land Awards

2008 Won TV Land Award Character You'd Pay to Do Your Homework for You Michael J. Fox

2007 Nominated TV Land Award Break Up That Was So Bad It Was Good Michael J. Fox & Courteney Cox

2007 Nominated The "When Bad Teens Go Good" Award Scott Valentine

2004 Nominated TV Land Award Favorite Teen Dream – Female Justine Bateman

Viewers for Quality Television Awards

1987 Won Q Award Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series Michael J. Fox

1986 Won Q Award Best Supporting Actor in a Quality Comedy Series Michael J. Fox

Young Artist Awards

1990 Won Young Artist Award Outstanding Performance by an Actor Under Nine Years of Age Brian Bonsall

1989 Won Young Artist Award Best Young Actor Under Nine Years of Age Brian Bonsall

1989 Nominated Young Artist Award Best Young Actor Guest Starring in a Drama or Comedy Series Kaylan Romero

1989 Nominated Young Artist Award Best Young Actress - Starring in a Television Comedy Series Tina Yothers

1988 Won Young Artist Award Best Young Actor Under Ten Years of Age in Television or Motion Pictures Brian Bonsall

1988 Nominated Young Artist Award Best Family Comedy Series

1988 Nominated Young Artist Award Best Young Actress Guest Starring in a Television Comedy Series Rain Phoenix for: episode "Band on the Run"

1987 Nominated Young Artist Award Exceptional Performance by a Young Actor, Guest Starring in a Television, Comedy or Drama Series Phillip Boutte

1987 Nominated Young Artist Award Exceptional Performance by a Young Actor, Guest Starring in a Television, Comedy or Drama Series Adam Carl

1986 Won Young Artist Award Best Young Actor Starring in a Television Series Marc Price

1985 Won Young Artist Award Best Young Actress in a Television Comedy Series Justine Bateman

1985 Won Young Artist Award Best Young Supporting Actress in a Television Comedy Series Tina Yothers

1984 Nominated Young Artist Award Best Young Actor in a Comedy Series Marc Price

1984 Nominated Young Artist Award Best Young Actress in a Comedy Series Justine Bateman

1984 Nominated Young Artist Award Best Young Actress in a Comedy Series Tina Yothers

1983 Nominated Young Artist Award Best Young Actress in a New Television Series Tina Yothers

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Two former flower children of the 1960s try to raise their family in the era of Reaganomics. Home life becomes particularly nightmarish when dealing with their oldest child, Alex, a right-wing conservative.

The first sitcom to view the generation gap in reverse, Family Ties was, in some ways, liberal Hollywood's response to the renewed conservatism of the 1980s. Modeled after producer Gary David Goldberg's experiences as a former hippie dealing with suburban family life, the show was in many ways a gentle, upside-down version of All in the Family, with Mike and Gloria as the parents and Archie and Edith as the children.

Living in Columbus, Ohio, Elyse and Steven Keaton, products of the peace-loving 1960s, had three children: the eldest, Alex, was a Republican who carried a briefcase to high school and read The Wall Street Journal over breakfast; middle child Mallory was a shopaholic who reveled in her lack of ambition; and the precocious youngest Keaton, Jennifer, constantly jockeyed for her own identity within the family. The situation was ripe for conflict, with Elyse, a successful architect, and Steven, who managed a public TV station, constantly bewildered by their children. A former folk singer, Elyse would get out her guitar and try to get the family to join in sing-alongs, usually featuring "If I Had a Hammer." Meanwhile, little Jennifer fronted a cutting-edge girl group named the Permanent Waves.

Not a hit when it debuted in 1982, the show picked up steam when the Reaganophile Alex ran off with much of the attention and many of the laughs. Never going for the slapstick antics of a Perfect Strangers or the bizarre characters of Newhart, two of its contemporaries, Family Ties can only be called "droll" (in the best possible sense of the word), with the sly, understated comic touch of Gross and Baxter-Birney, the dry, deadpan delivery of Yothers, and the yin-yang relationship of Fox and Bateman, who in particular had wonderful chemistry. Mallory's abject consumerism provided the perfect target for Alex's punch lines. In the show's seven-year run, the under-rated Justine Bateman developed into a top-notch comedienne, learning how to get laughs on straight lines as Mary Tyler Moore had done twenty years before on The Dick Van Dyke Show. She also became a genius at setups (no doubt with the guidance of Goldberg and directors Will Mackenzie and Sam Weisman, who between them, helmed over half of the episodes), perfectly timing the lobbing of the comedic ball so Fox could knock the punch line out of the park. The family's unofficial sixth member was Alex's friend, next-door neighbor Skippy Handelman, played by the very funny Marc Price back when a geek from next door could be a welcome addition. (This was before Steve Urkel on Family Matters, who became so obnoxious that his mere appearance sent thousands of viewers diving for their remotes.)

Like many shows of its time, Family Ties dealt with its share of serious issues such as teen pregnancy, substance abuse (with Tom Hanks guest-starring as Elyse's alcoholic brother Ned), racism, suicide, and censorship. Many of the same topics had been dealt with ten years earlier on the Norman Lear shows Maude and Good Times, and those shows, produced in the 1970s, when the topics were truly "hot button," can still be riveting to watch. But with the rise of the Movie-of-the-Week, which had a luxurious two hours to deal with issues that a sitcom had only twenty-three minutes to address (well, forty-six for a two-parter), the 1908s' "Very Special Episodes" haven't stood the test of time well, coming off as slightly preachy and pat. A notable exception is the Family Ties episode "A My Name Is Alex," in which Fox, on a bare stage, talks to an unseen psychiatrist after his best friend is killed in a car accident. It's a true tour-de-force performance and it earned Fox one of the three Emmys he received for the show.

The beginning of the fourth season was a full-length TV movie in which the Keaton family travel to England and become embroiled in an international spy scheme, complete with microfilm hidden in a hairbrush and concluding with Alex and Mallory bound and gagged. Almost as preposterous as The Facts of Life Down Under, in which Tootie, Natalie, et al. get involved in an international jewel heist (and critics accused Mister Ed of being unbelievable?), it was not among the show's finest two hours.

In 1985, Alex graduated from Harding High (Fox was already twenty-four). Steven and Elyse had a fourth child, and little Andrew (played by Brian Bonsall) became the fastest-growing child on TV, skipping from infant to preschooler over one hiatus. The show gained other regulars in successive love interests for Alex: budding ballerina Ellen (played by Fox's future real-life wife, Tracy Pollan) and psychology major Lauren Miller (played by a pre-Friends Courteney Cox). Mallory found romance, too, with Nick, an earring-wearing biker/sculptor/high school dropout played by Scott Valentine, whose charms were completely lost on the rest of the Keatons.

By the end of the seventh season, Goldberg decided the show should go off the air while it was still doing well in the ratings (Fox had become a full-fledged movie star, Bateman had those aspirations, and Valentine shot a pilot for a spin-off titled The Art of Being Nick, which was never picked up). In the spring of 1989, in a two-part episode titled "Alex Doesn't Live Here Anymore," the show wrapped up as Alex prepared to leave Columbus and join a Wall Street investmanet firm. The episode gave Meredith Baxter a chance to do some of her best work, struggling with letting her firstborn leave the next. Definitely a product of its time, Family Ties still resonates today, not for its politics but for its truthful depiction of parents and children raised in very different eras.