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| Family
Ties Features |
Episode
Guide
Picture Gallery
Awards
Family Tree |
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QUOTES
I'm glad Nick and I are so compatible. It's like we have one mind,
you know? Like we share one brain.
Who's using it tonight?
--Mallory and Alex
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Old grudges die hard, don't they Keaton?
What?
You still can't get over my beating you in the regional spelling
bee in the third grade.
You didn't beat me. I simply refused to spell democrat.
--James and Alex
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There was a feeling coming into that kitchen. Walking in there was
like walking into a hug.
--Alex P. Keaton
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He doesn't have to make you a loser to be a winner himself.
--Alex P. Keaton on Steven Keaton
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Being behind (The)Cosby(Show) is not a bad
place to be. I'm not defensive, but we keep the audience from his
show. We're proud of the work we do and don't feel we're a success
because of charity. We're in the Top 10 because of the audience
we inherit from 'Cosby', but we certainly hold our own.
--Michael
J. Fox on Family Ties' success, TV Guide, March 7, 1981
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I also discovered, in the third show we taped before we went on
the air, that Michael J. fox was my heavy hitter. In that show,
the parents were out of town and Alex took command of the family
- with a vengence. The studio nearly fell down laughing.
--Gary
David Goldberg on Michael J. Fox, TV Guide, March 7, 1981 |
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| "Without
Us" Lyrics |
Written
by Jeff Barry & Tom Scott
Performed by Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams
I bet we've been together for a million years.
And I bet we'll be together for a million more.
Oh, it's like I started breathing on the night we kissed,
And I can't remember what I ever did before.
What'll we do baby, without us?
What'll we do baby, without us?
And there ain't no nothin' we can't love each other through.
What'll we do baby without us?
Sha la la la |
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HOME
:: ACTING CAREER :: TV
SERIES :: FAMILY TIES |
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BRIEF
SERIES DESCRIPTION
The day to day happenings of your not-so-typical
1980's family with liberal parents and (for the most poart) conservative
children. (Until Jennifer grows up, anyway) |
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GENERAL
PROGRAM INFORMATION
GENRE: Situation Comedy
SETTING: Columbus, Ohio
FILMING LOCATION: NBC Studios, CA
STATION:
NBC
AIR DATES: September 22, 1982 - May 14,
1989
NUMBER OF EPISODES: 176
NORMAL
RUNNING TIME: 30 Minutes
CREW AND OTHER TECHNICAL INFORMATION
CREATOR: Gary David Goldberg
PRODUCER: Susan Borowitz, Lloyd Garver
& Michael J. Weithorn
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: June Galas
LINE PRODUCER: Carol Sledz Himes
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Gary DAvid Goldberg
PRODUCTION COMPANY: UBU Productions
DISTRIBUTOR: Paramount Television
FILM EDITOR:
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Robert F. Liu &
Mikel Neiers
OTHER ORIGINAL MUSIC: Dominic Messinger,
J.A.C. Redford (1989) & Rick Rhodes |
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| CAST
:: CHARACTER NAME...ACTOR NAME |
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Elyse
Keaton...Meredith Baxter-Birney
Steven Keaton...Michael Gross
Alex P. Keaton...Michael J. Fox
Mallory Keaton...Justine Bateman
Jennifer Keaton...Tina Yothers
Andrew Keaton...Brian Bonsall
Erwin 'Skippy' (Blue Boy) Handelman...Marc Price
Ellen Reed...Tracy Pollan (1985-1986)
Nick Moore...Scott Valentine (1985-1989)
Lauren Miller...Courtney Cox (1986-1989)
Michael J. Fox's Stand-In...Charles Croughwell |
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| TRIVIA |
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Character/Story
Trivia:
Steven & Elyse were arrested three times during the 1960's for
their involvement in subversive activities.
Actor/Behind-the-Scenes Trivia:
Meredith Baxter-Birney and Michael Gross share the same birthday:
June 21, 1947
The show was originally pitched to CBS who turned it down.
Info gathered from "Keeping Alex Awful...Yet So Loveable"
by Bill Davidson of TV Guide, March 7, 1987
Mathew Broderick was the first choice to play Alex P. Keaton. However,
he did not wish to be tied down to a series.
Info gathered from "Keeping Alex Awful...Yet So Loveable"
by Bill Davidson of TV Guide, March 7, 1987
Justine Bateman had no prior professional acting experience. The
only reason she was at the auditions was because she accompanied
her brother, Jason Bateman, who was auditioning for the role of
Alex.
Info gathered from "Keeping Alex Awful...Yet So Loveable"
by Bill Davidson of TV Guide, March 7, 1987
Michael J. Fox was originally rejected for the role of Alex P. Keaton
by both Gary David Goldberg and NBC Programming Chief Brandon Tartikoff.
Tartikoff said of Fox, "That's a face you'll never see on a
lunch box." The Casting Director, Judith Weiner, asked Goldberg
to see Fox again and he finally relented. Fox's second audition
was much better. Goldberg said of Fox's second audition; "I
like to use basketball terminology and I can say that Michael is
like me - terrible in practice but much better in actual game on
the court...Michael floored me with his talent." Goldberg fought
to include him on the program, which could have cost him the show
entirely. He prevailed and in later years, Tartikoff kept a lunch
box on his desk emblazoned with Michael J. Fox's face.
Info gathered from "Keeping Alex Awful...Yet So Loveable"
by Bill Davidson of TV Guide, March 7, 1987
The original premise of the show centered around former radicals
becoming yuppie parents. However, bigger laughs came from ordinary
family interaction and Alex. By the third episode they knew Michael
J. Fox was their key. From then on, these two things were emphasized:
1) Family Interplay and 2) Alex P. Keaton.
Info gathered from "Keeping Alex Awful...Yet So Loveable"
by Bill Davidson of TV Guide, March 7, 1987
Family Ties was an extention of Gary David Goldberg's relationship
with his life partner, Meehan. They met in the late '60's and protested
the Vietnam War at Berkely. They 'went straight' in 1975, although
they never married.
Info gathered from "The Unusual Real-Life Families of Family
Ties" by Mark Morrison, US Magazine, March 23, 1987
Meredith Baxter-Birney's contract was up one year before the show
ended. It was uncertain whether or not she would return for the
final season. She was the least happy with the show and the least
involved.
Info gathered from "Keeping Alex Awful...Yet So Loveable"
by Bill Davidson of TV Guide, March 7, 1987 |
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