PRODUCTION NUMBER :: 001
EPISODE TITLE :: Pilot
ORIGINAL AIR DATE :: September 22, 1982
GUEST STARS :: Cindy Fisher as Kimberly Blanton; John Petlock as Preston Blanton; Toni Sawyer as Emily Blanton; Maurice Marsac as Roger
WRITER :: Gary David Goldberg
DIRECTOR :: Asaad Kelada
PLOT DESCRIPTION :: In the Pilot episode of the series, we learn the politics of the family and find that not everyone believes father knows best. Steven and Elyse dislike the fact that their only son, Alex, is willing to attend a private club that still functions under archaic, racist policies.
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PRODUCTION NUMBER :: 004
EPISODE TITLE :: Not With My Sister You Don't
ORIGINAL AIR DATE :: September 29, 1982
GUEST STARS :: Lee Montgomery as Eric Morrison; Betsy Russell as Girl; Jay Tarses as Ron Davis; Brooke Alderson as Suzanne Davis
WRITER :: Lloyd Garver
DIRECTOR :: Tony Mordente
PLOT DESCRIPTION :: 'Friendly' competition and teen-age parties make this episode the first to really click. Alex is put in charge when the parents go away with their friends for the weekend. While Steven and his buddy continually compete over every little thing, Alex plays tyrant at home, telling Mallory who she can and can not date. Mallory tells him to stuff it and even though he ends up being right, he admits that he was wrong to treat Mallory like a child.
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PRODUCTION NUMBER :: 003
EPISODE TITLE :: I Know Jennifer’s Boyfriend
ORIGINAL AIR DATE :: October 6, 1982
GUEST STARS :: Jeremy Schoenberg as Justin Perkins
WRITER :: Gary David Goldberg
DIRECTOR :: Michael Zinberg
PLOT DESCRIPTION :: Peer pressure and sexism run rampant in grade school, making liberal-in-the-making Jennifer Keaton's life a living hell. Will she have the guts to stand up for her beliefs and her all-too-male friend? Well, what do you think? Geez, this IS a typical family sitcom, you know.
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PRODUCTION NUMBER :: 007
EPISODE TITLE :: Summer of ‘82
ORIGINAL AIR DATE :: October 27, 1982
GUEST STARS :: Amy Steel as Stephanie Brooks; John Putch as Pete
WRITER :: Michael J. Weithorn
DIRECTOR :: Tony Mordente
PLOT DESCRIPTION :: When Alex delivers groceries to pretty college senior Stephanie Brooks, there's an immediate intellectual and physical attraction between them. Later, Stephanie phones and invites Alex to an economics lecture. Seduced by an "older woman" of 21, the hitherto inexperienced Alex is devastated to learn that just when he begins to fantasize about marriage, she thinks of their relationship as casual.
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PRODUCTION NUMBER :: 008
EPISODE TITLE :: I Never Killed for My Father
ORIGINAL AIR DATE :: November 3, 1982
GUEST STARS :: John Randolph as Jake Keaton
WRITER :: Kimberly Hall
DIRECTOR :: Dick Martin
PLOT DESCRIPTION :: Sensitive, liberal Steven and his macho, conservative father, Jake, clash - as usual - during the elder's annual visit - until Jake's startling news leads to a first effort to bridge the gap. Intent on going hunting with his grandson, Alex, the vigorous outdoorsman apparently shares many more interests and attitudes with Alex than with Steven. Yet, the undemonstrative Jake and Steven finally recognize that this could represent a last chance to come to terms with their relationship.
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PRODUCTION NUMBER :: 012
EPISODE TITLE :: Give Uncle Arthur A Kiss
ORIGINAL AIR DATE :: November 10, 1982
GUEST STARS :: Sal Viscuso as Richard Jacobs; David Spielberg as Arthur Cantrell
WRITER :: Lloyd Garver & Gary David Goldberg
DIRECTOR :: Will Mackenzie
PLOT DESCRIPTION :: Mallory is horrified and confused when a close family friend and older business associate of her father, Steven, makes a pass at her. Arthur Cantrell has been a good friend of the Keatons since the kids were toddlers. Steven has even written an on-air tribute to his admired colleague. However, Cantrell's mid-life crisis goes beyond his career, and there's no mistaking his moves toward Mallory at the station's fundraiser. When the embarrassed teenager reveals the situation, her parents must confront their friend and urge him to seek professional help.
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PRODUCTION NUMBER :: 013
EPISODE TITLE :: Big Brother is Watching
ORIGINAL AIR DATE :: November 17, 1982
GUEST STARS :: Philip Sterling as Mr. Winkler; Andrew J. Lederer as Howie
WRITER :: Ruth Bennett
DIRECTOR :: Alan Bergmann
PLOT DESCRIPTION :: 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 his sister Mallory.
TRIVIA: The first mention of the Keaton's next-door-neighbors the Obecks is made by Jennifer.
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PRODUCTION NUMBER :: 009
EPISODE TITLE :: No Nukes is Good Nukes
ORIGINAL AIR DATE :: November 24, 1982
GUEST STARS :: Priscilla Morrill as Kate Donnelly; Dick Sargent as Charlie Douglas; Larry Hankin as Walter; Jack O'Leary as The Guard; Nancy Lenehan as Roberta; Nancy Lenehan as Roberta
WRITER :: Ruth Bennett
DIRECTOR :: Alan Bergmann
PLOT DESCRIPTION :: It's Thanksgiving Day at the Keaton household, where all the family traditions are observed: Bad Cooking, Bad Jokes, and Jail Time for anti-nuclear weapon demonstrations!
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PRODUCTION NUMBER :: 011
EPISODE TITLE :: Death of a Grocer
ORIGINAL AIR DATE :: December 1, 1982
GUEST STARS :: Ann Nelson as Mrs. Crenshaw; Jack Somack as Sy Adler; Marc Price as Irwin "Skippy" Handelman
WRITER :: Michael J. Weithorn
DIRECTOR :: Will Mackenzie
PLOT DESCRIPTION :: Though Alex loves working at kindly 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.
TRIVIA: This is Skippy Handleman's first episode! Woo hoo!
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PRODUCTION NUMBER :: 006
EPISODE TITLE :: Have Gun, Will Unravel
ORIGINAL AIR DATE :: December 8, 1982
GUEST STARS :: Jack Riley as Earl; Pat McNamara as Officer Becker; Enid Kent as Phyllis; Mary Jackson as Edna
WRITER :: Ruth Bennett
DIRECTOR :: Alan Bergmann
PLOT DESCRIPTION :: The Keatons are burglarized, and a terrified Steven and Elyse wrestle with the previously unthinkable notion of buying a gun for protection. After a reluctant trip to the sporting goods store, they emerge with a weapon they hope to put out of sight forever. That evening though, a bump in the night and the sound of breaking glass force them to face the threat - one way or another.
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PRODUCTION NUMBER :: 014
EPISODE TITLE :: A Christmas Story
ORIGINAL AIR DATE :: December 15, 1982
GUEST STARS :: Peter Jurasik as Max Brown; Charles Levin as Dr. Waxman; Bruce French as Dr. Rogers; Mari Gorman as Nurse; Chris Hebert as Young Alex; Bridgette Andersen as Young Mallory
WRITER :: Joanne Pagliaro
DIRECTOR :: Will Mackenzie
PLOT DESCRIPTION :: It's the first Family Ties flashback episode! The Keatons are prevented from their winter trip by a snowstorm and are forced to spend the holiday at home with each other. Ewww! Steven and Elyse eventually tell the tales of each of their children's births.
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PRODUCTION NUMBER :: 005
EPISODE TITLE :: Oops
ORIGINAL AIR DATE :: December 22, 1982
GUEST STARS :: Cristen Kauffman as Cindy Sullivan; Julie Payne as Lynn Sullivan
WRITER :: Joanne Pagliaro
DIRECTOR :: Tony Mordente
PLOT DESCRIPTION :: Unable to face her own mother, Mallory's pregnant friend Cindy to discuss her condition with Elyse, who lends a sympathetic ear and then to her daughter's dismay, advises the girl to go home and be forthright and honest with her mother. When the overly strict Mrs. Sullivan can't cope with her daughter's revelation, Cindy runs away and finally turns up on the Keaton doorstep again. There, an emotional mother-daughter confrontation leads to a better understanding.
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PRODUCTION NUMBER :: 015
EPISODE TITLE :: Sherry Baby
ORIGINAL AIR DATE :: January 12, 1983
GUEST STARS :: Lisa Lucas as Sherry Marshall; Marc Price as Irwin "Skippy" Handelman; Robin Evans as Girl
WRITER :: Barbara Hall
DIRECTOR :: Dick Martin
PLOT DESCRIPTION :: 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. Eager to join the sorority, Mallory persuades Alex to escort Sherry to the Pi Nu dance. She even agrees to his condition that she attend the dance with the adoring, nerdy, Skippy Handelman.
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PRODUCTION NUMBER :: 016
EPISODE TITLE :: The Fugitive Part 1
ORIGINAL AIR DATE :: January 19, 1983
GUEST STARS :: Tom Hanks as Ned Donnelly; Richard Venture as Mr. Carlyle
WRITER :: Michael J. Weithorn
DIRECTOR :: Will Mackenzie
PLOT DESCRIPTION :: Elyse's yoUger brother, Ned, a go-getting corporate executive who is Alex's idol, pays a surprise visit and puzzles everyone with his cloak-and-dagger behavior. Several mysterious phone calls, replete with code words, arouse the family suspicions. Finally, an FBI agent turns up at the Keatons doorstep with astounding news - after Ned's quick exit.
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PRODUCTION NUMBER :: 017
EPISODE TITLE :: The Fugitive Part 2
ORIGINAL AIR DATE :: January 26, 1983
GUEST STARS :: Tom Hanks as Ned Donnelly; Woody Eney as Rob Peterson; Eda Reiss Merin as Woman #1; Richard Venture as Mr. Carlyle; Earl Boen as Attendant
WRITER :: Michael J. Weithorn
DIRECTOR :: Will Mackenzie
PLOT DESCRIPTION :: With the FBI hot on Ned's heels for embezzling $4-1/2 million in corporate funds, Elyse's ethical brother - and Alex's idol - tells the family why and where he hid the money and flees with Alex, leaving Steven and Elyse in a quandary. Ned explains that to stop a merger that would result in the firing of 1800 people, he hid a portfolio of corporate records and assets in a company's computer. Alex is shattered by his idol's rejection of the business world but agrees to drive Ned to the airport, where they're spotted by FBI agent Carlyle. After a wild and crazy charade, Ned flees again and winds up back at the Keatons' where Carlyle and Ned's boss await him.
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PRODUCTION NUMBER :: 018
EPISODE TITLE :: Margin of Error
ORIGINAL AIR DATE :: February 9, 1983
GUEST STARS :: Philip Charles MacKenzie as Dan Matthews; Anne Haney as Mrs. Matthews; David Couwlier as Office Boy
WRITER :: Michael Russnow
DIRECTOR :: Tony Mordente
PLOT DESCRIPTION :: 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. However, when a typhoon causes the stock of his choice to plummet, Alex must scramble to get out of a gigantic jam.
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PRODUCTION NUMBER :: 019
EPISODE TITLE :: French Lesson
ORIGINAL AIR DATE :: February 16, 1983
GUEST STARS :: John Dukakis as Jeff Wakefield; Zeke Zaccaro as Guido
WRITER :: Ruth Bennett
DIRECTOR :: Tony Mordente
PLOT DESCRIPTION :: Mallory has a crush on her French tutor Jeff, and who can resist Mallory's impish little smile? Unfortunately, Jeff asks chauvinistic Alex for advice on dating women and almost ruins the relationship before it begins. But, everything turns out okay in the end. Phew, I was sure worried.
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PRODUCTION NUMBER :: 020
EPISODE TITLE :: I Gotta Be Ming
ORIGINAL AIR DATE :: February 23, 1983
GUEST STARS :: Eugene Akutagawa as Ming Tanly; Irene Yah-Ling Sun as Mrs. Tanly
WRITER :: Douglas Wyman
DIRECTOR ::
PLOT DESCRIPTION :: Alex tries his hand at being a 'Big Brother' to a young Korean boy. Why he thought he would be a good big brother to a stranger when his real big brothering skills aren't that great, I'll never know. Alex tries to turn Ming into a mini-Alex and finds out that other people have minds and personalities of their own....and actually comes to accept it. (You know, I have my doubts about him being an actual Republican.)
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PRODUCTION NUMBER :: 010
EPISODE TITLE :: Suzanne Takes You Down
ORIGINAL AIR DATE :: March 16, 1983
GUEST STARS :: Brooke Alderson as Suzanne Davis; Jay Tarses as Ron Davis; Terry Wills as Don Bradford
WRITER :: Ruth Bennett
DIRECTOR :: Will Mackenzie
PLOT DESCRIPTION :: Soon after freelance 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.

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PRODUCTION NUMBER :: 022
EPISODE TITLE :: The Fifth Wheel
ORIGINAL AIR DATE :: March 28, 1983
GUEST STARS :: John Dukakis as Jeff Wakefield; Moosie Drier as Arnie; Michael Spound as Neil; Grant Heslov as Doug; Robert O'Donnell as Chuck
WRITER :: Michael J. Weithorn
DIRECTOR :: Andrew McCullough
PLOT DESCRIPTION :: Mallory has been put in charge of baby-sitting Jennifer while the parents are out. However, she wants to go out with Jeff and passes her on to Alex, who takes Jennifer along to a poker game. Alex doesn't even notice when Jennifer walks out and away from the game. When Mallory and Alex realize Jennifer is missing, they panic and rush to find her, realizing that their little sister is not something to take for granted.
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PRODUCTION NUMBER :: 021
EPISODE TITLE :: Stage Fright
ORIGINAL AIR DATE :: April 4, 1983
GUEST STARS :: Carlos Lacamara as Petey; Michael B. Moynahan as Grover
WRITER :: Ruth Bennett & Michael J. Weithorn
DIRECTOR ::
PLOT DESCRIPTION :: Alex is part of his school's team for the local public access Quiz show. When one of his teammates is forced to drop out, Alex finds that his only choice is to tutor Mallory to take his place. Once the Quiz begins, Mallory does very well due to the fact that the idiotic judges think Mallory is cute. As for Alex - well, he'll never have a career on the stage.
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PRODUCTION NUMBER :: 002
EPISODE TITLE :: Elyse D'Arc
ORIGINAL AIR DATE :: April 11, 1983
GUEST STARS :: Belita Moreno as Bernice; Enid Kent as Phyllis
WRITER :: Michael J. Weithorn
DIRECTOR :: Michael Zinberg
PLOT DESCRIPTION :: Family ties begin to unravel when Elyse throws all of her energies in her pet causes. She finally realizes that in using all of her time for her causes, she's neglecting her most important cause -- her family.
TRIVIA: This episode may have been scheduled to air on October 13, 1982, but was postponed due to the World Series.