Family Ties: Season 1

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Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Critic Reviews

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Season Details & Credits

NBC | Season Premiere Date: September 22, 1982

Starring: Michael Gross, Michael J. Fox, Tina Yothers

Summary: Family Ties first aired in September of 1982 on NBC and was one of the first of a wave of family comedies that emerged in the 1980's. With a rocky start in the ratings, Family Ties rose to number 2 after it was placed in the prized time-slot right after The Cosby Show and remained there from 1984 until 1987.

The series centered aroundFamily Ties first aired in September of 1982 on NBC and was one of the first of a wave of family comedies that emerged in the 1980's. With a rocky start in the ratings, Family Ties rose to number 2 after it was placed in the prized time-slot right after The Cosby Show and remained there from 1984 until 1987.

The series centered around the Keaton family, Steven and his wife Elyse, both flower children of the 1960's. They had four children, Alex, Mallory, Jennifer and Andrew, who was born in 1985.

What was unique about Family Ties was that it blended family comedy with politics. The 1960's flower children, Steven and Elyse clashed with the 1980's conservative, Alex. The show, in a way, showed the changing values during the Reagan era. Besides political views, Family Ties covered a number of controversial topics ranging from suicide to racism to drug dependency.

Skippy was a neighbor who had a never-ending crush on Mallory. Ellen was Alex's first serious girlfriend. After breaking up with her, he became seriously involved with Lauren, a psychology student and Nick Moore was Mallory's serious boyfriend.

First Telecast: September 22, 1982
Last Telecast: September 17, 1989

Episodes: 180 Color Episodes

Theme Song:

Without Us
Written by: Jeff Barry and Tom Scott

Sung by: Mindy Sterling and Dennis Tufano (1982)
Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams (1982-1989)

NBC Broadcast History

September 1982-March 1983----Wednesdays----9:30 p.m.
March-August 1983----Mondays----8:30 p.m.
August-December 1983----Wednesdays----9:30 p.m.
January 1984-August 1987----Thursdays----8:30 p.m.
August-September 1987----Sundays----8:00 & 8:30 p.m.
September 1987-September 1989----Sundays----8:00 p.m.

Nielsen Ratings:
(Top 30 or Better)

#5 in the 1984-1985 Season
#2 in the 1985-1986 Season
#2 in the 1986-1987 Season
#17 in the 1987-1988 Season… Expand

Genre(s): Comedy, Drama

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Season 1 Episodes

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S1:E22. Elyse D'Arc
Air Date: April 11, 1983
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S1:E21. Stage Fright (a.k.a.) Video Jitters
Air Date: April 4, 1983
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S1:E20. The Fifth Wheel
Air Date: March 28, 1983

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Bruce Miller

Jan 28, 2022

Family Ties is the heir apparent to All in the Family. Equally relevant, it captures '80s home life better than anything else on television. [24 Sep 1982, p.B3]

Kay Gardella

Jan 27, 2022

[Fox's] performance alone puts the series in the winner's circle. [22 Sep 1982, p.61]

Marilynn Preston

Jan 28, 2022

Family Ties doesn't beat you over the head for laughs. The humor comes out of the situation. The situations come out of reality. [22 Sep 1982, p.6]

Lee Winfrey

Jan 27, 2022

A better-than-average new comedy series. [22 Sep 1982, p.8D]

Noel Murray

Jan 27, 2022

Remembered fondly by children of the '80s as a warm, goofy show about ex-hippie parents and their materialist kids, Family Ties hasn't held up too well. Read full review

Terry Kelleher

Jan 27, 2022

Broad strokes like these might be expected in a Norman Lear comedy of the '70s, but Goldberg's better instincts seem to be leading him to something subtler and more credible. [22 Sep 1982, p.4B]

Howard Rosenberg

Jan 27, 2022

Despite being written by producer Gary David Goldberg (one of the brighter young comedy minds in TV), the script speaks the narrow, doctrinaire language of bumber stickers. [22 Sep 1982, p.7]

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oz2013

Aug 28, 2015

Season 1 of Family Ties is hilariously fun and can be enjoyed by all ages. NBC teams up with Gary David Goldberg to create this witty, socially conscious sitcom that follows former hippies Steven and Elyse Keaton, who have settled down into a suburban life and struggle to raise their threeSeason 1 of Family Ties is hilariously fun and can be enjoyed by all ages. NBC teams up with Gary David Goldberg to create this witty, socially conscious sitcom that follows former hippies Steven and Elyse Keaton, who have settled down into a suburban life and struggle to raise their three children in the go-go ‘80s. Starring Michael J. Fox, Justine Bateman, Michael Gross, Meredith Baxter Birney, and Tina Yothers, the castings quite good; as are the performances (except for Yothers). The writing however, is rather uneven; as the storytelling is often loose ended and the political messages (which address such issues as sexual harassment, gun control, and freedom of the press) sometimes seem ham-fisted. Still, the comedy is well-done and delivers a lot of laughs. The first season of Family Ties has some problems, but overall it's terrifically entertaining and has a unique voice that sets it apart from the run-of-the-mill sitcom.… Expand

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Seasons & Episodes

68

Series Overview
Season 7

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- Season 7 Overview
  Air Date: October 30, 1988
Season 6

tbd
- Season 6 Overview
  Air Date: September 13, 1987
Season 5

tbd
- Season 5 Overview
  Air Date: September 25, 1986
Season 4

tbd
- Season 4 Overview
  Air Date: September 26, 1985
Season 3

tbd
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: September 27, 1984
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: September 28, 1983
Season 1

68
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: September 22, 1982
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  S1:E22. Elyse D'Arc
  Air Date: April 11, 1983
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  S1:E21. Stage Fright (a.k.a.) Video Jitters
  Air Date: April 4, 1983
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  S1:E20. The Fifth Wheel
  Air Date: March 28, 1983
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  S1:E19. Suzanne Takes You Down
  Air Date: March 16, 1983
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  S1:E18. I Gotta Be Ming
  Air Date: February 23, 1983
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  S1:E17. French Lessons
  Air Date: February 16, 1983
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  S1:E16. Margin of Error
  Air Date: February 9, 1983
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  S1:E15. The Fugitive (2)
  Air Date: January 26, 1983
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  S1:E14. The Fugitive (1)
  Air Date: January 19, 1983
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  S1:E13. Sherry Baby
  Air Date: January 12, 1983
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  S1:E12. Oops
  Air Date: December 22, 1982
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  S1:E11. A Christmas Story
  Air Date: December 15, 1982
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  S1:E10. Have Gun, Will Unravel
  Air Date: December 8, 1982
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  S1:E9. Death of a Grocer
  Air Date: December 1, 1982
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  S1:E8. No Nukes Is Good Nukes
  Air Date: November 24, 1982
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  S1:E7. Big Brother is Watching
  Air Date: November 17, 1982
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  S1:E6. Give Uncle Arthur a Kiss
  Air Date: November 10, 1982
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  S1:E5. I Never Killed for My Father
  Air Date: November 3, 1982
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  S1:E4. Summer of '82
  Air Date: October 27, 1982
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  S1:E3. I Know Jennifer's Boyfriend
  Air Date: October 6, 1982
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  S1:E2. Not With My Sister You Don't
  Air Date: September 29, 1982
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  S1:E1. Pilot
  Air Date: September 22, 1982