What it was like Growing Up in the Eighties (1980s)
  • Tue. Mar 19th, 2024

Family Ties – 80s TV Sitcom

Family Ties is an 80s sitcom television series that aired on NBC for seven seasons, premiering on September 22, 1982, and concluding on May 14, 1989. The life of a young Republican Alex P. Keaton (portrayed by Michael J. Fox) and his ex-hippie parents, Steven and Elyse Keaton (portrayed by Michael Gross and Meredith Baxter).

14 Memorable Facts About Family Ties | Mental Floss
Family Ties

Cast

Tom Hanks as Kip Wilson/ Buffy Wilson
Peter Scolari as Henry Desmond/ Hildegrade
Micheal J. Fox as Alex Keaton
Justine Bateman as Mallory Keaton
Michael Gross as Steve Keaton
Meredith Baxter-Birney as Elyse Keaton
Tina Yothers as Jenifer Keaton
Brian Bonsall as Andrew Keaton (1986-1989)
Marc Price as Irwin “Skippy” Handleman
Tracy Pollan as Ellen Reid (1985-1986)
Scott Valentine as Nick Moore (1985-1989)
Courtney Cox as Lauren Miller (1987-1989)

Series Run

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

Broadcast History

September 1982- March 1983, NBC, Wednesday 9:00-9:30pm
March 1983- August 1983, NBC, Monday 8:30-9:00pm
August 1983- December 1983, NBC, Wednesday 9:30-10:00pm
January 1984- August 1987, NBC, Thursday 8:30-9:00pm
August 1987-September 1987, NBC, Sunday 8:00-9:00pm
September 1987- September 1989, NBC, Sunday 8:38-8:30pm

Plot

Set in suburban Columbus, Ohio, during the Reagan administration, Steven and Elyse Keaton (Michael Gross and Meredith Baxter) are baby boomers, liberals and former hippies, raising their three children: ambitious, would-be millionaire entrepreneur Alex (Michael J. Fox); fashion-conscious, gossipy Mallory (Justine Bateman); and tomboy Jennifer (Tina Yothers). Married in 1964, Elyse is an independent architect and Steven, a native of Buffalo, New York, is the station manager of WKS, a local public television station.

More info at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Ties

Theme Song and Opening

“Without Us,” by Jeff Barry and Tom Scott, sung by Johnny
Mathis and Deniece Williams.

Family Ties Theme Song Lyrics

I bet we’ve been together- for a million years-,
And I’ll bet we’ll be together for a million more-.
But it’s like I started dreaming
Of the night we kissed.
And I can’t remember what I ever did before.
What did we do baby-,
Without us?
What did we do baby-,
Without us?
And there ain’t no nothing
We can’t love each other through.
What did we do baby-,
Without us?
Sha la la la-.