Family Ties 1982

Overview

Family Ties is an American television sitcom created by Gary David Goldberg that aired on NBC for seven seasons. The series premiered on September 22, 1982, and concluded its run on May 14, 1989. Produced by Ubu Productions and Paramount Television, the show chronicles the lives of Steven and Elyse Keaton, who are described as former 1960s flower children and liberal ex-hippies. The narrative focuses on the Keatons as they raise their children, including their conservative son Alex, their daughters Mallory and Jennifer, and later, their youngest child Andrew. The series reflected the social shift in the United States from the cultural liberalism of the 1960s and 1970s toward the conservatism of the 1980s. Although the show experienced modest ratings and faced tough prime-time competition at its launch in the fall of 1982, it steadily strengthened throughout its tenure due to word of mouth and a consistent schedule on the network. The cast featured Michael J. Fox, Michael Gross, Meredith Baxter, and Justine Bateman.