The first season of Family Ties will be available on DVD on February 20 of next year. For those of you who didn't grow up watching this series like I did, it focused on two hippies (Michael Gross and Meredith Baxter-Birney) from the '60s raising a family in the Reagan era. Michael J. Fox starred as Alex, their Republican son, and their two daughters were played by Justine Bateman and Tina Yothers. The set will include all twenty-two episodes of the first season, including a two-parter featuring Tom Hanks as Elyse Keaton's secretive brother.The series, which managed to be very smart and funny while also dealing with series subjects, aired on NBC for seven seasons. While it struggled during its first season, the show soon became part of NBC's sitcom domination when it was placed right next to The Cosby Show. I have to say, though, I always thought Family Ties was the better series. It would sometimes cross the line between funny and preachy, but never to the degree that The Cosby Show did. Both shows had lessons to teach, but Cosby sometimes felt more like a half-hour lecture on good behavior.
The TV Squad Podcast: Vik Sahay of Chuck, Oprah talk, brutal timeslots, and more!
TV Squad Ten: Top Ten ESPN shows from worst to first
Andy Richter: The TV Squad Interview
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-06-2006 @ 6:20PM
elf said...
This picture was obviously taken during the show's first season in 1964 before they switched to color the next year. Most people also don't remember that the during that first season the character of Alex Keaton was played as evil, cunning and connving, as evidenced by the scowl on Michael J. Fox's face in the picture. Alex was only changed to endearingly conservative after focus groups did not respond to his first-season catchphrase "Stick it where the sun don't shine, you commie pinko!"
Reply
11-06-2006 @ 6:37PM
Liza said...
omg, i'm so happy this is coming to dvd! i love the early episodes of family ties! do you think they'll ever put like, all the 80's shows? how about Valerie? haha or Silver Spoons!
Reply
11-06-2006 @ 8:04PM
Retro TV Sitcoms said...
This is good news. Family Ties is one of the best classic sitcoms of all time! By the way Liza, I do believe Silver Spoons is already out on dvd!
Reply
11-06-2006 @ 10:59PM
Jim said...
Family Ties was a great show. I still marvel at how well it walked the line between biting sarcasm and social morality.
Reply
11-14-2006 @ 1:51AM
Michelle said...
I'm so excited for Family Ties to be on DVD. I was too young to actually watch it when it was being aired but they had reruns on Nick at Nite and I fell in love. My favorite episode is "My Name Is Alex" although that was in the 5th season. But when it comes out I'm for sure buying it.
Reply