Minted Michael J. Fox as a superstar and made Alex P. Keaton a yuppie mascot.
Why it matters
Episode guide
176 episodes across 7 seasons — titles, air dates, and synopses.
At a glance
Ex-hippie parents raise a conservative son who loves supply-side jokes more than protest songs. NBC's Family Ties (1982–1989) made Michael J. Fox's Alex P. Keaton a Reagan-era icon and the Keatons a Must See-adjacent institution. Meredith Baxter and Michael Gross played the liberal parents; Justine Bateman and Tina Yothers filled out the sibling politics. Fox's breakout forced the show to rebalance around him — successfully. Economics never had a cozier sitcom spokesman.
Network & studio
- NBC — broadcast network
Why watch now
Fox at full young-star voltage and a premise that actually engages 1980s politics without a textbook. Family multi-cam with a point of view.
Cultural impact
Family Ties captured the generational politics of the 1980s in living-room form and made Michael J. Fox a superstar. Alex P. Keaton became shorthand for young conservatism. The series remains a primary text of Reagan-era pop culture.
Creators
Gary David Goldberg
Key cast
- Michael J. Fox as Alex P. Keaton
- Meredith Baxter as Elyse Keaton
- Michael Gross as Steven Keaton
- Justine Bateman as Mallory Keaton
- Tina Yothers as Jennifer Keaton
Flash facts
- NBC sitcom aired 1982–1989.
- Starred Michael J. Fox as Alex P. Keaton, with Meredith Baxter and Michael Gross as parents Elyse and Steven.
- Premise contrasts 1960s-idealist parents with a Republican-leaning son.
- Fox's popularity reshaped the show's center of gravity mid-run.
- Part of NBC's powerful 1980s comedy portfolio.
FAQ
Who played Alex P. Keaton?
Michael J. Fox.
When did Family Ties air?
On NBC from 1982 to 1989.
What is the show's central conflict?
Liberal former-hippie parents raising a more conservative, ambitious son.
Who played the parents?
Meredith Baxter and Michael Gross.
Official & further reading
External sites for further reading — TV Flash is not affiliated with these networks or studios.
Back to the decade
More from the 1980s — Glitz, Soaps & Nighttime Neon. All shows.
Also on the dial
Related & side shows
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Silver Spoons
Rich kid, toy-filled mansion, and Jason Bateman before Arrested Development.
Punky Brewster
Orphan optimism, neon fashion, and earworm theme energy.
Empty Nest
Golden Girls neighbor doctor with adult daughters home again — Miami shared-universe comedy.
Amen
Sherman Hemsley takes the pulpit — church politics as sitcom battleground.