What is your all-time favorite episode of Family Ties and why?

Originally posted by TJ:
What is your all-time favorite episode of Family Ties and why?

My favourite episode is "My Name Is Alex" because I think it showcases the comedy and drama that made the show so good.

I found the episode in which Alex suffers from Insomnia to be pretty interesting. Rarely see a sitcom tackle an issue like that.

I liked the episode where Andy was either just born or very close to it, because Alex bought a little stuffed animal that said "I Love Alex" when you pulled the string.

My favorite epsoides are Family Ties Vacation, if that qualifies and the two part epsoide "The Real Thing".

Hi,

My favorite is definitely "The Real Thing", the first episode with Tracy Pollan as Ellen.

But there were many great episodes, such as "Last of the red hot psychologists" and some others.

Sincerely,

Daniel Hofverberg
Webmaster, Family Ties Home Page
http://www.familyties.f2s.com

Originally posted by TJ:
What is your all-time favorite episode of Family Ties and why?

My favorite episode is where Elise is told by Alex to butter up his teacher Mr. Tadesco at parents night so Alex can get a recomendation from him and Elise ends up punching the teacher in the mouth.

Best episode ever in my opinion is when the kids rent the house to pay for the damage Mallory did to the car. No matter how many times I see this one, I always laugh out loud. Every scene is classic & Alex is at his absolute obnoxious best!

Jennifer: How much extra? (money they made)
Alex: Don't you worry your pretty little head about it. Let Alex handle the big old nasty financial situation.

or

Alex: Whose sleeping bag is that? (on the couch)
Jennifer: Mine.
Alex: Ah, looks comfy! (as he tosses it to the floor and gets onto the couch himself)

I liked the episode where the hippie taxi driver made a time machine out of a Delorean, and Alex went back in time to the 50's.

Oh, wait... I'm all confused now...

My favourite episode is "The Real Thing". Other favourites include "My Name Is Alex", "Last Of The Red Hot Psychologists", the episode where Alex takes the diet pills, Alex's 18 birthday episode, Uncle Ned on the run, Geena Davis as the housekeeper, the episode with the kangaroo and of course the episode where Alex goes to the banking convention. So many favourites...some still not mentioned here.

There are many:

Robert Klein as Elyse's old school pal; Tom Hank's as Elyse's brother in two episodes; Alex's friend commits suicide; Alex and Ellen are dancing to "At This Moment"; Alex's 18th Birthday.

Memorable stuff.

One of my fave episodes is the one when Alex was addicted to the pills that Mallory got from her friend. It showed such desperation and was really heartfelt. I also liked the episode where Alex's friend died in an accident and Alex expressed his feelings in a monologue complete with a rendition of The Doors' Light My Fire. It was very emotion, sincere, and heartfelt. It moved me to tears.
On a lighter note, I too really liked the episode where Elise knocked out Alex's teacher Mr. Tedesco. He really deserved it.

Good choices. However, it was kind of surprising to see a character as grounded and responsible as Alex to go off the deep end, and suddenly become addicted to a prescription drug. Somewhat unrealistic. And some things about the episode in which his friend died, bugged me. First of all, Alex is so close to this "friend", yet that was the first episode in which we had ever heard of him. Second of all, we always perceived Alex to be a rather hard nosed, ruthless guy. After this show, Alex softened up a bit, for the remainder of the series, IMO, which was not good for the show. But I agree, it was a great episode.

To the guy about the "My name is Alex" episode. I too found it wierd that he was so close, but that was the only episode we saw him in. However, I think that they showed the softer side of Alex made the series that much more real, most comedies on show a one sided charecter, this is one of the few where you saw people's good and bad side. Also about the getting hooked on the pills, a lot of good, smart people do stupid things. So Alex fealing pressure and doing something about it is true to his charecter.

The episode where Jennifer and her friend Chrissy change their image to be like the kids in the "cool" group really hit home. I especially liked the way Jennifer finally stood up to this shallow group in the end when they started taunting Beth, Jennifer's timid,"uncool" friend.

My favorite episode was #20 in the first season titled "I've got to be Ming" because I was the one who played Ming. In that episode me and Alex had a picture poster of each other and after we finished filming the episode he signed the picture of himself. He wrote "To the only little brother I've ever had". I also worked with Michael J. Fox in an earlier series called "Palmerstown USA". I'm 29 yrs old now. I was 12 when I was on "Family Ties" and that was the last show I was in.


[This message has been edited by Ming (edited 08-24-2000).]

My favrotie is the one where Alex and the rest, while their parents aren't around, rent out the house to people coming to see some college football game in town. They completely turn the house into a hotel. It had Chunk from the Goonies in it. Quaility stuff. About the episode where Alex does drugs, i dont think he was ever really addicted. he only did it a couple of times to help him study i thought. but i guess once a user always a user.

jeff

I have several but my favorite one is definitely, A MY NAME IS ALEX. I knew Michael is a accomplished actor. And to pull off the performance he did in that episode was great. I just wish they had not cut some of it. I have seen the complete episode when it originally aired on NBC. A masterful job. In case you don't remember this one it concerns a friend of Alex's who is killed in a automobile accident, and Alex was supposed to be with him but declined to go and now Alex is have a guilt trip. The second half of the show does a OUR TOWN kind of motif and shows Alex coming to grips with his loss with the help of a unseen psychiatrist.

My favourite has got to be when Alex met his first real girlfriend for the first time. Alex had seen a picture of some pretty freshman and so he went to her dorm room to try to meet her. She wasn't there but her room mate Ellen was. Alex and Ellen took an instant dislike to each other but they both felt the chemistry and tension in the air. All the later episodes with Alex and Ellen were special too. I've become rather nostalgic for those episodes because at times, I've identified with *that* Ellen. And even though Tracy Pollan and Michael J. Fox were involved with other people at the time, I still could sense some spark between them onscreen. I'd love to see those episodes again. Alternatively, does anyone know where I can locate the online transcripts?

[This message has been edited by munchheadca (edited 09-27-2000).]

There are many classics, and although the "I know my name is Alex" episode is nice, there is one thing the writers did that pisses me off.

A friend of Alex (whom the viewers never met before, or even HEARD of) dies and Alex feels horrible etc.

The ep's were great, don't get me wrong, but I hate it when writers do that, pop a character in.

And don't get me started on aging Andy 4 years overnight (another sitcom annoyance).


anyhow, my fav episode would be:

Alex and the Keaton Mannor.

As a previous poster said, each scene is hilarous, I loved every part of that episode. I mean, the kangaroo in the family room? Oh... the speech at the end by Steven:

Steven: "... There was a kangaroo... in my living room."

Alex: "C'mon dad, he was only here for the party..."

Best of the 80's.

When Jennifer gets new friend's....
And I love Evrething whit Alex.......

any episode with nick and mallory are my favorites.

I have several Fav. One is "My name Is Alex"
cause that story touched your heart it had some comedy in it and yet it was emotional. and there was one were Mallory chrashed the car and The kids rented the house as a hotel to pay for the damage lol I loved the kangroo in the living room lol.

One of my favorites is the one with Tom Hanks who comes to town with a drinking problem. I thought he was really good in this and it was the first time I saw that Tom Hanks could do drama in addition to comedy.

The other one I love is the one where Alex has insomnia. What a great issue to tackle! It seems that these days, something as minor as that would be given the "B" or "C" storyline and turned comedic while something much heavier would be used as the dramatic "A" story.

A real nice blend of comedy and drama too. I can't wait to see that episode again.

I remember a couple of episodes in particular that stand out in my mind...

I like the episode where Jennifer and her friend Chrissy finally stand up to the cool kids and throw them out of the house...and it seems to me that one of the "cool" kids turned out to be somebody that's really famous now...I think it was the pretty girl who was the leader of the cool kids...who is she? Anyone? Anyone?

I liked the episode where Alex has two dates to the prom (Area "A" and Area "B").

But I think my favorite was the one where Alex thinks he's a man and starts treating his family like crap. Then on his 18th birthday, he and his friend go to a bar in West Virginia (out of state) to meet two girls (who are total ditzes, but really cute ditzes). Alex and his friend (I think he was also Barbara's boyfriend on One Day at a Time) convince the girls that they are in the Air Force...Alex tells the girls that he's a colonel. Alex's mom is so upset that he went out of state without permission that she follows them to the bar...then, Alex's friend interrupts Alex's war story with the words: "Colonel Keaton? Your mom's here". Classic!! (And, it plays much better than it reads here!).

Originally posted by malloryfan:
and there was one were Mallory chrashed the car and The kids rented the house as a hotel to pay for the damage lol I loved the kangroo in the living room lol.

Good choice, that one was pretty funny. But I am surprised that no one mentioned the one where Alex was afraid that he and Ellen were drifting apart, because they didn't have much in common. Alex attempted to do a ballet dance. Boy, did that scene crack me up http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/lol.gif
Am I the only one here who thinks that episode is hilarious?



[This message has been edited by FOL & DS fan 4ever (edited 10-04-2001).]

Originally posted by Ming:
My favorite episode was #20 in the first season titled "I've got to be Ming" because I was the one who played Ming. In that episode me and Alex had a picture poster of each other and after we finished filming the episode he signed the picture of himself. He wrote "To the only little brother I've ever had". I also worked with Michael J. Fox in an earlier series called "Palmerstown USA". I'm 29 yrs old now. I was 12 when I was on "Family Ties" and that was the last show I was in.


[This message has been edited by Ming (edited 08-24-2000).]


Really???? It seems rare for actors to visit Sitcoms Online.

Hi all. I'm new here and am enjoying reading your favs. I was a kid when the show was on, but do remember many of the episodes. A fav? I would say "My Name Is Alex" because of the acting. I thought it showcased Michael's true acting talents, and gave us another dimension to see rather than just the commical side. I also like the one where Alex loses Jennifer at a poker game! There are so many good ones, it's just hard tos ay. While I agree with what many of you said, the friend was only in that one episode and died, and Andy aged a few eyars, and yes that can can be annoying becase in reality the friend should have been on there more often,a nd one can't age that fast, I think maybe the writers knew if they did those two things it could help the show. If they aged Andy, they could involved his character more. If they killed a friend, they could give Michael a chance to show another side of his acting abilities while also showing Alex's character to have a more vunerable, down to earth side. Okay, enough of my analysis! I just really like the acting!
I don't have many episodes on tape yet, but would like to acquire them all. I want that one in its entirity.

Hello there! i would like 2 know what is your favorite episode??? please reply! i know alot about family ties, so please e-mail me! at: razzpberryangel9@aol.com
i think family ties is the best show on the air right now! thank you!
-jenna k.

Three words:

"...Like HI, okay?"

L8

Mr. Garrett



------------------
I am NOT going to be known as Sexy Lingere!
Jo

HELLO! I JUST WANNA KNOW WHAT IS YOUR FAVE EPISODES??? ALSO, I HAVE A E-MAIL NEWSLETTER ABOUT FAMILY TIES EVERY WEEK, SO IF YOU WANNA JOIN JUST PLEASE E-MAIL ME!!!! AT: RazzpberryAngel9@aol.com
THANKZ!!!!

No need to shout...

One of my favorite episodes is the episode where Alex has insomnia. I've mentioned this before but I thought I'd bring it up again cause I like it so much. Funniest part was when he was talking to his stuffed animal.

The other one I like is the one with Tom Hanks coming back as an alcoholic. "Well, it may not be Miller time, but it is marishino cherry time." And that interview with Steven's boss is priceless. Just hysterical. But what really makes this episode so great was that it had some great drama in it too when he hit Alex at the end. I've never seen the show get this serious but it really works well mixed in with the humor. That's hard to do folks.

My all-time favourite episode is "How do you sleep". Most of all, what happens to Alex is this episode has been happening to me for 3 days. It's horrible and what they show in the episode is so true.
Michael J. rules!

HOW DO YOU SLEEP (Alex's insomnia). Bu the way, how do you sleep?

Originally posted by Spin C.T.:
My all-time favourite episode is "How do you sleep". Most of all, what happens to Alex is this episode has been happening to me for 3 days. It's horrible and what they show in the episode is so true.
Michael J. rules!

I feel for ya. Do what Elise said and get stuff done. Nature will take over eventually.

My favorite was definitely The Real Thing (episode 74/75).

But there were several good episodes, such as Don't Go Changin', Last of the Red Hot Psycologists, etc.

Sincerely,

Daniel Hofverberg
Webmaster, Family Ties Home Page
http://www.familyties.f2s.com

Episodes including, "Help Wanted" and "It's My Party" were my favorite episodes.

------------------
Andrew Carden

Thanks Greg. I think I'm gonna do what Elyse says to Alex.

My favorite episode is "4 Rms Ocn Vu."

of the ones i've seen i like the one when Jennifer was trying to be cool and the one when Alex takes speed. I think it's called "Speed Trap" or something.

------------------
--Dana
Actressgrl7@aol.com

Blair: I just had another one of my brilliant ideas!!!!!

Bumping this so more people will be able to see it - Otherwise, it is just a question of time until we have four different active threads for the same subject again...

/Daniel Hofverberg
Webmaster, Family Ties Home Page
http://www.familyties.f2s.com

I have four favorites. :o
1. The one where Jennifer runs away, because I can relate to her in that one. I'm the youngest in my family. :(
(Fifth Wheel)
2. The one where Alex invests his dad's money in the Stock Market, because it's so funny. :lol:
(Margin of Error)
3. The one where Alex takes the Diet Pills, because I think it's very realistic and touching. Especially when he looks through the Garbage Can like that. :lookaroun
(How do you Sleep)
4. The one where their uncle has a drinking problem. I like the way that one ends, too. It's cool the way he has to shape up after he slaps Alex and Steven says: "You get help or you get the #%!! out of my house." :mad:
(Say Uncle)

Added the names of the episodes you mentioned, for clarity. /Daniel

Hello! I havn't been watching the show for ver long, and it always seems like I miss the episodes that I want to see, but I think a really funny one was the one called "Stagefright" where Alex was leading some debating team, and when one of the people on it gets sick, he puts Mallory in there. He is so worried about Mallory getting everything right and everything! It is so funny when he takes that first glance at the camera, and goes totally speechless!!!

I also like the one "Say Uncle" with Tom Hanks in it. That one is really good.

I want to also see the one where Alex has insomnia (How Do You Sleep), and the one where they rent out the house like a hotel (4Rms Ocn Vu)! I have been wanting to see them both for a long time, but I am gonna tape them or something the next time they play!!!
Well, G2G.
TTYL
Katie "Alexis"

Added the episode's titles for clarity. /Daniel

Wow! There were so many fantastic episodes.

A favourite of mine(What the episodes titled, I've forgotten), but it's the one were Mallory takes an I.Q test , and accumulates a higher points total than Alex.LOL!!:rolleyes:

I remember their having an argument and Mallory turns to Alex and says "Now Alexander" LOL!.Next thing she's dressing up with shirt and tie, hair tied back and wearing glasses.So funny!:lol:

Btw, "Blair Warner Project" Lmao!!Fantastic avatar!;)

My favorite episode would have to be Episode #83: "Don't Go Changing". (Even though all Alex/Ellen episodes are my favorites.)

Michael

Originally posted by Michael Cross
My favorite episode would have to be Episode #83: "Don't Go Changing".
Let me just point out that Don't Go Changin' was really episode number 79, based on the official episode numbers from Paramount - You have probably used Nick at Nite's numbers, which are not correct (They have counted "Family Ties Vacation" as four episodes, even though they are not officially counted as episodes of the show).

My favorite episode was definitely my name is Alex. That episode was one of the most emotional iv'e ever seen of any tv show period. I also enjoyed Alex Doesn't live here anymore. It was sad to see the show end, but you could see how real the emotion was in that episode.

My personal favourite episodes include:

My Name Is Alex.
The one where Alex and Mallory go on a tv game show and Alex gets really bad stage fright.
The one where Alex turns the Keaton home into a hotel.

There are many more I love, but I just can't remember them all! :)

The one where Steven and Elyse leave for the weekend and Alex puts the house up for rent for tourists who come to see a game(or something like that).. Also has the funniest quotes of Family Ties, especially the quote I have under my messages now

They Can't Take That Away From Me Part 2:

I've posted this over and over and can't wait until NAN airs it again after the Cosby marathon. I'll finally get it on tape (if NAN doesn't screw me over with their notorious episode skipping or restarting series before they finished it off from where they left off). Alex's final scene in that episode is one of the great TV moments and I only saw it in it's entirety once when it originally aired, I always end up missing its reairing in reruns. I'll make sure I get it this time around!

Originally posted by dcarus
They Can't Take That Away From Me Part 2:

I've posted this over and over and can't wait until NAN airs it again after the Cosby marathon. I'll finally get it on tape (if NAN doesn't screw me over with their notorious episode skipping or restarting series before they finished it off from where they left off). Alex's final scene in that episode is one of the great TV moments and I only saw it in it's entirety once when it originally aired, I always end up missing its reairing in reruns. I'll make sure I get it this time around!

Sorry, dcarus, I forgot to mention "They Can't Take That Away From Me" when I posted my favorites. That's definitely one of the best episodes. I can't wait to tape it. Do you know how they got the title for that episode? One of the scenes is of Marty playing " 'S Wonderful " by George Gershwin, and "They Can't Take That Away From Me" is the title of another one of Gershwin's songs. Just figured you might be interested.

This is just a guess but maybe they came up with the title they can't take that away from me because Ellen was going to marry another guy but in the end the other guy couldn't take Ellen away from Alex. I'm not sure though, that's just my guess.

I'd say that's a pretty good hunch. Maybe it's a mix of the two. Perhaps the purpose of the episode was to show that the other guy couldn't take Ellen away from Alex and the title of Gershwin's song fit the episode. Problem is, though, I don't think Ellen is in "They can't take that away from me". I think the episode you're thinking of is "The Real Thing." Both episodes are two part episodes. "They can't take that away from me" is about Alex falling for a music student (Marty) and he has to decide between Marty and Lauren, I believe. Marty plays " 'S Wonderful" by George Gershwin on the piano with Alex (that's kind of the main scene in the episode) and that's where I made the connection to the title because both "They Can't Take That Away From Me" and " 'S Wonderful" are pieces written by George Gershwin. It seems like a logical title choice to me.

Oh, that's right. I hate it when I put up a post and afterwards find out I didn't know what I was talking about. I always get those two episodes mixed up for some reason.

Hey Michael:
I am right about that final scene aren't I? I just remember Alex being alone in the Keaton living room and having a solo spot and then he walks out of the room to a standing ovation to end part 2. Just need to be sure about that, reply if you know what I am talking about, thanks.

Hi dcarus,
I can't say that I remember the living room scene. I've only seen "They Can't That Away From Me" once. I remember the piano parts very well because I've been playing piano for 10 years (since I was 7 years old), and I think Marty is an excellent match for Alex; but I don't remember the ending. (Typical! I remember everything else BUT the ending.) :confused:

Michael

dcarus! Get your VCR ready because "They Can't Take That Away From Me" is going to be on Nick At Night this Friday night!!!! You probably already know, but I'm lettin' you know- just in case.

Michael

I can't wait until it airs, I'll be sure to get it taped this time and I am pretty sure the ending scene is what I am thinking of. If I am correct about that scene then I suggest all Family Ties fans get this two part episode on tape. Get ready to tape it, officially Friday/early Saturday is when it airs!

It is airing, it is airing, and this time my VCR is recording!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!:crazy: :lol: :happyface :eek:

Okay after watching They Can't Take That Away From Me, I've realized I am not thinking about the right episode, but I know the scene as I described took place. The question is which episode was it, or is it possible that this scene I am remembering took place after an episode finished and Alex did some kind of farewell to the audience, that was only shown on one of those Television's greatest moments shows that was hosted by Dick Clark. Doubt that one though.

So if anyone knows of an episode that ends the way I've described please post a response. It is simple, Alex was sitting in the living room said some things and then got up from the couch and walked out to a standing ovation of some kind. Please help!

YES!!! "They can't take that away from me" is safe on my video tape! Hey dcarus, I didn't see any living room scenes. Was this the episode you were thinking of?

Michael

Clearly, I've made a mistake, but I really want to know which episode I am thinking of. I am not imagining the scene I know it took place!

What is your all-time favorite episode of Family Ties and why?

I love the Real Thing Pts 1&2 because Alex and Ellen are my FAVOURITE T.V. couple (Just in front of Mike and Nikki of Spin City)