I just discovered FT a couple months ago, and I was just curious as to why they cancelled the show... was it because MJF wanted to move on? bad ratings? Please tell. :)

The show ended for a few reasons.

One was the fact that the cast did indeed want to move on.

Another was the fact that the '80s were ending, and that was the whole premise of the show - former 1960s hippies raise their kids in the Reagan era.

To add to AKA, it was just time to go. They were out of ideas and there was nothing left to be told of the Keatons. They were even resorting to sort of activism themes as episodes dealt with racism, book banning, fumes from household chemicals, a few others. I have an old tv guide with an article from September of '88 saying they were told it was going to be their last year at the beginning of the season. So at least they had time to prepare themselves.

To my knowledge, the cancelation was a mutual decision between the cast members, the producers, UBU/Paramount and NBC.

And after all, you really can't expect a sitcom to last much more than seven years...

That's true. TV shows can only last so long. "The Waltons" kept going for a really long time, but as it did I beleive it got less popular.
Wouldn't it be cool if they made a TV show about Alex Keaton's children? :happyface:

Yeah, that would be neat if they made a show about Alex Keatons kids!:crazy:

It would be cool, but it would never be able to live up to Family Ties. Plus, it wouldn't have Michael J. Fox, and he was the main reason the show was so good.

It's true it wouldn't live up to Family Ties, but it would have Michael J. Fox. If it were about his children, he would be the dad! I guess he wouldn't take the job though, since he would have better paying offers.

A one-off reunion would be nice, but Gary David Goldberg said at the very end of the final episode, there would never be any more Family Ties.. :(

This thread has went too far now from the original subject (which has already been answered), plus that there already is a thread about a possible reunion (http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1365) - Therefore, I am closing this thread.

For discussions about a reunion, please use the other thread I linked to above.

Due to public request, I have re-opened this thread now.

Please keep it on topic - If anyone else posts about a possible reunion, I will close it again. Please use the other thread for discussing reunions.

Family Ties made a classy exit. They didn't go out on top, but they didn't wear out their welcome either. My guess is that Michael J. Fox's career was really taking off, and the show couldn't survive without him. This, as well as the reasons others have stated on this thread, contributed to the end of this classic show.
Sure, it would be great to see the Keaton's return someday, but with Michael's illness, sadly, it's unlikely.

it'll never happen

Anythings possible, but it's like a 1 in a million shot or worse they'll come back, since the show was cancelled. :(

well, when a show like this is on for 7 years, it ends up moving to Boresville.

Originally posted by sitcomsnow
well, when a show like this is on for 7 years, it ends up moving to Boresville.

LOL, yeah, like Frasier and Friends. I admire when shows know when to call it quits and go out on top--like Seinfeld and The Dick Van Dyke Show to name a few.

yea.. friends is still going strong.. but next year it will be their last season :(