I think that's a problem with FT in syndication - it's too dated and tied to the Ronald Reagan/eighties era. A similar problem afflicts Murphy Brown.

Family Ties makes one think of republicans like Alex P. Keaton and the Reagan years which were the good ole days! :)

I think it's too smart for some people. It doesn't rely on physical comedy, catchphrases, etc.,.

I don't think Family Ties is too dated. Even though it has references to President Reagan one wouldn't have had to be alive back then to appreciate the humor. I think it's the kind of show that can be enjoyed no matter what year it is.

All in the Family is dated in the 1970's with many references to President Nixon and it has thrived in syndication. I don't think FT is dated. It is basically just a family comedy.

i think it still holds up well; I don't think its a big deal if some younger people don't get all of the references, the jokes are still funny.

This is the reason that Gary David Goldberg and the cast are against doing a reunion movie. The show was set in the Reagon era and purposely tailored to that era and wouldn't therefore translate well to current times.

I think that's a problem with FT in syndication - it's too dated and tied to the Ronald Reagan/eighties era. A similar problem afflicts Murphy Brown.

Well, "Family Ties" ran from 1982 to 1989 and yes, it is set in the then-current day 1980s.
I realize this dates it for some people but I don't think it's an issue really. There are a lot of other shows that are tied to particular eras too, as has already been pointed out.
This can be off-putting for some who didn't grow up in the 1980s, but I don't find this a problem for a lot of shows that are older than me. I enjoy watching "Leave It to Beaver", "The Andy Griffith Show" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" but I didn't grow up in any of those time periods either.
And just remember- some of the most popular shows on today, like "The Big Bang Theory", for instance, will look quite dated in the next decade or so.

i agree i still catch a rerun of the sown now and then for old times sake and i do enjoy the show but i just for whatever reason dont think it holds up too well today and it does seem somewhat dated

I don't think Family Ties is too dated. Even though it has references to President Reagan one wouldn't have had to be alive back then to appreciate the humor. I think it's the kind of show that can be enjoyed no matter what year it is.i love your avatir jenny the kitten looks almost like my cat sidney

Another problem is that Michael J. Fox by the fifth/sixth season had outgrown the part of Alex. Without Alex, there is no FT.

This was on of my favourite shows in it's original run, yet today I can't get into it.

Most of my favorite shows are "dated". :lol: I don't think Family Ties is even half as dated as some of my other favorites though. All that really matters is if the show is funny and Family Ties still is to me.

i love your avatir Jenny the kitten looks almost like my cat sidney

Thanks. :) That's cool that your cat Sidney looks similar to the kitten. :)

:) Thanks. :) That's cool that your cat Sidney looks similar to the kitten. :):) you are welcome

I have been watching the show on stream and when I can stay up late on gmc. To me the humor is funny if you remember that era, otherwise I think the show would not translate well with those who don't remember the Reagan era.

For those of you who are comparing "Family Ties" with other classic television shows, it does not compare in the same way in my opinion.

I have been watching the show on stream and when I can stay up late on gmc. To me the humor is funny if you remember that era, otherwise I think the show would not translate well with those who don't remember the Reagan era.

I will readily admit that some jokes are definitely politically-based. But a good student of history can still appreciate political-based jokes from a time period they didn't grow up in. Not all of the target audience of "All in The Family" probably remembered the days of Herbert Hoover either, but that doesn't stop the show from being funny.
But if it doesn't work for you, that's okay. I don't have a problem with enjoying shows from a number of eras, even ones that are pretty politically and historically based.
And in any case, not all of Family Ties' humor is politically-based. There are some jokes about President Ronald Reagan, yes- but even those can be appreciated by the fact that he was a Republican (which the show makes clear- there's no way Alex would have been nearly so excited about him winning the presidency again in 1984 otherwise. (And for President George H.W. Bush in 1988, as well.) The jibes coming at the president are mainly from Steven and Elyse Keaton, who are clearly depicted as liberal Democrats, so naturally they're generally going to be critical of a Republican president.
There are also a lot of other jokes and humor on the show (and in my opinion, more of this kind are the main focus rather than the political aspect)- that come through the characters and personalities of everyone on the show. I enjoy that humor more in any case.

To me, FT IS the 1980s. Watching the DVDs are like opening up a time capsule.

Plus, the actors' performances are still as fresh and fun as ever. It's easy to see why MJF became a major star, and Michael Gross can do deadpan humor as well as anyone. :cool: :D

For those of you who are comparing "Family Ties" with other classic television shows, it does not compare in the same way in my opinion.
It holds up with the best of them. I'd have it in my top 10 sitcoms of all time and the #1 sitcom of the 1980's.

I enjoyed The Mary Tyler Moore Show and that was before my time. I also like the (70's version) Bob Newhart Show.

There were so many jokes from Family Ties that weren't political or had anything to do with the 80's. I would think most people could relate to the show.

Steven: There was a kangaroo in my livingroom.

Steven: If this (holding a piece of toast) had been a pop-tart, we'd be dead now.

Mallory: There's like a voice inside my brain saying...
Alex: Boy, you can see for miles in here!

Just a few examples, there are so many, jokes that aren't tied to the 80's.

"The Lost Weekend" is another great one. From Alex breaking the lamp with a football to "The Keaton Girls: Oh, How We've Grown" - priceless from start to finish. :D

I will readily admit that some jokes are definitely politically-based. But a good student of history can still appreciate political-based jokes from a time period they didn't grow up in. Not all of the target audience of "All in The Family" probably remembered the days of Herbert Hoover either, but that doesn't stop the show from being funny.
But if it doesn't work for you, that's okay. I don't have a problem with enjoying shows from a number of eras, even ones that are pretty politically and historically based.
And in any case, not all of Family Ties' humor is politically-based. There are some jokes about President Ronald Reagan, yes- but even those can be appreciated by the fact that he was a Republican (which the show makes clear- there's no way Alex would have been nearly so excited about him winning the presidency again in 1984 otherwise. (And for President George H.W. Bush in 1988, as well.) The jibes coming at the president are mainly from Steven and Elyse Keaton, who are clearly depicted as liberal Democrats, so naturally they're generally going to be critical of a Republican president.
There are also a lot of other jokes and humor on the show (and in my opinion, more of this kind are the main focus rather than the political aspect)- that come through the characters and personalities of everyone on the show. I enjoy that humor more in any case.

True, however, I think in this day and age, where most young people are more interested in the here and now, it's difficult for them to relate to a show set in a different time period.

As far as the politically - based humor I think that "All in the Family" did it differently than "Family Ties". "All in the Family" did it as a basis of something that watchers could discuss after an episode was over. "Family Ties" did it as a sidenote.

I have been watching FT on both gmc when I am up that late (currently one of the millions who are unemployed) and on stream. I don't think it compares to something like "All in the Family" or "M*A*S*H" since FT had only one really classic character (Alex) as the others were used as a way to throw jokes revolving around him. The other thing we have to remember is that FT did not develop the way the producers initially intended.

FT had only one really classic character (Alex) as the others were used as a way to throw jokes revolving around him..

I disagree. The show wasn't just "Alex". Yes, he was a big part of it, but the other characters were not just there to bounce jokes off him. The other characters mattered, just like Alex did. While it may have seemed at times like "the Alex Show" instead of Family Ties (as an assemble cast show) it certainly wasn't seven years of just Alex. Elyse, Steven, Mallory, Jennifer and Andy were important. If you notice, there are episodes that centered just on Mallory, just on Jennifer, etc.

It's true that the show originally was supposed to be focused on the parents and then after the reaction from the audience the show became more focused on the kids. There were still storylines, however, that had to do with Elyse and Steven.

I will readily admit that some jokes are definitely politically-based. But a good student of history can still appreciate political-based jokes from a time period they didn't grow up in. Not all of the target audience of "All in The Family" probably remembered the days of Herbert Hoover either, but that doesn't stop the show from being funny.



Nobody alive today remembers the Herbert Hoover presidency. The only reference to HH was in the theme song. On a related note Alex Keaton was a fan of Nixon, as was Archie Bunker.

I enjoyed The Mary Tyler Moore Show and that was before my time. I also like the (70's version) Bob Newhart Show.




Yes, but those two shows had very little political references that youngsters today wouldn't understand. I was in the single digits when those shows debuted. I doubt kids today would want to watch them now though.

If you notice, there are episodes that centered just on Mallory, just on Jennifer, etc.




HAYYYY-TEDDED those episodes!! :mad:

Hated those episodes!! :mad:

Did you like the show? Or did you only like the episodes that were Alex centered?

Did you like the show? Or did you only like the episodes that were Alex centered?

It was my favorite show at the time, mostly for Fox, who was a Vancouver boy who made good. I just hated Malory with a passion, she made me physically sick

It was my favorite show at the time, mostly for Fox, who was a Vancouver boy who made good. I just hated Malory with a passion, she made me physically sick

Out of curiosity, what made you physically sick about Mallory? Was it that she was dimwitted and was smarter than she acted? Was it her snarky attitude towards Alex? I personally had somewhat of a cursh on Justine Bateman at the time, but I do agree after watching it again after all these years that there was something about her character. I still think that her relationship with Nick was not totally belevable at times, espedially when she was still with Nick after going to college. I think a new love interest could have been developed once she began to apply herself and found new interests. I saw an episode he other night were Nick becomes too involved with Mallory's soriety and a date is caneclled because Nick decides to go to a football game with the soriety. She was supposed to watch cartoons with him that afternoon. I don't think a college student would want to spend an afternoon with an uneducated guy and sit and watch Bugs Bunny. Maybe I am wrong.

"Ties" is dated in at least one essential way.A truly "tight" family unit such as NBC'S Keatons is getting harder and harder to find with each passing year.Family unit members have a tendency towards more individual personal aspirations and beliefs.The terrific irony here is that many people feel that one of the primary causes of this sad trend is...TELEVISION!!Of course,in the "tight family unit" department,shows such as "Brady Bunch" and "Partridge Family" went too far,but it would be a bit refreshing to see more domestic clans communicating in at least somewhat similar fashions.

Out of curiosity, what made you physically sick about Mallory?

It was one particular episode. Go Tigers (season 2)Alex had an interview at Princeton, and Malory tagged along, and she saw her boyfriend with another girl, and she got hysterical, and ruined Alex's interview.

I think that's a problem with FT in syndication - it's too dated and tied to the Ronald Reagan/eighties era. A similar problem afflicts Murphy Brown.
Well Murphy Brown is just a crappy Mary Tyler Moore rip-off that only garnered any attention due to Dan Quayle's comments on wedlock.

But going back on topic, yes I feel that FT is too much ingrained in the 1980's that's it funny because I grew up on all things of the 80's but never warmed up to Family Ties, it wasn't laugh out loud like Three's Company and it wasn't silly good fun like Diff'rent Strokes.

The show was just there riding the coattails of The Cosby Show that when I try to watch an episode on The Hub I just can't through it maybe because of the writing which is wretched and Alex Keaton's tiresome putdowns.

Yeah, what's up with a show made in the 1980's looking like it was made in the 1980's? They should have known people would be watching it 30 years later and catered to their tastes.

Yeah, what's up with a show made in the 1980's looking like it was made in the 1980's? They should have known people would be watching it 30 years later and catered to their tastes.
Exactly and not every sitcom has to be laugh out loud funny either although I thought FT was very funny. Maybe it was just too sophisticated for some people.

And TCS helped every show on that Thursday night lineup but it was still the #2 ranked show in the country. Cheers wasn't even in the top 10 the first year that TCS came on but I never hear that it was riding it's coattails. Also the final episode which aired on a Sunday night was the #1 show of the week. Cosby never aired on that night and it soundly beat the final episode of Moonlighting so FT was no way just a timeslot hit.

Most of the political humor is board enough to be understood by anyone of the right age. Conservatives vs Liberals still exists. Even more so. The names do not matter.

Also I was a little kid when the show first aired and I did not understand any of that stuff. But it did not matter I liked the characters and they were funny just by the performances it did not matter what the lines meant. Most of it was really kids disagreeing their parents, which is universal.
make I think most current shows will be much, much more dated in the future. Sitcoms now make much more references to current movies and music than Family Ties did.

yes I feel that FT is too much ingrained in the 1980's that's it funny because I grew up on all things of the 80's but never warmed up to Family Ties, it wasn't laugh out loud like Three's Company and it wasn't silly good fun like Diff'rent Strokes.

The show was just there riding the coattails of The Cosby Show that when I try to watch an episode on The Hub I just can't through it maybe because of the writing which is wretched and Alex Keaton's tiresome putdowns.

If you dislike the show so much then why bother posting on the Family Ties board? This board is for fans of the show. For those of us who like the show. The writing is not wretched. It's a great show with a lot of heart and very funny.

Originally Posted by MacLeaper
I will readily admit that some jokes are definitely politically-based. But a good student of history can still appreciate political-based jokes from a time period they didn't grow up in. Not all of the target audience of "All in The Family" probably remembered the days of Herbert Hoover either, but that doesn't stop the show from being funny.




Nobody alive today remembers the Herbert Hoover presidency. The only reference to HH was in the theme song. On a related note Alex Keaton was a fan of Nixon, as was Archie Bunker.


Just to point out- that wasn't my point. I don't know that I'd definitively say that nobody alive today remembers the Herbert Hoover presidency. There are senior citizens alive today that may well remember his presidency. Former President Jimmy Carter was born in 1924. He probably remembers President Hoover, particularly since it was during his presidency that the country slid into The Great Depression (1929-1933.)
But the main point I was trying to get at was that plenty of people in the 1970s would probably have remembered the Hoover presidency, but many people today were not around then to remember his presidency. It doesn't stop people today from enjoying "All in the Family". I know it was just a line in the theme song, but that theme song also epitomized Archie Bunker in many ways and encapsulated some of his idealogies. So I do think students of history would appreciate it more.
In any case, "Family Ties" is a fun and funny show and I don't really care that it's set in the 1980s- that's just an added benefit that reminds me of childhood.:) :cool:
I also enjoy a lot of shows that are a lot older than me and the time setting doesn't stop me from enjoying the show. (i.e. "The Honeymooners", "I Love Lucy", "Gilligan's Island", "The Beverly Hillbillies", "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", etc.) I guess it helps if you like history and are familiar with 20th. century history- but I don't think it honestly matters that much.

Family Ties is very 80's but that's not a bad thing. Such as All in the Family is very 70's but not in a bad way. The Parttridge Family was 70's in a bad way. Family Ties dealt with issues that were a big part of the 1980's and may not be so much now. So in that sense its very much a show of its time. However, saying a show is "dated" is a bad thing. The Mod Squad is dated. Family Ties is still a nice, family sitcom that remains entertaining and very watchable.

Well Murphy Brown is just a crappy Mary Tyler Moore rip-off that only garnered any attention due to Dan Quayle's comments on wedlock.

But going back on topic, yes I feel that FT is too much ingrained in the 1980's that's it funny because I grew up on all things of the 80's but never warmed up to Family Ties, it wasn't laugh out loud like Three's Company and it wasn't silly good fun like Diff'rent Strokes.

The show was just there riding the coattails of The Cosby Show that when I try to watch an episode on The Hub I just can't through it maybe because of the writing which is wretched and Alex Keaton's tiresome putdowns.

There is so much wrong in this post, I hope I can cover all of it:

1. "Murphy Brown...only garnered any attention due to Dan Quayle's comments on wedlock."

Murphy Brown was #6 in the ratings before Murphy's character even got pregnant. So...wrong.

2. "Family Ties...wasn't silly good fun like Diff'rent Strokes."

Diff'rent Strokes wasn't merely "silly good fun." In its first season, it dealt very delicately -- and seriously -- with race relations, but in a family context.

3. "The show was just there riding the coattails of The Cosby Show..."

Michael J. Fox was one of the biggest stars of the 1980s. People were tuning in to watch him, not because the show was riding the coattails of the (lousy) Cosby Show.

4. "...the writing which is wretched..."

The writing on Family Ties was far from being wretched. In the early seasons, the writing leaned toward more intelligent sensibilities. That's not for everyone (unfortunately).

I just find it so innapropriate with the misuse of the laugh track, case in point the episode with Tom Hanks as alcoholic Uncle Neal during which in a momentary outburst he smacks Alex to the ground and seconds later the audience is bursting with laughter when Neal makes a comment.

TMC,

You are not supposed to take posts from other threads or other boards and post them here. It's against the rules. A person should be able to feel that the post they originally posted at a site will remain there.

Jenny (Moderator)

Simply put: Family Ties is an 80s Time Capsule.

And that's a great thing to be known for :)

Simply put: Family Ties is an 80s Time Capsule.

And that's a great thing to be known for :)

Yes, it is what it is... made in the 1980s, reflecting that era pretty well.

Well Murphy Brown is just a crappy Mary Tyler Moore rip-off that only garnered any attention due to Dan Quayle's comments on wedlock.

But going back on topic, yes I feel that FT is too much ingrained in the 1980's that's it funny because I grew up on all things of the 80's but never warmed up to Family Ties, it wasn't laugh out loud like Three's Company and it wasn't silly good fun like Diff'rent Strokes.

The show was just there riding the coattails of The Cosby Show that when I try to watch an episode on The Hub I just can't through it maybe because of the writing which is wretched and Alex Keaton's tiresome putdowns.
Looking back at Murphy Brown now, I wished I never saw it and the same goes for Family Ties. Alex was such a jerk.

Unfortunately I have to say it really is dated, could not get past the first two episodes (several years ago I saw some random episodes and I liked the show, so it was a disappointment now). But I can see why it was successful some 30 years ago.

Unfortunately I have to say it really is dated, could not get past the first two episodes (several years ago I saw some random episodes and I liked the show, so it was a disappointment now). But I can see why it was successful some 30 years ago.

Cyrax, I think it also depends on how well you remember the show and where were you during the period. When I watched "Family Ties" back in the 80's I just got out of Granduate School and politics play a very big part of my profession which is social work. The consertative vs. liberal views were a big part of everything and still is in my opinion. It's just that the names and players are different now.

No! I think it has held up well! A family is a family whether it's in the 1980's or 2015!

And the political references from those days are cool! I like the nostalgia of that!

I don't find it dated at all. It's just like any other family sitcom