So I'm making my way through the series and had a question about the episodes order. In season 5, they aired a few episodes from S4 at the end and it happened a couple times more in season 5 (airing early season episodes). Looking at the episode guide, that was the correct airing date order. So are these lost episodes that they decided to air later?

So I'm making my way through the series and had a question about the episodes order. In season 5, they aired a few episodes from S4 at the end and it happened a couple times more in season 5 (airing early season episodes). Looking at the episode guide, that was the correct airing date order. So are these lost episodes that they decided to air later?


A number of episodes of Family Ties were run out of order during the original network run of the series. The network order for the 1983-84 season was 24 half-hour programs, and 24 programs were produced. However, the network refused to accept ANNIVERSARY WALTZ (035), making a total of 23 programs aired. REMEMBRANCE OF THINGS PAST, PART 2 (069), produced during the 1984-85 season, was later substituted for ANNIVERSARY WALTZ to complete the order; however, REMEMBRANCE OF THINGS PAST, PART 2 did not air until 3/28/85 (1984-85 season), and was broadcast initially as a one-hour program with REMEMBRANCE OF THINGS PAST, PART 1 (068). REMEMBRANCE OF THINGS PAST, PART 1 and 2 were originally produced as a one-hour program, but were treated as a half-hour program by the network insofar as the license fee was concerned.



Six episodes were originally produced over and above the network order in the seasons indicated, and not originally aired (subsequently referred to as "the unaired episodes"), namely:



070 - DESIGNATED HITTER (1984-85)

071 - RETURN OF THE NATIVE (1984-85)

072 - MATCHMAKER (1984-85)

077 - IT'S MY PARTY, PART 1 (1985-86)

078 - IT'S MY PARTY, PART 2 (1985-86)

084 - THE BIG FIX (1985-86)



By letter dated 8/11/86, NBC agreed to run each of the unaired episodes during the 1985-86 and/or 1986-87 broadcast season. DESIGNATED HITTER (070), produced during the 1984-85 season, was subsequently aired by the network on 10/24/85 (1985-86 season) and, in its place, ANNIVERSARY WALTZ (035), produced during the 1983-84 season, was substituted as an unaired episode. THE BIG FIX (084), produced during the 1985-86 season, was aired 11/17/86 (1986-87 season). By subsequent agreement dated 5/5/87, it was agreed that the remaining five unaired episodes (i.e., 035, 071, 072, 077 and 078) would be aired one or more times in the 1986-87 season or the 1987-88 season, but no episode could be aired in both seasons.



The initial network airdates for each of the unaired episodes are:



035 - ANNIVERSARY WALTZ (12/16/87)

071 - RETURN OF THE NATIVE (03/20/88)

072 - MATCHMAKER (07/23/87)

077 - IT'S MY PARTY, PART 1 (08/06/87)

078 - IT'S MY PARTY, PART 2 (08/13/87)

084 - THE BIG FIX (11/17/86)


http://syndicationbible.cbstvd.com/series/family_ties/family_ties_holiday_episodes.htm

Were these episodes controversial that the network didn't air them correctly?

Were these episodes controversial that the network didn't air them correctly?

No, they weren't controversial. What happened was too many episodes were made during the specific seasons and NBC didn't want to accept the extra episodes at the time. So as a comprise NBC agreed to air the episodes in later seasons. This of course confused people when they saw the episodes. I think the Anniversary Waltz (produced in 1984) was the most obvious as the kids, esp. Jennifer were much younger than what the season that the episode aired in.

Anniversary Waltz was about Steven and Elyse celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary.