"Matchmaker" and parts one and two of "It's My Party", where Jennifer starts talking and acting like a Valley Girl in order to fit in with the popular crowd at her school.

These episodes first aired on NBC on July 23, August 6, and August 13, 1987 respectively. "Matchmaker" (https://familyties.fandom.com/wiki/Matchmaker) according to Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Family_Ties_episodes#Season_5_(1986%E2%80%9387)), was actually produced for Season 3. We know sure that it wasn't produced for Season 5 because Mallory isn't dating Nick yet as the main plot in the episode concerns Alex attempting to help Mallory find her a boyfriend.

"It's My Party" (https://familyties.fandom.com/wiki/It%27s_My_Party) features Tracy Pollan's Ellen even though her character was officially written out in the Season 4 finale, "Paper Chase". It also featured Andrew when he was still a toddler, even though Season 5 is the one that introduced Brian Bosnall as Andrew.

Supposedly (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Trivia/FamilyTies), NBC Entertainment president Brandon Tartikoff didn't like the premise of "It's My Party" because it made Jennifer out to be too nasty.

As a kid, I was confused about these episodes being aired out of order. I thought Ellen was back.

As a kid, I was confused about these episodes being aired out of order. I thought Ellen was back.