icecream
01-25-2022, 01:55 PM
Family Ties aired 7 seasons on NBC from 1982-1989. It was intended to be a starring vehicle for Meredith Baxter (the mom Elyse Keaton). But Michael J. Fox stole the show as oldest son Alex P. Keaton. Yet he was content with being third billed in the cast and did not demand to be moved up. Michael Gross played Elyse's husband Steven Keaton. They have the exact same birthday irl. Justine Bateman and Tina Yothers played the daughters Mallory and Jennifer. Marc Price recurred as next door neighbor Skippy Handleman, who had unrequited feelings for Mallory. Because of Meredith Baxter's real pregnancy, 4th child Andrew was born in season 3. An aged Andrew was played by Brian Bonsall starting in season 5. Season 4 was the best, it had Alex's girlfriend Ellen Reed played by Tracy Pollan. She was too busy to continue with the show in season 5 but did marry Michael irl. Alex's 2nd serious girlfriend Lauren Miller was played by Courteney Cox in seasons 6 and 7. Scott Valentine recurred as Mallory's dumb boyfriend Nick Moore.
How it got this far
1st Round: defeated Grace Under Fire 7-2
2nd Round: defeated Seinfeld 10-6
3rd Round: defeated Everybody Loves Raymond 4-1
Since this site considers The Love Boat a sitcom, it made my tournament although I consider it a light drama. The Love Boat aired nine seasons and 249 episodes on ABC from 1977-1986, outlasting Gavin MacLeod's previous successful sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show. He starred as Captain Merrill Stubing on a cruise ship. There were several famous guest stars who played the passengers. Captain Stubing's crew was purser Gopher Smith (Fred Grandy), bartender Isaac Washington (Ted Lange), doctor Adam Bricker (Bernie Kopell), and cruise director Julie McCoy (Lauren Tewes). A good addition who became a regular in season 3 was Merrill's daughter Vicki Stubing (Jill Whelan). Lauren Tewes left at the end of season 7, Pat Klous replaced her as sister and new cruise director Judy McCoy. In season 8 Ted McGinley also joined the cast as photographer Ace Evans.
1st Round: defeated Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. 8-5
2nd Round: defeated Barney Miller 10-4
3rd Round: defeated Head of the Class (1986) 10-4
How it got this far
1st Round: defeated Grace Under Fire 7-2
2nd Round: defeated Seinfeld 10-6
3rd Round: defeated Everybody Loves Raymond 4-1
Since this site considers The Love Boat a sitcom, it made my tournament although I consider it a light drama. The Love Boat aired nine seasons and 249 episodes on ABC from 1977-1986, outlasting Gavin MacLeod's previous successful sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show. He starred as Captain Merrill Stubing on a cruise ship. There were several famous guest stars who played the passengers. Captain Stubing's crew was purser Gopher Smith (Fred Grandy), bartender Isaac Washington (Ted Lange), doctor Adam Bricker (Bernie Kopell), and cruise director Julie McCoy (Lauren Tewes). A good addition who became a regular in season 3 was Merrill's daughter Vicki Stubing (Jill Whelan). Lauren Tewes left at the end of season 7, Pat Klous replaced her as sister and new cruise director Judy McCoy. In season 8 Ted McGinley also joined the cast as photographer Ace Evans.
1st Round: defeated Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. 8-5
2nd Round: defeated Barney Miller 10-4
3rd Round: defeated Head of the Class (1986) 10-4