Family Ties or Growing Pains - Page 9 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

OH Nuts! · 03-14-2008, 11:39 PM

I like both but I like Growing Pains more.

santaburger · 03-21-2008, 01:01 AM

I'd say Family Ties was better/funnier - but having watched a lot more of GP growing up, it has the nostalgia factor going for it. But, if I'm trying to be objective, I'll have to go with FT. Close call though, both are great.

704Hauser · 03-08-2011, 08:55 AM

Having seen 2.5 seasons of FT and 4.5 of GP, I'd have to say Growing Pains, for the following reasons:

1. The first season of Family Ties is quite unwatchable if you ask me, the first season of Growing Pains is not.

2. I think Tracey Gold was hotter than Justine Bateman (I also prefer Carol Seaver over Mallory Keaton characterwise, I can relate to Carol quite a bit).

3. Whilst both shows were funny, I think GP is slightly funnier overall, particularly with the acts of one Michael Aaron Seaver (I've seen more of GP than FT as previously stated, so I may be a bit biased here)

That being said though, Alex P. Keaton is probably the most well-crafted out of all the characters from both shows, and is my favourite character from both shows (although Carol Seaver comes a VERY close second).

SawyerSoze · 03-22-2011, 02:49 AM

Having recently ran through a viewing of the entire Growing Pains series and currently going through Family Ties...

Family Ties is a much better all-around show, better written, and acted.

I just like the style of FT better, when they mix drama and comedy like they do...and as a whole, FT never really got bad like GP did in the final season...

704Hauser · 03-22-2011, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SawyerSoze

Having recently ran through a viewing of the entire Growing Pains series and currently going through Family Ties...

Family Ties is a much better all-around show, better written, and acted.

I just like the style of FT better, when they mix drama and comedy like they do...and as a whole, FT never really got bad like GP did in the final season...

Well, FT never did a Cousin Oliver (as far as I know)

SawyerSoze · 04-01-2011, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 704Hauser

Well, FT never did a Cousin Oliver (as far as I know)

Actually, both shows did try to add "cute kids" later in the series with FT having Andy and GP having Chrissy, but neither were as bad as they could have been...

Having just finished FT walkthrough and now having seen both from start to finish, I still think FT is a better show. Too bad they were on different networks. It would have been an interesting crossover idea.

But, to say that Carol was hotter than Mallory? Blasphemy

704Hauser · 04-01-2011, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SawyerSoze

Actually, both shows did try to add "cute kids" later in the series with FT having Andy and GP having Chrissy, but neither were as bad as they could have been...

Having just finished FT walkthrough and now having seen both from start to finish, I still think FT is a better show. Too bad they were on different networks. It would have been an interesting crossover idea.

But, to say that Carol was hotter than Mallory? Blasphemy

When I was talking about GP's Cousin Oliver, I was talking about Luke, not Chrissy. I'm pretty sure FT never did that.

SawyerSoze · 04-05-2011, 01:13 AM

No, no FT version of Luke...Leo DiCaprio is a great and talented actor, but I couldn't stand that kid...bleh

Mr. Television · 04-24-2011, 09:51 PM

I think Family Ties and Growing Pains were the 2 best sitcoms of the 1980's. I like FT a little more though.

Tubehead · 10-11-2017, 03:44 AM

my vote goes for family ties!! i was never been fan of growing pains!! which is your favorite?

tlc38tlc38 · 10-11-2017, 09:15 AM

Family Ties

AMackII · 10-11-2017, 09:54 AM

Family Ties

BigManMike · 10-11-2017, 01:33 PM

Family Ties

cnnbcbs · 10-11-2017, 05:34 PM

This is a hard one. I'd probably have to go with Growing Pains since I never watched a single episode of FT. Both shows had cringe-inducing theme songs.

RetroGuy2000 · 10-11-2017, 11:22 PM

This is a tough one.

Both had the blonde mom, the brunette dad, and (originally) three children, with the oldest child a brunette son, and the second child a brunette daughter. The third child was blond.

Both shows had a new baby, born in the fourth season. And of course the baby was quickly aged up to five or six.

Growing Pains had the annoying neighbor kid who was best friends with the oldest son, and Family Ties had... well, the same thing.

Growing Pains had the better theme song, but Family Ties had the 'hippies vs. commercialism' theme that worked quite well. Both shows used portraits of the family members in the opening theme. Draw.

In both shows, the oldest son meets an intelligent woman, and she's eventually added to the show's cast. The oldest daughter gets a steady boyfriend, too, but he's an idiot.

Both shows ran for seven seasons. Both shows had at least one TV movie.

Growing Pains had the better set, with a studio set (including porch and garage) that closely resembled the exterior shots of the home. That attention to detail was a nice touch. I don't think we ever even saw the exterior of the Keaton home. Point to GP.

Sadly, Growing Pains gave us Kirk Cameron, who thinks America's sinfulness causes hurricanes. Point to FT.

I can't decide yet.

03-21-2008, 01:01 AM	#122
santaburger BooBooKitty :) Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 16, 2007 Posts: 138	I'd say Family Ties was better/funnier - but having watched a lot more of GP growing up, it has the nostalgia factor going for it. But, if I'm trying to be objective, I'll have to go with FT. Close call though, both are great.
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04-24-2011, 09:51 PM	#129
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	I think Family Ties and Growing Pains were the 2 best sitcoms of the 1980's. I like FT a little more though.
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10-11-2017, 03:44 AM	#130
Tubehead Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 12, 2007 Location: chattanooga.tn Posts: 5,139	Family Ties vs. Growing Pains my vote goes for family ties!! i was never been fan of growing pains!! which is your favorite?

10-11-2017, 09:15 AM	#131
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,259	Family Ties
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10-11-2017, 11:22 PM	#135
RetroGuy2000 Julie,Julie Anne,&Felice 4Ever Forum Star Join Date: Dec 27, 2013 Posts: 16,914	This is a tough one. Both had the blonde mom, the brunette dad, and (originally) three children, with the oldest child a brunette son, and the second child a brunette daughter. The third child was blond. Both shows had a new baby, born in the fourth season. And of course the baby was quickly aged up to five or six. Growing Pains had the annoying neighbor kid who was best friends with the oldest son, and Family Ties had... well, the same thing. Growing Pains had the better theme song, but Family Ties had the 'hippies vs. commercialism' theme that worked quite well. Both shows used portraits of the family members in the opening theme. Draw. In both shows, the oldest son meets an intelligent woman, and she's eventually added to the show's cast. The oldest daughter gets a steady boyfriend, too, but he's an idiot. Both shows ran for seven seasons. Both shows had at least one TV movie. Growing Pains had the better set, with a studio set (including porch and garage) that closely resembled the exterior shots of the home. That attention to detail was a nice touch. I don't think we ever even saw the exterior of the Keaton home. Point to GP. Sadly, Growing Pains gave us Kirk Cameron, who thinks America's sinfulness causes hurricanes. Point to FT. I can't decide yet.
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View Poll Results: Family Ties or Growing Pains
Family Ties	24	68.57%
Growing Pains	11	31.43%
Voters: 35. You may not vote on this poll

03-14-2008, 11:39 PM	#121
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	I like both but I like Growing Pains more.

03-08-2011, 08:55 AM	#123
704Hauser Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 08, 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 366	Having seen 2.5 seasons of FT and 4.5 of GP, I'd have to say Growing Pains, for the following reasons: 1. The first season of Family Ties is quite unwatchable if you ask me, the first season of Growing Pains is not. 2. I think Tracey Gold was hotter than Justine Bateman (I also prefer Carol Seaver over Mallory Keaton characterwise, I can relate to Carol quite a bit). 3. Whilst both shows were funny, I think GP is slightly funnier overall, particularly with the acts of one Michael Aaron Seaver (I've seen more of GP than FT as previously stated, so I may be a bit biased here) That being said though, Alex P. Keaton is probably the most well-crafted out of all the characters from both shows, and is my favourite character from both shows (although Carol Seaver comes a VERY close second).

03-22-2011, 02:49 AM	#124
SawyerSoze Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 16, 2009 Posts: 14	Having recently ran through a viewing of the entire Growing Pains series and currently going through Family Ties... Family Ties is a much better all-around show, better written, and acted. I just like the style of FT better, when they mix drama and comedy like they do...and as a whole, FT never really got bad like GP did in the final season...

04-05-2011, 01:13 AM	#128
SawyerSoze Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 16, 2009 Posts: 14	No, no FT version of Luke...Leo DiCaprio is a great and talented actor, but I couldn't stand that kid...bleh

10-11-2017, 09:54 AM	#132
AMackII Member Forum Star Join Date: Oct 23, 2015 Location: St. Louis Posts: 17,223	Family Ties

10-11-2017, 01:33 PM	#133
BigManMike Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 25, 2006 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 3,022	Family Ties

10-11-2017, 05:34 PM	#134
cnnbcbs Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 08, 2017 Posts: 366	This is a hard one. I'd probably have to go with Growing Pains since I never watched a single episode of FT. Both shows had cringe-inducing theme songs.