Why exactly did Family Ties end when it did in 1989

[TMC]

According to Michael Gross, Family Ties had a built in time bomb, which was the ages of the children, especially Alex, who was still living with his parents despite having finished high school, college, and then graduate school.

Could it have also been that Michael J. Fox simply wanted out? I mean, he was doing feature films either during the show's summer hiatus if not at the same time like was the case with Back to the Future.

Family Ties was admittedly, maybe also becoming something of an anachronism by the time that it ended in 1989. It was one of those domestic sitcoms of the '80s about idealistic, affluent nuclear families (see also The Cosby Show and Growing Pains as prime examples) that emphasized heart over humor. Whereas by the end of the decade, we were starting to get darker and more cynical family shows like Married...with Children and Roseanne.

Also, if I have my facts straight, the ratings declined a lot when it was moved over from Thursday nights (to make room for A Different World) to Sunday nights in its final two seasons.

[BigManMike]

I wish it could have lasted maybe another year or two just so it could run into the 90s.

[howilu]

To me, there were a few factors that led to the end of Family Ties in 1989.

First, the show's ratings declined when it was moved from the time period between The Cosby Show and Cheers to Sunday night.

Second, the show seemed to reach its natural end when Alex was leaving home for a job in New York. It was a sign that Fox was ready to move on and without him, the show lost its most popular character.

And third, Family Ties after seven years on NBC had simply run its course. The show was getting old and tired and creator Gary David Goldberg felt it was time to end the show.

[Sonny Carson]

It was time for the show to end. It was still good, but Fox could not keep on being the same ‘Alex’!

[king of comedy]

Originally Posted by howilu

To me, there were a few factors that led to the end of Family Ties in 1989.

First, the show's ratings declined when it was moved from the time period between The Cosby Show and Cheers to Sunday night.

Second, the show seemed to reach its natural end when Alex was leaving home for a job in New York. It was a sign that Fox was ready to move on and without him, the show lost its most popular character.

And third, Family Ties after seven years on NBC had simply run its course. The show was getting old and tired and creator Gary David Goldberg felt it was time to end the show.

3 factors I couldn't agree more with. It ended at the right time.

[CJMD03]

It really should have ended the year before.

[Dude111]

That was a GOOD show,it should have contined!!

[TMC]

Originally Posted by BigManMike

I wish it could have lasted maybe another year or two just so it could run into the 90s.

Admittedly, Family Ties is generally considered to be a quintessential TV show of the Ronald Reagan era. I mean, the show's run (1982-89) almost ran parallel to the length of the Reagan administration (1981-89).

Its conclusion overlapped with the first few months of the George Herbert Walker Bush administration. So on that regard, I don't know exactly how a show like Family Ties would've translated into the '90s.

I'm guessing that if Family Ties was on the air now, Steven and Elyse would be likely Gen Xers instead of baby boomers and their kids would probably be Gen Zers. I mean, Alex was I believe, about 17 years old when Family Ties started. The oldest Gen Zers are said to have been born in 1997.