Remembering 'Family Ties': How Michael J Fox's 1987 episode changed TV forever

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https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/re...43aa8c8e&ei=14

Story by Stacy Carey



Michael J. Fox starred in a groundbreaking episode of Family Ties on this day in 1987. The episode was a notable departure from the comedy show’s usual storytelling and pacing, and the network even made some significant exceptions to allow the episode to air as envisioned.

The March 12, 1987 episode of Family Ties was titled “A, My Name Is Alex.” Throughout the fan favorite series, which aired from 1982 to 1989, Fox played Alex P. Keaton. In this episode, Alex’s friend Greg dies in a car accident. The entire Keaton family is shaken, but Alex initially masks his grief and pain.

Rather, Alex spends several days after Greg’s funeral seeming quite upbeat, to a degree that was not at all like his usual demeanor.

Viewers learn that Alex was supposed to be in the car with Greg on the day of the accident. However, Alex decided not to join his friend on that fateful outing. The result is an emotional journey for Alex, and viewers, as he tries to make sense of what it all means.

Series creator Gary David Goldberg previously explained in an interview with the Television Academy Foundation that the storyline was inspired by his experience with the death of his parents. In fact, Goldberg explained, “The idea woke me up and I just started writing it.”

Family Ties aired in 30 minute episodes, but this concept proved to need more time than that. “The show really wanted to be an hour,” Goldberg shared.

Goldberg asked for an hour for the episode, and he got it. Then, he said he didn't want any commercials to air during the second half. He was granted that request, too.

After the episode was filmed, Goldberg shared, he remembered thinking that Fox's performance was incredible. "It was really one of the greatest nights of theater I'd ever seen."

In addition, Goldberg reflected, writing that episode marked the end of his "creative white-heat investment in Family Ties. That was it. I had nothing, didn't have any giant thing left to write about."

The second half of "A, My Name Is Alex" showcased Fox talking to an off-camera therapist.

Goldberg decided to structure it in a way that it was presented similarly to the American play Our Town. It highlighted Alex reflecting on his life, his belief in God, and figuring out how to come to terms with Greg's death.

All of these years later, that particular episode still gets Family Ties fans talking.

In a subreddit dedicated to the show, one fan commented a while back, "One of Michael J. Fox's finest hours, either TV or film."

"My favorite 2 episodes of the show," another fan commented. That full hour of Family Ties was technically aired as two back-to-back episodes.

In another Reddit thread, a fan declared that of Season 5, this was their favorite episode. "The writing, acting and directing was all very cutting-edge for Network half-hour TV in the '80s."