What are 5 to 10 episodes that truly define the series or must include moments? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brett Ferino · 11-24-2000, 11:04 PM

We are in the process of producing the 75th anniversary of NBC. Could you or your fans recomend between 5 to 10 top episodes of Family Ties that truly define the series or suggest a few "must include" moments. I would also like to know where I could get copies of these shows to screen.

Thank you for your help.
Greg Vines, Supervising Producer
Andrew Solt Productions
9121 Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90069

06-21-2001, 04:40 PM

I think one of the best episodes is 'Cold Storage' where Mallory and Skippy get stuck in the basement (even though the door didn't really lock in the first place) and had to dress up in chipmunk costumes from Alexs' trunk in order to keep warm.

06-22-2001, 02:38 AM

I think one of the best episodes that was ever written for that series was the one where Tom Hanks who played Ned Donnaly, Elise's brother(?) comes back to their house as an alcoholic. There are some very funny moments to that one but with a dramatic ending that showed just how much more substance there was to that show compared to the other sitcoms.

Another one I'd like to see is the episode where Alex has insomnia. Another dramatic but very funny episode which shows how great this series was.

06-22-2001, 10:42 AM

There was an episode where Alex was trying to impress a girl (Courtney Cox or Tracy Pollan - I don't remember which) by taking part in her dance class. When it came turn for him to dance, he did this bizarre dance that ended with a chuck berry-like 'duck-walk'. I was laughing so hard, I started to cry. It was a physical comdey classic.

theshark8777 · 06-22-2001, 01:14 PM

I remember that episode!! It was for Ellen.
He said it was an interpretation of the 1929 stock market crash or something!!

------------------
Alex: Skippy, remember when we were little kids and I accidently ran over you with my bicycle?
Skippy: Yeah
Alex: I drive a car now.

hch · 09-24-2001, 08:15 PM

The episodes I think were classic moments of "Family ties" are:

- The first Uncle Ned two-parter

- The one where Alex takes amphetamines

- The suicidal hotline

- The famous two-part episode when Alex's friend gets involved in a car accident and Alex is in analysis

- The episode where Alex and Ellen broke up

- The "Jennifer goes environmental" episode

- The "All in the Neighborhood" episode

- The "Oops" episode

- Uncle Ned drinking episode

- "Rememberance of Things Past" 2-parter

- "Read it and Weep" 2-parter

- "The Way We Were"

- "Rosalie's Legacy"

- "Heartstrings" three-parter

- "Alex Doesn't Live Here Anymore" Series Finale

To Make it short, the entire series is filled with classic moments

hofverberg · 09-26-2001, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brett Ferino:
Could you or your fans recomend between 5 to 10 top episodes of Family Ties that truly define the series or suggest a few "must include" moments

I would have to say the last scene in "The Real Thing, Part 2" was very special. Also a few scenes in "Don't Go Changin'" and "They Can't Take That Away From Me, Part 2".

Hard to say anything more specific than that...

Sincerely,

Daniel Hofverberg
Webmaster, Family Ties Home Page
http://www.familyties.f2s.com

boechsner · 09-26-2001, 12:27 PM

'A' My Name is Alex (Parts 1 and 2), for me are two of the best episodes of the entire series.

west01 · 02-17-2002, 12:01 PM

..................

a my name is alex paul keaton

MJFfan · 02-17-2002, 03:50 PM

Lemme see...

~ The one where Alex meets Ellen

~ The one where Alex takes two girls to the Prom

~ The one where Alex takes Speed

~ The one where their Uncle has a Drinking Problem

Michael Cross · 02-18-2002, 04:53 PM

I think these episodes make a good definition of "Family Ties":

The Real Thing (Part 1 & 2)
It's My Party (Part 1 & 2)
Don't Go Changin'
Nothing But a Man
A Word to the Wise (Part 1 & 2)
Where's Pappa?
Checkmate
Teacher's Pet
Paper Chase (aka Mallory's Graduation)

Of course, these are all the episodes that co-stars Tracy Pollan. I would have to agree with Hofverberg that Don't Go Changin', The Real Thing, and They Can't Take That Away From Me have the best special moments in them.

MJFfan · 02-20-2002, 07:56 PM

How about "Baby Boy Dough" and "Heart Strings 1+2"?

LadyDi4476 · 02-22-2002, 12:18 AM

Well my personal fave episode has been "Be True To Your PreSchool" where Alex pulls Andy out of his class cuz he's being taught the wrong lessons (well cuz he's changing a diaper while his "wife" is out working LOL). I thought that was classic and I love Alex and Andy together.

The one where Andy was born was great too.

The one where Ellen and Alex dance to "At This Moment"

Heartsrings

The one with Tom Hanks

..there's so many good moments

~Diane

dcarus · 02-22-2002, 10:28 AM

The great episodes of the series have already been mentioned. My favorite is They Can't Take That Away From Me Part 2. Many on the board know I've been dieing to see this episode again. It should be airing yet again on NAN in two weeks, if everything stays the way it is now on the NAN schedule.

The classic moment of the episode has to be the last scene when Alex is sitting alone on the couch and has his solo dialogue and walks out the door to a standing ovation. I've only seen the scene one full time when it originally aired. Have not been able to see the scene as a whole since then. I've missed countless opportunities to tape it. When it airs in a couple of weeks I'll be ready for it and I will get it on tape!

Ags2000 · 02-22-2002, 06:30 PM

My favorite episode of all time is episode #169 My Best Friend's Girl.

My favorite part is when Steven is trying to teach Mallory how to drive by using chair in the kitchen.

I just start laughing even thinking about it. That is totally a Keaten classic moment.

D

06-21-2001, 04:40 PM	#2
guest Guest Posts: n/a	I think one of the best episodes is 'Cold Storage' where Mallory and Skippy get stuck in the basement (even though the door didn't really lock in the first place) and had to dress up in chipmunk costumes from Alexs' trunk in order to keep warm.
guest Guest Posts: n/a

06-22-2001, 02:38 AM	#3
HH Guest Posts: n/a	I think one of the best episodes that was ever written for that series was the one where Tom Hanks who played Ned Donnaly, Elise's brother(?) comes back to their house as an alcoholic. There are some very funny moments to that one but with a dramatic ending that showed just how much more substance there was to that show compared to the other sitcoms. Another one I'd like to see is the episode where Alex has insomnia. Another dramatic but very funny episode which shows how great this series was.
HH Guest Posts: n/a

06-22-2001, 10:42 AM	#4
donnyr Guest Posts: n/a	There was an episode where Alex was trying to impress a girl (Courtney Cox or Tracy Pollan - I don't remember which) by taking part in her dance class. When it came turn for him to dance, he did this bizarre dance that ended with a chuck berry-like 'duck-walk'. I was laughing so hard, I started to cry. It was a physical comdey classic.
donnyr Guest Posts: n/a

02-17-2002, 03:50 PM	#10
MJFfan I love Family Ties! Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 01, 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 324	Lemme see... ~ The one where Alex meets Ellen ~ The one where Alex takes two girls to the Prom ~ The one where Alex takes Speed ~ The one where their Uncle has a Drinking Problem
	__________________ ~Charlotte A big fan of family ties

02-22-2002, 10:28 AM	#14
dcarus Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 20, 2001 Location: Jersey City, New Jersey, USA Posts: 90	Don't forget about... The great episodes of the series have already been mentioned. My favorite is They Can't Take That Away From Me Part 2. Many on the board know I've been dieing to see this episode again. It should be airing yet again on NAN in two weeks, if everything stays the way it is now on the NAN schedule. The classic moment of the episode has to be the last scene when Alex is sitting alone on the couch and has his solo dialogue and walks out the door to a standing ovation. I've only seen the scene one full time when it originally aired. Have not been able to see the scene as a whole since then. I've missed countless opportunities to tape it. When it airs in a couple of weeks I'll be ready for it and I will get it on tape!

11-24-2000, 11:04 PM	#1
Brett Ferino Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 18, 2000 Location: PA Posts: 3,782	What are 5 to 10 episodes that truly define the series or must include moments? We are in the process of producing the 75th anniversary of NBC. Could you or your fans recomend between 5 to 10 top episodes of Family Ties that truly define the series or suggest a few "must include" moments. I would also like to know where I could get copies of these shows to screen. Thank you for your help. Greg Vines, Supervising Producer Andrew Solt Productions 9121 Sunset Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90069

06-22-2001, 01:14 PM	#5
theshark8777 Hats for Bats Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 23, 2001 Location: northeast Ohio. Posts: 5,315	I remember that episode!! It was for Ellen. He said it was an interpretation of the 1929 stock market crash or something!! ------------------ Alex: Skippy, remember when we were little kids and I accidently ran over you with my bicycle? Skippy: Yeah Alex: I drive a car now.

09-24-2001, 08:15 PM	#6
hch Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 07, 2001 Location: Montross, VA 22520 Posts: 983	The episodes I think were classic moments of "Family ties" are: - The first Uncle Ned two-parter - The one where Alex takes amphetamines - The suicidal hotline - The famous two-part episode when Alex's friend gets involved in a car accident and Alex is in analysis - The episode where Alex and Ellen broke up - The "Jennifer goes environmental" episode - The "All in the Neighborhood" episode - The "Oops" episode - Uncle Ned drinking episode - "Rememberance of Things Past" 2-parter - "Read it and Weep" 2-parter - "The Way We Were" - "Rosalie's Legacy" - "Heartstrings" three-parter - "Alex Doesn't Live Here Anymore" Series Finale To Make it short, the entire series is filled with classic moments

09-26-2001, 12:27 PM	#8
boechsner Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2000 Location: Green Bay, WI Posts: 2,212	'A' My Name is Alex (Parts 1 and 2), for me are two of the best episodes of the entire series.

02-17-2002, 12:01 PM	#9
west01 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 20, 2001 Posts: 102	.................. a my name is alex paul keaton

02-18-2002, 04:53 PM	#11
Michael Cross Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 05, 2002 Location: California Posts: 28	I think these episodes make a good definition of "Family Ties": The Real Thing (Part 1 & 2) It's My Party (Part 1 & 2) Don't Go Changin' Nothing But a Man A Word to the Wise (Part 1 & 2) Where's Pappa? Checkmate Teacher's Pet Paper Chase (aka Mallory's Graduation) Of course, these are all the episodes that co-stars Tracy Pollan. I would have to agree with Hofverberg that Don't Go Changin', The Real Thing, and They Can't Take That Away From Me have the best special moments in them.

02-20-2002, 07:56 PM	#12
MJFfan I love Family Ties! Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 01, 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 324	How about "Baby Boy Dough" and "Heart Strings 1+2"?

02-22-2002, 12:18 AM	#13
LadyDi4476 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 14, 2001 Location: New York Posts: 15	Well my personal fave episode has been "Be True To Your PreSchool" where Alex pulls Andy out of his class cuz he's being taught the wrong lessons (well cuz he's changing a diaper while his "wife" is out working LOL). I thought that was classic and I love Alex and Andy together. The one where Andy was born was great too. The one where Ellen and Alex dance to "At This Moment" Heartsrings The one with Tom Hanks ..there's so many good moments ~Diane

02-22-2002, 06:30 PM	#15
Ags2000 Red 2/13/90 -1/5/06 Forum Veteran Join Date: May 02, 2001 Location: Candyland Posts: 5,544	My favorite episode of all time is episode #169 My Best Friend's Girl. My favorite part is when Steven is trying to teach Mallory how to drive by using chair in the kitchen. I just start laughing even thinking about it. That is totally a Keaten classic moment. D
	__________________ RIP Captain Lyle "Fish Stix" Gordon U.S. Marine Corps So this is how Liberty dies, with thunderous applause. -Senator Padme Amidala Can't wait until the 2016 change.