Alex and Skippy's Friendship

[Sharop]

I was feeling a bit analytical and was pondering the subject of Alex and Skippy's friendship...I find it sweet that they're obviously good friends, but was wondering what it was that they saw in each other that made them like each other as much as they seemed to.

I haven't seen all the episodes of Family Ties but enough to tell that Alex and Skippy are very different people. I know, of course, that people don't need to be exactly alike to get along and that someone can be friends with a person who is their complete opposite, but Skippy isn't necessarily the kind of person that I would have expected Alex to be close friends with, and vice versa. (I'm not trying to diss the characters here, they're two of my favourites.) But Skippy is much more shy/awkward than Alex, doesn't seem to do as well academically as Alex does, and the two also seem to have different interests (I'm not saying they don't share any interests though.)

So I was wondering what drew the two together, apart from maybe the old "opposites attract" adage (I'm not making them out to be some kind of romantic couple, I'm just using that as an example of how people can be attracted - in a non-romantic way as well - to people who are not very much like them.)

What I think Alex may have found, and liked, in Skippy, was Skippy's loyalty and the fact that he doesn't appear to challenge him much. What I mean by that, is that, in his family, Alex is surrounded by people who are very different (except for Andy.) His parents have very differing political views, Mallory is his opposite, and while not excelling academically, she's certainly not dumb and can tell him like it is. Jennifer is very strong-minded. I'd imagine that a lot of Alex's other friends are probably quite strong characters too, although I know we don't know this.

I think Alex may have liked Skippy's loyalty and the fact that Skippy doesn't tend to challenge his views or opinions on such matters as money/politics, etc (at least from what I've seen.) Also, from what I've seen, I would say that Skippy seems to look up to Alex - almost like a younger brother looking up to an older brother - and I think Alex may enjoy that sense fo being admired somewhat.

I also do think, though, that Alex genuinely likes Skippy as a person and values him as a friend. I also note that the two of them have grown up together so by the time the show starts they've been friends for years.

As for what Skippy sees in Alex...as I said, I think that Skippy admires him somewhat and probably likes spending time with him just on that alone. I also think that Skippy sees in Alex someone who can help him, look after him, give him advice (not that Skippy can't do that for Alex, but Alex is probably less likely to admit he needs help.)

And I also feel that Skippy genuinely likes Alex for who he is. Despite his mistakes and acting like a jerk on occasions, it was clear that Alex was a very good person.

Any thoughts?

[Mikado]

At first Alex pretty much reacted to Skippy as Malory did (That he was a real annoyance), but, eventually, I would say Skippys earnestness and loyalty won him over.

[Sharop]

Originally Posted by Mikado

At first Alex pretty much reacted to Skippy as Malory did (That he was a real annoyance), but, eventually, I would say Skippys earnestness and loyalty won him over.

It's been a while since I've seen some of the earlier episodes with Skippy but I thought that he and Alex were always friends, even if Alex did think he was sometimes annoying.

Speaking of Mallory, did she actually consider Skippy an actual friend or more of a close acquaintance that she'd known for a long time? I love Skippy, but I can see how is persual of Mallory would have made her find him very irritating.

I didn't get the sense that she actually disliked him although she could sometimes be rude to him, but that may have been more out of irritation because of his not taking the hint that she didn't want to go out with him, and also perhaps out of a desire to be popular (I'm remembering the season one episode where a girl was coming over and she said to Skippy, "Obviously I don't want her to think that I know you.")

It seems to me like Skippy was always a kind of underdog character whom everybody seemed to take for granted - in the episode where Skippy found out he was adopted and Steven, Elyse, Alex and Mallory were being very kind to him, Jennifer asked, "Why is everyone being so nice to Skippy?" I don't know if it was meant to come off this way, but the way she said it made it seem to me as though most of the time Skippy was the kind of "overlooked" guy.

Although, on the show, Steven and Elyse were always very nice to Skippy, Alex was his friend, and even Mallory was at times pleasant and kind to him. Jennifer didn't seem to have much interaction with Skippy, or she hasn't in any episodes I've seen.

[Family Ties Forever!]

I would say that Mallory considered Skippy a friend. Granted she was hard on him a lot of the time. She was rude and didn't really give him a chance. At least from time to time though she could be nice to him. There were even times when Mallory smiled at Skippy, which was nice to see.

In the fourth season episode called Fool For Love Skippy points out to Mallory that when she pays attention to him it shows him that she cares. She tells him that she does care, but that they are adults and that they have to start treating each other like adults. She tells him "that she will stop being mean to him if he will stop thinking of her in a silly, childish, romantic way."

I think Alex liked Skippy because Skippy was a good person. He was loyal and kind-hearted. Skippy was devoted to his friends. Alex knew he could count on Skippy.

I think that Skippy looked up to Alex and liked Alex for who Alex was. Of course the fact that Alex was Mallory's brother didn't hurt.

I'm not sure why we didn't see more interaction between Jennifer and Skippy.

I've found that most of my favorite Family Ties episodes have Skippy in them, esp. when there's interaction between Mallory and Skippy.

[Schmoopie]

It's been a long time since I've watched Family Ties, but I do remember Skippy! I think you all have brought up some excellent points on the subject!

Andrea

[Sharop]

Originally Posted by Family Ties Forever!

I'm not sure why we didn't see more interaction between Jennifer and Skippy.

Well, realistically, I guess it made sense that Jennifer and Skippy wouldn't spend much time together. Skippy was the friend and contemporary of Alex and Mallory, as he was about their age (same age as Mallory, two years younger than Alex.) He was six years older than Jennifer, and at the age periods of both characters on the show, six years is often a substantial difference. A 16-year-old would probably find it hard to relate a lot to a 10-year-old and vice versa. When the series started Jennifer would have been about 9 and Skippy 15 and when it ended Jen would have been 15 or 16 and Skippy about 22 or 23...so the age difference alone would have probably meant that they wouldn't have had a lot in common, let alone the difference in their personalities.

I think they probably liked each other well enough but likely didn't know one another well - Skippy probably just saw Jennifer as the younger sister of his friends and Jennifer probably just saw Skippy as the friend of her older siblings.

[Family Ties Forever!]

That makes sense.
Yes, Mallory and Skippy were 15 when the show started and Jennifer was 9. She turned 10 though quickly. Alex aws 17 when the show started.

[bttf4444]

Originally Posted by Family Ties Forever!

That makes sense.
Yes, Mallory and Skippy were 15 when the show started and Jennifer was 9. She turned 10 though quickly. Alex aws 17 when the show started.

The episodes that focus on Alex and Skippy are among my favourites. I think the fact that Alex is friends with Skippy shows that Alex genuinely is a caring and compassionate person. According to TVTropes, Alex would be considered a "jerk with a heart of gold". Alex can be a bit obnoxious, at times - but, all things considered, he has a big heart. I mean, Skippy is probably relatively unpopular - and it really says a lot that that Alex isn't afaid to be his friend. Of couse, there is also the whole "opposites attract" adage.

In the episode that Skippy debuted in, it seemed like Alex really wasn't his friend - but, in the latter episodes, it's strongly implied that Alex and Skippy have been friends from early childhood. Maybe Alex's attitude towards Skippy in the first episode could be explained by saying that he was a little too over-eager about his new job, so he didn't have much patience for Skippy.

Baby Boy Doe, Don't Kiss Me I'm Just The Messenger, and Brother's Keeper are among my favourite episodes - because Alex's compassion and kindness really shines though.

[Hlao-roo]

Can't argue with what has been said in this thread about Skippy's friendship with Alex and Mallory; I think you guys have a pretty good read on it. He's the eccentric next door neighbor who will absolutely not keep to himself -- he would have given Boo Radley a fit -- but through the miracles of mere proximity and exposure he becomes likable over time, the snide put-downs gradually transmuting to the friendly, affectionate joshing that characterizes the relationships between Alex and his siblings. He becomes, in more ways than one, an "honorary Keaton."

[A.D.A. Casey Novak]

I absolutely ADORED Skippy. I thought he was sweet and kind and understanding. He was also very loyal and honest and compassionate. He was funny and could be quite charming at times. I also thought the actor who played him was quite handsome. If they dressed him in nicer clothes, he'd look even better. Also, he always seemed to put everyone else before himself. He never compplained, he was always willing to help out. He was very respectful toward the parents. It was sweet how he always wore his heart on his sleeve. I never could understand why Mallory always blew him off. I think he would make the ideal boyfriend. He's cute and fun and attractive. I love Skippy. I hated it whenever someone on the show was mean to him. He'd get such a hurt look on his face. In my book, Skippy is great. Probably my favorite character, although I love them all. It's just that there's something about Skippy. I don't know what it is. I just like him.

[tv star collector]

Originally Posted by A.D.A. Casey Novak

I absolutely ADORED Skippy. I thought he was sweet and kind and understanding. He was also very loyal and honest and compassionate. He was funny and could be quite charming at times. I also thought the actor who played him was quite handsome. If they dressed him in nicer clothes, he'd look even better. Also, he always seemed to put everyone else before himself. He never compplained, he was always willing to help out. He was very respectful toward the parents. It was sweet how he always wore his heart on his sleeve. I never could understand why Mallory always blew him off. I think he would make the ideal boyfriend. He's cute and fun and attractive. I love Skippy. I hated it whenever someone on the show was mean to him. He'd get such a hurt look on his face. In my book, Skippy is great. Probably my favorite character, although I love them all. It's just that there's something about Skippy. I don't know what it is. I just like him.

Mallory was shallow. Skippy deserved better.