Why was the show cancelled? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

GoldenFamilyTies · 01-15-2002, 08:16 PM

I just discovered FT a couple months ago, and I was just curious as to why they cancelled the show... was it because MJF wanted to move on? bad ratings? Please tell.

AKA · 01-15-2002, 08:56 PM

The show ended for a few reasons.

One was the fact that the cast did indeed want to move on.

Another was the fact that the '80s were ending, and that was the whole premise of the show - former 1960s hippies raise their kids in the Reagan era.

Mcfly · 01-16-2002, 04:58 AM

To add to AKA, it was just time to go. They were out of ideas and there was nothing left to be told of the Keatons. They were even resorting to sort of activism themes as episodes dealt with racism, book banning, fumes from household chemicals, a few others. I have an old tv guide with an article from September of '88 saying they were told it was going to be their last year at the beginning of the season. So at least they had time to prepare themselves.

hofverberg · 01-16-2002, 08:43 AM

To my knowledge, the cancelation was a mutual decision between the cast members, the producers, UBU/Paramount and NBC.

And after all, you really can't expect a sitcom to last much more than seven years...

MJFfan · 01-18-2002, 01:13 PM

That's true. TV shows can only last so long. "The Waltons" kept going for a really long time, but as it did I beleive it got less popular.
Wouldn't it be cool if they made a TV show about Alex Keaton's children?

:

ftfan · 01-18-2002, 09:17 PM

Yeah, that would be neat if they made a show about Alex Keatons kids!

FamilyTiesFan · 01-18-2002, 11:45 PM

It would be cool, but it would never be able to live up to Family Ties. Plus, it wouldn't have Michael J. Fox, and he was the main reason the show was so good.

MJFfan · 01-19-2002, 12:26 PM

It's true it wouldn't live up to Family Ties, but it would have Michael J. Fox. If it were about his children, he would be the dad! I guess he wouldn't take the job though, since he would have better paying offers.

Moe · 01-29-2002, 08:51 PM

A one-off reunion would be nice, but Gary David Goldberg said at the very end of the final episode, there would never be any more Family Ties..

hofverberg · 02-01-2002, 06:48 AM

This thread has went too far now from the original subject (which has already been answered), plus that there already is a thread about a possible reunion - Therefore, I am closing this thread.

For discussions about a reunion, please use the other thread I linked to above.

hofverberg · 02-16-2002, 07:06 PM

Due to public request, I have re-opened this thread now.

Please keep it on topic - If anyone else posts about a possible reunion, I will close it again. Please use the other thread for discussing reunions.

Janice · 02-16-2002, 11:30 PM

Family Ties made a classy exit. They didn't go out on top, but they didn't wear out their welcome either. My guess is that Michael J. Fox's career was really taking off, and the show couldn't survive without him. This, as well as the reasons others have stated on this thread, contributed to the end of this classic show.
Sure, it would be great to see the Keaton's return someday, but with Michael's illness, sadly, it's unlikely.

west01 · 02-16-2002, 11:38 PM

it'll never happen

GoldenFamilyTies · 02-16-2002, 11:51 PM

Anythings possible, but it's like a 1 in a million shot or worse they'll come back, since the show was cancelled.

Notorious · 02-18-2002, 12:22 PM

well, when a show like this is on for 7 years, it ends up moving to Boresville.

01-15-2002, 08:16 PM	#1
GoldenFamilyTies Por siempre tú Senior Member Join Date: Jan 15, 2002 Location: United States Posts: 1,329	Why was the show cancelled? I just discovered FT a couple months ago, and I was just curious as to why they cancelled the show... was it because MJF wanted to move on? bad ratings? Please tell.
	Last edited by hofverberg; 01-16-2002 at 08:44 AM.

01-16-2002, 08:43 AM	#4
hofverberg Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 14, 2000 Location: Skellefteå, Sweden Posts: 204	To my knowledge, the cancelation was a mutual decision between the cast members, the producers, UBU/Paramount and NBC. And after all, you really can't expect a sitcom to last much more than seven years...
	__________________ /Daniel Hofverberg Webmaster, Family Ties Home Page http://www.familyties-tv.com

01-18-2002, 09:17 PM	#6
ftfan A young Republican!! Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 04, 2002 Location: DE Posts: 69	Yeah, that would be neat if they made a show about Alex Keatons kids!
	__________________ A big fan of Alex P. Keaton!

02-18-2002, 12:22 PM	#15
Notorious Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 13, 2001 Location: Sunnydale, CA --- and I actually registered at sitcomsonline July 25th, 2001 Posts: 1,494	well, when a show like this is on for 7 years, it ends up moving to Boresville.
	__________________ <center> My World, By~~: Avril Lavigne http://www.tvlinksonline.com/boards/...&postid=424095 Can't help if I space in a daze, My eyes tune out the other way, I may switch off and go in a daydream, In this head my thoughts are deep, Sometimes I can't even speak, Will someone be and not pretend? I'm off again in my World

01-15-2002, 08:56 PM	#2
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	The show ended for a few reasons. One was the fact that the cast did indeed want to move on. Another was the fact that the '80s were ending, and that was the whole premise of the show - former 1960s hippies raise their kids in the Reagan era.

01-16-2002, 04:58 AM	#3
Mcfly Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 06, 2001 Location: ca Posts: 374	To add to AKA, it was just time to go. They were out of ideas and there was nothing left to be told of the Keatons. They were even resorting to sort of activism themes as episodes dealt with racism, book banning, fumes from household chemicals, a few others. I have an old tv guide with an article from September of '88 saying they were told it was going to be their last year at the beginning of the season. So at least they had time to prepare themselves.

01-18-2002, 01:13 PM	#5
MJFfan I love Family Ties! Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 01, 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 324	That's true. TV shows can only last so long. "The Waltons" kept going for a really long time, but as it did I beleive it got less popular. Wouldn't it be cool if they made a TV show about Alex Keaton's children? :

01-18-2002, 11:45 PM	#7
FamilyTiesFan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 21, 2001 Location: WA Posts: 142	It would be cool, but it would never be able to live up to Family Ties. Plus, it wouldn't have Michael J. Fox, and he was the main reason the show was so good.

01-19-2002, 12:26 PM	#8
MJFfan I love Family Ties! Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 01, 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 324	It's true it wouldn't live up to Family Ties, but it would have Michael J. Fox. If it were about his children, he would be the dad! I guess he wouldn't take the job though, since he would have better paying offers.

01-29-2002, 08:51 PM	#9
Moe Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 28, 2002 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 38	A one-off reunion would be nice, but Gary David Goldberg said at the very end of the final episode, there would never be any more Family Ties..

02-01-2002, 06:48 AM	#10
hofverberg Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 14, 2000 Location: Skellefteå, Sweden Posts: 204	This thread has went too far now from the original subject (which has already been answered), plus that there already is a thread about a possible reunion - Therefore, I am closing this thread. For discussions about a reunion, please use the other thread I linked to above.

02-16-2002, 07:06 PM	#11
hofverberg Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 14, 2000 Location: Skellefteå, Sweden Posts: 204	Due to public request, I have re-opened this thread now. Please keep it on topic - If anyone else posts about a possible reunion, I will close it again. Please use the other thread for discussing reunions.

02-16-2002, 11:30 PM	#12
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Family Ties made a classy exit. They didn't go out on top, but they didn't wear out their welcome either. My guess is that Michael J. Fox's career was really taking off, and the show couldn't survive without him. This, as well as the reasons others have stated on this thread, contributed to the end of this classic show. Sure, it would be great to see the Keaton's return someday, but with Michael's illness, sadly, it's unlikely.

02-16-2002, 11:38 PM	#13
west01 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 20, 2001 Posts: 102	it'll never happen

02-16-2002, 11:51 PM	#14
GoldenFamilyTies Por siempre tú Senior Member Join Date: Jan 15, 2002 Location: United States Posts: 1,329	Anythings possible, but it's like a 1 in a million shot or worse they'll come back, since the show was cancelled.