The REAL reason(s) the show ended? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

GoldenFamilyTies · 06-18-2002, 03:38 PM

I've been reading around different places, and have read all kinds of reason why the show went off the air. One I was surprised at was that MBB's contract was up and she wasn't happy with the show.

Does anyone know for sure why it ended?

Brad Russ · 06-19-2002, 10:02 AM

I saw the Meredith Baxter biography on A&E awhile back and the narrator said she took the show ending the hardest. I think it ended because of a huge ratings decline, and so the cast felt like it was time to stop. I believe in the final season Family Ties wasn't even one of the top 20 shows.

mstewart · 06-19-2002, 08:46 PM

The producer of the show felt the show said everything and covered all that they could and given that it was a show dealing with raising kids in the 80s.

As for Meredith Baxter. Yes she was unhappy how her role on the show was diminishing to just being a reactor. Originally the show was her vehicle. Again, Meredith Baxter is not a sitcom actress and if Family Ties was a drama instead of a sitcom she would have been dynamic as she was on Family. She is a powerful and beautiful dramatic actress. I hope to see her in a drama series soon.

The show did run its course. Personally they should had pulled the plug after the fifth season. Watching it now on N@N the show was great from seasons 1-4 but the fifth began to erode. The whole Michael J. Fox thing got out of control and the plots centered around him was too repetious and watching now gets on my nerves.

GoldenFamilyTies · 06-19-2002, 10:58 PM

That's why I wish that MJF hadn't played Alex, so that the show would have stayed the way it was planned. 2nd-3rd Seasons were the best!

06-18-2002, 03:38 PM	#1
GoldenFamilyTies Por siempre tú Senior Member Join Date: Jan 15, 2002 Location: United States Posts: 1,329	The REAL reason(s) the show ended? I've been reading around different places, and have read all kinds of reason why the show went off the air. One I was surprised at was that MBB's contract was up and she wasn't happy with the show. Does anyone know for sure why it ended?

06-19-2002, 10:02 AM	#2
Brad Russ Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 17, 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 10,085	I saw the Meredith Baxter biography on A&E awhile back and the narrator said she took the show ending the hardest. I think it ended because of a huge ratings decline, and so the cast felt like it was time to stop. I believe in the final season Family Ties wasn't even one of the top 20 shows.

06-19-2002, 08:46 PM	#3
mstewart mstewart Senior Member Join Date: Jan 25, 2002 Location: California Posts: 1,780	The producer of the show felt the show said everything and covered all that they could and given that it was a show dealing with raising kids in the 80s. As for Meredith Baxter. Yes she was unhappy how her role on the show was diminishing to just being a reactor. Originally the show was her vehicle. Again, Meredith Baxter is not a sitcom actress and if Family Ties was a drama instead of a sitcom she would have been dynamic as she was on Family. She is a powerful and beautiful dramatic actress. I hope to see her in a drama series soon. The show did run its course. Personally they should had pulled the plug after the fifth season. Watching it now on N@N the show was great from seasons 1-4 but the fifth began to erode. The whole Michael J. Fox thing got out of control and the plots centered around him was too repetious and watching now gets on my nerves.

06-19-2002, 10:58 PM	#4
GoldenFamilyTies Por siempre tú Senior Member Join Date: Jan 15, 2002 Location: United States Posts: 1,329	That's why I wish that MJF hadn't played Alex, so that the show would have stayed the way it was planned. 2nd-3rd Seasons were the best!