Tournament Round One: Family Ties vs. Grace Under Fire - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

icecream · 10-28-2021, 12:39 PM

Family Ties aired 7 seasons on NBC from 1982-1989. It was intended to be a starring vehicle for Meredith Baxter (the mom Elyse Keaton). But Michael J. Fox stole the show as oldest son Alex P. Keaton. Yet he was content with being third billed in the cast and did not demand to be moved up. Michael Gross played Elyse's husband Steven Keaton. They have the exact same birthday irl. Justine Bateman and Tina Yothers played the daughters Mallory and Jennifer. Marc Price recurred as next door neighbor Skippy Handleman, who had unrequited feelings for Mallory. Because of Meredith Baxter's real pregnancy, 4th child Andrew was born in season 3. An aged Andrew was played by Brian Bonsall starting in season 5. Season 4 was the best, it had Alex's girlfriend Ellen Reed played by Tracy Pollan. She was too busy to continue with the show in season 5 but did marry Michael irl. Alex's 2nd serious girlfriend Lauren Miller was played by Courteney Cox in seasons 6 and 7. Scott Valentine recurred as Mallory's dumb boyfriend Nick Moore.

Grace Under Fire did well and could have lasted longer, but Brett Butler caused a lot of problems on set. So it only aired five seasons from 1993-1998 on ABC. Brett played divorced single mother Grace Kelly. Kaitlin Cullum was on the whole show playing her daughter Libby. Her son Quentin was originally played by Jon Paul Steuer. He had to be recast because of Brett inappropriately flashing him on set. The 2nd Quentin was played by Sam Horrigan. Dave Thomas (a separate actor not the Wendy's owner

) played Grace's friend the pharmacist Russell Norton. His father later joined the show played by comedy veteran Tom Poston. Grace's best friend Nadine Swoboda was played by Julie White the first four seasons. She left her husband Wade (Casey Sander) at the start of season 5. In later seasons Peggy Rea was a regular as Grace's ex mother-in-law Jean. Cole and Dylan Sprouse who went on to The Suite Life of Zack and Cody got their start here. But it wasn't much of a role, they alternated playing Grace's youngest son Patrick.

icecream · 11-03-2021, 12:49 PM

Family Ties defeats Grace Under Fire 7-2 and will advance to the 2nd round.

View Poll Results: Which Show Do You Prefer?
Family Ties	7	77.78%
Grace Under Fire	2	22.22%
Voters: 9. You may not vote on this poll

10-28-2021, 12:39 PM	#1
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,696	Tournament Round One: Family Ties vs. Grace Under Fire Family Ties aired 7 seasons on NBC from 1982-1989. It was intended to be a starring vehicle for Meredith Baxter (the mom Elyse Keaton). But Michael J. Fox stole the show as oldest son Alex P. Keaton. Yet he was content with being third billed in the cast and did not demand to be moved up. Michael Gross played Elyse's husband Steven Keaton. They have the exact same birthday irl. Justine Bateman and Tina Yothers played the daughters Mallory and Jennifer. Marc Price recurred as next door neighbor Skippy Handleman, who had unrequited feelings for Mallory. Because of Meredith Baxter's real pregnancy, 4th child Andrew was born in season 3. An aged Andrew was played by Brian Bonsall starting in season 5. Season 4 was the best, it had Alex's girlfriend Ellen Reed played by Tracy Pollan. She was too busy to continue with the show in season 5 but did marry Michael irl. Alex's 2nd serious girlfriend Lauren Miller was played by Courteney Cox in seasons 6 and 7. Scott Valentine recurred as Mallory's dumb boyfriend Nick Moore. Grace Under Fire did well and could have lasted longer, but Brett Butler caused a lot of problems on set. So it only aired five seasons from 1993-1998 on ABC. Brett played divorced single mother Grace Kelly. Kaitlin Cullum was on the whole show playing her daughter Libby. Her son Quentin was originally played by Jon Paul Steuer. He had to be recast because of Brett inappropriately flashing him on set. The 2nd Quentin was played by Sam Horrigan. Dave Thomas (a separate actor not the Wendy's owner ) played Grace's friend the pharmacist Russell Norton. His father later joined the show played by comedy veteran Tom Poston. Grace's best friend Nadine Swoboda was played by Julie White the first four seasons. She left her husband Wade (Casey Sander) at the start of season 5. In later seasons Peggy Rea was a regular as Grace's ex mother-in-law Jean. Cole and Dylan Sprouse who went on to The Suite Life of Zack and Cody got their start here. But it wasn't much of a role, they alternated playing Grace's youngest son Patrick.
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11-03-2021, 12:49 PM	#2
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,696	Family Ties defeats Grace Under Fire 7-2 and will advance to the 2nd round.