Family Ties Episode Guide

Episode Guide

Family Ties: Season 7 (1988 - 1989)

• Season 7 Episode 25: Alex Doesn't Live Here Anymore

  Elyse and departing Alex deal with their feelings.

• Season 7 Episode 24: Mr. Keaton Takes a Vacation

  Nick stays at the Keatons' while his apartment is painted.

• Season 7 Episode 23: Wrap Around the Clock

  The family reminisces while helping Andrew with a school project.

• Season 7 Episode 22: Wrap Around the Clock

  The family reminisces while helping Andrew with a school project.

• Season 7 Episode 21: Rain Forests Keep Falling in My Head

  Jennifer becomes obsessed with environmental issues.

• Season 7 Episode 20: They Can't Take That Away From Me

  Alex faces a dilemma when Lauren returns to town.

• Season 7 Episode 19: They Can't Take That Away From Me

  Alex considers romance with a girl he is tutoring.

• Season 7 Episode 18: All in the Neighborhood

  Racism threatens a black family new to the neighborhood.

• Season 7 Episode 17: All in the Neighborhood

  Vandals jolt the neighbors into action.

• Season 7 Episode 16: Simon Says

  Jennifer and Alex fend off aggressive suitors.

• Season 7 Episode 15: 'Til Her Daddy Takes the T-Bird Away

  Steven co-signs a car loan for Mallory.

• Season 7 Episode 14: My Best Friend's Girl

  Playing matchmaker for Skippy, Lauren becomes the object of his affection.

• Season 7 Episode 13: The Wrecker's Ball

  The first building Elyse designed is set for demolition.

• Season 7 Episode 12: The Job Not Taken

  Alex's dream job involves replacing a soon-to-be-fired friend.

• Season 7 Episode 11: Get Me to the Living Room on Time

  The Keatons hold an elderly couple's wedding in their living room.

• Season 7 Episode 10: Nick's Best Friend

  Nick faces a tough decision when a car hits his dog.

• Season 7 Episode 9: Deja Vu

  Mallory objects to a romance between an ex-beau's brother and Jennifer.

• Season 7 Episode 8: Basic Training

  Skippy joins the Army.

• Season 7 Episode 7: Heartstrings

  Steven adjusts to life after a heart attack.

• Season 7 Episode 6: Heartstrings

  The Keatons bond together as Steven undergoes surgery.

• Season 7 Episode 5: Heartstrings

  Steven suffers a heart attack; guest Christina Pickles.

• Season 7 Episode 4: Beyond Therapy

  Alex attends a relationship workshop with Lauren.

• Season 7 Episode 3: Truckers

  Andrew's budding friendship with Nick's nephew horrifies Alex.

• Season 7 Episode 2: Designing Woman

  Mallory's new boss steals her fashion designs.

• Season 7 Episode 1: It Happened One Night

  Alex, Mallory, Jennifer and Nick are stranded in the woods.

Family Ties: Season 6 (1983 - 1988)

• Season 6 Episode 28: Father, Can You Spare a Dime?

  Poor Nick won't take money from his estranged father.

• Season 6 Episode 27: Return of the Native

  The Keatons' cousin June returns from England.

• Season 6 Episode 26: Sign of the Times

  To empathize with a deaf pal, Andrew stops speaking.

• Season 6 Episode 25: The Boys Next Door

  The now-wealthy class nerd pursues Elyse at a reunion.

• Season 6 Episode 24: Spring Reminds Me

  A bereaved mother turns her attention to Mallory.

• Season 6 Episode 23: Quitting Time

  College dropout Lauren smothers Alex with domesticity.

• Season 6 Episode 22: Read It and Weep

  Jennifer reports on a book banned by the school.

• Season 6 Episode 21: Read It and Weep

  Jennifer defends her actions before the school board.

• Season 6 Episode 20: The Blues, Brother

  Disc jockey Alex urges a retired blues singer to play.

• Season 6 Episode 19: The Spirit of Columbus

  Profit-minded Alex manages Nick's artistic career.

• Season 6 Episode 18: The Play's the Thing

  Steven's zeal threatens a revival of his play.

• Season 6 Episode 17: Miracle in Columbus

  Cash-poor Alex works as a department-store Santa.

• Season 6 Episode 16: Anniversary Waltz

  Steven and Elyse bicker on their 20th-anniversary eve.

• Season 6 Episode 15: The American Family

  Keaton history comes to light for Lauren's study.

• Season 6 Episode 14: The American Family

  Keaton history comes to light for Lauren's study.

• Season 6 Episode 13: The Fifth Wheel

  Unhappy Jennifer wanders away from baby-sitter Alex.

• Season 6 Episode 12: Father Time

  Steven advises Rob to confront unruly Marilyn.

• Season 6 Episode 11: Citizen Keaton

  Alex helps Mallory campaign for student-body president.

• Season 6 Episode 10: Mister Sister

  Nick becomes a janitor at Mallory's sorority house.

• Season 6 Episode 9: The Way We Were

  A visiting aunt (Barbara Barrie) behaves oddly.

• Season 6 Episode 8: Invasion of the Psychologist Snatchers

  Lauren's successful ex-flame intimidates Alex.

• Season 6 Episode 7: Walking on Air

  Mallory is a reluctant intern at Steven's TV station.

• Season 6 Episode 6: Super Mom

  The demands of career and family overwhelm Elyse.

• Season 6 Episode 5: Dream Date

  Jennifer uses a boy's infatuation to attend a dance.

• Season 6 Episode 4: The Other Woman

  Andrew thinks Alex is neglecting him for Lauren.

• Season 6 Episode 3: Dear Mallory

  Woes of the lovelorn inundate columnist Mallory.

• Season 6 Episode 2: The Last of the Red Hot Psychologists

  Alex discovers he is attracted to Lauren.

• Season 6 Episode 1: The Last of the Red Hot Psychologists

  A psychology student picks Alex for a study.

Family Ties: Season 5 (1986 - 1987)

• Season 5 Episode 30: It's My Party

  Jennifer's trendy new life takes its toll.

• Season 5 Episode 29: It's My Party

  Jennifer seeks popularity in a shallow, trendy clique.

• Season 5 Episode 28: Matchmaker

  Alex uses a computer to find Mallory's perfect date.

• Season 5 Episode 27: The Visit

  Elyse's sister and her insufferable family visit.

• Season 5 Episode 26: Love Me Do

  Skippy is smitten with Mallory's shy college friend.

• Season 5 Episode 25: 'D' Is for Date

  Jennifer plays dumb to win a boy (Wil Wheaton).

• Season 5 Episode 24: 'A,' My Name Is Alex

  Grief-stricken Alex ponders his past.

• Season 5 Episode 23: 'A,' My Name Is Alex

  A friend's death shakes Alex deeply.

• Season 5 Episode 22: Keaton vs. Keaton

  Mallory enters a WKS-sponsored scholarship contest.

• Season 5 Episode 21: Band on the Run

  Alex manages Jennifer's all-girl band.

• Season 5 Episode 20: Battle of the Sexes

  The Keatons have a battle of the sexes.

• Season 5 Episode 19: Battle of the Sexes

  The Keatons have a battle of the sexes.

• Season 5 Episode 18: A Tale of Two Cities

  Alex won't tell hungover Rebecca what she did.

• Season 5 Episode 17: A Tale of Two Cities

  Alex goes on a business trip with boss Rebecca.

• Season 5 Episode 16: Architect's Apprentice

  Mallory encourages Nick to enter an art competition.

• Season 5 Episode 15: Higher Love

  A British graduate student dazzles Mallory.

• Season 5 Episode 14: O' Brother

  Aunt Maureen arrives with her version of the truth.

• Season 5 Episode 13: O' Brother

  Visiting Uncle Rob announces the end of his marriage.

• Season 5 Episode 12: My Mother, My Friend

  Mallory is upset when her friend becomes Elyse's pal.

• Season 5 Episode 11: Paper Lion

  Alex discovers his professor mentor has made an error.

• Season 5 Episode 10: High School Confidential

  Would-be teacher Nick needs his high-school diploma.

• Season 5 Episode 9: My Brother's Keeper

  Alex learns Skippy will be a fraternity-prank victim.

• Season 5 Episode 8: The Big Fix

  Matchmaker Elyse pairs a colleague with a friend.

• Season 5 Episode 7: Mrs. Wrong

  Alex sees Mallory and Nick sneak out to elope.

• Season 5 Episode 6: Mrs. Wrong

  Mallory proposes to Nick.

• Season 5 Episode 5: Beauty and the Bank

  Bank-employee Alex falls for his beautiful boss.

• Season 5 Episode 4: My Back Pages

  Steven realizes how he has changed since college.

• Season 5 Episode 3: The Freshman and the Senior

  Mallory teams with an older woman on a school project.

• Season 5 Episode 2: Starting Over

  Alex tries to transform a girl into absent Ellen.

• Season 5 Episode 1: Be True to Your Preschool

  Alex decides to withdraw Andrew from preschool.

Family Ties: Season 4 (1985 - 1986)

• Season 4 Episode 28: Paper Chase

  A history exam stands between Mallory and graduation.

• Season 4 Episode 27: Once in Love With Elyse

  A young architect (Peter Scolari) falls for Elyse.

• Season 4 Episode 26: My Buddy

  Steven feels rejected by maturing Jennifer.

• Season 4 Episode 25: Teacher's Pet

  Teaching-assistant Alex must grade student Ellen.

• Season 4 Episode 24: Art Lover

  A beautiful art patron takes an interest in Nick.

• Season 4 Episode 23: A Word to the Wise

  The family fills Ellen in on Alex's past.

• Season 4 Episode 22: A Word to the Wise

  The family fills Ellen in on Alex's past.

• Season 4 Episode 21: Engine Trouble

  Elyse and Alex join the same auto-repair class.

• Season 4 Episode 20: Checkmate

  Alex must face a Soviet opponent in a chess match.

• Season 4 Episode 19: Fool for Love

  Skippy becomes obsessed with Mallory.

• Season 4 Episode 18: Where's Poppa?

  Alex angers Ellen by asking Mr. Reed to Parents Day.

• Season 4 Episode 17: The Disciple

  Coached by Alex, Jennifer presents a class speech.

• Season 4 Episode 16: Nothing But a Man

  Steven's promotion leaves little time for family.

• Season 4 Episode 15: You've Got a Friend

  Mallory tries to reform a teenage shoplifter.

• Season 4 Episode 14: How Do You Sleep?

  Alex tries to hide his problem with insomnia.

• Season 4 Episode 13: Just One Look

  Steven learns about his old college buddy and Elyse.

• Season 4 Episode 12: Mr. Right

  Nick changes his image to please Steven and Elyse.

• Season 4 Episode 11: My Tutor

  Alex's 13-year-old math tutor falls for Jennifer.

• Season 4 Episode 10: The Old College Try

  Nick is blamed for Mallory's decision to skip college.

• Season 4 Episode 9: Don't Go Changin'

  Alex tries to change to fit into Ellen's world.

• Season 4 Episode 8: Designated Hitter

  Jennifer angers a friend by defending him.

• Season 4 Episode 7: Mr. Wrong

  Mallory brings home a new boyfriend (Scott Valentine).

• Season 4 Episode 6: The Real Thing

  Alex realizes he loves Ellen (Tracy Pollan).

• Season 4 Episode 5: The Real Thing

  Alex gets his ideal girl, then meets another.

• Season 4 Episode 4: Family Ties Vacation

  The Keatons head to London.

• Season 4 Episode 3: Family Ties Vacation

  The Keatons head to London.

• Season 4 Episode 2: Family Ties Vacation

  The Keatons head to London.

• Season 4 Episode 1: Family Ties Vacation

  The Keatons head to London.

Family Ties: Season 3 (1984 - 1985)

• Season 3 Episode 23: Remembrances of Things Past

  Steven goes home after his father's death.

• Season 3 Episode 22: Remembrances of Things Past

  Steven comes to terms with his past.

• Season 3 Episode 21: Cold Storage

  Mallory becomes locked in the basement with Skippy.

• Season 3 Episode 20: Bringing Up Baby

  Steven and Elyse miss having free time together.

• Season 3 Episode 19: Don't Know Much About History

  Tutors Alex and James both fall for a lovely student.

• Season 3 Episode 18: Cry Baby

  Jennifer is jealous of the new baby.

• Season 3 Episode 17: Birth of a Keaton

  Elyse prepares to give birth at station WKS.

• Season 3 Episode 16: Birth of a Keaton

  Elyse goes into labor during WKS pledge week.

• Season 3 Episode 15: Philadelphia Story

  Alex dreams he is in Philadelphia in 1776.

• Season 3 Episode 14: Auntie Up

  Mallory thinks no one shares her grief for her aunt.

• Season 3 Episode 13: Oh Donna

  Alex grows attached to an unwed, pregnant woman.

• Season 3 Episode 12: Karen II, Alex 0

  Alex asks Karen to go to a fraternity dance.

• Season 3 Episode 11: Help Wanted

  The Keatons' housekeeper is lovable but incompetent.

• Season 3 Episode 10: Don't Kiss Me, I'm Only the Messenger

  Alex falls for the girl he meant for Skippy.

• Season 3 Episode 9: Lost Weekend

  The children aren't interested in a family weekend.

• Season 3 Episode 8: Best Man

  Alex is angry when his best friend decides to wed.

• Season 3 Episode 7: 4 Rms Ocn Vu

  Alex rents out rooms to pay for Mallory's auto mishap.

• Season 3 Episode 6: Hotline Fever

  Hotline-volunteer Alex deals with a suicidal call.

• Season 3 Episode 5: Fabric Smarts

  Alex tries to help Mallory keep her part-time job.

• Season 3 Episode 4: Keaton 'n Son

  Alex accepts a part-time job at Steven's TV station.

• Season 3 Episode 3: Love Thy Neighbor

  Jennifer tries to woo her buddy away from Mallory.

• Season 3 Episode 2: Little Man on Campus

  Collegian Alex is stunned after receiving an F.

• Season 3 Episode 1: Here We Go Again

  The siblings are upset to learn of Elyse's pregnancy.

Family Ties: Season 2 (1983 - 1984)

• Season 2 Episode 23: The Gambler

  Elyse becomes caught up in gambling in Las Vegas.

• Season 2 Episode 22: Working at It

  Elyse's new job cuts into her time with the family.

• Season 2 Episode 21: Diary of a Young Girl

  Jennifer reviews past mistakes while awaiting surgery.

• Season 2 Episode 20: The Graduate

  Alex is furious when his girlfriend is valedictorian.

• Season 2 Episode 19: Baby Boy Doe

  Alex helps adopted Skippy find his natural mother.

• Season 2 Episode 18: Lady Sings the Blues

  Elyse makes a folk-singing comeback at a local club.

• Season 2 Episode 17: Double Date

  Alex has two senior-prom dates; guest Jami Gertz.

• Season 2 Episode 16: Ready or Not

  Mallory's beau wants to further their relationship.

• Season 2 Episode 15: Ladies Man

  Alex becomes an ERA supporter to woo a feminist.

• Season 2 Episode 14: Say Uncle

  Alex learns Uncle Ned (Tom Hanks) is an alcoholic.

• Season 2 Episode 13: 'M' Is for the Many Things

  Elyse objects when her divorced mother begins dating.

• Season 2 Episode 12: Go Tigers

  Hysterical Mallory ruins Alex's Princeton interview.

• Season 2 Episode 11: Birthday Boy

  Alex defies Elyse and goes out for his 18th birthday.

• Season 2 Episode 10: To Snatch a Keith

  A divorced friend reveals plans to abduct his own son.

• Season 2 Episode 9: A Keaton Christmas Carol

  Christmas spirits show Alex the meaning of the season.

• Season 2 Episode 8: Batter Up

  Coach Alex needs Skippy's sister on his softball team.

• Season 2 Episode 7: Sweet Lorraine

  Alex becomes a platonic friend to an older woman.

• Season 2 Episode 6: Speed Trap

  Alex relies on amphetamines to stay awake to study.

• Season 2 Episode 5: Not an Affair to Remember

  Steven's assistant (Judith Light) is in love with him.

• Season 2 Episode 4: This Year's Model

  Elyse is the star in a mother/daughter photo session.

• Season 2 Episode 3: The Harder They Fall

  Alex needs the recommendation of an obnoxious teacher.

• Season 2 Episode 2: The Homecoming

  Jeff returns from college and wants to go steady.

• Season 2 Episode 1: Tender Is the Knight

  Alex decides to reform a carefree girl (Talia Balsam).

Family Ties: Season 1 (1982 - 1983)

• Season 1 Episode 22: Elyse D'Arc

  Steven feels neglected as Elyse campaigns for causes.

• Season 1 Episode 21: Stage Fright

  Alex tutors Mallory for a TV quiz show.

• Season 1 Episode 19: Suzanne Takes You Down

  Elyse regrets hiring a friend to be her secretary.

• Season 1 Episode 18: I Gotta Be Ming

  Alex molds his surrogate brother into his own image.

• Season 1 Episode 17: French Lessons

  A shy boy asks Alex's advice on winning over Mallory.

• Season 1 Episode 16: Margin of Error

  Alex secretly invests Steven's money in stock.

• Season 1 Episode 15: The Fugitive - Part 2

  Ned (Tom Hanks) reveals the cause for his embezzling.

• Season 1 Episode 14: The Fugitive - Part 1

  The FBI comes looking for Elyse's brother (Tom Hanks).

• Season 1 Episode 13: Sherry Baby

  A popular girl befriends Mallory to get close to Alex.

• Season 1 Episode 12: Oops

  Elyse's advice to Mallory's pregnant friend backfires.

• Season 1 Episode 11: A Christmas Story

  A snowbound Christmas inspires family reminiscing.

• Season 1 Episode 10: Have Gun, Will Unravel

  After a burglary, the Keatons reluctantly buy a gun.

• Season 1 Episode 9: Death of a Grocer

  Alex leaves his grocery-store job for a supermarket.

• Season 1 Episode 8: No Nukes Is Good Nukes

  Protesters Steven and Elyse spend Thanksgiving in jail.

• Season 1 Episode 7: Big Brother Is Watching

  Editor Alex names cheating pupils in the school paper.

• Season 1 Episode 6: Give Uncle Arthur a Kiss

  A Keaton family friend makes a pass at Mallory.

• Season 1 Episode 5: I Never Killed for My Father

  Steven's visiting father brings unexpected news.

• Season 1 Episode 4: Summer of '82

  A college coed (Amy Steel) seduces teenage Alex.

• Season 1 Episode 3: I Know Jennifer's Boyfriend

  Peer pressure causes Jennifer to give up a male pal.

• Season 1 Episode 2: Not With My Sister You Don't

  Alex acts as parent while Steven and Elyse are away.

• Season 1 Episode 1: Pilot

  Alex fabricates his background for a wealthy date.