9.0/10366 votesLoading...#1 - A, My Name is Alex (1)
Season 5 Episode 23 - Aired 3/11/1987
When Alex's friend Greg dies in a car accident, Alex is thrown into a state of shock and begins to seriously question the meaning and purpose of his own life. Having been asked to accompany his friend on the fatal trip and refusing because it wasn't convenient, he is overcome by guilt. He tries to fathom why he was spared in the face of such selfishness, and begins to have encounters with Greg's ghost. His family urges him to get help.
Director: Will Mackenzie
Writer: N/A
8.7/10199 votesLoading...#2 - The Real Thing (2)
Season 4 Episode 2 - Aired 10/2/1985
Alex realizes he must make Ellen aware of his feelings, but she is on a train on her way to marry another man, so he takes drastic measures to stop the wedding. The usually cool Alex decides he must let down his defenses or lose the girl he loves.
Director: Will Mackenzie
Writer: Michael J. Weithorn
8.6/10246 votesLoading...#3 - The Real Thing (1)
Season 4 Episode 1 - Aired 9/25/1985
Alex implements a fail-proof, and extremely unromantic, method of meeting the girl of his dreams: He picks her from pictures in the freshman directory. His selection, Tricia, seems to fit his requirements perfectly, but his plan goes off-track when he is strongly attracted to her roommate, Ellen. Ellen and Alex dislike each other instantly, and though he can't figure out why, he finds himself thinking about her constantly.
Director: Will Mackenzie
Writer: Michael J. Weithorn
8.5/10168 votesLoading...#4 - Mr. Wrong
Season 4 Episode 3 - Aired 10/16/1985
Mallory brings home her new boyfriend, Nick, a Rambo-type environmental artist, to meet her family, but Steven and Elyse are shocked by his crude appearance and gruff manner.
Director: Will Mackenzie
Writer: N/A
8.4/10210 votesLoading...#5 - Speed Trap
Season 2 Episode 6 - Aired 11/9/1983
When Alex takes diet pills for a lift during mid-terms, his dependency level increases daily. Alex is studying for several tests and convinces Mallory to obtain diet pills to help him stay awake. At his hyperness and irritability increase, so does his dependency on the pills. When he finally gets so desperate that he threatens Mallory to get more drugs, she becomes worried that he is headed for a ""crash landing"".
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.4/10227 votesLoading...#6 - 4 Rms Ocn Vu
Season 3 Episode 8 - Aired 11/7/1984
While Steven and Elyse are away on vacation, the Keaton house becomes a hotel for the weekend after Mallory accidentally crashes her parents' car into a telephone pole and the kids need to raise money for auto repairs. A lot of people are in town for the Leland homecoming game, so Alex decides to take advantage of the situation and rent out rooms but suddenly he's swamped with renters and the house looks like a three-ring circus.
Director: Lee Shallat Chemel
Writer: Marc Lawrence
8.4/10175 votesLoading...#7 - Alex Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1)
Season 7 Episode 25 - Aired 5/14/1989
When Alex lands his dream job in New York, everyone's delighted for him, except Elyse. As Steven helps Andy rehearse for his school play on dental hygiene, Alex bursts into the Keaton kitchen with a rousing chorus of ""New York, New York"", and the news that he's been hired by one of Wall Street's biggest investment firms. The family is thrilled, but Elyse is somewhat taken aback when she learns that Alex is expected to move immediately. While everyone pitches in to help Alex get ready, Elyse becomes miffed over a family photo that he packed without her permission and a palpable tension begins to develop between them. In the course of packing, Alex battles wits with Jennifer, accepts fashion tips from Mallory, receives fatherly advice from Steven and shares some final moments with Nick, Skippy and Lauren. All the while, Elyse continues to withdraw from him. She becomes even more upset when the family plans to go out to dinner together and Alex begs off, claiming he is just too busy to sp
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.1/10117 votesLoading...#8 - Heartstrings (2)
Season 7 Episode 6 - Aired 12/11/1988
While Steven fights for his life in surgery, the family fights to remain optimistic about his condition. When Steven's surgery extends beyond the expected five hours, tension in the waiting room increases. A nervous Alex, however, begins to express acute concern only for himself fearing that he has inherited a weak heart, he searches in vain for his pulse. Lauren soon makes Alex realize that he is fixated on his own health to block the anguish he really feels for his father. While the Keatons wait, they receive hope and encouragement from Mrs. Hobart and Mr. Meyers, whose spouses are also undergoing surgery. Everyone's spirits are lifted when Mr. Meyers is joyfully reunited with his wife. But shortly afterward, their happiness turns to grief when it is learned that Mrs. Hobart's husband, who had actually been in recovery, has suddenly died. As the Keatons search for a way to comfort her, they become even more anxious about Steven. When Elyse begins to panic, Alex finally realizes that
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.0/10199 votesLoading...#9 - The Harder They Fall
Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 10/19/1983
Alex anxiously awaits a crucial college recommendation from his English teacher and urges Steven and Elyse to butter Mr. Tedesco up on parents' nite at school - but the obnoxious Tedesco is so insulting that Elyse slugs him, and a horrified Alex entreats Steven to make amends. The usually calm and non-violent Elyse is amazed and ashamed at her uncharacteristic behavior, though Tedesco ""asked for it"". Steven visits him and after being subjected to disparaging remarks about his wife, winds up repeating her deed. Finally Tedesco, who does recognize Alex's intellect, accepts an invitation to the Keaton home where he alienates everyone again. Alex must decide whether a glowing recommendation from an influential but disgusting man is worth groveling for.
Director: Sam Weisman
Writer: Rich Reinhart
8.0/10136 votesLoading...#10 - Mr. Right
Season 4 Episode 8 - Aired 11/20/1985
Mallory's boyfriend, environmental artist Nick Moore, swaps his T-shirt, camouflage pants, combat boots and earrings for a three-piece suit and a haircut to impress Mallory's parents, but while Steven and Elyse love the new Nick, Mallory is ready to leave him.
Director: James Burrows
Writer: N/A
8.0/10130 votesLoading...#11 - Read It and Weep (1)
Season 6 Episode 21 - Aired 2/6/1988
Jennifer comes home from school feeling blue because after choosing the American classic ""Huckleberry Finn"" as the subject of her book report, she learns that the novel has been put on the school board's list of banned books. Although her favorite English teacher, Mr. Flaherty, disagrees with the decision, he informs Jennifer that he must uphold the board's ruling about the book. Jennifer decides to disregard the school's edicts and goes ahead with her report, which she insists of reading aloud in class. Flaherty is forced to summon the principal, who confiscates the paper. Later, Flaherty tells Jennifer and her family that even though he personally admires her courage and commitment, he must fail her on her report. Even worse, she must face the wrath of the principal and possible suspension.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.0/10128 votesLoading...#12 - The Boys Next Door
Season 6 Episode 25 - Aired 3/6/1988
As Elyse prepares for her high school reunion, she is contacted by her old buddy, Roger ""Eggy"" Erdman, a klutzy class nerd turned millionaire. Never a romantic couple, Elyse and ""Eggy"" made a bizarre team even as friends, since Elyse was the most popular girl in class. She explains to the family that Roger needed someone to keep the bullies away and to save him from his own clumsiness. Like an older version of Skippy, the ungainly Roger comes over for a visit. While Alex is enamored of ""Eggy's"" wealth, Roger is still clearly in love with Elyse, who always helped him stand up for himself. Steven, who would do anything to avoid attending Elyse's reunion, urges Roger to take her. Roger wants to resurrect the ""Doo-Wop Twins"" number they used to do in school, but when Elyse refuses, saying that those days are over, a hurt Roger rushes out. Reluctantly, Steven ends up accompanying Elyse and Roger to the reunion, where he is immediately mistaken for Danny Wasserman, the class clown. Roger's w
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.0/10118 votesLoading...#13 - Heartstrings (1)
Season 7 Episode 5 - Aired 12/4/1988
The Keaton family unites in crisis when Steven suffers a serious heart attack. While Alex and Andy discuss the upcoming Presidential race, Mallory and Jennifer prepare for another legendary shopping expedition. Moments later, Elyse returns home from jogging, but Steven lags behind, explaining that his run was slowed by a burning pain in his side. Steven dismisses the pain, assuming it was due to something he ate, while Alex kids him that the pain was caused by the guilt of being a Democrat. Feeling much better the next day, Steven goes on a long bicycle ride. But when he returns home, he has difficulty breathing and collapses on the floor. After rushing Steven to the hospital, the family is stunned when Dr. Harrison tells them that Steven has suffered a heart attack and needs bypass surgery immediately. In the waiting room, the Keatons befriend Ruth Hobart, the kind and encouraging wife of another heart patient, and the jocular Mr. Meyers. Before Steven is wheeled into surgery, he and
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.0/10116 votesLoading...
#14 - Heartstrings (3)
Season 7 Episode 7 - Aired 12/18/1988
Steven battles the physical and psychological aftershocks of his heart surgery. As the hours drag on during Steven's quadruple bypass operation, the Keaton crew grows exhausted in the hospital waiting room. Awakened by Skippy's typically goofy entrance, they all snap to attention when Dr. Harrison appears. He assures them that the surgery has gone well, but Steven must still be observed closely for the next few hours. When the family members are at last allowed to see Steven, he joyfully looks from one relieved face from the next. But when he is well enough to come home, the kids are nervous and overly solicitious, while Steven seems edgy and testily insists that they all go about their usual business. Sensing that her husband needs to talk, Elyse gently questions him and Steven confesses that he is terrified. He tells her that his living room now reminds him of his collapse and admits that he can't stop thinking about a colleague, who, after a similar experience, became a depressed sh
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.9/10223 votesLoading...#15 - Say Uncle
Season 2 Episode 14 - Aired 1/26/1984
Alex discovers that his idol, young Uncle Ned, has a serious drinking problem when the bright, but ill-fated corporate whiz kid returns for a visit after losing another job.
Director: Will Mackenzie
Writer: N/A
7.9/10120 votesLoading...#16 - Mrs. Wrong (2)
Season 5 Episode 7 - Aired 11/12/1986
Alex sees Mallory and Nick leaving the Keaton residence in the predawn hours to elope, and unable to stop them, follows them to New Jersey where he finds the young couple taking a hard look at their decision. After Nick bumbles around the outside of the house with a 16-foot ladder, Alex makes a desperate attempt to keep his younger sister Mallory from marrying Nick. But they are too much in love to listen. It takes Erin and Mike, another couple, to give them perspective on their maturity.
Director: Asaad Kelada
Writer: N/A
7.9/10115 votesLoading...#17 - The Blues Brother
Season 6 Episode 20 - Aired 1/23/1988
Alex becomes a deejay of his own college radio show with a program he calls ""Syncopated Money"", designed to ""combine classic American music with an indepth analysis of the business scene"". While on the air one day, Alex introduces a tune by ""the late blues great, Eddie Dupre"", only to discover that Dupre is alive when the legendary blues artist himself calls the station. Embarrassed and apologetic, Alex learns that Eddie is now driving a bus in Columbus and hasn't recorded in more than 20 years. He eagerly tries to persuade Dupre to guest on his radio show and finally succeeds when he assures Eddie that a fee is involved. When Dupre visits the Keatons to meet Alex prior to the show, he charms them with his stories and his talent. But he confesses that he has no money to show for all his years in the music business and swears he will never perform again in public. Later, on Alex's program, he answers call-in questions from fans, one of whom is a Leland College music professor who extend
Director: Matthew Diamond
Writer: N/A
7.8/10139 votesLoading...#18 - Don't Go Changin'
Season 4 Episode 5 - Aired 10/30/1985
Alex does some fancy footwork on the dance floor to impress Ellen when he thinks he is losing her because of their divergent interests. Alex feels he has to compete with Ellen's artsy friends for her attention and attempts to change himself to fit into her world.
Director: Asaad Kelada
Writer: N/A
7.8/10177 votesLoading...#19 - My Tutor
Season 4 Episode 7 - Aired 11/13/1985
Alex hires a tutor to help him with math, but his ""teacher"" turns out to be a 13-year-old genius who suddenly becomes more interested in Jennifer than in helping Alex. When Eugene, Alex's tutor, meets Jennifer he loses his concentration and Alex comes up with a scheme that will benefit both him and Eugene.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.7/10247 votesLoading...#20 - The Fugitive (1)
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 1/19/1983
Elyse's younger brother and Alex's idol, Ned, makes a surprise visit. However, everyone is puzzled by the go-getter corporate executive's suspicious behavior.
Director: Will Mackenzie
Writer: Michael J. Weithorn
7.7/10236 votesLoading...#21 - The Fugitive (2)
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 1/26/1983
With the FBI hot on Ned's heels for embezzling 4.5 million dollars in corporate funds, Elyse's ethical brother and Alex's idol tells the family why and where he hid the money.
Director: Will Mackenzie
Writer: Michael J. Weithorn
7.7/10176 votesLoading...#22 - Not An Affair to Remember
Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 11/2/1983
Steven's assistant at the station is bright, talented, funny, witty...and in love with him. And it looks like Steven may be returning her affections. It becomes obvious that Steven's assistant, Stacey Hughes, is very much attracted to him. And after a rough evening at home, as brief fling begins to look better and better to him.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.7/10137 votesLoading...#23 - Remembrances of Things Past (1)
Season 3 Episode 23 - Aired 3/27/1985
Steven takes a nostalgic trip to his hometown following the death of his father and, with the support of Elyse and the children, tries to prepare his mother for her new life in a special two-part episode. Good and bad memories of Steven's childhood (including flashbacks to his boyhood) are stirred up as he sorts thru family photos and heirlooms. But an on-going rivalry with his older brother Robert, and the unsettled feelings he has about his dad make it a difficult period of adjustment for everyone.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.7/10117 votesLoading...#24 - Teacher's Pet
Season 4 Episode 21 - Aired 3/2/1986
Alex lands a teaching-assistant position and runs into big trouble when he has to grade a student who also happens to be his girlfriend, Ellen. When Ellen is assigned to Alex's economics class, he has trouble treating her as just another student, and ends up causing a strain on their relationship.
Director: John Pasquin
Writer: N/A
7.7/10114 votesLoading...#25 - Mrs. Wrong (1)
Season 5 Episode 6 - Aired 11/5/1986
Nick and Mallory make sudden plans to elope when Steven and Elyse vehemently oppose their marriage plans and threaten to ground their teenaged daughter. During a quiet evening together, Mallory pops the ""big question"" to Nick. They are ecstatic until they learn that the entire Keaton family is solidly against the idea.
Director: Asaad Kelada
Writer: N/A
The Best Episodes of Family Ties
Every episode of Family Ties ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Family Ties!
Former 1960s flower children Steven and Elyse Keaton raise their conservative son Alex, daughters Mallory and Jennifer, and later, youngest child Andrew.
Genres:ComedyDramaFamily
Network:NBC
Best Episodes Summary
"A, My Name is Alex (1)" is the best rated episode of "Family Ties". It scored 9/10 based on 366 votes. Directed by Will Mackenzie and written by N/A, it aired on 3/11/1987. This episode scored 0.3 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Real Thing (2)".