The Best Episodes of Family Ties Season 1

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

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

Seduced by an "older woman" of twenty-one, the hitherto inexperienced Alex is devastated to learn that she thinks of their relationship as casual.

Director: Tony Mordente

Writer: Michael J. Weithorn

Mallory is horrified and confused when a close family friend and older business associate of her father's makes a pass at her.

Director: Will Mackenzie

Writer: Lloyd Garver

While gearing up to face the TV cameras as captain of his high school's team on "Quiz Off," Alex panics at first when a teammate drops out. He then launches a major tutoring program for his sister Mallory.

Director: Sam Weisman

Writer: Michael J. Weithorn

A visit from Steven's father evokes confrontation between the two.

Director: Dick Martin

Writer: N/A

Though Alex loves working at Mr. Adler's "Mom and Pop" grocery store, to the old man's dismay, he quits to "climb the corporate ladder" at an ultramodern supermarket.

Director: Will Mackenzie

Writer: Michael J. Weithorn

Alex amasses a bundle by playing the stock market on paper for his economics class, and courts disaster by secretly investing his father's money.

Director: Tony Mordente

Writer: Michael Russnow

Alex heads the household when Elyse and Steven go away for the weekend.

Director: Tony Mordente

Writer: Lloyd Garver

As the new editor of his school paper, Alex uncovers a cheating scandal and to everyone's chagrin, prints a list of students who were caught including Mallory.

Director: Alan Bergmann

Writer: Ruth Bennett

When popular sorority girl Sherry Marshall befriends Mallory to get close to Alex, Mallory brings them together in hopes of joining Pi Nu but her plan backfires.

Director: Dick Martin

Writer: Barbara Hall

Alex escorts a pretty socialite to a dance at her country club.

Director: Asaad Kelada

Writer: N/A

Alex gets stuck babysitting for his little sister Jennifer, who is fed up with feeling in the way at his poker game and decides to disappear.

Director: N/A

Writer: Michael J. Weithorn

To the dismay of the Keaton children and their equally conservative grandparents, Steven and Elyse take time out Thanksgiving Day to attend an anti-nuke rally-and end up spending the holiday in jail.

Director: Frank Bonner

Writer: Ruth Bennett

Mallory resents Elyse for the advice she gives her pregnant friend.

Director: Tony Mordente

Writer: N/A

Mallory's handsome but shy French tutor, Jeff, finally musters up the nerve to ask her out and then courts disaster by enlistening Alex's advice on how to behave on the date.

Director: Tony Mordente

Writer: N/A

The Keatons consider buying a gun for protection after getting burglarized.

Director: Alan Bergmann

Writer: N/A

When a blizzard forces the Keatons to spend Christmas at home, Elyse's gift to Steven, an album filled with fascinating old photos, sparks flashbacks to the birth of their three children.

Director: Will Mackenzie

Writer: N/A

Jennifer gets picked on when she befriends a boy at school.

Director: Michael Zinberg

Writer: N/A

As ""Big Brother"" to a 10-year-old Vietnamese boy, Alex tries to mold Ming into his own image, and he learns an unforgettable lesson when he breaks a promise to the adoring child.

Director: N/A

Writer: N/A

In her zeal for good causes Elyse devotes so much energy to committee work that a neglected Steven feels shortchanged. Ecstatic to have won an award for his public television documentary, Steven arrives home eager to celebrate, but every effort is foiled by Elyse's obligations to her various projects. Finally, the over-extended wife-mother-architect-committee volunteer begins to realize she's neglecting her most important committee.

Director: Michael Zinberg

Writer: Michael J. Weithorn

Soon after free lance architect Elyse Keaton hires her friend Suzanne Davis to handle clerical chores, she wants to fire the under-qualified, overly aggressive secretary, but Suzanne's marriage breaks up, making the new job her only salvation. After 20 years as a housewife, Suzanne feels she lacks an identity outside the home. Swamped with paperwork, Elyse decides to solve that problem while easing her friend's mid-life crisis. Unfortunately Suzanne's take-charge approach to business throws a wrench into Elyse's client dealings and threatens to ruin the women's friendship. On the brink of firing Suzanne, the frustrated Elyse faces a terrible dilemma when Ron Davis decides he ""needs space"" and leaves his wife.

Director: Will Mackenzie

Writer: N/A