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The Worst Episodes of Family Ties

Every episode of Family Ties ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Family Ties!

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Former 1960s flower children Steven and Elyse Keaton raise their conservative son Alex, daughters Mallory and Jennifer, and later, youngest child Andrew.

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  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Family Ties Season 7 Episode 21 - Rain Forests Keep Falling on My Head
    5.3/10(144 votes)

    #1 - Rain Forests Keep Falling on My Head

    S7:E21

    Jennifer becomes obsessed with the environment after she begins studying the earth's ecological evils. As Alex presents Andrew with a pet parakeet, Jennifer arrives home with news that her science class has begun studying global ecology to explore how the earth is endangered by man's interference. Upset that the world is being destroyed for profit, Jennifer begins trying to make the family more ecologically aware as she laments the destruction of rain forests in Brazil and the ozone layer over the South Pole. While Mallory teaches the parakeet anti-Republican phrases, Jennifer becomes more and more obsessed. When she realizes how many toxic chemicals are in the Keaton home alone, she demands that the family throw out a bunch of household products and shop for safe alternatives. Not stopping there, however, she begins dwelling on the enormity of the world's environmental problems and becomes psychologically overwhelmed. Fixating on such evils as acid rain and radon gas, Jennifer sinks i

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Family Ties Season 1 Episode 19 - Suzanne Takes You Down
    6.2/10(177 votes)

    #2 - Suzanne Takes You Down

    S1:E19

    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:Unknown

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  3. Family Ties Season 6 Episode 17 - The Spirit of Columbus
    6.3/10(111 votes)

    #3 - The Spirit of Columbus

    S6:E17

    Alex is more than a little sceptical when Nick enters his sculpture "Spirit of Columbus", priced at $200, in an art show at the mall. but when Nick returns with the money and the news that he had several buyers vying for the piece, Alex decides that Nick is completely unaware of the marketability of his work. Appalled that Nick let potential buyers go away empty-handed, he insists that Nick increase the supply to meet the demand and steps in as Nick's manager for a hefty commission.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Family Ties Season 6 Episode 26 - Father, Can You Spare a Dime?
    6.3/10(107 votes)

    #4 - Father, Can You Spare a Dime?

    S6:E26

    Nick again demonstrates his flair for teaching art by conducting a class at the "Y" for children, including Andrew. So popular is the class, in fact, that when the "Y" needs the classroom space back for another program, the kids and their enthusiastic parents are very disappointed. Mallory tells the family that Nick would really like to open up his own art school, and Alex escorts Nick to the bank to help him get a loan.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Family Ties Season 1 Episode 22 - Elyse D'Arc
    6.4/10(163 votes)

    #5 - Elyse D'Arc

    S1:E22

    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

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  6. Family Ties Season 2 Episode 13 - "M" is for the Many Things
    6.5/10(152 votes)

    #6 - "M" is for the Many Things

    S2:E13

    Elyse is chocked by her soon-to-be-divorced mother's quick and free-spirited plunge into the singles world, and sparks fly between the two women when Elyse can't help but interfere.

    Director:Will Mackenzie
    Writer:Lisa A. Bannick

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  7. Family Ties Season 2 Episode 21 - Diary of a Young Girl
    6.5/10(152 votes)

    #7 - Diary of a Young Girl

    S2:E21

    In the hospital awaiting a tonsillectomy, Jennifer fears she may never see her family again and, while writing in her diary, she flashes back to regrettable incidents with each family member. Jennifer conjures up memories of the time she deliberately ruined Mallory's date with a boy, and also recalls an incident when her stubborn refusal to rehearse a play with Alex caused him to lose out on the lead.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Family Ties Season 3 Episode 21 - Bringing Up Baby
    6.5/10(127 votes)

    #8 - Bringing Up Baby

    S3:E21

    With two careers, three bickering children and one demanding baby, Steven and Elyse can't seem to find any time for each other. But when they do finally take the time for a quiet evening alone, they miss all the chaos.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Family Ties Season 6 Episode 15 - Miracle in Columbus
    6.5/10(109 votes)

    #9 - Miracle in Columbus

    S6:E15

    The Christmas spirit has come to the Keaton house, where the family is busy baking Christmas cookies when Skippy stops by to ask a favor. He wants Alex to pinch-hit for him as Santa at the mall, and Alex agrees after hearing about the excellent hourly wage. With Mallory and Jennifer along as his wall-paid elves, ""Santa"" Alex dispenses stock tips and financial advice to long lines of children. Besieged by kids with elaborate Christmas lists, Alex is surprised when he's approached by a sad-looking little girl who insists she doesn't want anything for Christmas and doesn't believe in Santa Claus. Her mother explains that seven-year-old Michelle is very depressed that her father, a traveling salesman who is struggling to make a living, won't be home for the holiday.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Family Ties Season 6 Episode 18 - The Blues Brother
    6.5/10(111 votes)

    #10 - The Blues Brother

    S6:E18

    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.

    Director:Matthew Diamond
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Family Ties Season 7 Episode 13 - The Wrecker's Ball
    6.5/10(113 votes)

    #11 - The Wrecker's Ball

    S7:E13

    When the first building Elyse designed faces the wrecking ball, the entire family rallies behind her attempts to block the demolition. Elyse is heartbroken when she learns that her very first professional design project, the Cavanaugh Building, is about to be torn down to make way for a mini-mall. Disconcerted by the news, Elyse becomes more and more upset as she starts reminiscing about her early career and how much the Cavanaugh Building meant to her.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Family Ties Season 2 Episode 22 - Working At It
    6.6/10(149 votes)

    #12 - Working At It

    S2:E22

    When Elyse lands a job with a top architectural firm, the load begins to get to her at work and at home. Elyse feels the need to expand her horizons. She lands a job at one of the major architectural firms in the city. But twelve years of not working in an office have put her behind the times. When she becomes over-worked, she starts to neglect her family and the major presentation to the president of the company is jeopardized.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Family Ties Season 3 Episode 19 - Cry Baby
    6.6/10(138 votes)

    #13 - Cry Baby

    S3:E19

    The Keaton family adjusts to life with the new baby but while everyone caters to the new arrival, Jennifer struggles with jealous feelings about not being the baby of the family anymore. When Steven and Elyse realize that Jennifer feels left out, they overcompensate by trying too hard to make her feel loved.

    Director:Sam Weisman
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Family Ties Season 4 Episode 18 - A Word to the Wise
    6.6/10(124 votes)

    #14 - A Word to the Wise

    S4:E18

    The Keaton family fills in his girlfriend, Ellen, on some of the more humorous events in Alex's life before they met in this special one-hour episode. Flashbacks to previous episodes include some highlights from the series' past shows. Alex and Ellen celebrate their six-month anniversary as boyfriend and girlfriend, and the family think it's time for Ellen to know the truth about Alex.

    Director:Will Mackenzie
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Family Ties Season 5 Episode 19 - Battle of the Sexes
    6.6/10(106 votes)

    #15 - Battle of the Sexes

    S5:E19

    When Alex plays "gentleman" to his mother and two sisters and orders for them at a restaurant without even asking them what they want, the battle begins with Elyse, Mallory and Jennifer on one side, and Steven, Alex and Andrew on the other.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Family Ties Season 5 Episode 20 - Band on the Run
    6.6/10(104 votes)

    #16 - Band on the Run

    S5:E20

    As chairman of the entertainment committee for the Leland College 10th reunion, Alex has big plans, which include hiring some great bands to impress attending alumni in the music business. Jennifer finally talks a very skeptical Alex into letting her new all-girl band, The Permanent Waves, audition for the affair. At the audition, Alex is thrilled with the unexciting Polka Boys, but his fellow committee members are left cold until they hear The Permanent Waves. They are so good, in fact, that even Alex is impressed and not only books the group but convinces them to sign with him as manager.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Family Ties Season 5 Episode 21 - Keaton vs. Keaton
    6.6/10(155 votes)

    #17 - Keaton vs. Keaton

    S5:E21

    Brother and sister go head-to-head when Steven announces a scholarship competition sponsored by his station, WKS. A confident Alex scoffs as the family encourages a reluctant Mallory to enter the competition. In spite of Alex's arrogant comments, Mallory prepares her fashion presentation for the competition and realizes that no matter what he says, she really wants to try. Alex discovers that he may have grossly misjudged his sister's business acumen as well as her sense of fashion. When the winner is announced, Alex and Mallory react to the news in a way that surprises even themselves. Andy loses his favorite toy, Mr. Pig, causing Nick and Skippy to begin a topsy-turvy search of the household to comfort the devastated three-year-old. After their attempt to pass off a newly-bought imposter, Mr. Pig re-surfaces in a most unusual spot.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Family Ties Season 6 Episode 24 - Sign of the Times
    6.6/10(117 votes)

    #18 - Sign of the Times

    S6:E24

    While Alex prepares little Andrew's resume for future kindergarten elections, Elyse proudly tells the family that Andy has been chosen as "Buddy for the Day" at school, which means he will be responsible for showing a new classmate around. The new student, Josh Richards, turns out to be deaf. Accompanied by his mother, Josh is introduced to Andy by Andy's teacher, who explains that although Josh can't hear, he can speak by signing with his hands. Tentative at first, Andy leads Josh off to "show him the ropes", telling his curious classmates about Josh's deafness and his ability to sign.

    Director:Asaad Kelada
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Family Ties Season 7 Episode 4 - Beyond Therapy
    6.6/10(116 votes)

    #19 - Beyond Therapy

    S7:E4

    In an attempt to get Alex to open up emotionally, Lauren persuades him to join a therapy group. Returning from a date, Alex and Lauren arrive at the Keaton home and finish a fight they began in the car. Lauren resents the fact that Alex has dragged her to a boring economics department function and accuses him of avoiding any conversation which becomes personal.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Family Ties Season 7 Episode 15 - 'Til Her Daddy Takes the T-Bird Away
    6.6/10(113 votes)

    #20 - 'Til Her Daddy Takes the T-Bird Away

    S7:E15

    Mallory's plans to buy a car are stalled when Steven refuses to co-sign her loan. As Jennifer labors over a play she's writing on the final days of the Nixon presidency, Steven anxiously waits for Mallory to return home with his car. When she arrives late and is chided by her impatient dad, Mallory suggests that perhaps it's time she bought a car of her own.

    Director:Matthew Diamond
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Family Ties Season 7 Episode 23 - Mr. Keaton Takes a Vacation
    6.6/10(88 votes)

    #21 - Mr. Keaton Takes a Vacation

    S7:E23

    Steven must confront his true feelings about Mallory's boyfriend when Nick moves in with the family for a week. While Elyse struggles to do the family taxes and Steven buries himself in his Tolstoy documentary, Mallory asks her parents if Nick can stay with the Keatons for a week while his house is being painted. Although Elyse gives in to Mallory's pleas, she warns her that Nick must be made to understand that Steven is very busy and should stay out of his way. During the first night of Nick's stay, protective papa Steven parks himself in a chair on the stair landing to prevent any hanky-panky between the couple. When Mallory wakes Nick up early the next morning to cook breakfast for the whole family, Steven arises with a start and runs into the kitchen, demanding an explanation for their whispers and giggling. When they explain about breakfast, Steven becomes embarrassed and pretends to be sleepwalking!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Family Ties Season 1 Episode 3 - I Know Jennifer's Boyfriend
    6.7/10(232 votes)

    #22 - I Know Jennifer's Boyfriend

    S1:E3

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

    Director:Michael Zinberg
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Family Ties Season 1 Episode 18 - I Gotta Be Ming
    6.7/10(194 votes)

    #23 - I Gotta Be Ming

    S1:E18

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Family Ties Season 2 Episode 18 - Lady Sings the Blues
    6.7/10(161 votes)

    #24 - Lady Sings the Blues

    S2:E18

    Excited at the prospect of reviving her folk-singing career at a local niteclub, Elyse faces the skepticism of Alex and Mallory and an audience unattuned to the songs of the sixties.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Michael J. Weithorn

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  25. Family Ties Season 3 Episode 20 - Don't Know Much About History...
    6.7/10(134 votes)

    #25 - Don't Know Much About History...

    S3:E20

    Alex and his good friend James go into business together as tutors for their fellow students at Leland. However, their competitiveness threatens to undermine their business let alone their friendship particularly when one of their students turns out to be a very attractive young lady.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Rain Forests Keep Falling on My Head" is the worst rated episode of "Family Ties". It scored 5.3/10 based on 144 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 4/16/1989. This episode scored 0.9 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Suzanne Takes You Down".