Episode 1
Pilot
24m9.0 / 10
Alex escorts a pretty socialite to a dance at her country club.
Episode credits
Directed by Asaad KeladaGuest stars Toni Sawyer, Cindy Fisher, John Petlock, Maurice Marsac
TV series
Family Ties
1982TV-PG7 seasons7.2 / 10
Laughter. Tears. Politics... MEET THE KEATONS.
Former 1960s flower children Steven and Elyse Keaton raise their conservative son Alex, daughters Mallory and Jennifer, and later, youngest child Andrew.
Streaming, rental and purchase options
Where to watch in United States
Checked Jul 22, 2026
Family Ties is available to stream on Paramount+, Paramount+ (Via Amazon Prime), Paramount+ (Via Apple TV), and Pluto TV in United States. You can also buy it from Amazon, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home. Use the direct links below to open the provider.
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Synopsis
Former 1960s flower children Steven and Elyse Keaton raise their conservative son Alex, daughters Mallory and Jennifer, and later, youngest child Andrew.
Season 1 episodes
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Where to watch Family Ties
Episode 2
Not With My Sister You Don't
25m
Alex heads the household when Elyse and Steven go away for the weekend.
Episode credits
Directed by Tony MordenteWritten by Lloyd GarverGuest stars Betsy Russell, Lee Montgomery, Jay Tarses, Brooke Alderson
Episode 3
I Know Jennifer's Boyfriend
24m
Jennifer gets picked on when she befriends a boy at school.
Episode credits
Directed by Michael ZinbergGuest stars Jeremy Schoenberg
Episode 4
Summer of '82
25m
Seduced by an "older woman" of twenty-one, the hitherto inexperienced Alex is devastated to learn that she thinks of their relationship as casual.
Episode credits
Directed by Tony MordenteWritten by Michael J. WeithornGuest stars Amy Steel, John Putch
Episode 5
I Never Killed for My Father
25m
A visit from Steven's father evokes confrontation between the two.
Episode credits
Directed by Dick MartinGuest stars John Randolph
Episode 6
Give Your Uncle A Kiss
25m
Mallory is horrified and confused when a close family friend and older business associate of her father's makes a pass at her.
Episode credits
Directed by Will MackenzieWritten by Lloyd GarverGuest stars Sal Viscuso, David Spielberg
Episode 7
Big Brother Is Watching
25m7.0 / 10
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.
Episode credits
Directed by Alan BergmannWritten by Ruth BennettGuest stars Philip Sterling, Andrew J. Lederer
Episode 8
No Nukes Is Good Nukes
24m7.0 / 10
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.
Episode credits
Directed by Frank BonnerWritten by Ruth BennettGuest stars Priscilla Morrill, Larry Hankin, Dick Sargent, Jack O'Leary, Nancy Lenehan
Episode 9
Death Of A Grocer
25m7.0 / 10
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.
Episode credits
Directed by Will MackenzieWritten by Michael J. WeithornGuest stars Marc Price, Jack Somack, Randy Lowell, Alan Haufrect, William G. Schilling, Ann Nelson
Episode 10
Have Gun, Will Unravel
25m7.0 / 10
The Keatons consider buying a gun for protection after getting burglarized.
Episode credits
Directed by Alan BergmannGuest stars Jack Riley, Mary Jackson, Pat McNamara, Enid Kent
Episode 11
A Christmas Story
25m7.0 / 10
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.
Episode credits
Directed by Will MackenzieGuest stars Chris Hebert, Peter Jurasik, Mari Gorman, Bruce French, Charles Levin, Bridgette Andersen
Episode 12
Oops
25m
Mallory resents Elyse for the advice she gives her pregnant friend.
Episode credits
Directed by Tony MordenteGuest stars Julie Payne, Cristen Kauffman
Episode 13
Sherry Baby
25m
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.
Episode credits
Directed by Dick MartinWritten by Barbara HallGuest stars Marc Price, Lisa Lucas, Robin Evans
Episode 14
The Fugitive (1)
25m
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.
Episode credits
Directed by Will MackenzieWritten by Michael J. WeithornGuest stars Tom Hanks, Richard Venture
Episode 15
The Fugitive (2)
24m
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.
Episode credits
Directed by Will MackenzieWritten by Michael J. WeithornGuest stars Tom Hanks, Richard Venture, Earl Boen, Woody Eney, Eda Reiss Merin
Episode 16
Margin Of Error
25m
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.
Episode credits
Directed by Tony MordenteWritten by Michael RussnowGuest stars Anne Haney, Philip Charles MacKenzie
Episode 17
French Lessons
25m
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.
Episode credits
Directed by Tony MordenteGuest stars John Dukakis, Zeke Zacarro
Episode 18
I Gotta Be Ming
25m
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.
Episode credits
Guest stars Gene Akutagawa, Irene Yah-Ling Sun
Episode 19
Suzanne Takes You Down
25m
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.
Episode credits
Directed by Will MackenzieGuest stars Terry Wills, Jay Tarses, Brooke Alderson
Episode 20
The Fifth Wheel
25m
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.
Episode credits
Written by Michael J. WeithornGuest stars Grant Heslov, Moosie Drier, John Dukakis, Michael Spound, Bob O'Donnell
Episode 21
Stage Fright (a.k.a. Video Jitters)
25m
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.
Episode credits
Directed by Sam WeismanWritten by Michael J. WeithornGuest stars Deborah Foreman, Carlos Lacámara, Margaret Fitzgerald, Kerry Noonan, John Gallogly, Jeff Shelby, Charles Douglass, Michael B. Moynahan
Episode 22
Elyse D'Arc
25mfinale
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.
Episode credits
Directed by Michael ZinbergWritten by Michael J. WeithornGuest stars Belita Moreno, Enid Kent
Episode information updated Jul 23, 2026
More about Family Ties
Cast
Meredith BaxterElyse Keaton
Michael GrossSteven Keaton
Michael J. FoxAlex P. Keaton
Justine BatemanMallory Keaton
Tina YothersJennifer Keaton
Brian BonsallAndy Keaton
Scott ValentineNick Moore
Tracy PollanEllen ReedCredits
- Created by
- Gary David Goldberg
- Written by
- Gary David Goldberg, Alan Uger, Michael J. Weithorn, Marc Lawrence, Lloyd Garver, Katie Ford, Ruth Bennett, Jurgen Wolff, Lissa Levin, Lisa A. Bannick
Production details
- Status
- Ended
- Series type
- Scripted
- Episodes
- 168
- Original language
- English
Networks & production
NBCUnited States- Ubu Productions
Paramount TelevisionUnited States
NBC StudiosUnited States
Themes
columbus, ohioconservatismdemocratfamilyliberalismsexual liberationsitcomus republican party
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