FindStreamz
Family Ties poster

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.

See where to watch

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, AppleTV, and Fandango at Home. Use the direct links below to open the provider.

Stream

Paramount+HDWatch nowParamount+ (Via Amazon Prime)SDWatch nowParamount+ (Via Apple TV)HDWatch now

Watch free

Pluto TVWatch now

Buy

AmazonSDView offerAppleTVSDView offerFandango at HomeSDView offer

Availability and prices can change. Confirm the details on the streaming service before you subscribe, rent or buy.

Synopsis

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

Cast, crew and production details

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 Reed

Credits

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

Season 3 episodes

Watch options above are for the show and may vary by season or episode.

← Season 2

Episode 1

The Gambler

25m7.0 / 10

Elyse is stricken with gambling fever on a business trip to Atlantic City, and while on a roll with Alex's "foolproof" blackjack system, she's oblivious to her family and job. Excited at the prospect of having his system put to the test, Alex urges his folks to "go for the gold", but Elyse insists her trip is strictly business. Finally, she's persuaded to try her hand at blackjack. Swept away on a seemingly endless winning streak, Elyse doesn't show up at the architects' convention, ignores her family's needs and casts all financial caution to the wind.

Directed by Will MackenzieWritten by Michael J. WeithornGuest stars Arthur Taxier, Seth Jaffe, Charles Walker

Where to watch Family Ties

Episode 2

Here We Go Again

24m7.0 / 10

The news that their mother is pregnant sends the three Keaton kids into an angry outburst resulting in a family battle. The children react with panic and outrage at the though of having a baby around, and the Keaton household is in turmoil while Elyse tries to make them see the brighter side of the situation.

Guest stars Marc Price

Where to watch Family Ties

Episode 3

Little Man on Campus

25m8.0 / 10

Alex is thrilled to be taking a college course taught by one of his personal heroes, Professor Ephraim Bronski, but in his eagerness to impress the teacher he gets off to a bad start and is humiliated by his idol when he fails the first class assignment.

Directed by John PasquinWritten by Michael J. WeithornGuest stars Timothy Busfield, Michael McGuire

Where to watch Family Ties

Episode 4

Love Thy Neighbor

25m7.0 / 10

Little Jennifer is thrilled about a visit from Scott, a former neighborhood pal she hasn't seen in five years, but her happiness at the reunion is shattered when he ignores her in favor of her older sister, Mallory. To win Scott's attention, Jennifer dresses up in a flirtatious outfit and goes to the restaurant where he is having dinner with Mallory.

Directed by Will MackenzieWritten by Michael J. Weithorn, Rich Reinhart, Alan UgerGuest stars Matthew Barry, Richard Morof

Where to watch Family Ties

Episode 5

Keaton and Son

24m

Alex reluctantly accepts a part-time job with his father at the non-profit station, and his dad is bursting with pride to have him following in his footsteps, but Alex feels his talents are being wasted. Steven is excited to have Alex working with him and begins planning their future together, but Alex tries to convince his dad that he has other goals.

Directed by Will MackenzieWritten by Lissa LevinGuest stars Marsha Warfield, Frances Bay, Warren Munson, Sal Viscuso

Where to watch Family Ties

Episode 6

Fabric Smarts

25m7.0 / 10

Mallory's enthusiasm for her part-time job at a boutique causes her school grades to slip even lower than usual and Steven and Elyse agree that she must quit work, but Alex comes up with a proposal that could resolve the situation. Alex has his own reasons for wanting Mallory to keep her job, it keeps her away from the house, so he initiates a plan that will allow her to work and improve her grades at the same time.

Directed by Will MackenzieGuest stars Doris Belack, Marc Price, Alison La Placa, Bunny Summers

Where to watch Family Ties

Episode 7

Hotline Fever

24m8.0 / 10

Alex is teamed with long-time rival James Jarrett and assigned to work at a ""hotline"" crisis center to fulfill a course requirement, and the two end up in a crisis of their own when they get a call from a suicidal student. As an economics student, Alex finds it demeaning to be forced into a public service position, but his experiences at the crisis center gives him a new outlook on life.

Directed by John PasquinWritten by Marc LawrenceGuest stars Jeffrey Joseph, Jane Alden, Sam Whipple

Where to watch Family Ties

Episode 8

4 Rms Ocn Vu

25m9.0 / 10

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.

Directed by Lee Shallat ChemelWritten by Marc LawrenceGuest stars Jeff Cohen, Sam Whipple, Marc Price, Beverly Archer, Shawn Schepps, Earl Boen, Marcianne Warman, Robert Schanche

Where to watch Family Ties

Episode 9

Best Man

25m7.0 / 10

When his best friend, Doug, meets and falls in love with Eleanor, and decides to marry her, Alex resents the fact that someone has come between their friendship and refuses to be in the wedding. Alex cannot accept the fact that he and everyone around him are growing up, and desperately clings to his old ways.

Directed by John PasquinGuest stars Tate Donovan, Timothy Busfield, Michael Zorek, Billy Campbell, Toni Gerry, Ernest Harada, Lily Mariye

Where to watch Family Ties

Episode 10

Lost Weekend

25m

Steven and Elyse plan a nostalgic weekend with the kids before the baby arrives, and are crushed to discover that the children are not at all interested in reminiscing about old times, they'd rather be with their friends. Elyse's camping trip with Mallory and Jennifer is cut short when she realizes that the girls are bored to death, while Steven's plans to spend time with Alex at home are crushed when his son leaves on a date.

Directed by Will MackenzieWritten by Michael J. WeithornGuest stars Marc Price

Where to watch Family Ties

Episode 11

Don't Kiss Me, I'm Only the Messenger

24m8.0 / 10

Alex plays Cupid to help his shy pal Skippy get together with Jane, the girl of his dreams, but his good intentions goes awry when the girl falls for him instead. When Skippy and Mallory find Alex locked in a passionate embrace with Jane, Skippy accuses him of stealing his girl.

Directed by Will MackenzieGuest stars Marc Price, Michelle Meyrink

Where to watch Family Ties

Episode 12

Help Wanted

25m8.0 / 10

Because of Elyse's pregnancy, the family decides to get a housekeeper, so Alex hires the lovely Karen Nicholson, a totally incompetent young lady whom the family immediately adores but Steven insists she must be fired. Despite the fact that Karen has no domestic skills and is rapidly destroying every appliance in the house, the kids love her and Steven has a difficult time trying to fire her.

Directed by Will MackenzieWritten by Michael J. WeithornGuest stars Geena Davis, Robert Costanzo, Anne Ramsey

Where to watch Family Ties

Episode 13

Karen II, Alex 0

25m

Alex's chances or acceptance into a smug college fraternity are dependent upon his having a knockout date for the pledge dance and when the girl cancels he pleads with Karen, the housekeeper, to accompany him but his problems are far from resolved when they arrive at the dance. Karen reluctantly agrees to be Alex's date, but does not tell him why she is so hesitant to go.

Directed by Lee Shallat ChemelWritten by Michael J. Weithorn, Lloyd GarverGuest stars Geena Davis, Barry Sobel, Marc Price, Robert Pine, Christopher Rydell, Rick Gibbs

Where to watch Family Ties

Episode 14

Oh Donna

25m

Alex becomes involved with Donna, a young, unwed expectant mother from Elyse's natural-childbirth class but his interest in her becomes an obsession when he starts planning for her child's future and acting as if they were a real family. Donna is flattered by Alex's concern for her and her unborn baby, but soon begins to realize that he is becoming a little bit too helpful.

Directed by Will MackenzieGuest stars David Paymer, Jack Blessing, Isabelle Walker, Mary Farrell, Julie Fulton, Karlene Crockett

Where to watch Family Ties

Episode 15

Auntie Up

25m

Mallory is crushed when her favorite aunt dies suddenly, but her feelings of sadness turns to anger when family and friends at the funeral seem to be taking Aunt Trudy's death too lightly. Mallory feels that she has lost her best friend, and is shocked that no one else seems to share her grief.

Directed by John PasquinWritten by Lawrence H. LevyGuest stars Edith Atwater, Marc Price, Matthew Faison, Richard Stahl, Enid Kent, John Petlock, Bernadette Birkett, Alan Blumenfeld

Where to watch Family Ties

Episode 16

Philadelphia Story

25m

The Keaton family is transported back in time when Alex dreams he is at the Constitutional Convention at 1776, but history is off track. Steven Keaton is Thomas Jefferson and has just turned down John Adams' request to write the Declaration of Independence, so it's up to Alex to convince him to do it. Alex falls asleep while working on a college term paper on Thomas Jefferson and dreams that his family and friends are living 200 years ago.

Directed by Will MackenzieWritten by Michael J. WeithornGuest stars James Cromwell, Marc Price, Ben Piazza

Where to watch Family Ties

Episode 17

Birth of a Keaton (1)

25m

To help Steven during pledge week at his TV station, the Keatons reluctantly agree to be a part of the entertainment, but the audience gets an unexpected show when Elyse goes into labor right on camera while in the middle of a song. Elyse realizes that the baby is on the way. she and the kids begin to panic when they realize that Steven had to rush home to fix a plumbing problem and is now trapped there by a snowstorm. His TV set shows him what's happening at the station.

Directed by Will MackenzieWritten by Lloyd GarverGuest stars Bruce Jarchow, Chez Lister, Rick Podell, John Hancock, Fran Robinson, Ron Karabatsos

Where to watch Family Ties

Episode 18

Birth of a Keaton (2)

24m

Still trapped at the television station, Elyse realizes she cannot make it thru the snowstorm to the hospital and prepares to gibe birth in Steven's office. Meanwhile, stuck at home by the same storm, Steven enlists the help of Bud the plumber and his truck, and heads for the hospital, thinking Elyse will be there. Elyse makes a plea on camera to Steven, wherever he is, to come to the station, so Steven, the doctor, the plumber and Skippy all frantically head for WKS, hoping they arrive in time for the birth.

Directed by Will MackenzieWritten by Marc LawrenceGuest stars Marc Price, William Cort, Rick Podell, John Hancock, Ron Karabatsos, Melanie Jones, Shirley Prestia

Where to watch Family Ties

Episode 19

Cry Baby

25m

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.

Directed by Sam WeismanGuest stars Garrett Merriman, Tyler Merriman

Where to watch Family Ties

Episode 20

Don't Know Much About History...

25m

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.

Guest stars Nancy Everhard, Jeffrey Joseph, Garrett Merriman, Tyler Merriman, David Wohl, Wyatt Knight, Robert Schanche

Where to watch Family Ties

Episode 21

Bringing Up Baby

25m

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.

Guest stars Kurt Smildsin, Steven Peterman, Radha Delamarter

Where to watch Family Ties

Episode 22

Cold Storage

25m

With the rest of the family away for the weekend, Mallory is excited about having the house to herself until she is accidentally locked in the basement with the person she'd least like to be with her adoring neighbor, Skippy. The mismatched pair do, however, come up with a unique way to keep warm and share some tender moments while waiting for their rescue.

Directed by Lee Shallat ChemelGuest stars David Paymer, Jack Blessing, Marc Price, Julie Fulton, Karlene Crockett

Where to watch Family Ties

Episode 23

Remembrances of Things Past

45mFinale

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.

Guest stars Anne Seymour, Maryedith Burrell, Adam Carl, Norman Parker, Michael Alldredge, Mark Marias, Hanna Landy, Wiley Harker

Where to watch Family Ties

Episode information updated Jul 22, 2026

You may also like

More shows like Family Ties.

The Simpsons posterAvailable now

The Simpsons

TV series · 1989★ 8.0

Shared themes

King of the Hill posterAvailable now

King of the Hill

TV series · 1997★ 7.4

Shared themes

The Cosby Show posterAvailable now

The Cosby Show

TV series · 1984★ 7.0

Similar story and audience

A Different World posterAvailable now

A Different World

TV series · 1987★ 7.1

Similar story and audience

Family Matters posterAvailable now

Family Matters

TV series · 1989★ 6.7

Similar story and audience

The Hogan Family poster

The Hogan Family

TV series · 1986★ 6.8

Similar story and audience

Privacy choices

Required

Remembers your country and helps keep the site reliable and secure.

Always on

Details are in our cookie policy.