Family Ties premiered on 22 September, 1982. The pilot was written by series creator Gary David Goldberg and introduced us to the Keaton family. There’s patriarch, a former hippie, who manages a public television station Steven (Michael Gross), fellow hippie, and architect, Elyse (Meredith Baxter), son, and young Republican, Alex (Micheal J. Fox), popular but not so clever Mallory (Justine Bateman) and the precocious and sports-loving Jennifer (Tina Yothers).

In the pilot, Alex is able to score a date with Kimberly (Cindy Fisher), but when Steven learns that it’s a restricted elitist country club he and Alex clash over beliefs, rights, and more. Alex just wants to go to a party without caring what the club and Kimberly are all about. But all of that is exacerbated by Steven’s arrival at the club, during Alex’s dinner with Kimberly and her parents.

I’ve always loved that Steven and Elyse are still very much in love with one another and are incredibly affectionate with one another, something that the kids comment on all the time. There’s great chemistry between every member of the cast, and Fox has fantastic comedic timing and can play everything with a look.

Sure the episodes wrap up everything inside their half-hour runtime, but it also tries to present some real issues and portrays a family that despite problems really loves one another, and will be there for one another no matter what.

There’s no easy answer by the end of the episode, Alex’s hormones are more focused on Kimberly, and Steven tries to give his son enough space to make his own way, mistakes and decisions. It’s a nice introduction to a family I grew to love.

Not With My Sister You Don’t was written by Lloyd Garver and was first broadcast on 29 September, 1982.

Stephen and Elyse are going away for the weekend, which involves Elyse trying to temper Steven’s competitive streak with the couple, the Davis, they are going away with, something that has been going on for a while. It seems every time they pair up with Ron (Jay Tarses) and Suzanne (Brooke Alderson), Ron and Steven become insanely competitive with one another over everything, something that finally exasperates everyone.

As soon as the car pulls out of the driveway a wild party is organized and Alex is troubled to learn that one of the high school all-stars, Eric (Lee Montgomery), who has a bit of a womanizing reputation, has his eyes on Mallory.

As Alex looks after a sick Jennifer, he blows up at Mallory for going off with Eric, and is bothered by how much he worries and cares about his sisters.

Alex ends up trying to respect his sister’s choices but is still worried about what may or may not have happened with Eric. But Mallory is confident in her choices and in front of Alex shuts down Eric permanently. Much like the previous episode, it’s about recognizing freedom of choice even if you don’t agree with the choices loved ones make. But they’re still family, and that makes for a great message.

There are ideas and messages to talk about wrapped up in lots of laughs, and it’s a great way to start a dialogue. Alex is overprotective and sees his sister as weaker, is that his way of thinking or just because he’s a big brother? But he recognizes like Steven did in the first episode, that he can trust Mallory to make her own choices (and we know how Republicans feel about that).

I Know Jennifer’s Boyfriend was written by Goldberg and first aired on 6 October, 1982.

Jennifer’s 10th birthday is approaching and she’s having a party, but she’s suffering from peer pressure because she has a friend, who is a boy (!), Justin (Jeremy Schoenberg), and the girls won’t stop harassing her and picking on her.

Mallory suggests that at the party Jennifer invites boys and girls and have a 50s party (which allows for some great costumes for the cast). But will the peer pressure from the girls ruin Jennifer’s party and her happiness?

There’s some sexism at work in this episode, and a hint of homophobia when Steven says he didn’t have any girlfriends when he was a little boy because he wasn’t a sissy.

There’s some discussion about recycling, something Alex thinks is a waste of time. But there’s a real nice talk between Elyse and Jennifer about friends, and choices, all while growing up.

From the get-go, this series was smart, emotional, and brilliantly cast, and yes they work on getting their problems resolved by the episode’s end, but they also present a lot of things worth talking about. There’s some nice female empowerment and lots of things to consider and think about.

Man this is going to be a fun rewatch of the series. I can’t wait to see more episodes next week.