Alex (Michael J. Fox) is looking for a job, hopefully at a bank to be close to the money, but he may have to take whatever comes along, which may mean working with his dad, Steven (Michael Gross) down at the station.

Keaton and Son was written by Lissa Levin and was first broadcast on 18 October, 1984.

Alex is not only a hard-working college student, but he’s also looking to make some extra cash. When his job prospects fall through, he agrees to work as a production assistant at the television station with his dad.

But when a dream job falls in his lap will he take it, or keep his commitment to his father? To up the ante in the situation, there’s a documentary that is under deadline, and Steven and Alex are going to have to pull an all-nighter to get it done.

In the end, Alex is going to take the bank job, but he got a chance to see his dad work, and see his dad work well. And while working at the station may not be for him, something both Steven and Alex realize, they both love the fact that they had this time together.

It’s a simple and fun episode, and let’s Fox and Gross really shine. Tina Yothers and Justine Bateman only have a couple of scenes and Meredith Baxter who was continuing to deal with her actual pregnancy remains off-screen for the entire episode and is only mentioned in passing.

Fabric Smarts lets Mallory (Bateman) have a bit of the spotlight. Written by Lloyd Garver, it first aired on 25 October, 1984.

Mallory seems to have found her niche. She’s working in a clothing store, and she is excelling. She’s making great sales, can juggle customers and seems to be a retail master, but when her schooling begins to suffer because of it, Steven and Elyse (Baxter makes a welcome appearance) tell her she has to quit.

With some cajoling, Alex agrees to talk to their parents and make a deal that will allow Mallory to keep her job if she makes a ‘B’ or better on her next three exams. Alex is helping her out, even Skippy (Marc Price) helps though he probably just wants to be near Mallory.

And Alex is amazed at her performance in the store, and is proud of her school grades, his coaching and tutoring have paid off.

But when she gets a C- on her final test, Mallory is willing to go through with the agreement, but Elyse and Steven realize how much the job means to her, and what it does for her self-confidence, and agree to let her keep it.

It’s nice to see Mallory finding her way, and it’s too bad that she sees herself the way she does, Alex doesn’t help with his reinforcement of that perception, but siblings.

Mallory definitely deserves the spotlight and the job success.

Hotlline Fever delivers some bad news to Alex. He’s required to take a humanities course in his freshman year at Leland. Still, he thinks he’s found an easy way to score the humanity credit he has to earn. He’ll volunteer two nights a week at the university hotline, fielding calls from students with problems.

Written by Marc Lawrence, this episode first aired on 1 November, 1984.

Alex finds himself paired with James (Jeff Joseph) an elementary school rival, and despite some competitive nature, they could be a good team. And they are going to find out. Their instructor is stuck with automobile problems, and tells the pair to go home, they’ll make it up the following night.

Just as Alex is about to turn out the lights, the phone rings, and he answers it. Only to be confronted by the voice of a student, Bill (Sam Whipple), a student who is contemplating suicide.

Unprepared, and called out for using a text, Alex and James have to talk Bill down on their own, with no experience, no guidance… they have to open up and make a human connection.

Alex and James are able to get Bill through the night, and that’s how it ends, with the promise that Bill will start fresh tomorrow.

A great episode, and it lets Alex grow a little as he sees the importance of mental health in action.