To celebrate my latest interview with former actor Scott Valentine (Episodes 65 & 66) who is best known for playing the role of 'Nick Moore' on the classic 1980s TV sitcom “Family Ties” I've put together this entertaining trivia list featuring some fun facts about this classic 1980’s TV sitcom for you to enjoy!
“Family Ties” aired on NBC for seven seasons, premiering on September 22, 1982, and concluding on May 14, 1989. The series, created by Gary David Goldberg, reflected the social shift in the United States from the cultural liberalism of the 1960s and 1970s to the conservatism of the 1980s. Because of this, Young Republican Alex P. Keaton (portrayed by Michael J. Fox) develops generational strife with his ex-hippie parents, Steven and Elyse Keaton (portrayed by Michael Gross and Meredith Baxter).
The show was modeled after producer Gary David Goldberg and wife Diane's real-life experiences as former "hippies" transitioning into suburban family life.
The show was a long-time staple of NBC's "Must See TV" Thursday night line-up. After season five, the show moved from Thursday night following “The Cosby Show” (1984) to Sunday night. The show dropped from second place in the ratings to number seventeen due to the move. The ratings declined even further in season seven, and the show was canceled.
According to the memoir "Lucky Man," shortly before Fox won the role of Alex P. Keaton, Fox's father had written him a letter and encouraged him to "pull the curtain" on his acting career in Los Angeles, given his recent struggles. A few weeks later, he took a bus to work every day to shoot the show because he had no car.
Columbus, Ohio was selected as the setting of the series as that section of the country is viewed as being "middle America".
The series was intended to be a starring vehicle for Meredith Baxter and Michael Gross. As a result, the show's initial focus was more on the parents, with the kids as background characters. The kids, Alex in particular, quickly came to gain a more equal and eventually greater focus as Michael J. Fox established himself as the series break-out star.
Michael J. Fox added the P. in Alex P. Keaton as an ad-lib in his audition. The writers loved it and kept it. Michael J. Fox almost didn't get the role of Alex because NBC executive Brandon Tartikoff didn't find it believable that Meredith Baxter and Michael Gross would have a son who was so short.
The theme song "Without Us" (credited in season one as "Us") was composed by Jeff Barry and Tom Scott in 1982. During the first ten episodes of the first season it was performed by Dennis Tufano and Mindy Sterling. From episode 11 onward the song was performed by original recording artists Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams, as producers were displeased with Tufano's and Sterling's version. A full-length version of "Without Us" is featured on Mathis and Williams' duet album "That's What Friends Are For," released by Columbia Records on the 2003 CD release of the album.
On the series, Alex was born in Africa when Elyse and Steven were serving in the Peace Corps.
Mallory's boyfriend Nick Moore was primarily a clone of Fonzie from Happy Days---complete with his trademark "Hey!" and leather jacket---and only intended to be a "one shot" character. Scott Valentine made a strong impression on the show's audience and producers, making Nick a recurring character. Nick proved so popular that the producers tried to give him a spin-off series, though the pilot never
Michael J. Fox was approached during the second season about starring in “Back to the Future “(1985), but executive producer Gary David Goldberg would not allow Fox the time off to make the film. Because of delays in the film, Fox was approached again during the third season; this time, Goldberg and the film's producers worked out a schedule that would allow Fox to work on both projects simultaneously. Mondays to Thursdays, Fox would rehearse for the series during the day and work on the film all night. On Friday nights, the series would tape their episodes. As soon as the taping finished, he would go to the film's set and work all weekend.
By the time she played Elyse Keaton, Meredith Baxter Birney had starred in two hit series: “Bridget Loves Bernie” and “Family”; “Family Ties” was her third hit. “One Day at A Time”, also a big hit, was based on her life and written by her mother, Whitney Mannings Blake, and was intended to star her, but it starred Bonnie Franklin and Mackenzie Phillips playing her role.
When Meredith Baxter became pregnant, during the hiatus between the second and third seasons, her pregnancy was written into the show. However, she still was written out of several episodes after giving birth to twins in real life.
Tracy Pollan, who played Alex Keaton's girlfriend Ellen, later married Michael J. Fox in real life.
One year before playing Michael J. Fox's father in “Back to the Future” (1985), Crispin Glover played Alex P. Keaton's friend in the episode Birthday Boy (1984). Fox and Glover appeared in “High School U.S.A.” (1983) as well.
Alex and Ellen's love theme was "At This Moment" by Billy Vera and The Beaters. The song was originally recorded and released in 1981 and went largely unnoticed. After being featured in the series, the single was re-released in the fall of 1986 and reached number one on the Billboard Top 100 Pop Chart in early 1987.
Gary David Goldberg named the family Keaton after Diane Keaton.
Michael Gross once stated in an interview that he didn't feel that Steven Keaton had much dimension or depth until the character of Nick (Scott Valentine) appeared. He cited this addition as a major reason for staying on the show.
The political themes were heavily emphasized in the early seasons of the series. However, as the show progressed and the focus shifted toward the children, the political themes were downplayed or used more light-heartedly in later seasons.
Despite being the breakout star of the series, most of the cast and crew agreed that Michael J. Fox remained grounded and a gentleman throughout the run of the series. Fox never demanded star treatment and always deferred to the older actors in the cast. When NBC wanted to give Fox special billing in the opening, he declined and remained the third-billed actor for the entire series.
President Ronald Reagan's declaration of this being his favorite television show lead to rumors of talks for him to make a cameo, or perhaps guest starring role, on the series.
An episode set to air shortly before the 1988 Presidential election was to have featured a scene showing Alex's bedroom full of George Bush campaign posters and related items. The scene was dropped, as NBC felt it could be viewed as overtly political and potentially violated Equal Time laws. Instead, a scene was shown after the election, where Alex hung up and admired a poster of Bush in the living room to celebrate his victory.
Scott Valentine's success as "Nick Moore' on the show led to three separate spin-offs. The first starred Valentine and actor Herschel Bernardi called "Taking It Home". Filming was canceled when Bernardi died in 1986. The second spin-off placed Valentine's character in a "Friends" -like environment in New York City. The third was a pilot episode for a spin-off titled "The Art of Being Nick"; the episode aired once and co-starred Julia Louis-Dreyfus. "It came in number two and they still didn't pick it up," recalled Valentine.
Tom Hanks played Elise Keaton's brother Ned.
Alex's (Michael J. Fox's) hero is Richard Nixon. Skippy (Marc Price) (the perpetual Alex wanna-be) admired Gerald Ford.
Child actor Brian Bonsall played the role of Andrew "Andy" Keaton, the youngest child on the NBC sitcom “Family Ties” from 1986 until 1989. Bonsall is currently a member of the band Sunset Silhouette.
The black Labrador that appeared after the closing credits with the voice-over, "Sit Ubu, sit," was Gary David Goldberg's dog, Ubu, and Gary David Goldberg himself provided the voice-over.
The character "Steven Keaton" was ranked #12 in TV Guide's list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time" (June 20, 2004 issue).
In her memoir "Untied: A Memoir of Family, Fame, and Floundering," Meredith Baxter talks about tension on the set of this show. She talks about how she and Michael Gross were annoyed that Michael J. Fox was getting all the attention and their characters were being ignored. At one point, in a sign of protest, they walked on the set with one leg bonded together (like they were running a three-legged race). They made a speech to everyone about how they were tied together because their characters were bland and interchangeable, one dull "uni-parent" creature. Series executive producer Gary David Goldberg ignored their protests.
During its final two seasons, “Family Ties” was scheduled on Sunday nights, often followed by “Day by Day” (1988), another series from Ubu Productions. Michael Gross and Brian Bonsall brought their respective roles of Steven and Andy Keaton to the “Day by Day” episode "Trading Places," which reveals that Steven went to college with Brian Harper (Doug Sheehan). This episode is included on a bonus special-features disc in the Family Ties: The Complete Series Deluxe Family Album Collection Edition Box Set DVD.
Some critics and media observers have seen this show as a reverse parallel to “All in the Family” (1971). Both shows primarily centered around political or philosophical generation gaps, with this show reversing All In The Family's dynamic of conservative parents and liberal kids. Gary David Goldberg said that wasn't his intention, calling the reverse similarities a happy accident.
Trivia items from IMDB
To listen to my entertaining and frank conversation with actor SCOTT VALENTINE - who played Mallory Keaton’s delightfully oddball boyfriend Nick Moore on the hit 1980’s sitcom “Family Ties” - click on the links below. Enjoy!
Episode 65 - HERE
Episode 66 - HERE
