"Auntie Up" is the fifteenth episode in the third season of the NBC family sitcom Family Ties. It originally aired on January 10, 1985, and is the fifty-ninth episode of the series overall.
Synopsis[]
Alex likes Mallory's favorite aunt Gertrude 'Trudy' Harris for one reason: the pair of airheads regularly go somewhere together, out of his way. After such trip, Trudy gets a heart attack, Skippy helps rush her to the hospital but she doesn't survive. The Keatons hold her wake, but it gets a mixed crowd: Alex never canceled the garage sale. At the funeral, truly mournful Mallory makes a scene because the reverend's speech is fake, every detail wrong as he never met her...
Plot[]
Aunt Trudy is visiting and has always had a special connection with Mallory. They go to the ballet to see Swan Lake. Trudy counsels Mallory on what's important as a teenager. She has chest pains in the living room and Mallory and Skippy take her to the hospital, where she dies. The Keatons open their home for condolence calls and get some unusual visitors. Mallory strongly expresses her grief at the funeral.
Cast[]
Starring[]
- Meredith Baxter as Elyse Keaton (credit only)
- Michael Gross as Steven Keaton
- Michael J. Fox as Alex P. Keaton
- Justine Bateman as Mallory Keaton
- Tina Yothers as Jennifer Keaton
Guest Starring[]
- Marc Price as Skippy Handelman
- Edith Atwater as Trudy Harris
- John Petlock as Reverend Wilson
- Enid Kent as Phyllis Evans
- Matthew Faison as Larry Cromwell
- Bernadette Birkett as Suzanne Cromwell
- Denise D'Amico as Nurse
- Richard Stahl as Stu Devin
- Stan Roth as Doctor
Co-Starring[]
Quotes[]
Trivia[]
- The title is a play on the poker phrase "Ante Up".
- Trudy lets it slip that Alex was a terrible tap dancer when he was a kid.
- Trudy Harris was Steven's aunt.
- Mr. Cromwell (played by Matthew Faison), finding out there is no garage sale, hands a sandwich to Jennifer who noticeably drops it. And then as Mrs. Cromwell (played by Bernadette Birkett) re-enters the room, Jennifers looks down at the sandwich as if thinking it might interfere with Mrs. Cromwell's movement.
- Guest star Alan Blumenfeld plays several roles in seven different episodes.
- Meredith Baxter Birney does not appear in this episode. (see explanation).
Gallery[]
