"Cry Baby" is the nineteenth episode in the third season of the NBC family sitcom Family Ties. It originally aired on February 7, 1985, and is the sixty-third episode of the series overall.
Synopsis[]
Steven is eager to get pictures of the family with the new baby. Jennifer is extremely jealous (with bad attitude) about all the attention Andrew is getting. And Andrew's crying during the night affects the whole family's sleeping patterns. The family tries to spend more time with Jennifer, but, of course, Andrew's needs come first.
Plot[]
Everybody else goes baby-crazy all the time, even Alex - who can see the next Richard Nixon and Mickey Mantle rolled into one bassinet. Losing her familiar place in the center of family pictures and seemingly being routinely ignored makes Jen decide she hates her new 'rival' Andy and turns childish again, which Alex correctly calls regressive behavior. The kid has healthy lungs, and a vocal volume which keeps everybody awake, desperately trying to sing him to sleep. An attempt to make Jen the center of family attention again is professionally cried apart by Andy and baby-mania.
Cast[]
Starring[]
- Meredith Baxter as Elyse Keaton
- Michael Gross as Steven Keaton
- Michael J. Fox as Alex P. Keaton
- Justine Bateman as Mallory Keaton
- Tina Yothers as Jennifer Keaton
Guest Starring[]
Co-Starring[]
Quotes[]
- Elyse and Steven are asleep at the kitchen table and Alex and Mallory have prepared French toast. Steven tries to get Elyse interested by saying, "French toast", to which she replies "Vive la France!". Steven says, "No, Elyse. Not a French toast. French toast..."
Trivia[]
- Parts of this episode are used as a flashback in "The American Family".
- Alex thinks Andrew looks like Richard Nixon.
- Alex uses his "nerd watch" (one with a calculator) - how 1980s!
- Mallory references Jennifer's birthday party in "I Know Jennifer's Boyfriend".
- The family (minus Jennifer) sings to help Andrew sleep. Mallory suggests they try "Let's Go Crazy" (though Mallory says "Let's Get Crazy") by Prince. They finally settle on "Down by the Old Mill Stream" (now a barbershop quartet standard, notice Alex and Steven singing the low notes).
- Alex thinks Jennifer just needs a gesture of love and suggests their parents give her $100. Mallory think leg warmers (a 1980s fad) would be a better choice.
Gallery[]
