"Heartstrings, Pt. 3" is the seventh episode in the seventh season of the NBC family sitcom Family Ties. It originally aired on December 18, 1988, and is the hundred-and-fifty-seventh episode of the series overall.
Synopsis[]
Steven must adjust to life after having a heart attack. Elyse puts her own fears aside to help him get through his psychological issues.
Plot[]
The surgery is completed, and the doctor brings good news to the family. Steven comes home, and it is clear that the family will have some changes to make to accommodate him. He has a flashback (to when they buy the house - with young versions of Alex and Mallory).
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
- Brian Bonsall as Andrew Keaton
Guest Starring[]
- Courteney Cox as Lauren Miller
- Marc Price as Skippy Handelman
- Scott Valentine as Nick Moore
- Tim Eyster as Young Alex
- Shannon Macpherson as Young Mallory
- Nicholas Rutherford as Young Skippy
- Philip Baker Hall as Dr. Harrison
- Liz Sheridan as Ginny
Co-Starring[]
Quotes[]
Trivia[]
- This episode begins with Alex and Andy admiring a picture of George Bush. Earlier episodes had already talked about Bush's victory in the election. These three episodes were actually filmed before the rest of the season.
- Steven sports a California-Berkeley T-shirt.
- Michael David Wright also appears in "Diary of a Young Girl" and "My Back Pages".
- In a flashback, Alex and Steven watch the 1984 World Series (both hoping the Tigers will win, which they did). During the game, Steven gets the call that his father died. He had been informed of his father's heart condition in "I Never Killed for My Father " and also in "Remembrances of Things Past".
- In a Part III flashback, the family wants to see E.T. again. The movie was first released in 1982 and then re-released in 1985 and 2002. Andy is the same age, so it was apparently recent to the current episode. it's not clear why the movie would be showing at a theater at that time (1988).
- In another Part III flashback, Tim Eyster plays young Alex and Shannon Macpherson plays young Mallory.
Gallery[]
