"Help Wanted" is the twelfth episode in the third season of the NBC family sitcom Family Ties. It originally aired on December 6, 1984, and is the fifty-sixth episode of the series overall.
Synopsis[]
Steven gets depressed from interviewing frightfully inept candidates as housekeeper-nanny for the baby, such as a child-hater ad an ex-con. Alex is impressed with Karen Nicholson, regardless of lack of any vaguely domestic experience, even hires her on his own. Even with help from Alex and his sisters, who quickly take to her too, she's a household failure bordering on disaster, yet nobody wants to fire her for 'just' wrecking the house till it just gets too much for dad...
Plot[]
The family needs a housekeeper as Elyse is nearing delivery time. Alex interviews one, Karen Nicholson (played by Geena Davis), and though entirely incompetent, Alex hires her (and falls for her at the same time). The laundry, the kitchen table, and the china will never be the same, however. Somehow, she makes it out of the first episode as housekeeper.
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[]
- Geena Davis as Karen Nicholson
- Robert Costanzo as Max Schneider
- Anne Ramsey as Mrs. Warfield
Co-Starring[]
Quotes[]
- Jennifer: "We'll just give them to Alex."
- Mallory: "Karen is like the big sister I've never had."
Jennifer: "Yeah, I feel the same way." - Steven: "If this had been a Pop-Tart, we'd be dead now."
Trivia[]
- Parts of this episode are used as a flashback in "A Word to the Wise".
- The first housekeeper interviewed, Mrs. Warfield, is played by Anne Ramsey, probably most famous for her role in the 1987 film Throw Momma from the Train.
- Robert Costanzo appears in this and several other episodes.
- There are some interesting camera angles in the kitchen. It seems that there is much more room behind the island than usual.
- Meredith Baxter Birney does not appear in this episode. (see explanation).
Gallery[]
