"Ready or Not" is the sixteenth episode in the second season of the NBC family sitcom Family Ties. It originally aired on February 9, 1984, and is the thirty-eighth episode of the series overall.
Synopsis[]
Mallory considers taking a big step in her relationship with her boyfriend, Rick.
Plot[]
Mallory's boyfriend Rick (played by Thomas Byrd) asks her to have sex with him. Later, Mallory and her girlfriends discuss boys and who's having sex with whom, and the question of Rick comes up. Mallory goes to Alex for some advice. He tries to discourage her, but she still goes to his dorm room.
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[]
- Tom Byrd as Rick
- Lenora May as Margo
- Susan Isaacs as Linda
- Kathleen Wilhoite as Kathy
Co-Starring[]
Quotes[]
Trivia[]
- Parts of this episode are used as a flashback in "A Word to the Wise".
- One of Mallory's friends says, "It's also unromantic to be 16 and pregnant", as Mallory well knows with her friend in the episode "Oops" (though she was 15).
- Alex mentions his loss of virginity ("Summer of '82") trying to persuade Mallory not to sleep with Rick.
- Chess appears in this episode. Steven thinks he's winning when Alex pulls a quick checkmate.
- Steven and Alex have excellent conversation and facial expressions with the tape recorder.