"The American Family, Pt. 1" is the fourteenth episode in the sixth season of the NBC family sitcom Family Ties. It originally aired on December 13, 1987, and is the hundred-and-thirty-sixth episode of the series overall.
Synopsis[]
Lauren uses the Keatons as a case study of the nuclear family for her research project. Features highlights from the previous five seasons.
Plot[]
Lauren does a term paper on the typical American family, and chooses the Keatons as a case study. They share with her many stories from the past.
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
Co-Starring[]
Flashbacks[]
- "Here We Go Again" - Steven and Elyse discuss a new pregnancy after so many years since the last one.
- "Birth of a Keaton" - The arrival of Andrew Keaton into the world.
- "Cry Baby" - The effects of a new baby on the family.
- "Designated Hitter" - Alex holds up a picture of Ronald Reagan in front of Andrew's bassinet.
- "Mrs. Wrong" - Elyse and Andrew look through a photo album ("Alex is King")
- "My Back Pages" - Andrew says, "Alex, come quick, gold closed at 415."
- "Be True to Your Preschool" - Andrew's first day of preschool
- "My Buddy" - Steven takes Jennifer to the Sunflower Girls meeting.
- "Paper Chase" - Mallory may not graduate from high school.
- "Baby Boy Doe" - Skippy finds out he's adopted, and the Keatons support him.
- "Just One Look" - An old friend causes Steven to be jealous when he finds out Elyse used to date him.
- "Mr. Wrong" - Elyse feeds Alex to try to get Andrew to eat.
- "O'Brother" - What it means to be brothers.
- "Mr. Right" - Alex tells Nick how to fit in. Be like Alex.
- "My Tutor" - Alex and Jennifer bargain on what it will take for Jennifer to go out with Eugene.
- "Don't Go Changin'"- Steven says he and Elyse get along so well because he never gets his way.
- "Fool for Love" - Skippy tells Mallory how he had planned their wedding and honeymoon.
- "Mr. Wrong" - Steven tells Mallory they've given Alex more freedom in relationships because he's a boy.
- "Mr. Wrong" - Nick's first dinner with the family
- "My Tutor" - Mallory finds generic shampoo in the shower. Family's cutting back.
- [unknown episode] - Steven says to Alex, "It's family, Alex. You can't escape it." (same episode used again later) - Jennifer's 11, Alex 18
- "Starting Over" - Alex in a Don Johnson style suit - "I'm hip, I'm cool, I'm a happenin' fool." (Interestingly, this line is remembered and quoted all over the Internet.)
- a quick montage from several episodes finishes the show (lots of "I love you"s.) Finishes with the end of "Battle of the Sexes".
Quotes[]
Trivia[]
Gallery[]
