"The Blues Brother" is the twentieth episode in the sixth season of the NBC family sitcom Family Ties. It originally aired on January 24, 1988, and is the hundred-and-forty-second episode of the series overall.
Synopsis[]
After finding out that the singer of a blues track that he played on a radio show is still alive, Alex tries to convince him to make a comeback.
Plot[]
Alex is working the radio station at Leland (WLEL) doing a show called "Syncopated Money". Alex announces a song "I Feel So Good" by Eddie Dupre (a fictional blues musician - that Alex thinks is dead - played on the show by Brownie McGhee). Eddie comes on Alex's show, but the session is not exactly what Alex had been expecting. Everyone encourages Eddie to come out of retirement, and though he was unwilling initially, he finally relents.
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
- Brownie McGhee as Eddie Dupre
- Richard Brestoff as Professor Webster
Co-Starring[]
Quotes[]
Trivia[]
- Alex also worked at the radio station in high school - "Sweet Lorraine "
- Brownie McGhee is a well-known blues singer and guitarist (see discography)
- Alex's on-air handle is "Alex Keaton - He's So Cute"
- Songs Mentioned On-Air by Alex:
- "I Feel So Good" is probably the 1941 version written and performed by Big Bill Broonzy (see YouTube )
- Blind Lemon Jefferson sings "Going to the Country" (which Alex says was recorded April 17, 1936. Unfortunately, Mr. Jefferson died in 1929.)
- "John Henry" (various versions have been recorded)
- Steven and Elyse plan a musical interlude (from Steven's trilogy he wrote at Berkeley) for Mr. Dupre.
- Alex has Ella Fitgerald and Milton Friedman discussing each other's specialties as part of his radio program (and singing together "Bess, You Is My Woman Now " by George Gershwin , which incidentally is a duet).