"The Harder They Fall" is the third episode in the second season of the NBC family sitcom Family Ties. It originally aired on October 19, 1983, and is the twenty-fifth episode of the series overall.
Synopsis[]
Teacher/parent interviews at Alex and Mallory's school become interesting when both Steven and Elyse contend with a rude, insufferable teacher.
Plot[]
Elyse goes to Parent/Teacher Conferences at Alex and Mallory's school with a very obnoxious teacher Ruben Tedesco (played by Edward Edwards). She has a physical confrontation with the teacher, so Steven has to go back the next day to clear things up (and a similar result occurs). Steven and Elyse decide to invite Mr. Tedesco to dinner to settle their differences.
Cast[]
Starring[]
Guest Starring[]
- Edward Edwards as Ruben Tedesco
- Mary Farrell as Mrs. Morgan
- Molly David as Mrs. Jones
- Bunny Summers as Mrs. Stein
Co-Starring[]
Quotes[]
- Steven: "Alex, that man would have made a killer out of Gandhi."
- Steven: "Never has so cruel an attack been perpetrated on so innocent a victim."
Elyse: "Would that I could reverse the hands of time, I would. I beg your forgiveness with all my heart and soul."
Trivia[]
- Parts of this episode are used as a flashback in "Return of the Native".
- Alex's teacher Mr. Tedesco has a cousin who's on the faculty at Dartmouth. Apparently, Alex is looking at other Ivy League schools besides Princeton (as we see in "Go Tigers".) The events of this episode were Alex's turning point away from Darmouth and toward Princeton.
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