FAMILY TIES: THE REAL THING {PART 1 OF 2} {FOURTH SEASON PREMIERE} (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series about the Keaton family -- Elyse and Steven, two aging ex-hippies, and their conservative, materialistic children. In the first half of this two-part episode, the family struggles to land a spot on baby Andy’s social calendar as they get ready for the day. Alex later returns home and declares that he is in love, but then clarifies that he has been using the freshman directory to find a date and has narrowed it down to several “finalists.” Elyse chides him for being “a bit immature,” but Steven helps him choose a pretty young lady, Tricia. Claiming he is from the non-existent “sophomore hospitality committee,” he heads for Tricia’s dorm room, but instead finds her bookish roommate, Ellen, an artist who sees through his ruse and calls him out on it, and he is startled at how well she understands him already. They begin to argue, but Alex turns on the charm when Tricia arrives and lands a date with her. When Elyse asks, Alex talks about his frustration with Ellen and declares that he is not as insecure as she implied he was, but Elyse notes that the girl “really got to him.” Later, in Tricia’s room, Alex learns that Ellen has an older boyfriend, Dennis, to whom she is nearly engaged, and he is displeased with the news. When Tricia leaves, Alex attempts to help repair a broken shelf of Ellen’s, and though they are unsuccessful, they share a laugh and apologize to each other for their first meeting. He compliments her artwork and asks about her almost-fiancé, and she uncomfortably says that she is unsure about marrying him.
Soon, Alex and Tricia prepare for a dance, and Tricia visits the Keaton home to get Mallory and Jennifer’s fashion advice. Steven praises Alex’s successful “exact science” for finding love, but Alex admits that he is unhappy with Tricia and cannot stop thinking about Ellen. Ellen then stops by to pick up Tricia and seems charmed when she sees Alex playing with Andy. Alex then presents her with a “Picasso” that he bought for her, and she is touched at the gesture and mentions that she too will be at the dance. At the event, Tricia enjoys herself, but Alex seems unhappy, and he ends up talking to Ellen as she mans the punchbowl. When Tricia goes off with some friends, Alex and Ellen share a dance, and they impulsively kiss, but she quickly runs off. When Tricia returns, she happily tells Alex that Ellen officially agreed to marry her boyfriend, and he is devastated. Commercials deleted. Continues in part two (B:45633).
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: September 26, 1985 8:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:24:01
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:45621
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Families
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1982-1989
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Gary David Goldberg … Executive Producer, Created by
- Michael J. Weithorn … Supervising Producer, Writer
- Alan Uger … Producer
- Ruth Bennett … Producer
- June Galas … Associate Producer
- Carol Himes … Line Producer
- Will Mackenzie … Director
- Tom Scott … Theme Music by
- Jeff Barry … Theme Music by
- Meredith Baxter Birney (See also: Meredith Baxter) … Cast, Elyse Keaton
- Michael Gross … Cast, Steven Keaton
- Michael J. Fox … Cast, Alex P. Keaton
- Justine Bateman … Cast, Mallory Keaton
- Tina Yothers … Cast, Jennifer Keaton
- Tracy Pollan … Cast, Ellen
- Suzanne Snyder … Cast, Tricia
- Judson Allen … Cast, Jack