“Family Ties” and “Back To The Future” Overlap
At one point during the filming of “Family Ties,” Fox was also shooting the feature film, “Back To The Future”. At the time, “Family Ties” would not give Fox any time off from playing the role of Alex.
But, as we now know, this minor set back did not put a damper on Fox’s fruitful acting career. In the end, Fox would ultimately decide to ambitiously take on both roles at the same time.
Matthew Broderick Almost Played Alex P. Keaton
While the role of Alex P. Keaton is notably played by talented actor Michael J. Fox, the role was almost given to famous actor Matthew Broderick. However, Broderick ultimately turned down the opportunity, as he did not have any intentions of relocating to Los Angeles, California to shoot the show.
Though Fox ultimately became the center of the show, when Goldberg, the show's creator, first saw Michael J. Fox’s audition tape, he didn't feel Fox was right for the role of Alex. However, after much convincing by casting director Judith Weiner, Goldberg finally agreed to give Fox a chance.
Michael J. Fox's Inspiration for Alex Was His Own Brother
Upon securing the role of Alex on “Family Ties,” Michael J. Fox immediately decided to put all his time and effort into making the character shine. For inspiration, Fox ultimately decided to draw on the views and opinions of his real-life brother, who, according to Fox, was a real comedian at their family dinner table.
In explaining the inspiration he got from his brother in an interview with the Archive of American TV, Fox said: "I was basically just playing my brother... I never understood the concept of timing, but I knew my brother was so funny that you'd wait for what he had to say. He'd put his glass of milk down, and from the minute he took the glass away from his mouth, you waited for what he had to say. Later on that all became a part of Alex."
The Show's Influence on Music
In addition to its influence on television viewers, “Family Ties” also had a substantial impact on the world of music. Indeed, it was because of a scene on one episode of “Family Ties” that one song made it to number one on the music charts. Yes, Billy Vera and the Beaters can thank “Family Ties” for the success of their song, “At This Moment”—a song which was famously played during the scene in which Fox’s character Alex and his girlfriend break up.
Though the song had been released six years prior to its appearance on “Family Ties,” on October 3, 1986, the show reintroduced the song to TV viewers. As a result, the song was eventually re-released. The song even secured the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1987.
Brian Bonsall: Child Actor Gone Bad
Sadly, like many other child actors in the industry, the pressure of fame as a young boy ultimately lead Bonsall to rebel against society. Following the end of the show, Bonsall eventually ended up getting himself into a lot of trouble with the law and was even arrested at one point in time.
Today, Bonsall has focused his life on his future as a musician, thus renewing his popularity and recognition as an entertainer. According to reports, Bonsall owes much of this newly renewed success to his decision to mature from his earlier, wilder days. “I’ve learned a lot about myself, that’s for sure,” Bonsall said.