The Differing Ages—and Views—of The Keaton Kids
The above theme is exhibited in the children of the Keaton family, whose varying ages reflect each individual’s differing views and opinions on life. Alex Keaton was a young Republican. Mallory Keaton was very materialistic. Jennifer Keaton was a tomboy, wanting nothing more in life than to be a normal kid. And the youngest of them all, Andrew Keaton was a boy very much influenced and shaped by his brother Alex’s attitude and actions.
Indeed, other than sharing a common last name and living under the same roof, not one Keaton kid was identical to the other.
Unusually Successful, Decade-Long On-Air Television Runtime
Unlike the majority of television sitcoms of the ‘80s—most of which typically never surpassed one or two seasons—“Family Ties” experienced an unusually long on-air runtime. In fact, the show was so successful, it lasted nearly a decade, and attracted an enormous audience. Initially, the concept of the show was a reflection of creator Golberg’s own life—a semi-autobiography of his own life. First premiered on TV in 1982, the sitcom carried on for 7 more years, lasting all the way until its final episode, aired in 1989.
The longstanding success of “Family Ties” was heavily rooted in the show’s ability to not only draw in television viewers but also, more importantly, maintain its initial viewers, while at the same time expanding upon the show’s widespread fanbase. "We stumbled into an area no one else was dealing with," said Goldberg. "America needed a strong family...our success was directly proportional to how poorly the American family was actually doing, at a time when the country was beset by economic and social hardship, child abuse, divorce, drugs, you name it. I think the Reagan Era helped the show a lot."
Baby Boomers vs. ’80s Kids: The Shift from Liberal to Conservative
During the show’s near-decade-long runtime, the nation would enter a time of great political, cultural and social change, as US citizens leaned further towards more conservative views of the country, and the world in general—a stark contrast to the liberal views largely dominating the United States in the ’60s and ’70s.
By featuring characters from varying generations, “Family Ties” ensured the show maintained a diversified view of the world. The dramatic shift of perspective experienced by the nation in the ‘80s was an idea largely present throughout the series—just one of the many themes explored throughout the show’s runtime.
Michael J. Fox: The Unintended Main Character of the Show
Though it may come as a shock to many of you die-hard fans out there, in reality, when the show first went on air, Fox's character was not actually meant to be the main character of the series. However, it was not long before he took the lead. Over the years, as the show carried on and developed, Fox became the star of the series.
In fact, it was his role in Family Ties that would later prove to be instrumental in the launch of his multi-decade career as a highly successful, widely recognized, a-list actor. Today, Fox is still a prominent figure in show business and is one of the most famous faces among the Hollywood acting scene.
The Legendary Career of Michael J. Fox
Following his breakout role on Family Ties, Fox went on to have a very fruitful career in acting. He not only landed lead roles on several TV shows but also broke into the very difficult realm of cinema. Today, Fox’s legendary career is defined by many big-screen roles, and he has become one of the most recognizable and iconic faces in Hollywood.
Sadly, unlike Fox, who eventually dominated the Hollywood scene as one of the most sought after actors in the business, not all of the Family Ties cast members were so lucky later on in life. Indeed, for many of the show’s stars—especially the younger ones—the increasing pressures of fame would ultimately lead to their downfall.