The following is an episode list of the NBC sitcom Family Ties. The series aired from September 22, 1982 to May 14, 1989 with 180 episodes produced spanning 7 seasons.
Contents |
| Seasons | Episodes | Season premiere | Season finale | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 | September 22, 1982 | April 11, 1983 | |
| 2 | 22 | September 28, 1983 | May 10, 1984 | |
| 3 | 24 | September 20, 1984 | March 28, 1985 | |
| 4 | 28 | September 23, 1985 | May 8, 1986 | |
| 5 | 30 | September 25, 1986 | August 13, 1987 | |
| 6 | 28 | September 13, 1987 | May 1, 1988 | |
| 7 | 26 | October 30, 1988 | May 14, 1989 | |
| Series # | Season # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Pilot" | Asaad Kelada | Gary David Goldberg | September 22, 1982 | 001 |
| Father and son clash when Steven demands that Alex not accompany his new girlfriend to an elitist, restricted country club. | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Not With My Sister You Don't" | Tony Mordente | Lloyd Garver | September 29, 1982 | 004 |
| With Steven and Elyse away for the weekend, Alex hosts a wild party and worries over Mallory going off with one of his womanizing friends. | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "I Know Jennifer's Boyfriend" | Michael Zinberg | Gary David Goldberg | October 6, 1982 | 003 |
| Because she is friends with a nerdy boy, Jennifer is teased at school. To stop the teasing, she decides not to be friends with him anymore. | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Summer of '82" | Tony Mordente | Michael J. Weithorn | October 27, 1982 | 007 |
| At 17 years old, Alex loses his virginity to a college girl (Amy Steel), but is heartbroken when he finds her the next day with another guy. | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "I Never Killed for My Father" | Dick Martin | Kimberly Hill | November 3, 1982 | 008 |
| Steven's father (John Randolph) arrives for a visit, and announces that he is going to die. | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Give Uncle Arthur a Kiss" | Will Mackenzie | Lloyd Garver & Gary David Goldberg | November 10, 1982 | 012 |
| Uncle Arthur comes for a visit, he makes a pass at Malory. Shocked, she goes to Alex for advice. | ||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Big Brother is Watching" | Alan Bergmann | Ruth Bennett | November 17, 1982 | 013 |
| As the new editor of the school paper, Alex learns of an algebra test cheating scandal that Mallory is involved in. | ||||||
| 8 | 8 | "No Nukes Is Good Nukes" | Frank Bonner | Ruth Bennett | November 24, 1982 | 009 |
| Steven and Elyse are arrested on Thanksgiving when protesting nuclear arms, leaving the kids in the hands of Elyse's parents. | ||||||
| 9 | 9 | "Death of a Grocer" | Will Mackenzie | Michael J. Weithorn | December 1, 1982 | 011 |
|
Alex quits his job as a grocer at a local store to work at a bigger better grocery store to earn more money. But he doesn't enjoy it. Note: This episode marks the debut of Marc Price in the recurring role of Skippy Handleman. |
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| 10 | 10 | "Have Gun, Will Unravel" | Alan Bergmann | Ruth Bennett | December 8, 1982 | 006 |
| After their house is broken into, Steven and Elyse debate whether or not they should buy a gun to protect their home. | ||||||
| 11 | 11 | "A Christmas Story" | Will Mackenzie | Joanne Pagliaro | December 15, 1982 | 014 |
| Snowed in for Christmas, Elyse and Steven remember the kids' births in flashbacks. Alex was born in Africa, Mallory was delivered by a crazy doctor, and Jennifer was born during the 1972 Presidential election. | ||||||
| 12 | 12 | "Oops" | Tony Mordente | Joanne Pagliaro | December 22, 1982 | 005 |
| One of Mallory's friends reveals that she is pregnant, and asks Elyse for advice about what to do. | ||||||
| 13 | 13 | "Sherry Baby" | Tony Mordente | Barbara Hall | January 12, 1983 | 015 |
| Mallory convinces Alex to go out with a Sorority girl in the hopes she'll invite her to join, but soon learns the girl was only using her to get to Alex. | ||||||
| 14 | 14 | "The Fugitive (Part 1)" | Will Mackenzie | Michael J. Weithorn | January 19, 1983 | 016 |
| When Elyse's brother Ned (Tom Hanks) arrives at the Keaton's for a surprise visit, his suspicious behavior prompts the family to investigate, and they find out he is on the run from the FBI for embezzling millions of dollars from his employers. | ||||||
| 15 | 15 | "The Fugitive (Part 2)" | Will Mackenzie | Michael J. Weithorn | January 26, 1983 | 017 |
| After Ned reveals that he embezzled the money to keep his employers from putting 1,800 workers out of a job, the Keatons initially sympathize with him and attempt to help him elude the FBI, but later try to convince him to turn himself in. | ||||||
| 16 | 16 | "Margin of Error" | Tony Mordente | Michael Russnow | February 9, 1983 | 018 |
| Alex impersonates his father and uses the family's blue-chip stocks to play the market, and ends up losing a large sum of money. | ||||||
| 17 | 17 | "French Lessons" | Tony Mordente | Ruth Bennett | February 16, 1983 | 019 |
| Mallory goes out on a date with her French tutor, Jeff, who seeks out romantic advice from Alex. Meanwhile, Steven tries to beat Alex in chess. | ||||||
| 18 | 18 | "I Gotta Be Ming" | Sam Weisman | Douglas Wyman | February 23, 1983 | 020 |
| While Elyse raises money for an immigrants' education program, Alex tries to help by mentoring a Vietnamese boy named Ming. | ||||||
| 19 | 19 | "Suzanne Takes You Down" | Will Mackenzie | Ruth Bennett | March 16, 1983 | 010 |
| Elyse offers her friend Suzanne a job as her assistant after Suzanne says she's unappreciated. However, Suzanne's new position causes friction in her home life. | ||||||
| 20 | 20 | "The Fifth Wheel" | Andrew McCullough | Ruth Bennett & Michael J. Weithorn | March 28, 1983 | 022 |
| When Alex and Mallory argue about who should have to babysit Jennifer, Jennifer decides she's tired of being treated as a burden by her family and runs away. | ||||||
| 21 | 21 | "Stage Fright" | Sam Weisman | Ruth Bennett & Michael J. Weithorn | April 4, 1983 | 021 |
| Alex's school quiz team is forced to find a replacement for a sick teammate, and in an act of desperation, Alex decides to try and train Mallory to fill the spot. | ||||||
| 22 | 22 | "Elyse D'Arc" | Michael Zinberg | Michael J. Weithorn | April 11, 1983 | 002 |
| Steven and Elyse clash when Elyse's busy schedule keeps them from spending time together. | ||||||
| Series # | Season # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 1 | "Tender is the Knight" | Sam Weisman | Ruth Bennett | September 28, 1983 | 023 |
| Alex must contend with a childhood sweetheart staying at the house, who is unlike any girl he's met—or liked—before. | ||||||
| 24 | 2 | "The Homecoming" | Sam Weisman | Douglas Wyman | October 12, 1983 | 027 |
| Mallory's boyfriend Jeff returns to Columbus and confesses to Alex that he hates Princeton, and is willing to do anything to get out of it—even ask Mallory to go steady with him. | ||||||
| 25 | 3 | "The Harder They Fall" | Sam Weisman | Rich Reinhart | October 19, 1983 | 026 |
| Parent/Teacher Conferences at Alex and Mallory's school become interesting when both Steven and Elyse contend with a rude, insufferable teacher (Edward Edwards), whom Elyse punches for insulting her. Alex is upset when he finds out about it, particularly since a college recommendation hangs in the balance. | ||||||
| 26 | 4 | "This Year's Model" | John Pasquin | Susan Borowitz & Richard Raskind | October 26, 1983 | 032 |
| Mallory enters herself and Elyse in a mother/daughter modeling contest but ends up regretting it when they win and Elyse steals her thunder. | ||||||
| 27 | 5 | "Not An Affair to Remember" | Sam Weisman | Ruth Bennett & Gary David Goldberg | November 2, 1983 | 029 |
| Steven's fidelity is put to the test when he learns that Stacy (Judith Light), an employee at the TV station, has a crush on him. | ||||||
| 28 | 6 | "Speed Trap" | Sam Weisman | Michael J. Weithorn | November 9, 1983 | 025 |
| Obsessed with getting good grades to earn a college scholarship, Alex begins taking amphetamines so he can stay up late studying. | ||||||
| 29 | 7 | "Sweet Lorraine" | Sam Weisman | Alan Uger | November 16, 1983 | 031 |
| Working at the school radio station, Alex sets himself up a blind date with a fellow music enthusiast, who turns out to be twice his age. | ||||||
| 30 | 8 | "Batter Up" | Sam Weisman | Lisa A. Bannick | November 30, 1983 | 028 |
| Alex, the coach of Jennifer's peewee softball team, pushes his own sister too hard. It is up to Steven and Elyse to show Alex that being a coach is about more than winning and "doing what the coach says". | ||||||
| 31 | 9 | "A Keaton Christmas Carol" | Will Mackenzie | Story by: Robert Caplain Teleplay by: Rich Reinhart |
December 14, 1983 | 037 |
| Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" is adapted to the Keatons as a Scrooge-like Alex is enlightened of the meaning of the Christmas season by the Ghosts of Christmas Past (Jennifer) and Future (Mallory). | ||||||
| 32 | 10 | "To Snatch a Keith" | Sam Weisman | Alan Uger | December 21, 1983 | 024 |
| When family friends, Richard and his son Keith, come for a visit, it is known that Richard has gone through a divorce. Upon arrival, Richard reveals that his ex-wife, Cynthia, is moving to California and taking Keith with her. Despondent when Cynthia is about to leave with Keith, Richard takes his son. Steven has to meet Richard at a bar to convince him that not only is taking Keith illegal, it's wrong to take "prisoners" in his "war" against Cynthia. | ||||||
| 33 | 11 | "Birthday Boy" | Will Mackenzie | Michael J. Weithorn | January 5, 1984 | 033 |
|
Alex's friend Doug (Crispin Glover) wants to take him to West Virginia, where the drinking age is 18, for his birthday, but Elyse is opposed to this plan. Note: Michael J. Fox and Crispin Glover would later star in Back to the Future together. |
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| 34 | 12 | "Go Tigers" | Will Mackenzie | Michael J. Weithorn | January 12, 1984 | 036 |
| Alex travels to Princeton University for a critical, yet coveted, admissions interview. At the same time, Mallory—who has accompanied Alex—learns that her old boyfriend, Jeff, has a new girlfriend and neglected to tell her. Mallory becomes so emotional that she interrupts Alex's interview. Alex is left to decide what is more important: family or college. | ||||||
| 35 | 13 | ""M" is for the Many Things" | Will Mackenzie | Lisa A. Bannick | January 19, 1984 | 038 |
| Elyse is shocked by her soon-to-be-divorced mother's quick and free-spirited plunge into the singles world. | ||||||
| 36 | 14 | "Say Uncle" | Will Mackenzie | Ruth Bennett | January 26, 1984 | 039 |
| Elyse's brother Ned (Tom Hanks) returns, hoping to put his life back on track by getting a job at the TV station. But after they learn that Ned blew the job interview by going in drunk, Steven, Elyse, and Alex try to convince him he has an alcohol problem. | ||||||
| 37 | 15 | "Ladies' Man" | John Pasquin | Alan Uger | February 2, 1984 | 040 |
| Alex's attraction to a classmate leads him to join the ERA movement, much to his parents' surprise. However, Alex soon learns that it's not a good idea to lie about what he believes in just to impress a girl. | ||||||
| 38 | 16 | "Ready or Not" | Lee Shallat-Chemel | Ruth Bennett & Michael J. Weithorn | February 9, 1984 | 041 |
| Mallory turns to Alex for advice when her new boyfriend tries pressuring her into having sex. | ||||||
| 39 | 17 | "Double Date" | Will Mackenzie | Douglas Wyman | February 16, 1984 | 044 |
| Alex unwittingly makes two dates to the senior prom. He then has to figure a way out of this mess by escorting both girls to the big dance ... without telling the other. | ||||||
| 40 | 18 | "Lady Sings the Blues" | Andrew McCullough | Alan Uger & Michael J. Weithorn | February 23, 1984 | 042 |
| Elyse's emotions run the gamut as she prepares to revive her folk singing career at the local nightclub. | ||||||
| 41 | 19 | "Baby Boy Doe" | Will Mackenzie | Ruth Bennett & Alan Uger | March 8, 1984 | 045 |
| Skippy finds out he is adopted and asks for the Keatons' help to find his birth mother. | ||||||
| 42 | 20 | "The Graduate" | Will Mackenzie | Ruth Bennett & Lloyd Garver | March 15, 1984 | 043 |
| Alex's sexist views are put to the test when he learns that he will be his class' salutatorian ... and that his girlfriend will be the valedictorian. | ||||||
| 43 | 21 | "Diary of a Young Girl" | Sam Weisman | Ruth Bennett | May 3, 1984 | 034 |
| Jennifer fears the worst when she goes in for a tonsillectomy. In the first of several flashback episodes, Jennifer recalls past encounters with each of her family members and how they were resolved. | ||||||
| 44 | 22 | "Working At It" | Sam Weisman | Lloyd Garver | May 10, 1984 | 030 |
| Elyse struggles to juggle a new job and home life, which leads to further family problems. | ||||||
| Series # | Season # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 1 | "The Gambler" | Will Mackenzie | Alan Uger & Michael J. Weithorn | September 20, 1984 | 046 |
| During an architects' convention in Atlantic City, Elyse succumbs to the lures of gambling. | ||||||
| 46 | 2 | "Here We Go Again" | Will Mackenzie | Ruth Bennett & Alan Uger | September 27, 1984 | 047 |
| Elyse contacts her doctor when she feels ill, and discovers she is pregnant again. The family all feel strongly against it at first, until they realize how good it could be. | ||||||
| 47 | 3 | "Little Man on Campus" | John Pasquin | Michael J. Weithorn | October 4, 1984 | 050 |
| Alex enters college as a freshman and finds out there is more to college than being smart when faced with a difficult professor. | ||||||
| 48 | 4 | "Love Thy Neighbor" | Will Mackenzie | Story by: Rich Reinhart Teleplay by: Alan Uger & Michael J. Weithorn |
October 11, 1984 | 054 |
| Jennifer looks forward to hanging out with Scott again when he returns to Columbus for a visit, but is disappointed to learn that he is more interested in Mallory than her. | ||||||
| 49 | 5 | "Keaton and Son" | Will Mackenzie | Lissa Levin | October 18, 1984 | 052 |
| Steven is excited to have Alex working with him and begins planning their future together, but Alex tries to convince his dad that he has other goals. | ||||||
| 50 | 6 | "Fabric Smarts" | Will Mackenzie | Lloyd Garver | October 25, 1984 | 048 |
| Mallory is enjoying working at a fashion boutique, but she is so caught up in it her grades begin to slip. | ||||||
| 51 | 7 | "Hotline Fever" | John Pasquin | Marc Lawrence | November 1, 1984 | 055 |
| Alex and an old school rival, James, are teamed to man Leland's suicide hotline. They have to put their differences aside when a young man calls the hotline, threatening to kill himself. | ||||||
| 52 | 8 | "4 Rms Ocn Vu" | Lee Shallat-Chemel | Alan Uger & Lawrence Uger | November 8, 1984 | 057 |
| While Steven and Elyse are away for the weekend, Mallory drives the car into a light-pole. In need of quick cash for repairs, Alex rents out the house to guests for a big University Homecoming Game. The plan works only too well; he and his sisters end up double- and triple-booking every room in the house, earning enough money to fix a dozen cars. But when Steven comes home early, hospitality at "Keaton Manor" comes to a (literally) screeching halt. | ||||||
| 53 | 9 | "Best Man" | John Pasquin | Alan Uger | November 15, 1984 | 051 |
| Alex worries that he's losing his best friend when Doug announces that he intends to marry his girlfriend, and the resulting friction between them threatens to make Alex's fears come true. | ||||||
| 54 | 10 | "Lost Weekend" | Will Mackenzie | Ruth Bennett & Michael J. Weithorn | November 22, 1984 | 049 |
| Steven and Elyse plan a special last weekend before the baby arrives, but their kids have other ideas. | ||||||
| 55 | 11 | "Don't Kiss Me, I'm Only the Messenger" | Will Mackenzie | Ruth Bennett | November 29, 1984 | 053 |
| Skippy asks for Alex's help to ask a girl out, but the girl ends up falling for Alex instead. | ||||||
| 56 | 12 | "Help Wanted" | Will Mackenzie | Ruth Bennett & Michael J. Weithorn | December 6, 1984 | 056 |
|
As Elyse's pregnancy enters its final trimester, Steven hires a housekeeper named Karen Nicholson (Geena Davis) to take care of the housework. Karen soon proves to be ditzy and incompetent, but that doesn't stop Alex from falling for her. Note: Michael J. Fox and Geena Davis would later star in Stuart Little together. |
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| 57 | 13 | "Karen II, Alex 0" | Lee Shallat-Chemel | Lloyd Garver & Michael J. Weithorn | December 13, 1984 | 058 |
| Alex, wanting to get into Leland's Alpha Phi Epsilon fraternity, tries to talk Karen into accompanying him to a fraternity event after his date cancels. Karen balks at first, but later decides to go. She has a good time ... until she runs into an old flame. | ||||||
| 58 | 14 | "Oh Donna" | Will Mackenzie | Alan Uger | January 3, 1985 | 060 |
| Alex is a stand-in at a Lamaze class for a pregnant, single, college coeds. Alex's natural over-enthusiasm gets the best of him as he envisions nurturing a relationship with a girl named Donna and her unborn child, and leading it into marriage and a family. It takes Elyse to set him straight ... and even alert him to the possibility that Donna may not want to keep the baby. | ||||||
| 59 | 15 | "Auntie Up" | John Pasquin | Lawrence H. Levy | January 10, 1985 | 059 |
| Mallory's beloved Aunt Trudy (Edith Atwater) suffers a fatal heart attack. Mallory falls into a deep depression, but matters are compounded when the family brushes her off to tend to what they feel are more important matters. | ||||||
| 60 | 16 | "Philadelphia Story" | Will Mackenzie | Michael J. Weithorn | January 17, 1985 | 061 |
| While doing a term paper for history class on colonial times, Alex suffers from writer's block and falls asleep. In a dream, Alex becomes a Philadelphia stable boy who, with his friend Skipford (Marc Price in character as Skippy), experience the events leading to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Michael Gross doubles as a Steven Keaton-inspired Thomas Jefferson. | ||||||
| 61 | 17 | "Birth of a Keaton (Part 1)" | Will Mackenzie | Lloyd Garver | January 24, 1985 | 062 |
| The Keatons, including a very pregnant and about-due Elyse, prepare for the annual WKS telethon. Alex, Mallory and Jennifer are beyond disgusted at having to participate and make their feelings known, even at risk of offending Steven, who tries to juggle running the telethon from home while dealing with a plumbing problem. Things become even more complicated when Elyse goes into labor while singing a song live on the air. | ||||||
| 62 | 18 | "Birth of a Keaton (Part 2)" | Will Mackenzie | Marc Lawrence & Alan Uger | January 31, 1985 | 063 |
| The rush is on to get Elyse to the hospital to deliver her child, except there is a major blizzard striking Columbus, meaning she may have to deliver her baby at WKS. As the storm continues, Steven, Skippy, and the Keatons' plumber, Bud, struggle to get to the station in Bud's van. | ||||||
| 63 | 19 | "Cry Baby" | Sam Weisman | Bruce David & Bruce Helford | February 7, 1985 | 064 |
| The new baby's arrival has been hard on the Keatons, with everyone going without sleep. Jennifer has taken the bundle of joy the hardest, eventually screaming that she hates the baby and wishes it had never been born. Now the family have to decide how they can properly balance their time with the new baby and not alienate Jennifer. | ||||||
| 64 | 20 | "Don't Know Much About History..." | Sam Weisman | Marc Lawrence & Michael J. Weithorn | February 14, 1985 | 065 |
| Rival tutors Alex and James both fall for an attractive coed they are tutoring. Their ill will toward one another explodes at a poetry reading, and they continue to verbally spar. | ||||||
| 65 | 21 | "Bringing Up Baby" | Andrew McCullough | Rich Reinhart | February 21, 1985 | 067 |
| With two careers, three bickering children and one demanding baby, Steven and Elyse can't seem to find any time for each other. But when they do finally take the time for a quiet evening alone, they find that they actually miss all of the chaos. | ||||||
| 66 | 22 | "Cold Storage" | Lee Shallat-Chemel | Marc Lawrence | March 7, 1985 | 066 |
| Skippy accidentally locks himself in the basement with Mallory while the rest of the Keatons are away. The two clash at first over Skippy's unrequited feelings for Mallory, but she realizes that, despite his quirks, he has been a good friend to her. | ||||||
| 67 | 23 | "Remembrances of Things Past (Part 1)" | Sam Weisman | Gary David Goldberg & Alan Uger | March 28, 1985 | 068 |
| Steven is summoned home after learning of his father's death. For Steven, it is a bittersweet trip back in time as he recalls not-so-fond memories of his father (told in flashback form). | ||||||
| 68 | 24 | "Remembrances of Things Past (Part 2)" | Sam Weisman | Gary David Goldberg & Alan Uger | March 28, 1985 | 069 |
| Steven struggles to cope with the death of his father, with whom he had a stormy relationship. He also quarrels with his brother, Rob, who was closer to his parents than Steven ever was. | ||||||
| Series # | Season # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 69 | 1 | "Family Ties Vacation (Part 1)" |
Will Mackenzie | Gary David Goldberg, Marc Lawrence, Alan Uger & Michael J. Weithorn |
September 23, 1985 | N/A |
| Alex has an opportunity to view Oxford University, so the Keatons take a trip to London. | ||||||
| 70 | 2 | "Family Ties Vacation (Part 2)" |
Will Mackenzie | Gary David Goldberg, Marc Lawrence, Alan Uger & Michael J. Weithorn |
September 23, 1985 | N/A |
| The Keatons continue their London vacation and become unwillingly involved in a Soviet spy operation when a hairbrush containing microfilm is accidentally handed to Elyse. | ||||||
| 71 | 3 | "Family Ties Vacation (Part 3)" |
Will Mackenzie | Gary David Goldberg, Marc Lawrence, Alan Uger & Michael J. Weithorn |
September 23, 1985 | N/A |
| The vacation continues along with the drama when the Soviet spies' attempt to get the microfilm leads to Steven and Elyse being followed. | ||||||
| 72 | 4 | "Family Ties Vacation (Part 4)" |
Will Mackenzie | Gary David Goldberg, Marc Lawrence, Alan Uger & Michael J. Weithorn |
September 23, 1985 | N/A |
| The journey wraps up as the Soviet spies close in on the microfilm by kidnapping Alex and Mallory. | ||||||
| 73 | 5 | "The Real Thing (Part 1)" | Will Mackenzie | Michael J. Weithorn | September 26, 1985 | 074 |
| Alex becomes attracted to Ellen Reed (Tracy Pollan), a college freshman, while trying to pursue another girl. It turns out the attraction is mutual, but their relationship is complicated by Ellen's engagement to another student. | ||||||
| 74 | 6 | "The Real Thing (Part 2)" | Will Mackenzie | Michael J. Weithorn | October 3, 1985 | 075 |
| As Ellen prepares to leave town to marry her boyfriend, Dennis, both she and Alex must decide whether or not they really care about each other. | ||||||
| 75 | 7 | "Mr. Wrong" | Will Mackenzie | Alan Uger | October 17, 1985 | 073 |
| Mallory brings home her new boyfriend, Nick Moore (Scott Valentine), who proves to be exactly the type of guy Steven and Elyse hoped her daughter wouldn't get involved with. | ||||||
| 76 | 8 | "Designated Hitter" | John Pasquin | Stephen J. Curwick | October 24, 1985 | 070 |
| Jennifer defends her boyfriend from the attacks of a bully. Alex is devastated when Mallory scores higher than him on an IQ test. | ||||||
| 77 | 9 | "Don't Go Changin'" | Asaad Kelada | Marc Lawrence | October 31, 1985 | 079 |
| Alex changes his personality to impress Ellen's artsy friends. For the subplot, Steven balks at having to go to Elyse's book club meetings during football games. | ||||||
| 78 | 10 | "The Old College Try" | Barbara Schultz | Ruth Bennett | November 7, 1985 | 076 |
| Mallory upsets Elyse when announces she is not going to college. | ||||||
| 79 | 11 | "My Tutor" | Sam Weisman | Jace Richdale | November 14, 1985 | 080 |
| Alex hires a tutor to help him with math, he later learns that he is a fourteen-year old named Eugene (River Phoenix). Eugene then falls for Jennifer, However, he soon realizes it's a mistake when Jennifer acts her age and embarrasses him at a party. In the subplot, Steven tirelessly works on the family budget. | ||||||
| 80 | 12 | "Mr. Right" | Sam Weisman | Alan Uger | November 21, 1985 | 081 |
| Nick decides he wants to impress Steven and Elyse and enlists the help of Alex who turns Nick into a clone of himself. | ||||||
| 81 | 13 | "Just One Look" | Andrew McCullough | Story by: Gary David Goldberg & Michael J. Weithorn Teleplay by: Paul Wolff |
December 5, 1985 | 082 |
| Steven's old college buddy Richard Schofield (Robert Desiderio) comes to town. Steven then learns that Elyse and Richard were previously in a relationship, which sends him in a jealous rage. | ||||||
| 82 | 14 | "How Do You Sleep?" | John Pasquin | Marc Lawrence | December 12, 1985 | 083 |
| Alex has trouble sleeping, and his problems affect the whole family, much to their disappointment. | ||||||
| 83 | 15 | "You've Got a Friend" | John Pasquin | Ruth Bennett | December 19, 1985 | 085 |
| Alex and Mallory catch a young girl (Martha Plimpton) stealing from the store Mallory works at, but instead of turning her in, Mallory decides to help the girl and bond with her, even if the girl doesn't want to. | ||||||
| 84 | 16 | "Nothing But a Man" | Will Mackenzie | Jean Kraynak Brinck Story by: Jurgen M. Wolf |
January 2, 1986 | 086 |
| Steven gets a long awaited promotion at the TV station, but his long work hours cause him to miss dinners with the family. Meanwhile, Alex is dismayed when the only toy Andy will play with is a doll Ellen gave him. | ||||||
| 85 | 17 | "The Disciple" | Will Mackenzie | Rich Reinhart | January 9, 1986 | 089 |
| Alex helps Jennifer with her speech project. But Alex's intellect takes over the whole assignment, with Jennifer's school being so impressed with the finished project, but Jennifer not understanding a word of it herself. | ||||||
| 86 | 18 | "Where's Poppa" | Will Mackenzie | Susan Borowitz & Marc Lawrence | January 16, 1986 | 090 |
| Alex sets up a reunion with Ellen and her father, Franklin (Ronny Cox), who was absent for most of Ellen's childhood. | ||||||
| 87 | 19 | "Fool for Love" | Lee Shallat-Chemel | Marc Lawrence | January 23, 1986 | 091 |
| Skippy refuses to let go of feelings for Mallory, despite her dating Nick. | ||||||
| 88 | 20 | "Checkmate" | Sam Weisman | Michael J. Weithorn | January 30, 1986 | 092 |
| Alex is competing in the chess match finals against a top Chess playing Russian but things start to go awry when Alex works out that the chess player is attempting to throw the match. | ||||||
| 89 | 21 | "Engine Trouble" | John Pasquin | Ruth Bennett | February 6, 1986 | 093 |
| When Alex and Elyse have to walk home after the car breaks down, they decide they should take a class in mechanics, but Alex soon turns it into a battle of the sexes. Meanwhile, Steven continuously denies that he is ill, although it clearly shows. | ||||||
| 90 | 22 | "A Word to the Wise (Part 1)" | Will Mackenzie | Susan Borowitz & Marc Lawrence | February 13, 1986 | 087 |
| The Keatons reminisce in flashbacks to Ellen about Alex's previous shenanigans and faux-pas. | ||||||
| 91 | 23 | "A Word to the Wise (Part 2)" | Will Mackenzie | Susan Borowitz & Marc Lawrence | February 13, 1986 | 088 |
| The flashbacks of Alex's mistakes continue as the Keatons continue to inform Ellen of Alex's past although Alex becomes concerned Ellen won't want to see him anymore. | ||||||
| 92 | 24 | "Art Lover" | Andrew McCullough | Bruce Helford | February 20, 1986 | 094 |
| Mallory becomes suspicious when a wealthy and beautiful older woman takes a special interest in Nick's creations. | ||||||
| 93 | 25 | "Teacher's Pet" | John Pasquin | Marc Lawrence | March 2, 1986 | 095 |
| Alex gets a teaching assistant position in Ellen's class. | ||||||
| 94 | 26 | "My Buddy" | Sam Weisman | Alan Uger | March 6, 1986 | 096 |
| Steven has to learn to accept that Jennifer is growing up. The only way he can get any time with her is to take her to her Sunflower Girls meeting, where he sticks out like a sore thumb. Meanwhile, Alex goes out early on a Saturday to fight a traffic ticket he feels he didn't deserve. | ||||||
| 95 | 27 | "Once in Love with Elyse" | Sam Weisman | Michael J. Weithorn | May 1, 1986 | 097 |
| Elyse must deal with Paul (Peter Scolari), a young architect associate who falls in love with her. | ||||||
| 96 | 28 | "Paper Chase" | Sam Weisman | Susan Borowitz | May 8, 1986 | 098 |
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Mallory faces the possibility of not graduating high school unless she passes a tough final exam. Note: This was the last episode featuring Tracy Pollan as Ellen Reed, although she will appear in the Season 5 2-part episode "It's My Party", which was originally produced for Season 4. |
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| Series # | Season # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 97 | 1 | "Be True to Your Preschool" | Sam Weisman | Marc Lawrence | September 25, 1986 | 100 |
|
Steven and Elyse enroll 4-year old Andrew in preschool, but it soon becomes clear that Alex objects to the school's values of sharing and cooperation. Note: Brian Bonsall makes his first appearance as Andrew, who was age-advanced to 4-years-old. |
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| 98 | 2 | "Starting Over" | Steven Robman | Alan Vejar | October 2, 1986 | 103 |
| Ellen breaks up with Alex and leaves for France. Distraught, Alex tries coping by re-entering the dating scene too soon ... and meeting a girl that looks very much like Ellen. | ||||||
| 99 | 3 | "The Freshman and the Senior" | Sam Weisman | Ruth Bennett & Marc Lawrence | October 9, 1986 | 104 |
| Mallory is teamed with 66-year-old Margaret Hollings (Julie Harris) on a college sociology project. Meanwhile, Alex is very interested to know what Steven and Elyse have written in their wills. | ||||||
| 100 | 4 | "My Back Pages" | Sam Weisman | Ruth Bennett | October 16, 1986 | 099 |
| Steven's old college roommate comes for a visit and reveals he wants to re-launch their old magazine. | ||||||
| 101 | 5 | "Beauty and the Bank" | Asaad Kelada | Stephen J. Curwick | October 30, 1986 | 105 |
| Alex gets his dream job at the Harding Trust, only to find out his boss is an attractive woman (Melinda Culea). | ||||||
| 102 | 6 | "Mrs. Wrong (Part 1)" | Sam Weisman | Alan Uger | November 6, 1986 | 101 |
| Nick and Mallory's relationship is about to head in a new direction ... down the aisle and to the altar. When Steven and Elyse refuse to give their blessing to the young couple, Mallory rebels by stating her intention for her and Nick to elope. | ||||||
| 103 | 7 | "Mrs. Wrong (Part 2)" | Sam Weisman | Alan Uger | November 13, 1986 | 102 |
| The Keatons learn that Nick and Mallory are about to elope and try to stop the young couple from making a mistake. As every trick in the book fails, Nick and Mallory conspire to leave in the pre-dawn hours for New Jersey to marry. With Alex following behind, will the young couple eventually realize that they are taking things too quickly? | ||||||
| 104 | 8 | "The Big Fix" | John Pasquin | Michael J. Weithorn | November 13, 1986 | 084 |
| Elyse plays matchmaker when she tries to fix up a lonely colleague with her neighbor's daughter (Terry Farrell). | ||||||
| 105 | 9 | "My Brother's Keeper" | Asaad Kelada | Susan Borowitz | November 20, 1986 | 107 |
| Alex gets Skippy an interview with the Grant chapter of his fraternity, only to find out they plan to make Skippy the butt of a humiliating practical joke. | ||||||
| 106 | 10 | "High School Confidential" | Mark W. Travis | Ruth Bennett | December 4, 1986 | 112 |
| In order to teach an art class at the local youth center, Nick must get his high school diploma with help from Alex and Mallory. | ||||||
| 107 | 11 | "Paper Lion" | Peter Baldwin | Wendy Aaron | December 11, 1986 | 106 |
| Alex works on an important paper with his Economics professor, only to find out that their hypothesis is wrong. His professor goes ahead with plans to present the paper anyway. | ||||||
| 108 | 12 | "My Mother, My Friend" | Lynn Hamrick | Kate Boutilier | December 18, 1986 | 113 |
| Mallory brings home a friend who has more in common with Elyse than Mallory herself. Mallory then becomes jealous of the attention her mom lavishes on the girl. | ||||||
| 109 | 13 | "O'Brother (Part 1)" | Sam Weisman | Alan Uger | January 8, 1987 | 108 |
| Steven's brother, Rob, with whom he has a strained relationship, arrives with news that he and his wife, Maureen, have filed for divorce. | ||||||
| 110 | 14 | "O'Brother (Part 2)" | Sam Weisman | Alan Uger | January 15, 1987 | 109 |
| Tensions rise as Rob's wife, Maureen, tells a different version of their separation. | ||||||
| 111 | 15 | "Higher Love" | Debbie Allen | Susan Borowitz | January 22, 1987 | 116 |
| Mallory begins to fall for the leader of her poetry group. | ||||||
| 112 | 16 | "Architect's Apprentice" | Steven Robman | David Tyron King | January 29, 1987 | 117 |
| Nick convinces Steven to let him enter a contest to pick the sculpture for the newly remodeled lobby of WKS. | ||||||
| 113 | 17 | "A Tale of Two Cities (Part 1)" | Peter Baldwin | Marc Lawrence & Alan Uger | February 5, 1987 | 114 |
| Alex and his boss, Rebecca, travel to Chicago for the Midwestern Banking Convention. Back home in Columbus, there is talk of remodeling the kitchen. | ||||||
| 114 | 18 | "A Tale of Two Cities (Part 2)" | Peter Baldwin | Marc Lawrence & Alan Uger | February 12, 1987 | 115 |
| During the convention, Rebecca has a few too many drinks and embarrasses both herself and Alex. | ||||||
| 115 | 19 | "Battle of the Sexes (Part 1)" | Andrew McCullough & Sam Weisman |
Stephen J. Curwick | February 19, 1987 | 110 |
| This episode looks back on the competitions between the Keaton men and women. | ||||||
| 116 | 20 | "Battle of the Sexes (Part 2)" | Andrew McCullough & Sam Weisman |
Stephen J. Curwick | February 19, 1987 | 111 |
| This episode looks back on the competitions between the Keaton men and women. | ||||||
| 117 | 21 | "Band on the Run" | Andrew McCullough | Susan Borowitz & Marc Lawrence | February 26, 1987 | 118 |
| Jennifer and her band, The Permanent Waves, try out for the homecoming dance at Leland College. They do so well Alex sees a chance to make money, and convinces them to let him be their manager. | ||||||
| 118 | 22 | "Keaton vs. Keaton" | Sam Weisman | Stephen J. Curwick | March 5, 1987 | 123 |
| Alex and Mallory compete for a new $2,500 WKS scholarship. | ||||||
| 119 | 23 | "A, My Name is Alex (Part 1)" | Will Mackenzie | Gary David Goldberg & Alan Uger |
March 12, 1987 | 119 |
|
Alex's close friend, Greg (Brian McNamara), is killed in a car accident, and Alex begins seeing a therapist as he struggles to deal with Greg's death. Note This two-part episode won the 1987 Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series. In 1997, TV Guide ranked this episode number 68 on it's '100 Greatest Episodes of All Time' list.[1] |
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| 120 | 24 | "A, My Name is Alex (Part 2)" | Will Mackenzie | Gary David Goldberg & Alan Uger | March 12, 1987 | 120 |
| Alex continues his sessions with his therapist, who helps him come to terms with Greg's death and help Alex realize his place in life after the fact. | ||||||
| 121 | 25 | ""D" is for Date" | Sam Weisman | Susan Borowitz | March 20, 1987 | 122 |
| Jennifer plays dumb in order to date a good-looking jock named Tim (Wil Wheaton). | ||||||
| 122 | 26 | "Love Me Do" | Sam Weisman | Marc Lawrence | April 30, 1987 | 121 |
| Skippy falls in love with Amy, a friend of Mallory's. Meanwhile, Steven plans a surprise birthday party for Elyse. | ||||||
| 123 | 27 | "The Visit" | Sam Weisman | Marc Lawrence & Alan Uger | May 7, 1987 | 124 |
|
Elyse's sister and her obnoxious family come for a visit. Note: The obnoxious son is played by the Jeff Cohen, and who played the annoying kid with the clapping hands hat in the episode "4 Rms Ocn Vu". |
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| 124 | 28 | "Matchmaker" | Barbara Schultz | Bruce David & Bruce Helford | July 23, 1987 | 072 |
| Mallory—having recently broken up with Rick—comes home after yet another disastrous date. Alex, determined to get Mallory to forget Rick and find her a boyfriend, uses Jennifer's computer to snare the perfect guy. But how will Alex respond when Mallory doesn't like the guy the computer chooses for her? | ||||||
| 125 | 29 | "It's My Party (Part 1)" | Asaad Kelada | Susan Borowitz | August 6, 1987 | 077 |
| Jennifer, desperately seeking popularity, wants to make some new friends, and ends up falling in with a group of snobbish rich girls. | ||||||
| 126 | 30 | "It's My Party (Part 2)" | Asaad Kelada | Susan Borowitz | August 13, 1987 | 078 |
| Jennifer begins spending more and more time with her new "cool" friends, which leads to serious repercussions when she stays out past curfew, begins disrespecting her parents and is caught skipping school, prompting Steven and Elyse to ground Jennifer indefinitely. | ||||||
| Series # | Season # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 127 | 1 | "The Last of the Red Hot Psychologists (Part 1)" |
Sam Weisman | Marc Lawrence | September 13, 1987 | 126 |
| Alex meets Lauren Miller (Courteney Cox), a psychology major at Leland College, and the two become friends ... then much more ... when Alex participates in Lauren's study of overachievers. Andy goes to his first day of Kindergarten and Jennifer goes to her first day of high school. | ||||||
| 128 | 2 | "The Last of the Red Hot Psychologists (Part 2)" |
Sam Weisman | Marc Lawrence | September 13, 1987 | 127 |
| Alex and Lauren admit that they have feelings for each other. | ||||||
| 129 | 3 | "Dear Mallory" | Sam Weisman | Alan Uger | September 20, 1987 | 125 |
| Mallory is hired as advice columnist for the Columbus Shopper's Guide. | ||||||
| 130 | 4 | "The Other Woman" | Asaad Kelada | Susan Borowitz | September 27, 1987 | 130 |
| Andrew feels ignored when Alex begins spending time with Lauren at the expense of brotherly bonding sessions. | ||||||
| 131 | 5 | "Dream Date" | Andrew McCullough | Katie Ford | October 4, 1987 | 129 |
| Jennifer uses a nerdy boy who has a crush on her as a stepping stone to win the heart of a teen heartthrob. | ||||||
| 132 | 6 | "Super Mom" | Matthew Diamond | Alan Uger | October 18, 1987 | 132 |
| Elyse must choose between working on a prestigious architectural account or spending time with her family. | ||||||
| 133 | 7 | "Walking On Air" | Andrew McCullough | Katie Ford | October 25, 1987 | 131 |
| Steven gets a reluctant Mallory a new job at WKS. Meanwhile, Alex leads the rest of the family on a cereal-sponsored search contest for $5,000. | ||||||
| 134 | 8 | "Invasion of the Psychologist Snatchers" | Matthew Diamond | Marc Lawrence | November 1, 1987 | 133 |
| Alex becomes insecure of Lauren's visiting ex-boyfriend. | ||||||
| 135 | 9 | "The Way We Were" | Will Mackenzie | Gary David Goldberg | November 8, 1987 | 128 |
| The Keatons get a first-hand lesson on Alzheimer's disease when Aunt Rosemary (Barbara Barrie) comes to visit and behaves erractically. | ||||||
| 136 | 10 | "Mister Sister" | Kent Bateman | Susan Borowitz | November 15, 1987 | 134 |
| Nick gets a job as the janitor at Mallory's sorority house, which leads to friction between them. Meanwhile, Steven and Alex try to teach Andy basketball. | ||||||
| 137 | 11 | "Citizen Keaton" | Sam Weisman | Susan Borowitz & Marc Lawrence | November 22, 1987 | 135 |
| Mallory runs for student body president of Grant College, and Alex agrees to be her campaign manager. | ||||||
| 138 | 12 | "Father Time (Part 1)" | Sam Weisman | Alan Uger | November 29, 1987 | 136 |
| After Rob and Maureen finalize their divorce, Rob and his children, Marilyn and Jonathan, visit the Keatons. It soon becomes clear that Marilyn is having a very tough time dealing with the divorce, and her emotions quickly implode on the Keatons. | ||||||
| 139 | 13 | "Father Time (Part 2)" | Sam Weisman | Alan Uger | December 6, 1987 | 137 |
| Steven and Rob fear the worst after Marilyn fails to come home after her date. | ||||||
| 140 | 14 | "The American Family (Part 1)" | Sam Weisman | Katie Ford | December 13, 1987 | 138 |
| Lauren does a term paper on the typical American family, culling memories from the Keatons on their past. | ||||||
| 141 | 15 | "The American Family (Part 2)" | Sam Weisman | Katie Ford | December 13, 1987 | 139 |
| Using the story of Lauren's term paper as a backdrop, the Keatons continue to recount past adventures through flashbacks. | ||||||
| 142 | 16 | "Anniversary Waltz" | Sam Weisman | Alan Uger | December 20, 1987 | 035 |
| Steven and Elyse argue for a week about their upcoming 20th anniversary party, leading the kids to remind them of their love for each other. | ||||||
| 143 | 17 | "Miracle in Columbus" | Lynn Hamrick | Rob Okun | December 20, 1987 | 141 |
| Alex gets a job as a mall Santa, where he finally gets the spirit of Christmas after he hears a young girl's wish for her father to come home. | ||||||
| 144 | 18 | "The Play's the Thing" | Debbie Allen | Diane Dixon | January 10, 1988 | 140 |
| Steven tries to stage a radical play he wrote in the '60's, but Elyse is reluctant to play the lead role. | ||||||
| 145 | 19 | "The Spirit of Columbus" | Sam Weisman | Charles J. Schlotter | January 17, 1988 | 143 |
| Nick sells one of his sculptures and so Alex starts to believe that Nick's art is worth something. So he makes Nick make 35 more of them to sell. | ||||||
| 146 | 20 | "The Blues Brother" | Matthew Diamond | Burt Pretlusky | January 24, 1988 | 142 |
| Alex encourages former blues musician Eddie Dupree to come out of retirement. | ||||||
| 147 | 21 | "Read It and Weep (Part 1)" | Sam Weisman | Marc Lawrence & Alan Uger | February 7, 1988 | 144 |
| It's book report time in Jennifer's American Literature class, and instead of going along with her classmates and do a report on books concerning Yogi Berra, she chooses "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn". The problem: The book is on the school's banned book list for its use of racial slurs. Jennifer is warned by her stern high school principal not to review the book or face serious consequences, but she stands her ground and gets suspended. | ||||||
| 148 | 22 | "Read It and Weep (Part 2)" | Sam Weisman | Marc Lawrence & Alan Uger | February 14, 1988 | 145 |
| Jennifer fights her suspension as the fate of her book report—and the status of "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" being on the school's banned book list—are left in the hands of the court system. | ||||||
| 149 | 23 | "Quitting Time" | Matthew Diamond | Susan Borowitz | February 21, 1988 | 147 |
| When Lauren quits work on her psychology thesis, Alex begins to find her less interesting. | ||||||
| 150 | 24 | "Spring Reminds Me" | Matthew Diamond | Katie Ford | February 28, 1988 | 146 |
| The mother of Mallory's childhood best friend has difficulty coping with her daughter's suicide. Meanwhile, Steven unearths his old kit of magic tricks, and starts driving the family crazy with them. | ||||||
| 151 | 25 | "The Boys Next Door" | Sam Weisman | Trish Vrandenberg | March 6, 1988 | 148 |
| Elyse's nerdy high school friend visits in hopes that she will be his date to the class reunion. | ||||||
| 152 | 26 | "Sign of the Times" | Asaad Kelada | Matthew Monaher | March 13, 1988 | 150 |
| Andy becomes friends with a new student who is deaf. But when the other kids start teasing him, Andy decides not to talk. | ||||||
| 153 | 27 | "Return of the Native" | John Pasquin | Lloyd Garver | March 20, 1988 | 071 |
| Cousin June returns to the United States after three years abroad in England. She has lots to tell, but the entire family has stories of their own. | ||||||
| 154 | 28 | "Father, Can You Spare a Dime" | Andrew McCullough | Ben Cardinale & Peter Schreider | May 1, 1988 | 149 |
| Nick is hurting for money after he is rejected for a bank loan, but he doesn't think his father is the right person to lend him money, either. | ||||||
| Series # | Season # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 155 | 1 | "It Happened One Night" | Matthew Diamond | Marc Lawrence | October 30, 1988 | 154 |
| Steven, Elyse, and Andy go camping and Jennifer, Alex, and Mallory stay home. After realizing they should have gone with them, Jennifer, Alex, Nick, and Mallory head to the campground. But the car breaks down in the middle of nowhere and they must camp outside. | ||||||
| 156 | 2 | "Designing Woman" | Matthew Diamond | Katie Ford | November 6, 1988 | 155 |
| Mallory gets a job a fashion designing store but finds out her co-worker is stealing her designs. | ||||||
| 157 | 3 | "Truckers" | Andrew McCullough | Shannon Gaughan | November 13, 1988 | 156 |
| Alex feels neglected when Andy would rather spend time with Nick's nephew rather than with him. | ||||||
| 158 | 4 | "Beyond Therapy" | Sam Weisman | Katie Ford | November 27, 1988 | 158 |
| Lauren encourages Alex to join a therapy group to express his feelings more. | ||||||
| 159 | 5 | "Heartstrings (Part 1)" | Sam Weisman | Alan Uger | December 4, 1988 | 151 |
| Steven suffers a major heart attack in the living room of his home. At the hospital, the Keatons pass the time in two ways: recalling when Steven and Elyse met and supporting Mr. Meyers and Mrs. Hobart, whose spouses are also suffering from heart-related health issues. | ||||||
| 160 | 6 | "Heartstrings (Part 2)" | Sam Weisman | Alan Uger | December 11, 1988 | 152 |
| Steven's surgery goes longer than expected, but spirits are lifted when Mr. Meyers' wife pulls through her surgery successfully. Just minutes later, the Keatons get a scary reminder of what still might be when Mrs. Hobart's husband suddenly dies, even after it had appeared that his health had improved greatly. | ||||||
| 161 | 7 | "Heartstrings (Part 3)" | Sam Weisman | Alan Uger | December 18, 1988 | 153 |
| Steven recovers from surgery and returns home, but is terrified of his future. In the end, Elyse has to put her own fears aside to help calm Steven's and help him adjust to life after his heart attack. | ||||||
| 162 | 8 | "Basic Training" | Sam Weisman | Susan Borowitz | January 1, 1989 | 157 |
| Desperately seeking direction in life, Skippy decides to enlist in the Army. But is the Army the best career path for him? Meanwhile, Steven is not allowed to eat fattening foods because of his recent heart attack. | ||||||
| 163 | 9 | "Deja Vu" | Matthew Diamond | Susan Borowitz | January 8, 1989 | 160 |
| Jennifer starts dating Mallory's ex-boyfriend's younger brother, Josh. But when Mallory finds out that Josh wants to follow in his brother's footsteps, she thinks that he will dump Jennifer just like Jeff dumped her. | ||||||
| 164 | 10 | "Nick's Best Friend" | Sam Weisman | Katie Ford | January 15, 1989 | 159 |
| Man's best friend becomes Nick's best friend when he adopts a pet dog. But when the dog is struck by a car and critically injured, Nick is forced to make a heart-wrenching decision. | ||||||
| 165 | 11 | "Get Me to the Living Room on Time" | Sam Weisman | Matthew Monaher | January 29, 1989 | 161 |
| Andy becomes friends with two senior citizens at a retirement home, Joseph and Eva. Steven decides to make them the focus of his new documentary. While the documentary is being recorded, Joseph proposes to Eva, who accepts. But Joseph's son, David, does not approve of their marriage. | ||||||
| 166 | 12 | "The Job Not Taken" | Andrew McCullough | Marc Lawrence | February 5, 1989 | 162 |
| When Alex's friend, Paul Corman, gets Alex a job, Paul gets fired. Alex starts to feel guilty, so he quits. | ||||||
| 167 | 13 | "The Wrecker's Ball" | Sam Weisman | Douglas Wyman | February 12, 1989 | 163 |
| When the first building Elyse designed faces the wrecking ball, the entire family rallies behind her attempts to block the demolition. | ||||||
| 168 | 14 | "My Best Friend's Girl" | Sam Weisman | Bruce Helford | February 19, 1989 | 165 |
| Lauren tries to play matchmaker for Skippy as a favor to Alex, but Skippy ends up falling in love with her. Steven and Elyse both think they can teach Jennifer to drive better, so they compete. | ||||||
| 169 | 15 | "'Til Her Daddy Takes the T-Bird Away" | Matthew Diamond | Susan Borowitz | February 26, 1989 | 166 |
| Mallory's plans to buy a car are stalled when Steven refuses to co-sign her loan. | ||||||
| 170 | 16 | "Simon Says" | Matthew Diamond | Katie Ford | March 5, 1989 | 164 |
| Jennifer and Simon get jobs at a fast food restaurant. | ||||||
| 171 | 17 | "All in the Neighborhood (Part 1)" | Matthew Diamond | Ruth Bennett | March 12, 1989 | 167 |
| When a longtime African-American coworker of Steven's moves into the neighborhood with his family, tensions rise over the fear of falling property and home values. Things come to a boil when the new neighbors' home is vandalized. | ||||||
| 172 | 18 | "All in the Neighborhood (Part 2)" | Matthew Diamond | Ruth Bennett | March 19, 1989 | 168 |
| The Keatons and their neighbors are pressed into action after their new neighbors' home is vandalized. Through the process, the neighbors really get to know one another, as deep-seated feelings of racism begin to surface in the neighborhood. | ||||||
| 173 | 19 | "They Can't Take That Away From Me (Part 1)" | Matthew Diamond | Marc Lawrence | April 2, 1989 | 171 |
| Alex becomes attracted to a young music student named Marty (Jane Adams) even though he is still dating Lauren. | ||||||
| 174 | 20 | "They Can't Take That Away From Me (Part 2)" | Matthew Diamond | Marc Lawrence | April 9, 1989 | 172 |
| Alex must choose between Lauren and Marty. | ||||||
| 175 | 21 | "Rain Forests Keep Falling on My Head" | Rita Rogers | Bruce Helford | April 16, 1989 | 173 |
| When Jennifer becomes obsessed with saving the environment, she makes everybody use things that are not a hazard. Steven and Elyse suggest she see the school counselor. | ||||||
| 176 | 22 | "Wrap Around the Clock (Part 1)" | Matthew Diamond | Katie Ford | April 23, 1989 | 169 |
| The Keatons look back on pleasant memories while filling in Andy's time capsule. | ||||||
| 177 | 23 | "Wrap Around the Clock (Part 2)" | Andrew McCullough | Katie Ford | April 23, 1989 | 170 |
| The Keatons continue to look back on pleasant memories while filling in Andy's time capsule. | ||||||
| 178 | 24 | "Mr. Keaton Takes a Vacation" | Sam Weisman | Shannon Gaughan | May 7, 1989 | 174 |
| Steven finally expresses his true feelings about Nick when he moves in with the family for a week. | ||||||
| 179 | 25 | "Alex Doesn't Live Here Anymore (Part 1)" | Sam Weisman | Susan Borowitz, Katie Ford, Marc Lawrence & Alan Uger |
May 14, 1989 | 175 |
| When Alex lands his dream job in New York, everyone's delighted for him... except Elyse, who can't stand the thought of her first child moving so far away from home. | ||||||
| 180 | 26 | "Alex Doesn't Live Here Anymore (Part 2)" | Sam Weisman | Susan Borowitz, Katie Ford, Marc Lawrence & Alan Uger |
May 14, 1989 | 176 |
|
While Alex packs for New York, Elyse struggles to deal with her feelings of loss. At the end of the show, the cast and the show's creator Gary David Goldberg come out for a final curtain call. In 2011, the whole 2-part finale was ranked #24 on the TV Guide Network special, TV's Most Unforgettable Finales.[2] |
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