Family Ties creator Gary David Goldberg made his first big hit with Family Ties after doing minor work on other shows such as The Bob Newhart Show and MASH. After a long draught of failed creations of his own, Family Ties finally hit the spotlight. The show’s star, Meredith Baxter Birney, and her co-star, Michael Gross, played the parents of a middle class, suburban family with three adolescent children: Alex (Micheal J. Fox), Mallory (Justine Bateman), and Jennifer (Tina Yothers). These siblings find very little in common and their adventures through their teenage years are what give Family Ties its appeal. In a way, the show is timeless as it ventures through lost loves, self enlightenment, and the struggle to make it through high school. Adolescents in any generation can find a common thread with the issues the Keaton kids face.
The DVD’s are a typical format, offering an all episode play though, which I’ve found very convenient if you’re in the mood for a Family Ties marathon, but also a complete list of episodes including descriptions for the Family Ties enthusiast who is looking for that one special episode. However, it took me too long to figure out how to maneuver through the list to scan the library of episodes on each DVD. The episodes are of very good quality and the sound also resonates well.
I give the Family Ties Season 4 DVD set two thumbs up! The shows inspire a “blast from the past” as they are watched and can certainly be enjoyed over and over for years to come.
Reviewed by Sarah Black
