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Family Ties: The Third Season (TV) (1984-1985)
R1 - America - Paramount Home Entertainment Review written by and copyright: Rob Fields (17th February 2008). |
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The Film
 I didn’t make it a point to watch too many comedies back in the 1980’s, but I do remember a great many and was able to catch a few select episodes of “Silver Spoons” (1982-1987), “Diff’rent Strokes” (1978-1986), “The Facts of Life” (1979-1988), “Punky Brewster” (1984-1988), and “Family Ties” (1982-1989). Each of these shows had something different to offer. They all had the magic that would keep them a part of NBC television for quite a few years. Some of them would spanned well into my high school years, while a few would fall by the wayside. In time, they would all end up coming to an end. Now, when it came to Michael J. Fox, it wasn’t this series to where he would get my attention. No, to me Fox would establish himself in the “Back to the Future” films (1985-1990). Gee, who would have thought that he was making hit movies while he was doing “Family Ties”? And then there was the dork of “Family Ties”. If you’re saying Mallory Keaton (Justine Bateman), you could probably get away with that one. But of course, I was thinking of Skippy (Marc Price), or, if you want to get technical, Erwin ‘Skippy’ Handleman. He was the dorky character who had a crush on Mallory. In my opinion, they might have made a perfect match. But at least he had a chance to stand out on his own in “Trick or Treat” (1986). Like Fox, he made this awesome movie while he was still doing the show. And…(GASP!!)…you even got to see him in his birthday suit in the opening moments of the film. He was still playing a dork, but at least he was able to rise to the occasion and stop Sammi Curr from killing everybody. Still, Price got my attention. I guess what I’m trying to say here is that I probably wouldn’t have given these two actors their due if it hadn’t been for “Family Ties”. “Family Ties: The Third Season” continues the pattern of how the mellow 1960’s still clash with the conservative 1980’s in the “generation gap” comedy. But by the end of Season 3, the Keaton’s of Ohio finally agree on one thing – their joy at the birth of baby brother Andrew (Brian Bonsall). The hit series gives viewers one of the funniest seasons yet as Elyse (Meredith Baxter Birney) tells Steven (Michael Gross) that she is pregnant, and the family suffers through food cravings, Lamaze classes, and Elyse going into labor on television during Pledge Week. Plus, Alex starts college, Mallory gets a job she is actually good at, and Jennifer (Tina Yothers) discovers boys! Now with their new baby around, no one minds being bound by “Family Ties”. I liked a lot of the one-liners that Alex P. Keaton is able to throw out. Sure, some of them end up getting him into trouble, and some of them just establish his character. I’m just glad that he didn’t bring this character to the role of Marty McFly. Okay, “Family Ties” is up for review here, so I’ll get back to the subject at hand. I liked how Alex is able to overcome the challenges that are thrown his way. There are times when he gets his ego bruised, not to mention that ‘F’ on his first college paper, but he still manages to show everybody that Alex P. Keaton will not be denied. He is destined for great success – and he knows it! And then there’s Skippy. Okay, he’s a dork, but that’s his character. He’s definitely good for more than a few laughs. Just watching him drive Mallory up the wall alone makes his character interesting. Also, some of the life scenarios that are played out help make the series more realistic. The downsides? Okay, I know the show’s dated. Now, after a good twenty years and counting, I’m seeing just HOW dated it really is. The show now feels like I’m sitting in the studio audience with the rest of the audience members, watching all of this being performed on a stage. Even the episodic promos that are optional to each episode plays out the same way. You can even see that by looking at the sets that are used from the rooms in the Keaton house to the scenes in Las Vegas to even the scenes in Steven’s studio. I’m surprised they haven’t made a high school play out of “Family Ties”. Hey, they made a musical about Jerry Springer. Anything’s still possible, right? Also, probably my BIGGEST issue to end all issues with this series is Mallory Keaton. Okay, I know she’s not the sharpest tool in the shed, but come on! It makes me wonder if that’s where the idea for Kelly Bundy on “Married…With Children” (1987-1997) came from. Okay, between these two girls, Kelly’s probably worse, but it just seems like Mallory is almost never with the program. To give one example: In the Season Three premier, she’s sitting there watching Alex be the master of blackjack. Then she sits down and keeps saying, “Hit me!” Then Alex has to spell it out for her that you can’t go over 21. Its characters like her that makes it hard for me to take this show seriously and to suspend my disbelief. As for the rest of the characters, they are believable enough. I’ve come across kids like Skippy back when I went to high school, so I don’t find him too far-fetched. This set includes all 24 season three episodes: - “The Gambler” (24:00 episode alone / 24:32 with episodic promo) When the family tags along with Elyse for a convention in Atlantic City, they watch her dabble in blackjack – and come down with gambling fever. - “Here We Go Again” (23:31 episode alone / 24:03 with episodic promo) With Steven and the kids away on a camping trip, Elyse stays home to work, but then gets the news from her doctor that she’s pregnant. - “Little Man On Campus” (24:03 episode alone / 24:35 with episodic promo) It looks like Alex is in over his head on his first day at college. He makes a fool of himself in front of the professor, and even gets a low mark on his first paper. - “Love Thy Neighbor” (24:00 episode alone / 24:32 with episodic promo) Young Jennifer is excited that her former neighbor Scott is visiting. But he’s not interested in playing ball – he’d rather go out with Mallory. - “Keaton ’N Son” (23:01 episode alone / 23:33 with episodic promo) When Alex loses out on a job at the bank, he reluctantly takes one at his dad’s station. But then the bank job comes through, and he’s afraid to tell his father. - “Fabric Smarts” (24:00 episode alone / 24:32 with episodic promo) Mallory is a whiz at her new job at the boutique. But with her school grades slipping, her parents order her to give notice…until Alex says he will tutor her. - “Hot Line Fever” (23:55 episode alone / 24:27 with episodic promo) In order to early college credit, Alex volunteers to work at a crisis hotline and immediately gets a caller who is contemplating suicide. - “4 RMS OCN VU” (23:59 episode alone / 24:31 with episodic promo) With his parents away, and in order to pay for damage Mallory caused to the car, Alex rents out the house to visitors in town for the big game. - “Best Man” (23:59 episode alone / 24:31 with episodic promo) Alex is shocked when his best friend Doug meets a girl and announces he’s getting married. Hurt and angry, Alex refuses to attend the wedding. - “Lost Weekend” (24:00 episode alone / 24:32 with episodic promo) Before the baby is born, Elyse wants to bond with the girls up at the cabin, while Steven wants to bond with Alex at home. But their kids want no part of it! - “Don’t Kiss Me, I’m Only the Messenger” (23:57 episode alone / 24:29 with episodic promo) Next-door neighbor Skippy has a crush on Mallory’s girlfriend; unfortunately, the girl only has eyes for one Alex P. Keaton. - “Help Wanted” (24:02 episode alone / 24:32 with episodic promo) Alex hires a new housekeeper Karen without consulting Steven. She is beautiful, and nice, and friendly…and totally incompetent. - “Karen II, Alex 0” (24:01 episode alone / 24:32 with episodic promo) When Alex is rushed by a fraternity, his date to the party breaks her ankle. So he asks Karen – but the decision proves disastrous. - “Oh Donna” (24:00 episode alone / 24:32 with episodic promo) When Steven and Elyse hold Lamaze classes at the house, Alex meets a young unwed mother and discovers the joy of fatherhood. - “Auntie Up” (24:00 episode alone / 24:32 with episodic promo) Mallory’s favorite aunt visits, and the two bond like sisters. But when tragedy strikes, Mallory is shocked that no one else appears grief-stricken. - “Philadelphia Story” (24:00 episode alone / 24:32 with episodic promo) While writing a history term paper, Alex falls asleep and wakes up in 1776, where he must convince Thomas Jefferson to write the Declaration of Independence. - “Birth of a Keaton: Part 1” (24:00 episode alone / 24:32 with episodic promo) It’s Pledge Week down at Steven’s TV station. But after Steven is called home to deal with the plumbing, Elyse performs on-air…and then goes into labor! - “Birth of a Keaton: Part 2” (23:29 episode alone / 24:00 with episodic promo) With Steven, Skippy, and plumber stuck in a massive snowstorm, Elyse remains at the television station in the final stages of labor. - “Cry Baby” (24:00 episode alone / 24:32 with episodic promo) New infant Andrew isn’t the only crybaby in the house – young Jennifer is jealous of all the attention the baby is getting and resorts to infantile behavior. - “Don’t Know Too Much About History” (24:01 episode alone / 24:33 with episodic promo) Alex and his classmate James start a new tutoring business, but then compete for the affection of a pretty female student. - “Bring Up Baby” (23:59 episode alone / 24:30 with episodic promo) Steven and Elyse never spend time alone, so they try having a date night, but concerns about the baby – and the other youngsters – disrupt their evening. - “Cold Storage” (24:02 episode alone / 24:34 with episodic promo) While the family attends a Lamaze reunion, Mallory stays home to study, but gets locked in the basement with next-door neighbor Skippy. - “Remembrance of Things Past: Part 1” (23:04 episode alone / 23:36 with episodic promo) The Keaton’s visit Grandma, who has put her house up for sale now that Grandpa has died. But Steven’s unresolved issues with his father continue to haunt him. - “Remembrance of Things Past: Part 2” (23:56 episodic alone / 24:27 with episodic promo) Steven and his brother disagree about whether to accept the offer on their mother’s house. Meanwhile, Steven visits his father’s grave in order to make peace.
Video
Each episode is presented in its original full screen broadcast ratio of 1.33:1. It’s been many years since I’ve seen “Family Ties”, so when I saw the usual CBS DVD disclaimer on the back of the cover that states that “Some episodes may be edited from their original network versions”, it didn’t bother me. While the episodes look great being digitally re-mastered, they still have that dated look about them. You can definitely tell that the cast is performing on sets. It almost makes you want to laugh. Still, it’s a piece of television history. Not to mention the nostalgia you will feel when watching this season. It’s from the 1980’s era, after all. As for the picture itself, each episode is free from grain, pixels, and the like. There are no chapter selection menus, but each episode does have chapter stops. You can view the episodes individually (alone or with the episodic promo spots), or you can have a continuous marathon by selecting the ‘Play all episodes’ option on the Main Menu. Do note, however, that if you select this option, you will only get to watch the episodes. The promo spots will not be included.
Audio
Each episode is accompanied by an English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono soundtrack. There are no subtitles available whatsoever. And just to let you know up front: “Music has been changed for this home entertainment version.” Again, it’s been many years since I’ve watched any of the originally-aired episodes, so I don’t know which music is original and which is not. Still, even with the surround sound on, it still sounds like it did back in the day when I watched them on NBC. Even the laugh tracks sound dated.
Extras
Paramount has includes episodic promos for all 24 episodes, a gag reel, and a public service announcement. Below are the details of the extras for each disc: DISC ONE: This disc features episodic promos for all six episodes. They can be played before the start of each episode or you can view them all at once from the option on the Main Menu. The total runtime for the Main Menu option is 3 minutes and 13 seconds. If you select the ‘Play all episodes’ option on the Main Menu, it will play the episodes without the episodic promos. DISC TWO: This disc features episodic promos for all six episodes. They can be played before the start of each episode or you can view them all at once from the option on the Main Menu. The total runtime for the Main Menu option is 3 minutes and 13 seconds. If you select the ‘Play all episodes’ option on the Main Menu, it will play the episodes without the episodic promos. DISC THREE: This disc features episodic promos for all six episodes. They can be played before the start of each episode or you can view them all at once from the option on the Main Menu. The total runtime for the Main Menu option is 3 minutes and 11 seconds. If you select the ‘Play all episodes’ option on the Main Menu, it will play the episodes without the episodic promos. DISC FOUR: There are episodic promos for all six episodes. They can be played before the start of each episode or you can view them all at once from the option on the Man Menu. The total runtime for the Main Menu option is 3 minutes and 11 seconds. If you select the ‘Play all episodes’ option on the Main Menu, it will play the episodes without the episodic promos. There is a gag reel which runs for 7 minutes and 19 seconds. It starts out with the opening credits to all of the regular Season Three episodes. Then from there it goes into the actual gag reel, which covers foul-ups, bleeps, and blunders from this season. You can hear some of the laughter in the background when the actors mess up. There is a public service announcement fromMichael J. Fox which runs for 33 seconds. Here, Fox talks about Parkinson’s disease. The quality appears to be not the greatest. However, when he says something about making the disease stop, the picture appears normal again. So this is not a bad transfer after all. It’s just part of the commercial itself.
Packaging
“Family Ties: The Third Season” is a 4-DVD set with all four DVDs placed into a single clear Amaray keep case. The episode titles, summaries and original airdates are printed on the inside of the cover art.
Overall
My final word: Okay, aside from the issues in the previous section of the review, I would say that if you’re a fan of ANY of the above TV shows that I’ve mentioned in the opening part of my review, then this third installment of “Family Ties” is a must-own for anybody who wants to take that trip down the 80’s part of TV memory lane. Or, if you just want to see Fox in some of his best acting, aside from the “Back to the Future” films, then that would be another valid reason. In any case, you will understand why this show has lasted for the typical seven seasons.
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