Product Description

Steve and Elyse Keaton (Michael Gross and Meredith Baxter-Birney), once 1960s radicals, now find themselves in Reagan-Era American trying to raise a traditional suburban family. Son Alex P. Keaton (Michael J. Fox) is an ambitious Young Republican and his sister Mallory (Justine Bateman) is a shallow victim of the corporate culture, obsessed with music, clothes and boys. Their only normal kid is young Jennifer (Tina Yothers), a bit of a tomboy.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #19378 in DVD
• Brand: Paramount
• Released on: 2007-10-09
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 4
• Formats: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 4
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 530 minutes

Amazon.com
That patented combination of funny business and moving moments lives on in the second season of Family Ties. Other than the fact that the now-bearded Steven Keaton (Michael Gross) turns 40, there are no significant changes, but no fall-off in quality either. As the season begins, Mallory (Justine Bateman), is still seeing her boyfriend, Jeff (now a college freshman), while Alex (Michael J. Fox) continues to plays the field--an ever-expanding field that includes a feminist, a family friend, and a 40-year-old Frenchwoman (During the year, other lady loves include Less Than Zero's Jami Gertz and Melrose Place's Daphne Zuniga.) Standout episodes include "This Year's Model," in which Mallory enters Elyse (Meredith Baxter-Birney, who should've won an Emmy for her stellar work) and herself in a modeling contest. To Mallory's dismay, her mother attracts all the attention. Elyse's relationship with her son is similarly tested in "Birthday Boy," in which Alex turns 18 and declares his independence--even though he still lives at home (Fox's Back to the Future father, Crispin Glover, guests in this episode). That leaves Jennifer (Tina Yothers), the youngest Keaton. Few storylines revolve around her, but Jennifer's deadpan wit adds levity whenever things start to get too serious.

Notable guests during the 1983-1984 season include a pre-Who's the Boss? Judith Light, who attempts to seduce Steven ("Not an Affair to Remember"), and a post-Bosom Buddies Tom Hanks, who returns, for the last time, as the troubled Uncle Ned ("Say Uncle"). While the first boxed set was a barebones release, the second offers promos for each episode and three informative featurettes. Participants include Fox, Gross, Yothers, creator Gary David Goldberg, and Marc "Skippy Handleman" Price. In addition, the theme song ("Without Us") has not been tampered with this time around. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews

One of my all time favorite family sitcoms!
The video quality on this season is crystal clear. I found myself taking in all of the props on sets. This feel good sitcom really starts to take off in season two.

In "This Year's Model" Elyse and Mallory are in a mother-daughter modeling contest and end up shooting a frozen food commerical in the Keaton's kitchen. This is one of the my favorite episodes where Meredith Baxter Birney really gets a chance to shine.

In "Baby Boy Doe" Skippy who is adopted decides to meet his "real" (birth) mother and in the end is happy to be able to go home and have "real" dinner with his adoptive mother. I know i will be buying every season of this show as soon as it becomes available.

Season 2 comes with a few extras "The Making of Family Ties", "Michael J. Fox: The Best Gig In The World", "The Year of The Beard".

I have not watched the extras yet but, look forward to doing so.

Much better set than season one
Family Ties really began to hit its stride in the 1983-84 season. There are many standout episodes, including Alex as Scrooge in "A Keaton Christmas Carol"; Alex & Mallory's trip to Princeton ("Go Tigers"); another memorable guest apperance by Tom Hanks ("Say Uncle"), to name just a few.

The real treat in this set is the inclusion of several bonus features, after the bare-bones release of season one. "The Making of Family Ties" offers both recent and vintage interviews with the cast. Unfortunately, neither Meredith Baxter-Birney or Justine Bateman take part in the new material. Michael Gross and Michael J. Fox talk with pride and passion about the show, and you may not even recognize Tina Yothers now.

There is also another brief segment with Fox, and "The Year of the Beard," in which Gross waxes nostalgic on his choice to grow a beard during the summer 1983 hiatus. Episode promos are an added bonus, and really took this viewer back to those great NBC Thursday nights.

As Marc "Skippy" Price puts it, Family Ties is the perfect 80's time capsule. Yet, it doesn't really seem that dated. The humor and heart of the show are timeless. And we fans are fortunate that Paramount is giving the series the respect it deserves on DVD.

The Beard Arrives
An excellent series from an excellent show. You know whether you want this or not, but if you're a fan this series has some classic episodes. Unlike series 1, this set has several extras (a making-of, a Michael J Fox interview, and a special on Michael Gross growing a beard (yes indeed)).