FAMILY TIES: ALEX DOESN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE {SERIES FINALE} (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series about the Keaton family -- Elyse and Steven, two aging ex-hippies, and their conservative, materialistic children. In this final episode, Alex anxiously waits to find out whether he got a job with a prestigious Wall Street investment firm. Alex lands the job, with a very healthy starting salary, and prepares to head out for New York. But Elyse is struggling to accept the fact that Alex is moving out and starting a new life without their help. Elyse grows furious as Alex acts oblivious to the fact he will be missed, and appears unconcerned with others' feelings about his departure. Jennifer, meanwhile, is busy measuring Alex's room in anticipation of grabbing the space. After Jennifer and Alex share a touching moment, Mallory invades Alex's room with her tape measure as well. The two siblings, recognizing their dissimilarities, have a heartfelt chat, and Mallory gives the new Wall Street executive some fashion tips. Realizing his mother is upset, Alex confronts Elyse about her cold behavior. An argument develops and Alex announces he will be leaving for New York sooner than he had planned. Steven reassures his wife that although he shares her feelings, he is happy that their son is starting a new life. But Elyse still feels dismissed and believes that Alex has taken them for granted as parents for years. While watching Andrew's school play, Elyse comes to grips with her son's need to move on. In an emotionally charged scene, Alex and his mother settle their differences and reminisce. When Alex's ride to the airport arrives, he tries to keep the goodbyes short but cannot hide his feelings. As the program concludes, the cast returns to take a bow and Gary David Goldberg, creator of "Family Ties," speaks about his affection for the cast and the series. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: September 17, 1989 Sunday 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:02:05
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:30044
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1982-1989
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Gary David Goldberg … Executive Producer, Created by
- Alan Uger … Co-Executive Producer, Writer
- Marc Lawrence … Supervising Producer, Writer
- Susan Borowitz … Producer, Writer
- Dianne Edwards Thorington … Associate Producer
- Sam Weisman … Director
- Katie Ford … Writer
- Tom Scott … Theme Music by
- Jeff Barry … Theme Music by
- Johnny Mathis … Theme Music by
- Deniece Williams … Theme Music by
- Meredith Baxter Birney … Cast, Elyse Keaton
- Michael Gross … Cast, Steven Keaton
- Michael J. Fox … Cast, Alex P. Keaton
- Justine Bateman … Cast, Mallory Keaton
- Tina Yothers … Cast, Jennifer Keaton
- Brian Bosnall … Cast, Andrew Keaton
- Scott Valentine … Cast, Nick Moore
- Marc Price … Cast, Skippy
- Courteney Cox … Cast, Lauren Miller
- Terry Wills … Cast, the Cabbie
- Nina Mann … Cast, Ms. Williams
- Daniel Weisman … Cast, Marc
- Sarah McCrary … Cast, Violet
- Alex Zuckerman … Cast, Davey
- Marissa Rosen … Cast, Child #1
- Ginny Wohland … Cast, Child #2
- Nichole Francois … Cast, Child #3