Family Ties

Family Ties is the heir apparent to All in the Family. Equally relevant, it captures '80s home life better than anything else on television. [24 Sep 1982, p.B3]

Family Ties doesn't beat you over the head for laughs. The humor comes out of the situation. The situations come out of reality. [22 Sep 1982, p.6]

Meredith Baxter Birney and Michael Gross do a splendid job as modern-day parents with an attractive brood of convincingly "now" youngsters. [19 Oct 1982, p.34]

A better-than-average new comedy series. [22 Sep 1982, p.8D]

Indeed, it’s Gross’ winning performance that makes the hit-or-miss first season of Family Ties worth your time. His impeccably dry delivery showcases the show’s humor, to be sure, but his good-guy aura makes him truly extraordinary.

The cast is pleasant enough. The rest depends on how cleverly Gary David Goldberg, the creator and producer of the series, can bring a sense of freshness to an overworked device.

Despite being written by producer Gary David Goldberg (one of the brighter young comedy minds in TV), the script speaks the narrow, doctrinaire language of bumber stickers. [22 Sep 1982, p.7]