What was unique about Family Ties was that it blended family comedy with politics. The 1960's flower children, Steven and Elyse clashed with the 1980's conservative, Alex. The show, in a way, showed the changing values during the Reagan era. Besides political views, Family Ties covered a number of controversial topics ranging from suicide to racism to drug dependancy.

    Skippy was a neighbour who had a never-ending crush on Mallory. Ellen was Alex's first serious girlfriend. After breaking up with her, he became seriously involved with Lauren, a psychology student and Nick Moore was Mallory's serious boyfriend.

    It was set in middle America, Columbus, Ohio, where onetime flower children Elyse and Steve Keaton still espoused the liberal values of the idealistic 60s,although they were now parents and professionals. He was the manager of the local public TV station and she was an architect. Their children's ideals were something else. Alex was Mr. Conservative, habitually dressed in a suit and tie and with a picture of William F. Buckley over his bed. Mallory was into designer jeans, boys, and junk food, while Jennifer just wanted to be a kid. They were a loving family, though the kids never could understand those Bob Dylan records their parents kept playing.

    Michael played a character who was a brilliant student, really into money, is sarcastic, witty and makes fun of mallory all the time, but actually behind all that is a sensitive and loving boy. Alex P. Keaton is a very concervative teenager who gets straight A's and he's Republican. Mallory is not so smart, she's lovely, but Alex keeps making fun of her because she gets bad grades.