"Family Ties" - Season 2 (1983-84), Episode 14, "Say Uncle"

By Jason C. Klose


I've been watching the CNN special "History of the Sitcom," and it reminded me of how much I miss the classic TV shows I grew up watching in the 1980s.

One of my favorite shows was the NBC series "Family Ties," featuring the Keaton family and starring Michael J. Fox (Alex), Michael Gross (Steven), Meredith Baxter (Elyse), Justine Bateman (Mallory), and Tina Yothers (Jennifer).

One of the things I loved about this show was that even though it was a sitcom, there were dramatic scenes as well as comedy, and serious issues were tackled in several episodes. "Family Ties" had outstanding writing, directing, and production, as well as superb acting.

One of my favorite episodes was from Season 2, "Say Uncle," which featured a young Tom Hanks, who would go on to Hollywood stardom as one of the greatest and most popular actors in the film industry.

In this episode, which originally aired January 26, 1984, Elyse's alcoholic brother Ned (Hanks) returns, hoping to put his life back on track by getting a job at the TV station. But after they learn that Ned blew the job interview by going in drunk, Steven, Elyse, and Alex try to convince him he has a drinking problem.

What is sad to me is the fact that you don't see shows on television anymore that teach a lesson, that make you laugh, that make you cry, or that just move you in some profound way. This show did all of those things.

Here's the last scene from this episode, where Alex tries to convince Ned that he still has a chance to make something of himself. Ned has given up, gets angry, and ends up hitting Alex. Steven and Elyse draw the line and tell him to get help or else. Ned then calls Alcoholics Anonymous.

This scene and this episode in general are very dramatic and teach an important lesson of how alcohol addiction can destroy a person's life. But it also shows that love, caring, and support is always there for those who are struggling with addiction. There is always help, and hope.

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