Family Ties: Season 2

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. As the season begins, Mallory is still seeing her boyfriend, Jeff (now a college freshman), while Alex continues to plays the field--an ever-expanding field that includes a feminist, a family friend, and a 40-year-old Frenchwoman. Mallory enters Elyse and herself in a modelling contest; to Mallory's dismay, her mother attracts all the attention. Elyse's relationship with her son is similarly tested when Alex turns 18 and declares his independence--even though he still lives at home. 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.