Family Ties

- Season 2

(1983)

Alex must contend with a childhood playmate staying at the house who is unlike any girl he's known - or been attracted to - before, and has to decide whether to try and change her personality to his liking.

Mallory's boyfriend Jeff returns to Columbus and confesses to Alex he hates Princeton and is willing to do anything to get out of it--even ask Mallory to go steady with him.

Teacher/parent interviews at Alex and Mallory's school become interesting when both Steven and Elyse contend with a rude, insufferable teacher.

Mallory enters herself and Elyse in a Mother/Daughter Modeling contest but ends up regretting it when they win and Elyse steals her thunder.

Steven faces temptation at work when his new production assistant takes a liking to him.

Alex turns to amphetamines to get through a particularly stressful period of exams and scholarship applications.

Working at the school radio station Alex sets himself up a blind date with a fellow music enthusiast. This date ends up being the 39-year-old Lorraine. The two enjoy themselves as their relationship blossoms, but Alex's parents have problems with the age difference between the two.

When the pitcher drops out of Jennifer's softball team, Jennifer asks Arlene to be on the team. Arlene is not a sports person, and is unaware that she is only needed to fill the team with another player so as to not forfeit.

With Christmas just around the corner. Alex finds himself lacking holiday spirit as the rest of the Keaton clan prepares for the celebration. On Christmas Eve Alex is visited in a dream by ghostly messengers who give him a view of his past and future Christmases along with a different perception of the holiday.

Steven & Elyse play mediator between a friend and his ex-wife. Steven & Elyse argue each others sides and begin their own arguments. The mediation does not work, but Steven & Elyse realize they need to always keep their marriage fresh.

Steven must be in Washington for PBS on Alex's 18th birthday, so Elyse throws him a surprise party a few days early. On his big day, Alex fails to pass 'taking out the trash' down to one of his siblings, then declines a restaurant dinner because he wants to go to Camelot Inn in West Virginia with Neil and Doug, where the 18-year-olds can drink legally. Elyse forbids this blatantly, but the guys' taunting lures him along anyway, and just as they're pretending to be pilots about to invade Canada, Elyse arrives to drag him home. Alex is beyond furious for days, but they ...

Alex decides to apply at the college where Mallory's ex Jeff is. So when he goes for his interview she decides to go with him so that she could see Jeff. When she sees him she finds him with another girl. After seeing him she goes looking for Alex so that they could leave but Alex is having his interview with the Dean which she can't help but disrupt.

Alex is placed in charge of his high school's class souvenirs for graduation. He wants to turn it into a millionaire making project. Elyse is upset when her not-yet-divorced mother starts enjoying the prospect of being single.

Uncle Ned pays the Keatons a visit. However, it becomes quickly evident to Alex that Ned has developed a drinking problem. Alex tries to convince his reluctant family of Ned's addiction before it's too late.

Alex pretends to be a feminist to impress a girl he likes.

Mallory considers taking a big step in her relationship with her boyfriend, Rick.

Alex is turned down when he asks his dream girl Jocelyn to the senior prom, and then invites the more unassuming Rachel. But when Jocelyn becomes available again, Alex finds himself with two dates, and devises a plan to take them both.

Elyse tries to revive her collegiate days as a folk singer, but her initial outing leaves her humiliated and filled with self-doubt. Alex and Steven are traumatized by Mallory's driving lessons.

Skippy finds out he is adopted, and decides to meet his birth mother.

Alex is stunned when his girlfriend is named valedictorian instead of him. He thinks the man should be superior in the relationship, and his attitude threatens to break them up. His father teaches him that love is not about competition.

Jennifer is in the hospital to have her tonsils taken out and is worried she will not survive. Awaiting the surgery, she writes down her thoughts and memories of her family.

Elyse gets a new job at an architectural firm and experiences challenges at work and at home.