I say Family Ties (Micheal J Fox)

Family Ties

Neither, I have not watched any of these two television shows.

I watched both.

Same here.

I'd say Family Ties. It came first and set the standard for the '80s liberal parents, conservative kids sitcom, not to mention that it garnered higher ratings while on the air. Growing Pains did spin off Just The Ten Of Us, but it feels closer to a formulaic TGIF-style show.

I'd say Family Ties. It came first and set the standard for the '80s liberal parents, conservative kids sitcom


You are correct about this. And in truth, comparing "Family Ties" and "Growing Pains" is like comparing apples and oranges. Except for the fact that they were both 1980s sitcoms about families, they are very different in their intent. So I'm not really sure why it's even a topic, since they are not comparable. But since it is a topic anyway, what the heck. "Family Ties" was the first TV show to point out the fact that there was now an entire generation of kids (the as yet unnamed "Generation X") who had grown up with Boomer (or Boomer hippie) parents but were very conservative, very materialistic, very, well, EIGHTIES. Reagan-era 80s. The pendulum had swung from liberal to conservative and the children had taken up the mantle. This was a culture shock to many.

Everybody remembers John Lennon's famous 1966 comment about the Beatles being "bigger than Jesus", but few remember an equally insightful comment he made around the same time, "our children will hate us too, you know". Unlike many of his peers, Lennon knew that the pendulum must swing.

Actually, the first thing to tackle the subject that children of hippie Boomers might not turn out to be perfect little spiritual Baby Buddhas with flowers in their hair was the 1979 movie "Over The Edge". But it didn't take the hard line of liberal parents and conservative children that "Family Ties" took. It was too soon and that dichotomy was not fully formed yet. So "Over The Edge"  just portrayed confused kids of even more clueless Boomer parents. "Over The Edge" was still very much a product of the 1970s, rather than the 1980s of "Family Ties". In fact, the world just wasn't ready for "Over The Edge" in 1979 and it did not receive any type of widespread distribution until 1982 or so (and even then it wasn't that wide).

I liked Family Ties better but what I didn't like about either of them. Not too sure which season but both didn't learn from Cousin Oliver.


Cat

I liked Family Ties better but what I didn't like about either of them. Not too sure which season but both didn't learn from Cousin Oliver.


Cat


Yup. Cousin Oliver Syndrome. In the case of "Growing Pains" they did it twice. Of course, the second time was with the soon to be enormously famous Leonardo Dicaprio. He may have been a superstar in the making, but he didn't add much to the plot. It was still Cousin Oliver.

I don't know which Father I'd prefer to hang out with, Father from Family Ties or Growing Pains?

I don't know which Father I'd prefer to hang out with, Father from Family Ties or Growing Pains?


Oh, DEFINITELY the father from "Growing Pains". The "Family Ties" father was a first class dweeb. Onscreen, anyway. Alan Thicke was Mr. Cool, onscreen and off. When he died, Leonardo DiCaprio said this:

"“I’ve seen him a number of times over the years and when Alan Thicke walked in the room, quite frankly, no one was cooler."

Oh, DEFINITELY the father from "Growing Pains". The "Family Ties" father was a first class dweeb. Onscreen, anyway. Alan Thicke was Mr. Cool, onscreen and off. When he died, Leonardo DiCaprio said this:

"“I’ve seen him a number of times over the years and when Alan Thicke walked in the room, quite frankly, no one was cooler."

You're right, I definitely prefer Alan Thicke too, He was such a good Father in Growing Pains.

I prefer both and I can't really choose.  I recall Family Ties having more episodes that dealt with serious stuff...

- When an old friend of Steven's makes a pass at Mallory
- When Alex questioned his own existence after his best friend Greg died in a car wreck.
- When Elyse's brother Ned wouldn't admit that he had a drinking problem and ended up hitting Alex across the face.

The only serious episode that comes to mind for Growing Pains was Carol's college boyfriend who died after he got into a car wreck from a DUI

Fun fact:  Prior to Growing Pains, Alan Thicke was already a known name in Canada as he had his own daytime talk show that ran for 3 seasons (1980-83).  He ended up leaving it because he got offered a night time talk show in the US called Thicke of the Night, which aired opposite Johnny Carson during the 1983-84 season, so as you can imagine, it did not last long lol  The failure of his American talk show opened his schedule to do Growing Pains, so it all worked out!

Both were great, but if we're talking nostalgia, then Family Ties takes the edge. Great theme tune too!

Steven Keaton -- he and Elyse were not the best actors. Neither were Mallory or Jennifer. Fox kept the show alive.

to be honest, a choice between enduring the characters of Steven Keaton and Jason Seaver for 22 minutes is kind of like how Kirk van Houten felt in Hermann's shop when Milhouse needed to use the toilet:


https://i.postimg.cc/fRNfPx1h/Awkward-Situations.jpg

I'm still waiting for a male version of "Carrie" -- either a telemovie or theatrical-- that would also be as sympathetic to the boy as Carrietta White is given by both King and the later adaptions - specially after heartwarming things like this:


kpD8D9be_-s

Wise Mom, Idiot Dad/Son isn't feminist, either.

Wise Mom, Idiot Dad/Son isn't feminist, either.


What siblings did you like the ones on Growing Pains or Family Ties?

Alex P.  and Carol S.. Hated Chrissy, Mike and Ben (in that order)

Alex P.  and Carol S.. Hated Chrissy, Mike and Ben (in that order)

I agree, I thought Alex was the smart one.

This would be ALL young womens' general reaction If Andy Keaton OR Brian Bonsall wanted to dance with us:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/r255/molly-dolly/IMG_2269.PNG
http://https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/r255/molly-dolly/IMG_2269.PNG/img]

I'm not sure if I've ever watched an episode of "Growing Pains", but we watched "Family Ties" pretty faithfully.

Yea we all loved Family Ties cause Marty was in it :)

Family Ties mainly because of Michael J Fox, the coolest guy at the time.

I watched Growing Pains as well, because Kirk Cameron was pretty cool (although way goofier), but I mostly paid attention when Tracey Gold was onscreen when that show was on.

Family Ties also had Justine Bateman and no character nicknamed "Boner". Yeah Family Ties for the win.

Family Ties mainly because of Michael J Fox, the coolest guy at the time.

I watched Growing Pains as well, because Kirk Cameron was pretty cool (although way goofier), but I mostly paid attention when Tracey Gold was onscreen when that show was on.

Family Ties also had Justine Bateman and no character nicknamed "Boner". Yeah Family Ties for the win.


In retrospect, it really is surprising that "Growing Pains" got away with having a character named "Boner". The character was played by Josh Koenig. Koenig, son of Star Trek's Walter "Chekov" Koenig, sadly took his own life in 2010.

"Kirk Cameron worries about his missing Boner" was one headline before the truth was known :'( bloody red-top tabloid ****

I think I would've liked to have a big brother like Kirk Cameron from Growing Pains to hang out with.

Early seasons Mike Seaver not final seasons God Squad influenced one for me

Early seasons Mike Seaver not final seasons God Squad influenced one for me

Did you like Mike Seaver as a brother or did you prefer Alex P. Keaton?

Keaton. Mike is Buzz Killington to use a The Family Guy reference. Even before he meta lost his nads.

Keaton. Mike is Buzz Killington to use a The Family Guy reference. Even before he meta lost his nads.

I would say Mike Seaver cause all Alex does is talk about his politics all day.

I'd rather have politics than God Squad.