Family Ties

Elyse is stricken with gambling fever on a business trip to Atlantic City. While on a roll with Alex's "foolproof" blackjack system, she's oblivious to her family and job.

The news that their mother is pregnant sends the three Keaton kids into an angry outburst resulting in a family battle. The children react with panic and outrage at the thought of having a baby around, and the Keaton household is in turmoil.

Alex is thrilled to be taking a college course taught by one of his personal heroes, Professor Ephraim Bronski. However, in his eagerness to impress the teacher, Alex gets off to a bad start and is humiliated by his idol.

Little Jennifer is thrilled about getting a visit from her former neighborhood pal, Scott, whom she hasn't seen in five years. However, her happiness at the reunion is shattered when he ignores her in favor of her older sister, Mallory.

Alex reluctantly accepts a part-time job with his father at the non-profit station, and his dad is bursting with pride to have him following in his footsteps.

Mallory's enthusiasm for her part-time job at a boutique causes her school grades to slip even lower than usual. Steven and Elyse agree that she must quit work, but Alex comes up with a proposal that could resolve the situation.

Alex is teamed with long-time rival James Jarrett and assigned to work at a "hotline" crisis center to fulfill a course requirement, and the two end up in a crisis of their own when they get a call from a suicidal student.

While Steven and Elyse are away on vacation, Mallory accidentally crashes her parents' car into a telephone pole. The kids need to raise money for auto repairs and decides to turn the Keaton house into a hotel.

When his best friend, Doug, meets and falls in love with Eleanor, and decides to marry her, Alex resents the fact that someone has come between their friendship and refuses to be in the wedding.

Steven and Elyse plan a nostalgic weekend with the kids before the baby arrives, and are crushed to discover that the children are not at all interested in reminiscing about old times-they'd rather be with their friends.

Alex plays Cupid to help his shy pal Skippy get together with Jane, the girl of his dreams, but his good intentions go awry when the girl falls for him instead.

Because of Elyse's pregnancy, the family decides to get a housekeeper, so Alex hires the lovely Karen Nicholson, a totally incompetent young lady whom the family immediately adores-but Steven insists must be fired.

Alex's chances for acceptance into a smug college fraternity are dependent upon him having a knockout date for the pledge dance. When his date cancels, he pleads with Karen, the housekeeper, to accompany him.

Alex befriends Donna, a young, unwed expectant mother from Elyse's natural-childbirth class. His interest in her becomes an obsession when he starts planning for her child's future and acting as if they were a real family.

Mallory is crushed when her favorite aunt dies suddenly, but her feelings of sadness turn to anger when family and friends at the funeral seem to be taking Aunt Trudy's death too lightly.

Alex falls asleep while working on a college term paper on Thomas Jefferson and dreams that his family and friends are living 200 years ago.

To help Steven during pledge week at the television station, the Keatons reluctantly agree to be part of the entertainment. The audience gets an unexpected show when Elyse goes into labor right on camera while in the middle of a song.

Still trapped at the television station, Elyse realizes she cannot make it through the snowstorm to the hospital and prepares to give birth in Steven's office.

The Keaton family tries to adjust to life with the new baby, Andy. While everyone caters to the new arrival, Jennifer struggles with jealous feelings about not being the baby of the family anymore.

Alex and his good friend James go into business together as tutors for their fellow students at Leland. However, their competitiveness threatens to undermine their business, let alone their friendship.

With Elyse back at work, Steven is frustrated when her schedule and the baby's schedule aren't allowing them any free time together.

With the rest of the Keaton family away for the weekend, Mallory is excited about having the house to herself-until she is accidentally locked in the basement with the person she'd least like to be with-her adoring neighbor, Skippy.

Steven takes a nostalgic trip to his hometown following the death of his father. With the support of Elyse and the children he tries to prepare his mother for her new life, in a special two-part episode.

Steven takes a nostalgic trip to his hometown following the death of his father. With the support of Elyse and the children, he tries to prepare his mother for her new life. Part 2.