Family Ties quiz

By: Olivia Cantor
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Family Ties quiz
Image: Youtube

About This Quiz

Sha la la la, folks! Test your Family Ties knowledge with this quiz.
Family Ties ruled the American airwaves during which decade?
'60s
'70s
'80s
The show debuted in 1982 on NBC.
'90s

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Family Ties centered around which quirky but stable all-American family?
the Bundys
the Keatons
This American sitcom featured the middle class struggles of the Keaton family.
the Huxtables
the Simpsons

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Where was the Keaton family based?
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the largest city in Ohio.
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania
Buffalo, New York
Boston, Massachusetts

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The Keaton parents, Steven and Elyse, were both this type of people during their youth.
activists
protesters
environmentalists
hippies
The free-spirited Keaton parents often struggled to exist during the conservative ‘80s.

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In contrast, the ex-hippie Keaton parents had this kind of kids.
conservatives
Only the first two Keaton kids exhibited conservative leanings.
liberals
independents
none of the above

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What is the name of the eldest of the Keaton kids?
Alden P. Keaton
Aldus P. Keaton
Alex P. Keaton
Originally, Matthew Broderick was being eyed for the role of Alex, which he rejected.
Andrew P. Keaton

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Alex P. Keaton is a feisty young man who is an unapologetic and proud follower of this political leaning.
democrat
liberal
partisan
republican
Alex was a fan of Reaganomics during the '80s.

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Being a young republican, Alex always dresses up conservatively, which sees him sporting one of these fashion items (his trademark).
bowtie
necktie
Alex also tries to influence his baby brother to dress and think the same way he does.
vest
suspenders

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Alex’s father, Steven, also had a kind of fashion trademark visible from season 2 onwards. What was this trademark?
sideburns
bald head
braces
beard
Actor Michael Gross, who plays Steven, sported a beard before season 2 started due to a role he played on Broadway, and decided to keep it for the show.

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What is the name of the second Keaton kid, often touted as an airhead compared to witty Alex?
Melinda
Mallory
Mallory was played by Justine Bateman, the sister of actor Jason Bateman.
Hailey
Shirley

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If the Keaton kids, namely Alex and Mallory, are avowed republicans, their ex-hippie parents are naturally of this political leaning.
democrats
The show was actually marketed to TV networks using this theme, with the tagline “hip parents, square kids."
parliamentarian
sectarian
independent

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How long did the series run?
from 1982-1984
from 1982-1987
from 1982-1989
Family Ties became one of the most popular TV shows in the US during the 1980s.
from 1982-1985

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Because of the show’s popularity, and due to Alex’s cute conservative leanings, this US president was once rumored that he wished to have a cameo in Family Ties.
Richard Nixon
George Bush
Jimmy Carter
Ronald Reagan
Reagan was the US president during the whole span of the show, from 1981 to 1989.

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Michael J. Fox’s popularity on the show also crossed over to film, and his film fame also increased the popularity of the show, especially after this trilogy film was shown.
Superman
Indiana Jones
Star Wars
Back to the Future
Back to the Future was directed by Robert Zemeckis.

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Michael J. Fox’s Back to the Future co-star also guested in Family Ties. Which actor was this?
Crispin Glover
In the show, Glover played Alex’s friend Doug who wanted to take him to a drinking trip in another state.
Thomas F. Wilson
Christopher Brown
Marc McClure

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What is the name of the third Keaton kid?
Henny
Penny
Jennifer
Jennifer was played by Tina Yothers.
Delilah

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One of Alex’s love interest in the show turned out to be Michael J. Fox’s love interest in real life, eventually marrying her. Which actress was this?
Courtney Cox
Daphne Zuniga
Jami Gertz
Tracy Pollan
Fox and Pollan got married in 1988 and now has 4 kids.

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What character did Fox’s real-life wife, Tracy Pollan, play on the show?
Ethel Reed
Ellie Reed
Ellen Reed
Contrasting with Alex’s sexist character is Ellen’s feminist artist persona.
Emma Reed

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This future Friends female lead had a recurring role as Alex’s love interest in this show. Which Friends actor was this?
Courtney Cox
Cox and Fox were rumored to have been dating at the time of the show, which they both denied.
Jennifer Aniston
Lisa Kudrow
Maggie Wheeler

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This future Castaway and Philadelphia star had a recurring role in the show as Elyse’s brother Ned. Who was this celebrity?
Tom Arnold
Tom Petty
Tom Cruise
Tom Hanks
Hanks appeared in 2 seasons of the show.

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Tom Hanks played Alex’s uncle with a serious personal problem. What was this problem?
depression
gambling
drugs
alcoholism
In one season, Ned’s character botched a job interview by being drunk.

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Steven Keaton is a manager of what kind of company?
car company
a local TV station
Steven works in WKS, a local public television station.
insurance company
a bank

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During the 1980s, the show was brave enough to present controversial issues like sexual harassment, especially between an older man and one of the Keaton kids. Which kid was this?
Jennifer
Mallory
Season 1 found Mallory being kissed against her will by a family friend they call Uncle Arthur.
Andrew
Alex

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In a Christmas-themed episode, the Keatons adapt the famous tale of “A Christmas Carol” featuring Alex as the Scrooge character. Who authored “A Christmas Carol?"
Mark Twain
George Eliot
Charles Dickens
In this episode, Jennifer played the ghost of Christmas past and Mallory played the ghost of Christmas future.
Bram Stoker

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In a school-related episode, Jennifer wanted to do a book report on a controversial racially-charged book banned by her school. What book was this?
Lolita
Well of Loneliness
Tropic of Cancer
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
In this episode, Jennifer gets suspended for writing the book report.

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Elyse Keaton holds this professional career.
engineer
architect
Meredith Baxter played Elyse. She came out as a lesbian in 2009.
chemist
lawyer

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Because of Alex’s obsession on economics and wealth (and getting wealthy), this is his favorite newspaper.
The Wall Street Journal
Aptly enough, the show’s finale sees Alex leaving for New York to pursue a job on Wall Street.
The Boston Globe
The New York Times
The Chicago Tribune

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During the first two seasons, Alex was preparing for college as he really wanted to attend this Ivy League school, but failed his interview. Which school was this?
Yale University
Harvard University
Princeton University
Alex opted to help Mallory in a personal crisis instead of finishing his Princeton interview.
New York University

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When he failed to get into Princeton, Alex got a scholarship to this university instead.
Lowland University
LeGrand University
Leland University
Leland University is a fictional school.
Lewark University

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What is the name of the youngest addition to the Keaton clan?
Andrew
Andrew was played by Brian Bonsall.
Anton
Allie
Arnold

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This future 500 Days of Summer heartthrob appeared as a guest in the show.
Jason Gordon-Levitt
Julian Gordon-Levitt
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Child actor Gordon-Levitt played Andrew’s kindergarten friend in the show.
Jack Gordon-Levitt

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Child actors Christina Applegate and David Faustino had separate guest appearances in the show. Later in their teenage years, in which show would the two co-star in?
Married With Bundys
Married With Nanny
Married With Children
Applegate and Faustino played brother and sister in Married With Children which premiered in 1987.
Married With Kids

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This 1980s teen heartthrob had a guest appearance on the show, playing the role of Jennifer’s classmate.
Corey Hart
Corey Haim
Corey Feldman
Feldman appeared in films like The Lost Boys, Gremlins, Stand By Me, and The Goonies.
Corey Newman

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Another ‘80s and ‘90s teen sensation, who appeared in Stand By Me, also had a guest appearance on the show. Who was this actor?
Jerry O'Connell
River Phoenix
In the show, Phoenix played a math genius who tutored Alex and had a crush on Jennifer in the process.
Wil Wheaton
Corey Feldman

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The show’s popular theme song, which ends with the unforgettable line “sha la la la…” was sung by Deniece Williams and Johnny Mathis. What was its title?
Without Me
Without It
Without You
Without Us
The song was sung by a different pair, though, during the first season.

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