Zach Haywood I mean - I adore Michael so much- but there are like a hundred leagues between him and Tom; Tom is one of the best actors (just skill) in history; Michael is an amazing person and a good actor.
Same here. I loved Tom Hanks when he voiced Woody in Toy Story as a kid and my parents are Tom Hanks fans, so I saw a lot of the drama's he's been in. The only 80's movies and shows I've seen him in are this show, The Money Pit and Turner and Hooch. I have always loved Michael J. Fox as well. I loved Homeward Bound as a kid and still to this day and that was the movie that made me a fan of his because I liked Chance and then from that point saw all the kids movies that Michael would voice in...lol. Never knew he was in Family Ties till a few years ago.
Anne Liesveld That’s Michael J. Fox. However, Tom Hanks developed type II diabetes because in the 2000s, Tom started to get chubby and stayed that way until he was diagnosed with diabetes and became healthier.
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Wow Tom Hanks and Michael J. Fox in the same scene of a sitcom. They were both moderately successful here, but this is before the world really discovered how great they both are. This is like a piece of history.
To think when he did, "Splash" which was a hit. I don't know who called the producer of this show but when Tom Hanks learned that either his manager called the producer of the show requesting more money for doing two part of Uncle Ned Tom called- and told the producer that he would accept what they had discussed prior to his hit of Splash. Gary Goldberg was impressed with Tom Hanks. He never forgot that. That why he is beloved in Hollywood because he is a down to earth individual. Never puts on airs.
scumgod13 I remember seeing this when it came out, and I thought: Tom Hanks looks so old compared to the Bosom Buddies days. He really aged between 1982 to 1984 -- he looked so much older. I think between 1982 to 1984, he was kind of lost. Bosom Buddies was canceled, and Tom Hanks was adrift. Ron Howard saved him with Splash
This scene is honestly scary. One minute he's calm and then the next he flies into a rage. You never know if people like that are going to attack you. Take away the laugh track and it makes the scene look entirely different.
Yeah it was that dark of an episode it could have done without the laugh track but I guess it was a sitcom there was also another extremely dark but well acted episode where Michael (Alex) loses a friend in accident I guess shows hit harder back then
I didn't watch Family Ties much but these clips show it handling difficult and seldom discussed problems very well. This was an authentic look at the ways of an addict. And still with a smidgen of comedy, but not trivializing the problem.
2:23 I was not ready for how violent that moment is. Michael's acting is just on another level. Alex is so brave and I feel that with all of his anxieties he as a teenager have dealt with this with much more courage and grace than his parents have. And it sums up the entire premise of this series beautifully.
I grew up with a violent alcoholic and you're never ready for that moment. You're always anticipating what's going to happen next with them. It's brilliantly done by Tom Hanks, you can see how good of an actor he was back then.
My two fav actors right before they made it huge. This scene is iconic. The way Tom Hanks carries the scene and MJF doesn't even need to say much, his eyes says so much. So beautiful. They should do more work together!
You think I'm drunk? You think I am DRUNK?! Let me tell you something, buddy...I'm drunk. That part was hilarious!!! And MJF here looks a lot like Luke Skywalker.
Rob S so true I grew up in the 80s and I loved 80 sitcoms, most of the today's shows are pure garbage, they don't teach children life lessons like they did back in the 80s
I remember watching this "episode" in which two fine actors performing off each other. Amazing performances! This is why these actors are so well-loved - incredible in their own ways!
WoW! a young tom hanks just a year away from splash! and bachelor party. he's very excellent here.blending comedy and drama equally very well. i'm kind of astonished that he wasn't nominated for an emmy for an outstanding performance for an guest star in a comedy series.
Hanks does some great acting here. It sent chills through me. Like a lot of people I guess, I knew an "uncle Ned." My best friend in my mid 20s was full of charisma, intelligence and humor too. He was oozing with so much potential, it was almost scary. But like Tom's character here, alcohol was his demon. And just like in this scene, if you brought it up Lord help you...he would turn all that wonderful intelligence and humor into a weapon. Watching this actually makes me sad because it's so close to a number of late night experiences with my own "uncle Ned."
Tom Hanks has always been brilliant, even at the beginning of his career....which I guess is why he's had the career he's had. Met him once. Super-nice guy.
It is always deeper then the alcoholism. That is just one of the symptoms of the real issue. There is always a root problem that need to be dealt with.
Have to admit I laughed when he yelled "Taxi!" Love how the mood to the whole episode goes from funny to serious to funny to dead serious . That is a sign of good writing
Same here!!! Pretty awesome 2 A List Actors on one show! Tom Hanks guest starred on Family Ties in season 1 for I think 2 episodes. Oh, and Tom Hanks also was on Taxi with Christopher Lloyd too. Tom Hanks was just on Taxi for an episode. I didn't know that till some people were talking about Tom Hanks character vs. Fonzie on Happy Days and people were saying all the shows he guest starred on.
Yeah Tom Hanks was soooooooooo young in this and Michael J Fox too and Michael J Fox's career took off! I have all of Family Ties series and its still great after all these years! Its amazing how everything was so different and easy back then in 1980s and now everything sucks now!
Loved that scene, but I always wondered how big you had to envision the Keaton house to be to believe Ned's screaming wouldn't have awakened the rest of the family.
I'm a 12 sober alcoholic thanks to Alcoholics Anonymous. And all comedy aside, I well up like its the first time I saw this episode. The missed opportunities, the shattered relationships and friendships. Its a horrible hole I dug and kept digging until I stopped at 42yo. I'm 55 and I don't miss it at all and am so blessed today.
With all he's done, my favorite Tom Hanks role was when he was the FBI agent in "Catch Me If You Can." He was a real actor who just didn't play himself all the time.
Tom Hanks just put on an acting clinic. This might have been the moment people first realized that- "This Tom Hanks kid, he's gonna go down as one of the all-time great actors. He's going places."
A very young Tom Hanks and he performed this episode very well. He was 27 in this episode when it aired. After this episode Tom Hanks movie career really took off and he did Splash and many others. This episode taught us that alcoholism is very serious and very serious consequences.
This scene scared me as a kid. He was so good. If you watched the whole episode Ned had visited and been really fun-loving with Alex up until this point. This was eye opening.
Was he supposed to be a "considerably younger uncle" aka a 5 year old sibling that was a after the fact kid or was he just basically barely younger than him in real life? Does anyone know ?
+Anne Liesveld Sorry for replying a year late. Later in the episode, he says "he's washed up before 30 years old", so yes, Tom is supposed to be portraying "a considering younger uncle".
Before he was cast in this Michael Fox was broke and about to give up and go back home to Canada. He was living on selling off his sectional sofa one section at a time. Network said he was too short. Goldberg, the creator didn't like the way he played his audition, casting director begged him for weeks to let him audition again. Finally as a personal favor to her he did.
I remember watching this 2 part episode featuring Hanks, as the alcoholic uncle when it first aired. At the time Hanks struck me as a so-so actor, and I didn't see his appearance on the show doing much for his career, or that he would even have the career he has made. Geez, was I ever mistaking.
