Well-known or not?

[Bee Gees Fan]

In a conversation about the forthcoming release of the first season of Family Ties on DVD, a British person said, in response to my assumption that the show isn't widely known in Britain, that they thought it was very well-known here. I've met very few people who have actually heard of the show, and I wondered, of all the British people on here, how many of you had heard of Family Ties before you saw me mention it?

I'm REALLY sorry to exclude other countries in this poll, but it's just that since Family Ties is an American show, I'm guessing that most Americans know of it, and I think it still airs in Australia, so I'm assuming that a lot of Australians may know of it too. As for other countries, I don't know much about their television schedules, so I don't know how likely it is that someone from, say, Italy, would have heard of the show.

[Nervosa]

If any Brits have heard of it, it'll be the elders. BN probably. (:P)

[Paul B]

I'm 16 and I've heard of it, although it's probably because of the references to it made by several other TV shows.

[Bee Gees Fan]

If any Brits have heard of it, it'll be the elders. BN probably. (:P)

I know Wezzo knows of it, and he's 15 (almost 16.)

It's nice to see Paul had heard of it. At least it's not completely unknown by all of the youth of Britain.

[Leanne]

I've heard of it, but only because Michael J Fox was in it. Never seen it though.

[Bee Gees Fan]

I've heard of it, but only because Michael J Fox was in it. Never seen it though.

Ah, a Michael J. Fox fan. I'll start a thread about him soon.

[Leanne]

Ah, a Michael J. Fox fan.

Always!

I'll start a thread about him soon.

Cool, I'll get my copy of Lucky Man at the ready.

[Wezzo]

I know Wezzo knows of it, and he's 15 (almost 16.)

Yep, that's right!

[Mr Blue Sky]

If any Brits have heard of it, it'll be the elders. BN probably. (:P)

You were right, Nervosa! (cheeky git )

[Bee Gees Fan]

Hmmm, more people have said they knew of it than I thought they would. Had you ever seen the show, BN? I gather it can't have been too popular over here, otherwise surely they'd have ran repeats for longer than they did?

[Mr Blue Sky]

Hmmm, more people have said they knew of it than I thought they would. Had you ever seen the show, BN? I gather it can't have been too popular over here, otherwise surely they'd have ran repeats for longer than they did?

I remember it when it was first broadcast here in the mid-eighties. My sister was into it big time and used to tape all the episodes.

I always felt it was a bit syrupy...

[Bee Gees Fan]

I always felt it was a bit syrupy...

It is, but I don't think it's too much so. It's not so much to the point where it gets sickening.

Did your sister have a crush on MJF?

[Mr Blue Sky]

I always felt it was a bit syrupy...

It is, but I don't think it's too much so. It's not so much to the point where it gets sickening.

Did your sister have a crush on MJF?

Yep! Her and the entire teenage female demographic of the 1980's!

[Bee Gees Fan]

Yep! Her and the entire teenage female demographic of the 1980's!

Well, he was a very nice young man. And I think he portrayed Alex and Marty very well. (Mind you, I can discuss all this in the MJF thread, when I create it.) He brought a great loveableness to Alex. The character could have been completely unlikeable - after all, he was a money-obsessed, Nixon-and-Reagan-lover, pompous know-it-all - but with Mike playing him, I just really like him (and NOT just because I think Mike was cute!)

[Stratman]

The show airs every day here in Australia. I tend to steer clear because, as BN, it's a bit syrupy. If I want MJF I watch Bill Lawrences Spin City. Now there was a show.

[Bee Gees Fan]

I tend to steer clear because, as BN, it's a bit syrupy.

I can probably find some episodes that aren't.

It's not a bad show, though.

[Stratman]

I tend to steer clear because, as BN, it's a bit syrupy.

I can probably find some episodes that aren't.

It's not a bad show, though.

It's definitely a competant show.

[Bee Gees Fan]

I think it was quite a bold show - it tackled some issues that were quite controversial, for a sitcom. For instance, Tom Hanks was in two or three episodes as a uncle of theirs, who was an alcoholic. There was an episode where Alex gets hooked on amphetamines. There was the two-parter I mentioned where one of his friends dies. In the seventh season, there was an episode dealing with racism.

I sometimes think of it as a polished, sugary, earlier version of Rosanne (because Roseanne was known for having some controversial themes.) Of course, the characters were very different to the characters on Roseanne and the style was very different to Roseanne, but in terms of bravery, I think the shows are slightly similar.

[Stratman]

I think it was quite a bold show - it tackled some issues that were quite controversial, for a sitcom. For instance, Tom Hanks was in two or three episodes as a uncle of theirs, who was an alcoholic. There was an episode where Alex gets hooked on amphetamines. There was the two-parter I mentioned where one of his friends dies. In the seventh season, there was an episode dealing with racism.

I sometimes think of it as a polished, sugary, earlier version of Rosanne (because Roseanne was known for having some controversial themes.) Of course, the characters were very different to the characters on Roseanne and the style was very different to Roseanne, but in terms of bravery, I think the shows are slightly similar.

You really need to get yourself some drama.

[Wezzo]

Indeed; for truly controversial themes, check out the likes of The Shield!

[Stratman]

Indeed; for truly controversial themes, check out the likes of The Shield!

I second that.

[Bee Gees Fan]

You really need to get yourself some drama.

I know it seems quite tame, but remember, it's a comedy show. For a sitcom, I think it was quite brave.

I think I did read once that it was originally intended to be an hour-long drama. I wonder how it would have worked out if it had been?

Also, the parents were originally intended to be the stars of the show (in the first season, there are quite a lot of episodes centred around them) but of course, Alex became popular with the viewers, and he became the main star.

[Stratman]

You might want to check out Freaks And Geeks. I think it will suit you perfectly.

[Stratman]

You really need to get yourself some drama.

I know it seems quite tame, but remember, it's a comedy show. For a sitcom, I think it was quite brave.

Perhaps, but that's not what we meant. We were just saying that you might want to check out some dramas; you'll be suprised at how far they go. [/quote]

[Bee Gees Fan]

You might want to check out Freaks And Geeks. I think it will suit you perfectly.

I've heard of that. And freaks and geeks are people that I feel I can relate to (since I'm both myself.) Would I have to buy a DVD, or is it shown on TV in Britain?