Product Details

• Actors: Michael J. Fox, Michael Gross, Meredith Baxter, Justine Bateman, Tina Yothers
• Directors: Andrew McCullough, Asaad Kelada, Barbara Schultz, Debbie Allen, John Pasquin
• Format: Box set, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 4
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Paramount
• DVD Release Date: March 10, 2009
• Run Time: 721 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B001NY4X3W
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,435 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Family Ties: The Fifth Season" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

FAMILY TIES:FIFTH SEASON - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Family Ties and Michael J. Fox's finest hours, March 2, 2009

By 

A. Gammill (West Point, MS United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Family Ties: The Fifth Season (DVD)

Season Five of Family Ties may be best remembered for two things: Baby Andrew grew up a LOT over the summer, and Michael J. Fox's amazing performance in the hour-long episode "A, My Name Is Alex."
(SPOILERS AHEAD)
Brian Bonsall joins the cast as preschool-aged Andrew Keaton. While Bonsall's screentime is understandably limited, the mere fact that Alex's little brother can now speak and interact with the others helps create some great comic moments. Alex also has to deal with the loss of steady girlfriend Ellen (though actress Tracy Pollan would eventually become Mrs. Michael J. Fox in real life). It's also a great year for Nick and Mallory, including probably my all-time favorite scene in which Mallory tries to tutor Nick ("High School Confidential"). And life would continue to imitate art when Tina Yothers tried her hand at singing after Jennifer Keaton joins a band.

Still, it's the groundbreaking "A, My Name Is Alex" which leaves the largest impression. Alex is overcome with remorse and self-doubt when he backs out of a commitment to help his friend Greg, and then Greg is killed in a car accident. The second half of the episode, which was presented commercial-free back in 1987, is basically Fox on a darkened stage, with family and friends appearing in little vignettes illustrating key points in Alex's life.

"Walking into that kitchen was like walking into a hug," Alex observes. And for those of us with fond memories of this quintessential 80's sitcom, here's another 4 discs' worth of hugs.

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars CBS DVD ruins another one!, March 17, 2009

By 

A. Hensley "Fight On Trojans" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Family Ties: The Fifth Season (DVD)

Its so hard for me to give Family Ties such a low rating. Perhaps one of the best sitcoms in the history of television, complete with memorable moment after memorable moment, this show was the beacon of good writing, amazing acting, and performances we won't soon forget.

But I simply cannot stand by and not voice my outrage at CBS DVD and their butchering of the finest show in the entire run of this series.

Season Five featured an episode called "My Name is Alex"...a ground-breaking episode not only because of the superb talents of Michael J. Fox, but also because of how it was originally broadcast. When first aired, it ran for one hour, the final half hour being completely uninterrupted by commercials and, from what I can tell, unedited. It played out like a stage performance, with Alex (Michael J. Fox) going thru every part of his life, searching for answers as to why his friend would be killed in a car accident and he be allowed to live. Watching it in its entirety, you feel the back and forth, the conflicting emotions, and the roller coaster ride he goes on. The viewer is right along with him.

Sadly, this DVD features the syndicated version, which cuts the episode into two shows. It cuts right in the middle of Alex's journey, going instead to end credits of the first show. The 2nd show then begins part-way thru his session with his psychiatrist, thus killing the momentum of the show, and the entire reason it was aired in its entirety the first time.

I'm just lucky I still have the VHS I recorded off-air back in the mid-80s. That will continue to be the only way I'll watch "My Name is Alex".

Sigh.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite season., January 8, 2009

By 

ADRIENNE MILLER (TENNESSEE) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Family Ties: The Fifth Season (DVD)

Family Ties: The Fifth Season is my personal favorite. Andrew has started preschool and the whole gang is funnier and wiser. My fave episodes from season five include: Be True to Your Preschool, My Brother's Keeper, My Mother, My Friend, Band on the Run, and It's My Party Parts 1 and 2. Mallory and Jennifer are hilarious in different ways and Alex - well he's just a conservative gem. I highly recommend this groundbreaking show, I also recommend seasons 1-4. Enjoy!