Family Ties - The Choice

[@annehajdu8654]

Very well-acted and realistically written. Yes, Steven is pretty damn honorable!

[@jenpeterson3712]

And hot!

[@saraliza3137]

I'm just seeing this now but I also appreciate that he didn't treat her like trash either. That's one of the things I loved about his character a lot. He treated people and their humanity with such integrity and respect while still maintaining healthy boundaries and loving and honoring his wife and family and home.

[@njdrummer7120]

Everyone knows it’s not just one moment or one time. These things ruin lives and he did the right thing !

[@NaturaBreeze]

wow, shows with old fashioned family values...what a concept :)

[@Mcflysmith]

You are a strong man Steven.. 👏🏾👍🏾

[@kaylao.3326]

He’s not...

[@pallavisreetambraparni6995]

Steven keaton is strong when he told stacy " it can't happen. everything I do affects every part of me." he tells this to stacy when she tries to tempt him into breaking his morals and principles.

[@JENDALL714]

Mr. Keaton moving in on Tony's action!

[@jc2333]

Tony will box Keaton

[@AnnaJo2000]

@@jc2333 If he could get past Elyse that is. 😁

[@pallavisreetambraparni6995]

I don't think Tony would approve of Angela getting involved with a married man who has 3 children.

[@hoibsh21]

Aaay ohhh, Angela.

[@danicegewiss862]

Tony would appreciate Alex for not taking Angela up on her offer.

[@Boxingbear]

That's what a good man does. Too bad all of us can't be like Steven.

[@jamesgurksnis4392]

Most underrated tv dad of all time.

[@D2Kprime]

Most men _are_ like Steven. Society just chooses to paint a picture that we are not.

[@pallavisreetambraparni6995]

it's good that steven resisted temptation and said "no" to stacy. he knew that he has a good thing going with elysse and his 3 lovely children and he didn't want to do anything to jeopardize that. a lot of times, this kind of thing happens a lot with good looking men and with pretty women too. the key is to stay strong and to resist temptation like steven did

[@pallavisreetambraparni6995]

yes. most people give in to their temptations

[@davec3651]

He made the right choice. He did entertain the idea though. There were some mutually cozy situations in this scene that no man/woman would ever easily accept seeing their partner being involved in.

[@omayragonzalez3602]

What I love of this episode is that he goes back to his family and house 🍼💖

[@hoibsh21]

He goes back to his family ties.

[@leela1970]

Judith Light ... I love her acting 💖...and Michael Gross, awesome actor ... He was hilarious in this show

[@russellgrimes3491]

Judith Light stinks. Never liked her.

[@YoP-3194]

Tony voice : angellllaaa.

[@hanscombe72]

“We would be lying down...”. “Not necessarily” It took me a while to get that joke when I First saw this episode.

[@Riles3152]

A seductive woman will flatter with her lips...and eventually destroy your entire soul and life. If you give in to her will. Steven made the right choice...

[@richardcarrier8551]

Not sure if you know this - but that is actually a Biblical concept found in the Proverbs.

[@Riles3152]

@@richardcarrier8551 Yes sir. That's exactly where I got it from. God bless!

[@booboo4963]

Lol. The way you frame it makes it sound like the man has no agency and he’s merely an innocent victim of this evil woman. It takes two to tango.

[@MichaelWaisJr]

@@richardcarrier8551Oh, I thought it was a Don Henley reference.

[@gutz1981]

2:42 You can totally see her breaking character just the thought of the joke. Ha ha.

[@raisa_cherry35]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@irisshalurhad7901]

Turning down Judith Light when she was still in her prime? Tough.

[@eddeesalce]

Any black man would take her even now at the age she is..

[@clightning9703]

@@eddeesalce ANY Black man would take anything

[@missmarymac4432]

@@clightning9703 what a random and stupid comment.

[@alvinwagner6085]

A real man’s most important personal possessions should be his integrity and his character.

[@maryk446]

I think Marcus Aurelius said something similar. I believe it was "your only true goods are your virtues. But however it's put, it's true and important to remember.

[@jc2333]

Steven said no , who’s the boss now?

[@bennythepooh4905]

This was really good but I really loved it when he was recollecting about his father and his older brother torturing him with a spoken word album about putting down a rabid dog. Still made him cry all those years later.

[@waynelarson1230]

That dudes moral compass always point towards straight up stoic

[@runforit420]

Judith Light still is sensational in 2016 as she was in 1983.

[@Retsler54]

Not now in 2024. We all age though and for the most of us we are lucky to do so. Most of us have lost people to sickness or accidents having died too young. We should be grateful we are still around although not as pretty or strong as when we were 15-35.

[@runforit420]

@@Retsler54 Umm...what ?

[@theodoremartin9333]

If Mr, Keaton watch meredith baxter birney in the Betty broderick story he wouldn't even think of cheating

[@HR-rl4ke]

Micheal gross very funny he was underated!!

[@jackiemusgrove6956]

Unfortunately, I don't believe many married men would say no...

[@joshgellis3292]

He could possibly of been more blunt, but he holds his ground- sort of an "Hmm... I dunno!" smirk and then he has a polite, statement of "No." basically.

[@06bigd2000]

1:35-1:41 Best exchange in tv history 😂😂😂

[@suesan5111]

*What about @**2:43** ?* 😉😜😂

[@joemckim1183]

This episode was in 1983 when Who's the Boss didn't start until 1984 so technically she wouldn't be cheating on Tony here.

[@muffdiver240]

Thanks for the tip.

[@famouslastwords0791HR]

I could never stand Tony Danza

[@Briguy75]

​@@famouslastwords0791HR " Hold me closer"

[@clightning9703]

Judith's role is interesting here than Who's the Boss

[@DocRunaway]

Because her character is far more interesting here. Let alone her character in Law & Order SVU.

[@isitoveryet9525]

Her character was pretty unlikable on Who's the Boss.

[@katymvt]

@@isitoveryet9525 At least her Who's the Boss character didn't try to get with other people's husbands.

[@joemckim1183]

Because Family Ties is a far better show then Who's the Boss?.

[@michaelalguire419]

She looks amazing here.

[@LesiureBoy]

As a man turning down an easy lay from a gorgeous woman means I'm madly in love with my current partner, but hot dam does it hurt!

[@Oakeshott-ko8ig]

I think going back home to a young Meredith Baxter softens the blow quite a bit.

[@michaelalguire419]

Yes it does. Women always seem to come around me more and more when I with someone.

[@angelalong6740]

You're a good man, Steven. ❤

[@raymondrochajr9621]

Even Al Bundy turned down a chance to get some cat from someone other than Peg!

[@Agent.Wadsworth]

Steven was a better man than I'd ever be, that's for sure.

[@kimberlytalbot852]

I would love to have a honest husband very honorable indeed Steven

[@Mike-pj1kv]

If you actually love your wife then you would do the right thing.

[@GizmoMaltese]

Not necessarily. You have to be emotionally mature to do the right thing.

[@Sheena39]

I wish Judith Light was in more episodes, she rocks!

[@laminage]

So much History in that Scene. Judith Light before she was Angela Bower on Who's The Boss. She also played a Woman who got pregnant with a Baby she didn't want on St. Elsewhere. Also, keep in mind that this was after her "Emmy Award" Winning Performance on One Life To Life who was a Housewife who was also a Hooker. Another quirky Co-Incidence was that Michael Gross & Meredith Baxter Birney both acted as Villians on The Young & The Restless. Michael as a Minister and Meredith as The Mother from H@ll! I was stunned when Meredith Baxter Birney Came Out. I told UK Soap Fans about how alot of Actors from "Prime Time" do Soaps and even win Emmys most notably Vernee Watson (Welcome Back Kotter & The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air). I would have loved Judith Light to have gone on Orange Is The New Black as Yoga Janet's Sister.

[@craigsmith157]

Did you know Michael Gross and Meredith Baxter were born on the exact same day? Meredith is 6 hours older than him.

[@80sOGRE]

Tony Danza and Micheal Gross getting into a fistfight - great cross over idea.

[@TotoFrancey]

The first two seasons of "Family Ties" were at a much higher level than the next five when it essentially became "The Alex Keaton Show." Of all the seasons, season two is the best from which this episode is from. Being on at 9:30 pm in the television wasteland of Wednesday night allowed the writers to explore deeper issues with a more edgy humor than was later allowed when it was moved to Thursdays after "The Cosby Show" and Sundays after NFL football. "Family Ties" would not have been initially as popular had it been allowed to remain in its original timeslot with original format, but had it been allowed to, the show would have become a true modern day classic. Just imagine Elyse Keaton telling her husband Steven about her latent lesbian tendencies 30 years before such a conversation would have been deemed acceptable. Now that would have been ground breaking television.

[@clightning9703]

I agree.... as much i highly appreciated Micheal's acting, his role was just overbearing on the other cast-mates. Considering Alex's role won "3 Emmy's, the writer's deemed it "necessary" to make him the focus of attention & star of the show.... which is why he & Meredith Baxter constantly feuded.... mainly because of Fox's ego at the time.

[@don8668]

I agree the show did focus way too much on Alex Keaton in the later seasons. He was the most popular person on the show and producers and directors tend to give more air time to their stars.

[@pallavisreetambraparni6995]

once alex entered college, the show focused alot on alex and his girlfriend, ellen, and their relationship, and when mallory met nick, the show focused on their relationship as well, and when the keatons had a fourth child, andrew, they did a little bit with baby andrew and quickly aged him to preschool, kindergarten and grade school. they should've probably just stuck with 3 children instead of adding a 4th child. they did the same thing in growing pains. they added a fourth child in later seasons and did a few episodes and one and half seasons as a baby and then quickly aged her to preschool/kindergarten/grade school in the next season. that's not what happens in real life. oh, well.

[@SuperMarioBrosIII]

@@pallavisreetambraparni6995 Not to mention Family Matters and Little Richie whom goes from baby to Toddler between seasons 1 and 2. 🤔📺🙏👍

[@famouslastwords0791HR]

I have to agree. While i watch all seasons because it never lost its appeal to me, Michael Gross doesn't get enough credit, in my opinion, for the exemplary work he did. He can do it all-a very, very funny man who can also perform dramatic scenes that make you believe his emotions are real. Just an excellent actor. I also really like Meredith Baxter and they worked well together. Michael J Fox was and is talented, but i never thought he was quite on par with Gross and to some extent Baxter. If anything could be changed, i wish they'd made more use of the talent they had and not focused solely on Fox, Emmy's or not.

[@nattyps3160]

Steven Keaton is so underrated Asa great TV dad. Micheal gross is great. Omg i love Judith licht . Before I was born was her famous moment on the stand that's top 50 all time not just for a soap. Family ties had amazing guest stars like Judith, Courtney cox river Phoenix & of course the recurring uncle Ned. Also Micheal fox's onscreen friend was his btff dad crisin glover. In school we were shown the ep. " my name is Alex p Keaton,," when Alex's friend died & he had survivors guilt.

[@jackiemusgrove6956]

Why do women go after men they know have a wife and family?!

[@joelmccall6328]

Angela now what would Tony say..

[@pallavisreetambraparni6995]

angela i don't think tony would like this

[@joelmccall6328]

Funny thing is this is how fatal attraction began lol without the jokes.

[@nashshaffer6235]

And then she went to Human Resource and said Steven sexually harassed her...

[@bfettrulez6734]

Exactly!!!

[@JamesPartridge-u5y]

Lol

[@robocop5935]

Steven was tempted. But he knew the consequences if he had an affair or one night stand.

[@pallavisreetambraparni6995]

steven loves elyse too much. he wouldn't risk loosing that

[@pallavisreetambraparni6995]

Steven and Elysse have known each other since high school. And they've liked each other since high school. They've got that strong bondage since than. Steven loves elysee too much and they've been through alot together. He wouldn't risk all that for a one night stand.

[@thomasduncan4074]

Usually it’s the man who tries this with a woman.

[@Wholeheart76]

Good choice. Once you cross the line it’s easier to break it.

[@joelmccall6328]

Damn a hard choice hot sex with no strings attached or choose your family Steven made the right choice marriage is about love and loyalty. Steven did the right thing.

[@esmeraldagems9487]

Writing from a girl's perspective. And only my own, probably. But Stephen should not even come back or linger in her presence allowing her to keep tempting him. Cause you can tell he was struggling. He should have just ran so far away from her as fast as he could. But I guess for most people even when they say no that would be very hard to do when they're strongly attracted to the person and they like them anyway.

[@farhanarahman9009]

Steven did the right thing 👏

[@pallavisreetambraparni6995]

that's because steven is very honorable and loves elyse very much

[@pallavisreetambraparni6995]

and though steven was tempted, his loyalty and love for elyse is very strong and he never let anything come in the way of that.

[@shavedape6679]

He made out with her and was flirting with the idea for 2 hours before going there to shut it down. It is just a show and scenarios like this dont really happen all that often im sure, but when/if they do, what do you do? I liked that he wasnt just this apple pie goody twoshoes george cleaver. Temptation: its real - its strong - and it hurts to resist. Good episode.

[@muffdiver240]

Pretty insightful remarks. Probably happens to some more than others. As tempting as she looked, and as hard as she lobbied him, he'd have been virtually impossible to relate to if he'd coldly & reflexively shut her down. Nor would there have been any comedy OR drama (OR A SHOW!) in that response. *I suspect you meant "Ward" Cleaver. Although we never did see Ward confronted with any temptation to test him against. Who knows, maybe he had a secret inner "tomcat" (think MLK jr.) we simply never had a chance to glimpse.

[@pallavisreetambraparni6995]

Correction. steven didn't make out with stacey. stacey first put the moves on steven by telling him that she was attracted to him and by passionately kissing him. steven sensibly told stacey that a relationship between him and stacey can never happen becsuse he's a married man with three children. but that doesn't stop stacey from coming on to steven and she convinces him to come back yo eotk to help her work on the documentary. even gus, steven's co worker notices how stacey is flirting with steven and that he should watch it. steven comes and see stacy and she tries to put the moves on him and tries to convince him to come back to her place but he say no it can't happen and he goes back home and apologizes to elysse for being tempted.

[@jennifertimlin1371]

@@pallavisreetambraparni6995 He did kiss her back and he also.allowed her to kiss him initially when she first shows up. Inappropriate behavior at work.

[@Emick1978]

Wonderful man.

[@MrRyguy2112]

When Who's the Boss and Family Ties have a crossover event!

[@Mitzi73]

That red blouse she wore is the same Elyse wore in the Uncle Arthur episode. Wardrobe dept has good taste.

[@zabu7912]

Well, if they're in a different zip code it didn't happen. If she has a sister and she gets involved, they'll cancel each other out, it didn't happen. Steven needs the rule book.

[@jennifervalentine3596]

KT I’m laughing so hard at this - and I’m a woman! 🤣

[@D2Kprime]

I've never seen this episode before. Wow. Yeah, Judith Light back in her day was pretty seductive.

[@waynelarson1230]

His moral is carved in stone

[@jackiehusein6267]

❤ Well, I for one, ❤ am a ONE man Woman!!! ❤ I have zero thoughts or desires ❤ for no other man. ❤ Just sayin' ❤

[@jasonpark5692]

Hardcore Willpower

[@Xtiansldrs]

In real life she wouldn’t have even been able to finish her sentence about “making...” Then she would’ve been mauled. Yes is yes, afterall.

[@hoibsh21]

I could never say no to Judith Light, she is the light of my life.

[@Ricksterny1]

All of us married men will go thru this someday. I was too weak :(

[@perfectsplit5515]

I want to see clips from the episode where Elyse's coworker (played by Peter Scolari) has fallen in love with her. He wants to take her to Europe and feels guilty about being in love with a married woman. He tells Steven that he has a right to slug him. I want to see Elyse speaking the line, "Well, nobody's been in live with me for a long time", like it's such an interesting thing.

[@freddurst3212]

Y

[@lenadahling]

Wait, Tony comes tomorrow? Arright! ;)

[@robocop5935]

They look like a good couple. But Steven did right by himself and his wife and family.

[@williamj.dovejr.8613]

Don't drive around, grab a burger meal, go home and share it with your wife.

[@somesmoothjazzplease225]

Angela?????

[@pallavisreetambraparni6995]

yep

[@Ragitsu]

Angeler.

[@sackattack82]

In real life she would spread a rumor to everyone that he is awful in bed and while that is going on, her depression because of rejection would deepen and then she'd off herself a week or so later.

[@micheller6804]

OMG, I did that!

[@JimmyMon666]

Not necessarily. LOL I didn't know this show was that risque. I don't remember this episode as all, and I watched this a lot as a kid.

[@don8668]

I remember this episode very well. I took me years to remember that Judith Light was the potential other woman in this episode.

[@aeriel69]

Whenever I see this scene, I sometimes wonder what this show would have been like had Judith Light played Elyse Keaton.

[@trawlins396]

Not as good

[@pallavisreetambraparni6995]

That would've give the show a totally different flavor I think. See, they want a woman who isn't so aggressive and not much so competitive. Elyse is that kind of a character. She started working and doing her architect job right out of her home when her three kids, Alex, Mallory and Jennifer were really young and she only went back to the office setting to work when all 3 children could actually take care of themselves. Elyse actually sacrificed her career for a bit to raise her family. On Who's the Boss? Angela on the other hand, is more career oriented. She WANTS to be in an office setting all the time. It's not that she doesn't love her son. It's just that she's more suitable in an office setting than as a full time mom. And that is what didn't work out between Angela and her husband. He wanted a traveling job and wanted Angela and their son to come along going from country to country assignment to assignment whenever he changes and keep on moving and she just didn't want to do that. AND, Angela also didn't want to be a full time stay at home mom. She wanted to have a career, her advertising career. So she hired Tony as her house keeper to look after her house and her child. So, I think the producers and directors probably maybe thought that Meredith Baxter was more suited for the role of Elyse than Judith Light.

[@aeriel69]

@@pallavisreetambraparni6995 I can see parallels between Angela and Nancy Lawrence (Baxter’s character on Family). I would argue that Karen Wollack (Light’s character on One Life to Live) was somewhat more similar to Elyse if you ignored her sorted past. Both actresses stopped playing these characters (Karen and Nancy) around the same time before Family Ties aired. I think I read somewhere that Light was considered for the role. I think she had the skill to pull off playing Elyse, wife and mother, but doesn’t have the air and face of Elyse, the hippie, that Baxter did.

[@cdbutler1204]

Who is the guy in the audience who yelled “oh yeah” when Judith Light offered to sleep with Steven? He made the audience laugh when they weren’t supposed to. 😂

[@carmesundae2]

is tha tangulua From whos the boss?

[@PianoSoulos]

Angelerrrrrrr

[@bennythepooh4905]

She makes it a very very hard choice to make. You have to give it to him but he has principles and scruples. In the end of it all he loves his wife and children. This why I advocate polygamy.

[@jroysims44]

"Honorable" is the word I was thinking of, too. He's Democrat, too.

[@marcushill1315]

that window and wall joke hits a little different now thanks to Lil Jon lol

[@skyenelson1448]

Judith light was definitely hot in WHO'S THE BOSS...

[@Mjt1262]

Did we finally learn Who's The Boss?

[@andrewokamoto]

So this is why Angela never married Tony

[@MelissaServicePack7Lucky7]

You need to be more clear about which version of the show "Family Ties" you have full episodes of. It's very disappointing and decieving, to come on your channel and find out that all you have are clips instead of full episodes.

[@AnalyticalMenace]

You must be new to KZbin.

[@clightning9703]

@@AnalyticalMenace hahaha

[@trawlins396]

If you want full eps. You have to pay to stream them. Nothing's free

[@MelissaServicePack7Lucky7]

@@trawlins396 it’s free on Pluto tv. And I bought the whole series on dvd.

[@tonymoretti2347]

Angela!!!

[@retiredsnowbunnyhunterx5106]

Glad I'm single no way i would have turn Judith light down.

[@CMustaine-ky5hv]

It’s too bad that Judith light couldn’t play Elyse.A way better version of Elyse!I can’t stand MBB horrible acting and stammering.She and Andy are the worst

[@Nerotique]

What is this, a Who's the Boss crossover?

[@ghanasoul]

If he REALLY loved his wife he wouldn’t had showed up at all! He would’ve been home. A lot of women like guys in relationships. If he wasn’t married she wouldn’t even bother with him. Ha.

[@D2Kprime]

BIG thumbs down here. That's a pretty self-righteous thing to say. It's not for YOU to determine what is or is not the right way for someone else to handle a situation in their lives. I personally would not have gone there, but it's not for you or I to tell him that he was _wrong_ for doing it. The fact that he could go down there, be 100% up front and honest with her about his feelings, and still tell her *NO* and go home to his family shows me just how strong his love for Elyse was. If you are already attracted to her, you know she wants you, and she is basically throwing herself at you and NO ONE is around, do you know how much strength it takes in that situation _NOT_ to smash? Courage is not pretending a problem doesn't exist. It is staring the problem in the eye, standing your ground, and doing what is right even when you are vulnerable. That's what courage is. Again, I wouldn't have gone don't there because I would have peeped-game on here from the beginning and never let it get that far, but that's ME. Everybody is different.

[@ghanasoul]

@@D2Kprime he could’ve just called and turned her down. :)

[@nancybean7593]

Agreed.

[@pallavisreetambraparni6995]

@ Ghanasoul. Even saying "no" he did the right thing by coming down to the office and telling Stacy face to face. Steven even tells Stacy that he drove around for 2 hours before coming in. That means that he was thinking about how to let her down easy without hurting her feelings. And you can't do something like that over the phone, especially with 3 kids in the house. This isn't something that they should be hearing. Plus, you need calmness and time to think how you will let the person down easy. So that's what Steven did. And that's the mature way to handle it. So, when steven came into the office and Stacy tries to distract him with her charm and attraction he remains strong and steadfast and tells her that it can't happen.

[@tommydenato8863]

Option 3

[@whiskers1965]

what you claim it to be

[@jm15xy]

Was she on Law and Order?

[@SPECTACULARSPORTSSHORTS]

Yes, SVU..she played judge Donnelly!

[@highlander723]

That show ran way longer than it should so yes everybody was on there everybody made a cameo just like everybody made a cameo on mash or ER...

[@pallavisreetambraparni6995]

Yes

[@getAliKhan]

So are we supposed to believe with all of the regulations on language and “inclusion” since then, that standards in broadcast television has somehow gotten BETTER?

[@geenademarco]

Steven was fine as hale. I don’t blame her

[@jimmy1154]

My life is a series of unrelated episodes. Make Love to me, Judith Light !!

[@marlena4020]

That “how about a hug” in real life would have been a big no-no! And the walking her to her car too!!! In real life once you cross that temptation line something else takes over and free will goes out the window. And what takes over is lust. The seven deadly sins are real demons.

[@curtismichael4703]

But Angela loves Tony?!!!

[@cawilliamsify]

Boring...not even a flicker of temptation...awww Steven was just too good of a guy:-)

[@mariopalos9238]

Really? Because I thought I saw a flicker.

[@Kravis63]

He had a flicker and was honest about it, but made the right decision. That is what makes this scene so good, it’s honest.

[@samsims4020]

Personally I'm not a married man.but if that woman gave me a choice,I'd take the 3rd choice

[@samsims4020]

If anyone sees 👀 this reply,feel free to leave any comments.

[@reneebraxton1032]

Cleaning sucks! Lol.

[@D2Kprime]

Creepy isn't it considering her next role?

[@whiskers1965]

@rasalghul5555 i dont know what reality youre in but that office bj you say is commonplace today is not

[@McCaler]

The character Steve is a good man. Unfortunately rejecting a side girl like her is most of the time or all of the time never easy. He’s being a very good example, unfortunately in the current times much has changed and it’s not always like that.

[@hualni]

In 2019's Wokeness, site would have sued him, then claimed it was all him.

[@hotwheel6663]

Angela! Tony get jealous 😂

[@AnalyticalMenace]

First world problems.

[@moviesnob1979]

Who could have guessed that a year later, embarrassed by Stephen’s rejection would move to Connecticut and hire a formal professional baseball player turned housekeeper! 😂😂😂

[@thebandit0256]

And Alex has a love affair

[@willischalepah9488]

shit I would .

[@highlander723]

Judith light...... Steven you are an oak to turn that down. 😮

[@pallavisreetambraparni6995]

Angela!!!! what would tony say???? hmmmmm....