re watch it on dvd i be amaze that family tie really stand the test of time . what make it stand out be the constant high quality of the writing . on the one hand family tie always tackle serious issue on a personal level ( death and trust and love and sexual harassment ) but also on a social or political level . i find it absolutely amaze that the writer always manage to avoid the trap of become sentimental or moralize but always keep a healthy distance . politically family tie be the great liberal voice of 80 television and from that point of view play in a different league from it arch rival at the time and the cosby show . what i also find amazing be that they manage to pack a satisfying story in the fairly short format of less then 30 minute . the cast of course be perfect . michael gross stand out for me because he have the best one liner in the show and his delivery a naive steve keaton be incredibly funny . michael fox be michael fox ( a always ) but meredith baxter be a great and underrated comedienne ( and actually hellishly attractive . ) . pity tina yothers stop act a it be amaze what a quantity and quality of dialogue she deliver at a very young age ( though the jury be still out on her real age ) . and let not forget justine bateman a airhead mallory but who can act a fine line between comedy and drama ( see give uncle arthur a kiss . ) .