family tie creator gary goldberg do not like michael j. fox on his first audition and think he play alex a little too smart assish . but on his second try and fox approach it a different way and win the part that shoot him to stardom . he quickly become the focal point of the show a the money obsess teenager alex p. keaton . you could understand meredith baxter birney disappointment and a the show be to be gear toward her character a the mother . but she and the rest of the cast pretty much fade into the background behind fox . not that he wasn not support by a great group of performer . michael gross a the easy go father and justine bateman a the typical phone hogging and boy troubled teenage daughter and and tina yothers a the tomboyish young sister . in late year some nice addition be scott valentine a bateman weirdo boyfriend and and make numerous appearance over the year be marc price a the nerdy next door neighbor and skippy . high point episode over the year be the alex turn 18 one and the alex rent out the room of the house one and and also the 4 ( . ) part heartattack episode with the focus be on michael gross father character and steven . show major misstep occur during their final year when they try to become too socially concious . episode deal with book banning and oil spill and toxic fume from household product and and racism seem a bit out of place and more importantly and take away from the comedy . the last hurrah be a decent episode that saw alex move to new york to be an investment banker . but most recommend from the series would be the show middle year and where the writing be at it best . show also must of set some sort of record with at least 6 or 7 ( . ) of those flashback type episode feature clip of the past story . but no harm do .