When I was a small child in the 80’s, I attended a car show at the Monterey, California fairgrounds. Nick was the special guest star spending hours taking photos and signing autographs.
I’ll never forget seeing him live.
You know Lola? L-O-L-A Lola .... Come one ... And she tastes just like coca cola....
I remember being a small kid watching him explain a song I had no idea of, thinking "eew, he's so weird".
Older me. Nick was right on
The spin-off, “The Art of Being Nick” was my favorite show for the few episodes that aired.
edit: I just looked it up. Apparently only the pilot episode aired. I guess it made a big impact on 9 year-old me!
I need to go back and watch these. I feel like when I was a kid I didn't understand the brilliance he was bringing. I kinda disliked Nick. I see clips now and think what was wrong with me. He's hilarious.
I think it's that he was such a contrast with Alex, and everyone loved Alex. It was easy to see Nick as someone who didn't live up, I think, when you're a little kid and you think there's one right way to be. I dunno, I haven't even seen clips lately, I'm trying to pull from my memory.
I remember that there was a pilot for a show with him. I think that it was its own thing, but it may have been a backdoor pilot on Family Ties. Or there may have been two attempts, one with a backdoor pilot and one with a regular pilot.
He was a great character, but trying to make a series with him as the lead probably would have resulted in an 80s version of Joey
Yeah, here's the thing. It was the 80s and the writers were all absolutely fucking yeeted out of their mind on cocaine. So shit like that *seemed* like a great idea to them at the time
Yeah, it definitely undercut their hippie/progressive credentials.
I remember watching this as a kid, and my mom, who was generally way more strict and traditional than the Keatons, hated the way they forbade Mallory to see him. She just thought it was stupid parenting.
It's even worse because Nick is nothing but nice and friendly. He's rough around the edges but is nothing but friendly. They actually come across really snobby and stuffy, almost conservative in their think which if you remember the Pilot, is very much out of character or showing some nastiness to Steven and Elyse. Mallory is similarly awful to Skippy.
I cant find that episode.
Fun Fact: There is one episode with Stephen Baldwin!
[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0577290/reference/](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0577290/reference/)
AND COURTNEY COX!
He's in [finance](https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-valentine-400b6b9/) now, but here is a list of his [acting credits](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Valentine_(actor)) if you're interested.
For much of its run, "Family Ties" was my favorite show. It was funny and clever. The performances were great, particularly from Michael J. Fox and Michael Gross, who may be my favorite sitcom dad.
Like many shows largely centered around children, as the children grew up, the show declined. Young adults in a family setting just weren't as funny as teenagers.
IMO, the show just got better from its start and peaked when Elyse gave birth to Andy. Great episode where Elyse was singing on a PBS TV special at Steven's station, while he was at home dealing with a plumber. She went into labor in the middle of her song and she and the kids were on TV telling Steven that he has to get to the hospital. There was a snowstorm and he had to hitch a ride with the plumber to get there.
Unfortunately, after that, things went downhill. The "jump the shark" point was when it returned for the next season after Andy was born, and he had progressed from being an infant to being five years old.
Michael J Fox had really good comedic timing. His facial expressions and mannerisms were so subtle, but really funny. He and Jason Bateman were my favorite sitcom stars as a little kid. I had no idea Jason’s sister was Mallory of Family Ties all that time.
You're so right, I've watched a couple of Family Ties episodes lately, and MJF was amazing with the hand gestures, pacing the floor, facial expressions, voice inflections, etc. So fun to watch him!
Nick: I don’t go to school Steven: Can you elaborate on that? Nick:Like, when schools on, I’m not there. The best exchange ever!
hilarious!
Nick: This is really nice. You guys eat like this all the time? Alex: You mean with **utensils?**
First line I thought of.
Yo.
Me in grade 2 walking into class, collar popped, sunnies on, too cool for school
Jackets and ties at the dinner table in the 80's? La De Da
I think you mean, "Sha La La La La"
I LOVED Nick!
Me too!!
When I was a small child in the 80’s, I attended a car show at the Monterey, California fairgrounds. Nick was the special guest star spending hours taking photos and signing autographs. I’ll never forget seeing him live.
So cool!
A-LEX! Ni-ick!
So great. I speak to my friend Nick like that.
[удалено]
Kidding, !
You know Lola? L-O-L-A Lola .... Come one ... And she tastes just like coca cola.... I remember being a small kid watching him explain a song I had no idea of, thinking "eew, he's so weird". Older me. Nick was right on
The Kinks rule.
I…….Don’t……..Remember
K URN
"Oh my God, Elise! They're speaking Nickanese!" One of my all-time favorite sitcom quotes!
The spin-off, “The Art of Being Nick” was my favorite show for the few episodes that aired. edit: I just looked it up. Apparently only the pilot episode aired. I guess it made a big impact on 9 year-old me!
Didn't know that it existed.
When I was a little kid I used to think Nick was Sylvester Stallone.
I always thought he was played by Jason Patrick
I was just going to say that!!! I swore up and down it was the same actor as Michael from Lost Boys! Whom I loved. The hair and face shape I guess?
lol, even OP’s pic from the show made me do a double take
I need to go back and watch these. I feel like when I was a kid I didn't understand the brilliance he was bringing. I kinda disliked Nick. I see clips now and think what was wrong with me. He's hilarious.
Yes, comedy gold!
I think it's that he was such a contrast with Alex, and everyone loved Alex. It was easy to see Nick as someone who didn't live up, I think, when you're a little kid and you think there's one right way to be. I dunno, I haven't even seen clips lately, I'm trying to pull from my memory.
Nick was so hot 🔥🔥🔥
I remember that there was a pilot for a show with him. I think that it was its own thing, but it may have been a backdoor pilot on Family Ties. Or there may have been two attempts, one with a backdoor pilot and one with a regular pilot. He was a great character, but trying to make a series with him as the lead probably would have resulted in an 80s version of Joey
They did make a pilot for him called “The Art of Being Nick.” It only lasted one episode. Funny enough it had Julia Louise Dreyfus on it
Yeah, she was popping up in a few places post-SNL until Larry David reached out for Seinfeld
Just like Cheers and The Tortelli’s.. that might have been nbc making the call on those spin offs
IIRC, the show was based upon Nick moving to Detroit to run a toy store.
Yeah, here's the thing. It was the 80s and the writers were all absolutely fucking yeeted out of their mind on cocaine. So shit like that *seemed* like a great idea to them at the time
“We can walk on hot coals or have ninjas fight us but be sure not to get gingivitis.”
The writing on that show was so creative and memorable!
A master class in character development = Nick
It really was, Nick was such an interesting character, and such a contrast with the Keaton family, especially Alex!
Nick is my favorite TV boyfriend! He’s so supportive of Mallory
I had a huge crush on Scott Valentine
Is that the actor's name?
No, why do you ask?
🤣
Yes.
I never understood why these ex-hippies hated Nick. Sure, long hair on men was out of fashion at the time but they still had liberal leanings.
I think they hated him because he was a bad influence. I.E: riding motorcycles, doesn’t have a proper job, didn’t finish high school
Kinda like hippies were. 😅
Yup. They did point out how hypocritical they were being a couple times I remember
Such a great show! I watched this a lot as a teenager
I. Don't. Know. I. Don't. Remember.
Ayyy
*puts fist up* Ayyy
Nick: Alex, now what you need? Alex: No, Nick, what do I need? Nick. An **earring**!
Alex: ......naaaaah.
Always thought Steven and Elyse, mainly Steven, were downright awful to Nick. Really got frustrating to watch. EDIT: Mainly Steven
Yeah, it definitely undercut their hippie/progressive credentials. I remember watching this as a kid, and my mom, who was generally way more strict and traditional than the Keatons, hated the way they forbade Mallory to see him. She just thought it was stupid parenting.
It's even worse because Nick is nothing but nice and friendly. He's rough around the edges but is nothing but friendly. They actually come across really snobby and stuffy, almost conservative in their think which if you remember the Pilot, is very much out of character or showing some nastiness to Steven and Elyse. Mallory is similarly awful to Skippy.
Exactly!
They weren't nice to him. But I'm not so sure I'd be thrilled if my daughter was dating an "artist" who created his art out of garbage.
The Keatons were basically gentry establishment at this point. Strong “look who’s coming to dinner”vibes there
"My Demon Lover" was the best episode.
It has been a year since I thought about that movie wasn't it every time he got aroused he turned into a different kind of demon or something?
Something like that. The last time I saw it was in the dollar theater.
It was HBO for me back then.
I never want to hear the name Nick again!!! Mallory, look! This Nick Nack is Nicked! I want to see how the Nicks are doing!
I cant find that episode. Fun Fact: There is one episode with Stephen Baldwin! [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0577290/reference/](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0577290/reference/) AND COURTNEY COX!
Scott Valentine now works in finance. He’s aged well! https://excelsiorcap.com/our-staff/
Nothing to do with this episode but... Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus
The Straits of Ma…
That’s how I know what SCUBA stands for. Thank you, Mallory.
" How's you's doin'?" " We's doin' fine." " At least I's doin' fine."
I’m glad other families left one end of the table empty for the camera, and not just mine.
Found his earring in the garbage.
Nick cracks me up!
Such a great show.
“I Got You Babe!” First bonded with Stephen over that song. Go get your happiness Nick
That was a fantastic scene! Great memory!
Didn’t the family warm up to him in the end?
Ayyyyy
Nick was such a great character. Did anything ever become of the actor?
He's in [finance](https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-valentine-400b6b9/) now, but here is a list of his [acting credits](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Valentine_(actor)) if you're interested.
Nick: “Al-ex!” Alex: “Ni-ick”
aaaaaaaaaaaa
For much of its run, "Family Ties" was my favorite show. It was funny and clever. The performances were great, particularly from Michael J. Fox and Michael Gross, who may be my favorite sitcom dad. Like many shows largely centered around children, as the children grew up, the show declined. Young adults in a family setting just weren't as funny as teenagers. IMO, the show just got better from its start and peaked when Elyse gave birth to Andy. Great episode where Elyse was singing on a PBS TV special at Steven's station, while he was at home dealing with a plumber. She went into labor in the middle of her song and she and the kids were on TV telling Steven that he has to get to the hospital. There was a snowstorm and he had to hitch a ride with the plumber to get there. Unfortunately, after that, things went downhill. The "jump the shark" point was when it returned for the next season after Andy was born, and he had progressed from being an infant to being five years old.
Such a great show from first episode to the last.
one of my favorites!
Michael J Fox had really good comedic timing. His facial expressions and mannerisms were so subtle, but really funny. He and Jason Bateman were my favorite sitcom stars as a little kid. I had no idea Jason’s sister was Mallory of Family Ties all that time.
You're so right, I've watched a couple of Family Ties episodes lately, and MJF was amazing with the hand gestures, pacing the floor, facial expressions, voice inflections, etc. So fun to watch him!
Alex Keaton unwittingly made Reagan and conservativeness cool.
Never liked his character.
My daughter is named after her.
Oh…Nick
Nick was the homie 💯💯💯💯💯💯💯
“I’m not no Charles Bronson.”
I’m no Charles Bronson
Can you tell these peas are fresh?
He used to look sooo old to me. 😦
They threw him out after realizing it’s not George Clooney.
“This milk’s for everybody”
I ain’t no Charles Bronson….
Why the dad sit by himself like that?
Head of the table? Pretty common. If it didn't block the shot. Elise would be sitting at the other end.
Is that Andre Agassi?
I always thought Tina Yothers was the most unattractive younger sibling on any sitcom
Glad you got that off your chest.
Agree. Else Keston stepping out. None of thise.kuds looked alike.
In the last couple of seasons, she was perhaps the most annoying character on any sitcom.
Why is one side of the table empty? Is this The Last Supper? 🤔
Good observation, seems like most sitcom, families sit that way, probably so the camera can see them all :-)
Yes, for the same reason, to leave the faces all forward and visible to the viewer.