Family Ties: The Second Season (1983) Rating: Starring: Michael J. Fox, Michael Gross, Meredith Baxter Birney, Justine Bateman, Tina Yothers Director: Category: Television Studio: Paramount Pictures Subtitles: Length: 530 mins     Fall head-first laughing... into the generation gap. Family Ties flipped the typical sitcom dynamic on its head. Instead of conservative parents butting heads with rebellious kids, the heart of the series is the generation gap between former hippie parents and their square offspring. The second season highlights the culture gap between Steven (Michael Gross) and Elyse Keaton (Meredith Baxter Birney) and their three children: staunchly Republican Alex (Michael J. Fox), fashion-mad Mallory (Justine Bateman) and precocious Jennifer (Tina Yothers), as they tackle pre-marital sex, women's rights, and alcoholism. get reacquainted with the Keatons and their nurturing blend of politics and punchlines in Family Ties: The Second Season.