OMG, I'm Alex P. Keaton

(ICYMI. Happy Summer!)

Family Ties wrapped up its 7th and final season 31 years ago. So did other iconic 80s TV series Miami Vice and Dynasty. I lost interest in those two by that time in 1989. But who didn’t love the annual Krystle-Alexis beatdown?

I was too busy to follow specific shows when I was at Bowling Green. MTV was always on, like a roommate who never went to class and threw the best parties every night.

But I did watch the Family Ties finale. I had always appreciated the Alex P. Keaton character. Too conservative of course, but I was totally into his drive to hit the “Big Time.”

The series’ last episode spoke to me. Alex had accepted his dream job with a Wall Street investment firm and was packing quickly to move to New York. Ohio was already history to him.

His excitement and eagerness to leave was a bit much for his mom, Elyse. In her eyes, Alex was too gleeful, too quick to exchange their family life together for the “bright lights, big city.”

“Elyse, he’s got to go,” I remember thinking. “He’s got to be his own man!”

I envied Alex P. Keaton. He was leaving Ohio for the Big Apple. We had the same dream, but his came true even before he left his childhood bedroom. He was confident of his journey ahead while all I had was a train ticket and the address of a YMCA on 34^th Street. The real world would be harder. I had to go to New York City and find that brass ring all by myself.

Photo credit: Paramount Television/Everett Collection

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