S1.E4. Summer of '82

Original air date: Oct 27, 1982.

First thing: the episode's title. Of course, just because an episode airs in late October doesn't mean it necessarily takes place then. School has been in session since the pilot (and is still in session here), so if this episode occurs in summer, it must be very late summer. OK, back to our regularly scheduled recap...

Alex and Jennifer in an apartment building delivering groceries. Jennifer complains that she doesn't know anything about grocery delivery. Alex tells her it's not rocket surgery and she needs experience for the job market. Jennifer further complains that Alex is giving her only 25% of the tips. Considering Alex, that's a pretty generous cut. Besides, Alex is the one actually working for the grocer. He's not forcing you to be there, kid. Take it or leave it.

Oddly, Jennifer doesn't mention anything about Alex making her carry double the bags, which would be a legitimate complaint.

They reach the customer's door, and Alex knocks.

And...holy shit. It's Ginny from Friday the 13th Part 2! At least, that was my immediate reaction. Ginny a.k.a. Amy Steel has had several bit parts over the years, but her faceoff with Jason Voorhees in the second chapter of his saga is definitely her most memorable. Amy made one kickass final girl. Sorry, not sorry, to geek out a bit.

We'll soon find out that her name in this episode is Stephanie Brooks, and she's too busy typing to shoot the shit. She tells her couriers to put her groceries on the counter.

They do just that and let her know, and Stephanie flat out ignores them. After a second announcement, Jennifer demands a tip.

Stephanie's like oh shit, my bad, and grabs her purse. She proudly declares to them that she is working on finishing her senior economics thesis for college, which seems totally normal. Don't you proclaim your personal achievements to DoorDash drivers?

She then comes to her senses and admits it must sound pretty dull. After all, her thesis is on Milton Friedman's economic theory.

Alex is like: holy shit, Milton Friedman isn't dull; he's delicious. He's Alex's favorite economist. Considering Friedman worked as an advisor to Reagan, that's not a surprise. Alex gets all excited and has a spirited discussion with Stephanie about how the Federal Reserve treats interest rates. Oh yeah, it starts to get pretty hot and heavy.

Finally, Jennifer's like eff Milton Friedman. She tells Alex he has 15 minutes to hook up with Stephanie while she waits in the car. She then takes one of the bags of groceries on Stephanie's counter for spite...or because it's for the apartment next door. 

With Jennifer gone, Stephanie complements Alex on his economic insight, and Alex responds by telling her he individually wrapped her eggs. WTF?

I don't get it either, Stephanie.

Alex tells her (and us) that it's his first day on the job, and he hopes he hasn't crossed any lines by invading the privacy of her egg carton. Stephanie seems amused.

Alex is getting worried Jennifer might ditch him. As he goes for the door, Stephanie races after him, and they finally introduce themselves. 

She asks where he goes to school, and when he tells her Harding High School, she's shocked and says that he seems, and looks, much older. (Yep, we know where this is going.)

He thanks her and says he "always felt immaturity was rather childish," which is a great line.

Jennifer re-enters without knocking, flaunting in Alex's face the cash tip she just got from next door. It appears she'll be taking 100% of the tips now. Alex races out after her.

And Stephanie's happy she somehow got out of giving them a tip.

It's now early morning in the Keaton homestead, and Elise is happy to see Jennifer making breakfast...until she learns Jennifer is putting chocolate chips in the egg batter.

Elise placates her, but when Alex enters, he tells her she's a dumbass.

Steven and Mallory enter, and Mallory's bummed that she has to write a book report, as though the she'd never written one before. Steven is incredulous about her new distain for reading in favor of shopping. Get ready, Steven, she's only going to get worse from here.

The phone rings, and Alex gets it. It's Stephanie. How did she get his number? I guess from the phone book, although at that time they likely would have been listed under "Keaton, Steven." Maybe they're the only Keaton listed. Either that or she got the grocery store to disclose the personal info of their newly hired underage employee. Or perhaps she just stalked out Harding High School.

Alex's first thought is there's a grocery-related emergency. But no, Stephanie's inviting him to a Milton Friedman lecture that night. I guess good ol' Milty just so happens to be making his way through Ohio. Stephanie's friend bailed (can't imagine why), so she offers the extra ticket to Alex. Alex is ecstatic and ends the call saying he'll pick her up at her place.

When Elise asks who Stephanie is, Jennifer excitedly "spills the chocolate chips" and says she's a pretty college student with her own apartment.

Elise expresses concern why a college student Alex hardly knew would call him for a date. Fair enough question, but given it's just an economics lecture that Alex likely would have gone to anyway had he known about it, there's also a fair enough answer. Yet Elise doesn't give Alex a chance to respond, and instead flatly declares her disapproval.

Steven disagrees, seeing nothing wrong with a few-year age difference, prompting Mallory to ask him if that means she can date college guys.

After some equivocation, Steven says they'll circle back to that question in two years. (It will actually be less.)

Alex says the whole discussion is pointless because he and Stephanie are not romantically involved, so everyone needs to STFU.

After he leaves, Jennifer brings Steven her breakfast abomination. Steven, apparently starving, doesn't even acknowledge Jennifer and immediately scarfs down a hefty forkful before anyone can stop him. 

It's an acquired taste. 

After a pause, Steven says the eggs need more chocolate chips and devours the rest of his plate. I interpret this as not high praise for Elise's cooking. Jennifer studies her father as if he were a lab rat in a science experiment who might keel over at any second.

Later that night, Alex and Stephanie are coming back from the lecture. Alex is all giddy, gushing over Milton Friedman. Apparently, Alex held up a lit match for an encore.

While Stephanie doesn't share his obsessive adoration, she's clearly amused by it.

She opens her apartment door, and Alex stands in the doorway, and the conversation abruptly stalls. Alex breaks the silence by saying he should probably go because it must be late. Stephanie says it's only 8:30, you silly high school boy, and she invites him in "for a little while."

Alex clearly wants to but is all "uhhhh." Stephanie basically has to guide him every step of the way. She literally tells him to step inside the apartment, and then takes his coat and offers him some wine. Alex is flustered and at first thinks she's offering him a gift to take with him. Heh. 

Stephanie gets the glasses. Perhaps to quell her slight fear that Chris Hansen might suddenly appear and ask her to take a seat, she tells Alex that she doesn't make a habit of asking out high school guys.

Alex knows shit just got serious.

Stephanie says she sensed something special about him when he delivered her groceries. If that's a pick-up line, it's pretty lame. But it doesn't feel like a pick-up line.

Regardless, Alex goes along with it. He knew what he was doing when he individually wrapped her eggs. 

Stephanie says there's more to it than that. She keeps giving him backhanded compliments. She can't believe she's here with him. She has to remind herself he's only 17. She's way out of his league. OK, she doesn't actually say that last one, but it's implied. 

With everything Stephanie is saying, she could easily come across as a conceited bitch. But she doesn't. Steel does a nice job with her character here. 

When Stephanie asks Alex to admit he knows he's special, she's seeking validation for how she feels. It doesn't take much coaxing for Alex to fess up to his greatness.

After more talking, they realize they share the same perspective of how connections with others shape self-worth. It's starting to get pretty deep for a sitcom, so Alex lightens the mood with a story about his pyromaniac classmate...

...which Stephanie can't help but find cute.

She accurately guesses that he doesn't have close friends at school. And it's clear from her asking the question that she doesn't either. He opens up about this and sits next to her for the first time.

She admires his intelligence and sensitivity: a rare combination, she says. People don't normally think of Alex as sensitive, but scenes like this are where the nuance of his character shines because he is sensitive. It's just something he keeps mostly hidden.

Stephanie, now satisfied that Chris Hansen is in absentia, just comes out and says to Alex that despite their age difference, she's very attracted to him. She makes a move.

Alex's physical reaction is perfect. Hilarious and honest. He uncomfortable, not with her, but in knowing he is far out of his element. 

He attempts to lighten the mood by asking about the Cleveland Indians. Stephanie doesn't want to talk baseball, but she quickly takes him to first base.

After the kiss, Alex again brings up the Cleveland Indians, and Stephanie flat out invites him to spend the night. That escalated quickly.

Alex is flustered and confesses he's never hit a homer before. 

But Stephanie's horny and unfazed that he's a virgin. She has confidence he can swing for the fences.

She kisses him again and pushes him back on the couch, which excites a couple people in the studio audience. The screen fades to black, indicating they are going to be individually unwrapping more than just the eggs.

There's a lot I like about this scene. The dialogue and performances are strong, and their chemistry is believable. Stephanie is not a mirror image of Alex, but they share many traits. She's laser focused; so's he. She's an overthinker; so's he. She seems to have a high opinion of herself, and we know Alex does. Both are mature for their respective ages. Both are socially adept but lack close friends. Both are apprehensive about, yet also attracted to, things they don't understand.

She's confused. He's confused. But she has more confidence and experience, and leads him exactly where he wants to go.

The next morning in the Keaton living room, Elise and Steven are strangely not ravaging each other. Instead, they're quietly reading their newspapers...

...when who should stroll in but Hugh Hefner, Jr., doing a terrible vocal rendition of Cole Porter's "Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love." It's pure gold.

Steven does a double take. He asks if Alex is entering a David Niven look-alike contest. (Niven was a a Classic Hollywood debonair leading man, in case you're like me and had no idea who that is. He was alive when the episode aired but would die less than a year later, which really dates this reference. I'm sticking with "Hefner, Jr.")

Alex tells Steven, in an oh-so-suave fashion, that he has no time for his shit. He asks for the real estate section of the paper, perhaps to see if the Playboy Mansion is up for sale. 

Elise, who looked pretty carefree a moment ago, grills Alex on what time he came in last night. Alex goes all Immanuel Kant and flippantly retorts with "What is time, really?" 

His parents are like ehhh?

Then this brilliant bit happens.

After the studio audience settles down, Steven asks WTF is happening. Both he and Elise take pot-shots at Alex.

Alex is not amused. 

Elise asks about Alex's date. Alex calmly corrects her that what he experienced last night was not a "date" but rather the most pivotal event of his life thus far. A fair description, I think.

When Steven notes Alex sounds pretty serious about Stephanie, Alex nonchalantly hints he might propose. Yikes.

His parents are baffled.

Alex takes pity on their inability to comprehend the mysteries of the cosmos. ...And I'm sorry, but I'll never get tired of him with this pipe.

Steven is like: Jesus Christ, I can't believe have to deal with this shit, and he tries to talk sense into whoever this "Alex look-alike" may be. Alex politely tells him to screw off as he heads upstairs to change. He's going to to the park to practice "rowing," which he plans to do later with Stephanie (no comment), leaving his parents speechless.

Alex's rowing attire is quite formal, as we next see him in a suit and tie making an impromptu drop in at Stephanie's apartment. Nothing can go wrong with this, right?

When Alex knocks, Stephanie doesn't seem too excited about his surprise visit. She's real quick to answer the door and shut it behind her. Nah, no red flag here.

Alex is completely oblivious as he slips past her and lets himself in. He's picked up a couple wrapped melons for her. Stephanie looks pissed, perhaps wondering: "Weren't my unwrapped melons last night good enough for you?"

Then we see this dude stand from the back table and pass behind Alex. It's supposed to be an "oh, shit!" moment, but it honestly doesn't look all that naughty. Stephanie and other dude have all their (layered) clothes on, and there appear to be school books at the table they were sitting at. Yeah, there's another dude here, but with Alex's naivety, Stephanie could likely convince him that they were just studying.

But Stephanie doesn't. Alex finally notices other dude. Stephanie introduces him as Pete Trucker, who is completely unmoved by Alex's presence. But Alex is all who the hell is Pete Trucker? Stephanie asks Pete if she can talk to Alex for a minute. And Pete's like no problem, and grabs a sandwich and sits down right there. Stephanie is like hey dumbass, I meant alone, and Pete goes to wait in the "other room," which I'm assuming is her bedroom.

After Pete effs off, Stephanie grabs her melons (heh) and starts talking quickly. She tells Alex that Pete is a "friend" but immediately clarifies that they "have dated."

Catching on, Alex asks her if they are on an "official date" right now.

Stephanie's like, I don't know what the hell an "official date" means, but the answer is yes. While Stephanie doesn't come across as very likeable in this scene, I appreciate that she doesn't lie to Alex.

Alex is shocked, asking her how she can be on a date with Pete Trucker when she was trucking him last night. Stephanie denies that Pete has anything to do with what happened between them last night.

Pissed, Alex accuses her of taking advantage of a humble delivery boy for her own amusement. Hey, Alex, this isn't A Streetcar Named Desire.

Dumbass Pete takes this moment to re-enter the room merely to stand and announce that he forgot to get himself something to drink. Seriously. He doesn't even get a drink. He just walks right up to them and proudly proclaims this thought. They both ignore him. After a few beats of silence (and no laughs), Pete says he's not that thirsty and goes back to the bedroom. What a waste of ten seconds.

However, this is followed by an appalled Alex chastising Stephanie that "He's eating the food I delivered!" which Fox, of course, says with great comic flair.

Stephanie speaks straight with Alex, saying that she could ask Pete to leave but that wouldn't change anything. 

She tries to explain, but Alex angrily interrupts her, saying he gets it, and then he goes to leave.

Stephanie follows and gives a half-apology ("I'm sorry if I hurt you.") She claims last night was wonderful and special to her, which Alex says makes no sense due to the current presence of Dumbass Pete.

She has no response to that, so Alex opens the door, pausing to state he "feels so cheap" (another hilarious line delivery), and peaces out.

Back at Casa Keaton, Mallory (who's been mostly absent this episode) is in the kitchen checking herself out in a spoon for some reason. Steven and Elise gather Jennifer. 

The four of them are going to the movies. Jennifer asks if Alex will be mad at them for not bringing him along. Elise is like, no, Alex is probably making a private movie with Stephanie right now.

But just as they start to leave, Alex returns, visibly pissed. 

He unpersuasively claims his 11-minute date with Stephanie was "fine" and plants himself head-down at the kitchen table when he learns the family is going to see Endless Love (yikes, that film).

Steven's no dumbass. He sends the ladies off without him, saying he didn't want to watch Brooke Shields' crappy romance flick anyway. 

Elise and Mallory get the hint, but sadist Jennifer says watching Alex's spiraling relationship drama could be better than the movie. (She's not wrong.) Elise drags her out the door, and the women are gone.

Steven, visibly concerned, sits next to Alex and asks if he wants to talk. Alex catches him up on the past five minutes of the episode. He can't understand how Stephanie could do that to him after everything that happened between them last night, prompting Steven to ask what happened last night.

Alex perceptively says: "You know what you think happened?" Steven nods rapidly and gives this great expression:

And Alex confirms that's exactly what happened. 

Steven realizes it was Alex's first time. 

Alex is like "sort of." See, he's been dating Monica Dillon and she isn't ready to go all the way but when she does she wants Alex to be the guy, so he's been kinda counting that as "one." 

Whoa, whoa, whoa. First, cool first mention of Monica Dillon (who will be referenced elsewhere in the series, but I don't think we ever see). But more importantly, doesn't this make Alex a hypocrite? He's mad at Stephanie for sleeping with him and then inviting Dumbass Pete over the next day. Meanwhile, he's been dating a girl who clearly likes him and wants her first time to be with him but gave no thought to screwing Stephanie, who he'd just met. And it wasn't just a random hookup because Monica Dillon was giving him blue balls; he was about to propose to Stephanie in gratitude for her showing him how to horizontal tango.

This is a lot for Steven to take in, so he changes the subject, asking about the Cleveland Indians. (Like father, like son.) Alex says forget about the Cleveland Indians because he's since learned from Doc Brown that they'll become the Cleveland Guardians in 40 years.

Steven grabs a pitcher of orange juice. He's been waiting to have the big sex talk with Alex but pictured it occurring in a ski lodge. ....Okay...?

Steven takes Alex's wrist with a sincere: "I'm glad you told me." A subtle but nice fatherly gesture. 

Alex is all pouty and can't understand how Stephanie could have misled him. Hello...Alex... Monica Dillon's ears are burning.

Steven tells Alex to not to get worked up. It was just a "Milton Friedman and Chill" booty call, not love.

Alex says, screw it: he's joining a monastery. Steven tells Alex that what he did by opening himself up (actually, I think he opened Stepha...nope, I have to draw the crude line somewhere with this blog) is a necessary risk to take to experience the joy of loving another person. It's sage advice.

Alex can't believe his dad knows so much about relationships. (Well, he has been married to your mom for about 20 years.)

Steven wants to cap the evening with shots of orange juice, which will be the default drink of choice for the Keatons throughout the series. It makes its first appearance here.

To relate with Alex, Steven says in high school he was devastated when Elise went to the junior prom with another dude instead of him. Wait, wait, wait...Steven and Elise went to high school together? Yeah, that will be retconned later. 

Per Steven, the point of the story is not to give up because he married Elise and it all worked out. Err, I'm not sure this is the best advice and seems to contradict what Steven was telling Alex earlier. Alex interprets it as I did and says maybe he won't give up on Stephanie and will give her a call tomorrow. What? No!

But instead of reconciling the conflicting advice, Steven cheers his orange juice with Alex. And...credits.

This is the first episode that really showed how well Family Ties can distinguish itself from other sitcoms, and also how Michael J. Fox was capable of great things. Over the next couple seasons, the show's focus would center more on Alex than any other character. No shade on the rest of the Keatons, but Alex is the most complex and thus the most interesting. This episode displayed Alex's vulnerable side and how he needs to let it breathe to progress as a person. A heartfelt coming-of-age segment. We won't see Stephanie again, but she paved the way for a more memorable romantic pairing for Alex a few seasons down the road.

Particularly praiseworthy is the date scene, which I discussed at length. It's as honest as this series has gotten thus far. Great writing with great delivery by Fox and "mostly great" delivery by Steel. And the scene that followed featuring highbrow pimp daddy Alex in his robe and pipe showed that drama and comedy can coexist in this show without being cheesy. The predictable and hurried way they wrapped up the Stephanie and Alex coupling keeps the episode from a solid "A." But, wow, what an improvement this week! The potential that was previously lurking in the background is being realized. They won't all be this good, but this one gave the showrunners a solid path forward.

My grade: A-

Firsts: Keatons' orange juice obsession; Alex hits a homer (hey- I have to include it; this is a tally of "firsts”)