Family Ties backdrop
Family Ties S4E18 — A Word to the Wise
6.5
Family Ties•Season 4•Episode 18

A Word to the Wise

6.5/10 · 133 votesFeb 13, 198649 min

Ranked #22 of 23 in Season 4•−1.1 vs season avg

Discussion

The Keaton family fills in his girlfriend, Ellen, on some of the more humorous events in Alex's life before they met in this special one-hour episode. Flashbacks to previous episodes include some highlights from the series' past shows. Alex and Ellen celebrate their six-month anniversary

Directed byWill Mackenzie
Previous episodeE17 · Engine TroubleNext episodeE19 · Art Lover
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons7

All1234567

Season 4 Episodes23

The Real Thing (1) stillE1 8.7

The Real Thing (1)

The Real Thing (2) stillE2 8.8

The Real Thing (2)

Mr. Wrong stillE3 8.6

Mr. Wrong

Designated Hitter stillE4 7.5

Designated Hitter

Don't Go Changin' stillE5 7.9

Don't Go Changin'

The Old College Try stillE6 7.5

The Old College Try

My Tutor stillE7 7.9

My Tutor

Mr. Right stillE8 8.1

Mr. Right

Just One Look stillE9 7.2

Just One Look

How Do You Sleep? stillE10 7.5

How Do You Sleep?

You've Got a Friend stillE11 7.4

You've Got a Friend

Nothing But a Man stillE12 7.5

Nothing But a Man

The Disciple stillE13 7.5

The Disciple

Where's Poppa? stillE14 7.7

Where's Poppa?

Fool for Love stillE15 7.2

Fool for Love

Checkmate stillE16 7.5

Checkmate

Engine Trouble stillE17 7.2

Engine Trouble

A Word to the Wise stillE18 6.5Now viewing

A Word to the Wise

Art Lover stillE19 6.4

Art Lover

Teacher's Pet stillE20 7.2

Teacher's Pet

My Buddy stillE21 7.6

My Buddy

Once in Love with Elyse (a.k.a. Loan Arranger) stillE22 7.5

Once in Love with Elyse (a.k.a. Loan Arranger)

Paper Chase (a.k.a. Mallory's Graduation) stillE23 7.4

Paper Chase (a.k.a. Mallory's Graduation)

Cast5

Meredith Baxter

Meredith Baxter

Elyse Keaton

Michael Gross

Michael Gross

Steven Keaton

Michael J. Fox

Michael J. Fox

Alex P. Keaton

Justine Bateman

Justine Bateman

Mallory Keaton

Tina Yothers

Tina Yothers

Jennifer Keaton

Crew1

W

Will Mackenzie

Director

Discussion

0 comments

Join the conversation

Share your take and reply to other fans.

No comments yet

Be the first to share your thoughts on this episode.

Episode Summary

"A Word to the Wise" is episode 18 of Family Ties season 4. It scored 6.5/10 from 133 votes, ranking #22 of 23 episodes this season (season average 7.6). Directed by Will Mackenzie, it aired on February 13, 1986.

Next: E19 · Art LoverBest of Season 4