I think that Family Ties is a good show to present what a falacy the typical American family is. The Keatons are this perfect family, with parents who work, and manage to be home each night for dinner, with four kids who are all stereotyped one way or the other. Since most families aren't like this, I think people like to watch it because for half an hour they can be a part of this four star American family. That's why it is a fictional television show and not real life. In the 80s, once a week, families got to sit down and imagine that they were part of this family that loved and cared for one another, and solved all their problems in a half hour episode. I think they portray the American dream.