APK Family Ties' Way

Ah, blessed rain. Keep coming. New Jersey needs lots more of it. But with rain today and more rain tomorrow, we're off to a good start. By the way, the above linked article mentions this is New Jersey's worst drought in 22 years. We remember that one. Then in the spring of 2003, it just rained and rained. 

We see Matt Gaetz has withdrawn from attorney general consideration. Good. This was probably always a troll job on Trump's part. Why not Texas AG Ken Paxton? Is Ken Cuccinelli still around? Heh, perhaps Harmeet K. Dhillon?

Last night we watched an episode of Family Ties, our first viewing in 35 years. Family Ties was everything we remember. Cozy and warm, with a semi-serious plot punctuated by silly jokes. 

If one is Generation-X, one knows APK. We come now to the case of Alex P. Keaton, the Nixon admiring, Reaganomics loving, women's lib rejecting child Boomer hippies Steven and Elise Keaton. Alex P. Keaton was something of an 80s sensation and the first important Generation X television character. Alex is unique because he follows political and economic news and wears a jacket and tie to school. This is a very Gen-X act of rebellion. In our own College Republican days we and our friends made a point of wearing a coat and tie to school functions. 

Producer Gary David Goldberg later said that he wanted viewers to hear and reject Alex's conservative ideals. But the in-script criticism never really landed. Michael J. Fox played Alex as a likable, optimistic young lad. Underneath the coat and tie, Alex P. Keaton was still a teenage boy worried about growing up, wanting to be liked, and chasing girls. One couldn't really not like Alex P. Keaton. 

Importantly, in Family Ties' 'very special' episodes, Alex is never on the wrong side of an issue. He defends a feminist's right to speak. He opposes book banning. Even Goldberg's attempts at political jokes at Alex's expense are mostly silly and good-humored. When Alex gets  a pair of Pet goldfish he names them Kissinger and Agnew. Later he opens a scene by saying, 'Bad news. Kissinger just ate Agnew'. In the 80's, that was funny.