That's the magic of a well written sitcom: The ability to jump from comedy to drama and back again in a single scene. Family Ties did it well.

Who knew at the time that both Michael J. Fox and Tom Hanks would go on to become two of the most respected actors of their generation?

You would think the whole house would have heard him yelling 🤔

Tom Hanks was awesome in this scene. And seeing him alongside Michael J. Fox makes it more awesome! They're 2 of my favourite actors ever!

Tom Hanks looks so young it's scary. I suppose the last 30 years happened but that reality is even scarier.

"It may not be Miller Time, but it is Vanilla Time." I want that on a shirt :)

The mood swings he goes throughout the scene are pretty unsettling, props to Tom Hanks.

HUNGRY, ALEX?!?!

This scene is honestly scary. One minute he's calm and then the next he flies into a rage. You never know if people like that are going to attack you. Take away the laugh track and it makes the scene look entirely different.

Wow Tom Hanks and Michael J. Fox in the same scene of a sitcom. They were both moderately successful here, but this is before the world really discovered how great they both are. This is like a piece of history.

You know you’re an alcoholic when you can drink an entire bottle of vanilla extract and not be affected

Damn that's a young Tom Hanks!

As goofy as the show could be at times, watch this and you can honestly believe you're seeing a man who'll go on to win two Oscars.

Michael j. Fox is so handsome

Uncle Ned reminds me of my stepfather...unpredictable and drunk every second day...don't miss those days for sure. Tom Hanks is amazing in this scene.

That was actually a really good performance from Hanks...no wonder he made it so far.

This really shows the dangers of alcoholism. Tom demonstrated some great acting here, even while he was still doing comedy

I don't think I've ever seen anyone one pull off drama and comedy so well in one scene before. Damn Tom. Damn.

I didn't watch Family Ties much but these clips show it handling difficult and seldom discussed problems very well. This was an authentic look at the ways of an addict. And still with a smidgen of comedy, but not trivializing the problem.

Great Scene !!! Amazing performances from two legends !!!

Tom Hanks and Michael J. Fox together?!?

2:23 I was not ready for how violent that moment is. Michael's acting is just on another level. Alex is so brave and I feel that with all of his anxieties he as a teenager have dealt with this with much more courage and grace than his parents have. And it sums up the entire premise of this series beautifully.

My two fav actors right before they made it huge. This scene is iconic. The way Tom Hanks carries the scene and MJF doesn't even need to say much, his eyes says so much. So beautiful. They should do more work together!

Wow. Tom Hanks is a bloody good actor

Just love the scene where Tom and Michael exchange hugs...Two very talented actors that inspire me very much...💕💕💕

I remember watching this "episode" in which two fine actors performing off each other. Amazing performances! This is why these actors are so well-loved - incredible in their own ways!

Tom Hanks, such a badass actor! Remarkable scenes for one of the best sitcoms of the 80’s.

Hanks does some great acting here. It sent chills through me. Like a lot of people I guess, I knew an "uncle Ned." My best friend in my mid 20s was full of charisma, intelligence and humor too. He was oozing with so much potential, it was almost scary. But like Tom's character here, alcohol was his demon. And just like in this scene, if you brought it up Lord help you...he would turn all that wonderful intelligence and humor into a weapon. Watching this actually makes me sad because it's so close to a number of late night experiences with my own "uncle Ned."

WoW! a young tom hanks just a year away from splash! and bachelor party. he's very excellent here.blending comedy and drama equally very well. i'm kind of astonished that he wasn't nominated for an emmy for an outstanding performance for an guest star in a comedy series.

Woody sure got dark after he lost Bo Peep.

When TV was worth watching (the 80's were the best for sitcoms)

Dang, that was powerful. And I agree, it's amazing to see two of the future stars in the same scene together prior to their worldwide successes!

You think I'm drunk? You think I am DRUNK?! Let me tell you something, buddy...I'm drunk. That part was hilarious!!! And MJF here looks a lot like Luke Skywalker.

Have to admit I laughed when he yelled "Taxi!" Love how the mood to the whole episode goes from funny to serious to funny to dead serious . That is a sign of good writing

I miss this show and I remember this episode…man it was intense

I remember watching this episode when it first aired, and Tom made such an impact on me that I knew he would be a star.

I love family ties

All I hear is Woody from Toy Story scooting around

Two of my fave actors!

Wow its like a twilight zone Tom Hanks and Michael J. Fox together...two of my favorites😊

One of the most memorable episodes of Family Ties.

"Don't drive and bake!"

0:13 HUNGRY, ALEX!!??! LOL

Loved that scene, but I always wondered how big you had to envision the Keaton house to be to believe Ned's screaming wouldn't have awakened the rest of the family.

"Now remember, don't drive and bake..." LMAO!

2 Legends: Michael J. Fox & Mr. Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks is one of few that could be equal MJF. ❤. Love them both and wish them best.

Tom Hanks drinks to forget Monsters and Mazes.

Amazing, both actors were directed by Robert Zemeckis...M.J.F in the Back to the Future films, and Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump..

Pure vanilla extract: DON'T TRY IT, IT BURNS YOUR EARS.

A very young Tom Hanks and he performed this episode very well. He was 27 in this episode when it aired. After this episode Tom Hanks movie career really took off and he did Splash and many others. This episode taught us that alcoholism is very serious and very serious consequences.

With all he's done, my favorite Tom Hanks role was when he was the FBI agent in "Catch Me If You Can." He was a real actor who just didn't play himself all the time.

uh oh uncle ned is having drunk mood swings

Tom Hanks just put on an acting clinic. This might have been the moment people first realized that- "This Tom Hanks kid, he's gonna go down as one of the all-time great actors. He's going places."

I remember this well when it originally aired. That was one of several dramatic scenes on that episode. Tom Hanks was on the rise.....

I'm a 12 sober alcoholic thanks to Alcoholics Anonymous. And all comedy aside, I well up like its the first time I saw this episode. The missed opportunities, the shattered relationships and friendships. Its a horrible hole I dug and kept digging until I stopped at 42yo. I'm 55 and I don't miss it at all and am so blessed today.

Haha! i remember this episode bc it taught me that you can get alcohol out of vanilla extract. good going, guys.

Uncle Ned is riding the Bi-polar Express 🤣🤣

This scene scared me as a kid. He was so good. If you watched the whole episode Ned had visited and been really fun-loving with Alex up until this point. This was eye opening.

Aww! Tom hanks in his younger days HANDSOME YOUNG MAN 😍😘

0:14 Hungry, Alex? LOL

I'm glad Ready Player One came up with this truly obscure reference. What a pearl!

I saw this once, maybe twice thirty years ago and remember it nearly word for word because of the raw power coursing through it. Two young geniuses.

Anyone else so familiar with their work with Disney that all you hear is Woody and Milo Thatch?

When a young Tom Hanks peforms the best acting job of the night while simply cast as "Uncle Ned" for a few episodes, you knew he was going to soar.

Tom Hanks right on lol. I remember seeing George Clooney in an episode of the Golden Girls as an undercover Police officer.

I have always liked this series very much.

Tom Hanks is exactly 4 years and 11 months older than Michael J. Fox.

In my book, Tom Hanks is not only a great great actor, he is a great person.

This is a great show

drunk Tom looks like fun Tom

I SPOKE IN FRONT OF THE WORLD BANK i was roooollllliiinnng

Omg that's Tom hanks, i love him!!!! He's such a good actor

Wow , That was a scary hit home episode back when rehabs weren't the in thing.

Tom Hanks & Michael J. Fox Were Incredible N This Scene Tho. I Luv It.

Those parents sure are heavy sleepers

I love Michael J. Fox" 💘 family ties is life".

I'm just not used to Michael J. Fox being in something other than Back to the Future.

Terrific acting from 2 of the best!!!

Tom Hanks AND Michael J.Fox together one and onl;y time that shit happened, like!!! Amazing!!! How cool!!!

& that's why he's Tom Hanks. One of the greatest actors.

Tom was so confident of an actor even back then!

Never seen Tom Hanks on any comedic sitcom before..thats very rare❤..bless both of u

Tom hanks was amazing in this episode

didn't know mr Roger's hit the bottle hard.. damn

It may not be Miller time but it is vanilla time. Here's to lookin at you kid.... now remember kid don't bake and drive

Two of my favorite actors. They both had so much range.

Tom Hanks getting wasted and riding the Bipolar Express....

Both are my favorite omg 💓

Why is there a laugh track attached to a scene about a man who’s suffering from crippling alcoholism and is spiraling out of control?

2:52 never tell a drunk they are a drunk

I had to look up this show because my mother named me after Michael J Fox... Alex. He's allot more wholesome and non alcoholic than me.

Close your eyes and imagine a drunk Woody.

1:11 every teenager when their parents leave them home for their first entire night alone.

I love Family Ties 💜

I remember watching this 2 part episode featuring Hanks, as the alcoholic uncle when it first aired. At the time Hanks struck me as a so-so actor, and I didn't see his appearance on the show doing much for his career, or that he would even have the career he has made. Geez, was I ever mistaking.

Did anyone else notice he drops the cheese nonchalantly at 0:36

I loved this show

A couple Future superstars!! Amazing

honestly, this is a fine piece of acting from tom hanks. this was one of my fav episodes.