Ep 18. Lady Sings the Blues

In season 2 episode 18 of Family Ties, titled Lady Sings the Blues, the Keaton family is thrown into chaos when Elyse's mother, Grandma Rose, comes to visit. Grandma Rose is eccentric and somewhat difficult to handle, with a habit of loudly singing old show tunes at the most inappropriate times. She immediately clashes with Alex, who finds her embarrassing and annoying.

The main plot of the episode centers around Grandma Rose's desire to sing at a local club. She has always wanted to fulfill her dream of becoming a performer, and she sees this as her chance. However, her singing is terrible, and the owner of the club, who is a friend of the Keatons, refuses to let her perform.

Despite this setback, Grandma Rose is determined to sing, and she enlists the help of Alex to improve her skills. Alex, still not thrilled about the idea, reluctantly agrees to coach her, thinking that he can quickly improve her singing so that she can perform and get the whole ordeal over with. However, he soon realizes that Grandma Rose's singing is truly terrible, and it becomes increasingly difficult for him to hide his frustration and disappointment from her.

Meanwhile, Steven and Elyse are dealing with their own issues. Steven is upset that Elyse is spending so much time with her mother, as he feels that she is neglecting her responsibilities around the house. Elyse, on the other hand, is frustrated with Steven's lack of enthusiasm for Grandma Rose's visit, and feels that he doesn't understand the importance of family.

As the episode progresses, the tension between the family members mounts. Grandma Rose becomes more and more determined to perform, despite Alex's protests, and tensions between Steven and Elyse continue to simmer. The climax of the episode comes when Grandma Rose performs at the club, with Alex accompanying her on the piano.

Without giving anything away, it can be said that the performance doesn't quite go as planned, with some hilarious and embarrassing moments that will have viewers cringing in secondhand embarrassment. However, the episode ultimately has a heartwarming message about the importance of family, and the lengths that people will go to in order to support their loved ones.

Overall, Lady Sings the Blues is an entertaining and lighthearted episode of Family Ties, with plenty of laughs and heartwarming moments. It's a great example of the show's ability to tackle serious issues (in this case, family dynamics and the relationship between parents and their adult children) in a way that's both entertaining and relatable. Whether you're a fan of the show or just looking for a fun sitcom to watch, this episode is definitely worth checking out.