What Is "A," My Name is Alex - Parts I & II

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Last updated: April 10, 2026

Quick Answer: "A, My Name Is Alex" is a groundbreaking two-part episode of NBC's Family Ties that aired on March 12, 1987, featuring a fictional account of protagonist Alex Keaton processing grief over a childhood friend's death. The episode won a Primetime Emmy Award, Humanitas Prize, and Writers Guild of America Award, becoming one of TV Guide's 100 Greatest Episodes by 1997.

Key Facts

Aired on March 12, 1987, on NBC as a special two-part hour-long episode
Second half-hour broadcast without commercials, creating an intimate therapeutic setting
Won Primetime Emmy Award, Humanitas Prize, DGA Award, and Writers Guild of America Award
Named one of TV Guide's 100 Greatest Episodes of all time in 1997
Features Alex Keaton speaking with an off-screen therapist in a minimalist stage setting inspired by the classic play 'Our Town'

Overview

"A, My Name Is Alex" stands as one of the most critically acclaimed television episodes ever produced, earning recognition from major industry bodies and television historians alike. This two-part special aired on NBC on March 12, 1987, as the fifth and sixth episodes of Family Ties' final season, marking a dramatic departure from the show's typical comedic format.

The episode tackles mature themes of grief, mortality, and personal accountability through the lens of protagonist Alex Keaton, portrayed by Michael J. Fox. The unique production approach—including a commercially uninterrupted second half-hour—demonstrated network television's capacity to address serious human experiences with artistic depth and emotional authenticity.

How It Works

The episode unfolds in two distinct structural phases that build emotional intensity and psychological insight:

Part I: Narrative Setup: The Keaton family grapples with the sudden death of Alex's childhood friend Greg McCormick in a car crash. While the family processes their grief, Alex exhibits increasingly volatile emotional responses, concealing his feelings behind defensive behavior and attempting to maintain his trademark rational composure.
Part II: Therapeutic Confession: The second half-hour transitions to a minimalist stage setting featuring Alex in conversation with an off-screen therapist. This format, deliberately reminiscent of Thornton Wilder's classic play "Our Town," allows Alex to directly address his emotional turmoil and examine his relationship with death and mortality.
Thematic Resolution: Through the therapeutic dialogue, Alex confronts the specific circumstances of Greg's death—the friend was running an errand that Alex had declined to help with—and begins processing survivor's guilt alongside genuine grief.
Philosophical Acceptance: The episode culminates in Alex achieving a measure of peace by recognizing that he can preserve Greg's legacy by embodying the positive qualities his friend possessed.

Key Comparisons

Aspect	"A, My Name Is Alex"	Typical Family Ties Episode
Tone	Dramatic, introspective, therapeutic	Comedy-driven with light dramatic moments
Format	Two-part hour-long special with commercial-free second half	Standard 30-minute sitcom format
Setting	Mix of naturalistic scenes and minimalist stage design	Primarily interior family home and exterior locations
Target Audience	Mature viewers seeking serious television drama	Family and general audiences
Industry Recognition	Emmy, Humanitas, WGA, and DGA awards	Standard sitcom nominations when applicable

Why It Matters

Cultural Impact: The episode demonstrated that network television sitcoms could address grief and mortality with sophistication and respect, influencing how dramatic special episodes were conceived in subsequent decades.
Awards Recognition: Winning the Primetime Emmy Award proved that comedy-based shows could achieve dramatic excellence worthy of the industry's highest honors, breaking conventional genre boundaries.
Performance Legacy: Michael J. Fox's portrayal of Alex processing complex emotions showcased his range beyond the comedic teen character that made him famous, establishing credibility for more serious dramatic work.
Literary Parallels: The deliberate staging choices and therapeutic monologue structure linked television drama to established theatrical traditions, elevating the medium's artistic legitimacy.

The lasting significance of "A, My Name Is Alex" extends beyond its initial broadcast. TV Guide's inclusion of the episode in their 1997 list of 100 Greatest Episodes demonstrated sustained critical appreciation. The episode remains frequently referenced in television history discussions as a pivotal example of how series television could handle deeply personal and universal human experiences while maintaining artistic integrity and emotional authenticity.

For viewers and critics alike, this episode represents a high-water mark in 1980s television storytelling, proving that comedy-based programs could transcend their format limitations to create genuinely moving dramatic art.