"4 Rms Ocn Vu" is the eighth episode in the third season of the NBC family sitcom Family Ties. It originally aired on November 8, 1984, and is the fifty-second episode of the series overall.
Summary[]
Steven leaves for the weekend to visit Elyse and her mother. While the kids are alone, Alex suspends all punishments. Mallory plans to go to the mall and damages the car before getting out of the driveway. To cover the costs, Alex rents out the house during the Leland Homecoming Game. Steven returns in the middle of the festivities.
Plot[]
The parents are away for a few days, Alex is in charge but cares only for his date Monica, so he wants the girls out; Mallory 'drives' straight into a telephone pole, now they must come up with some $300 to pay for repairs. Alex decides to earn enough by renting out rooms with ocean views to traveling Leland sports game attendants, who certainly bid enough to make a profit on top.
Skippy, who can't go home, is happy to stay as unpaid bellhop and sleeps on the floor like the girls, 'hotel manager' Alex gets the couch and can't resist to keep the sweet money flowing in. Then dad calls: he'll be home in a few hours. The guests even brought fellow Leland fans to celebrate their victory frat-style...
Cast[]
Starring[]
- Meredith Baxter as Elyse Keaton (credit only)
- Michael Gross as Steven Keaton
- Michael J. Fox as Alex P. Keaton
- Justine Bateman as Mallory Keaton
- Tina Yothers as Jennifer Keaton
Guest Starring[]
- Marc Price as Skippy Handelman
- Sam Whipple as Jack Driscoll
- Shawn Schepps as Darlene Driscoll
- Earl Boen as Ed Barker
- Beverly Archer as Sue Barker
- Marcianna Warman as Ellen Barker
- Jeff Cohen as Dougie Barker
Co-Starring[]
Quotes[]
- Steven: "There was a kangaroo ... in my living room."
Alex: "He was just here for the party, Dad."
Trivia[]
- The title refers to some potential guests come looking for a room with an ocean view.
- Parts of this episode are used as flashbacks in "A Word to the Wise" and "Return of the Native".
- Skippy got tickets to the NCAA Chess Semifinals and wants to invite Mallory.
- Production assistant Robert Schanche appears in this episode.
- Sam Whipple who plays Jack Driscoll, was the voice of the suicidal caller in "Hotline Fever"
- Dougie Barker (played by Jeff Cohen) asks for a massage. He tries to hold a straight face and just about breaks into a smile.
- Earl Boen and Beverly Archer (who play the Barker parents) are both familiar character actors.
- Notice Alex's monogrammed (like everything else he owns) sleeping bag.
- Jeff Cohen also appears in "The Visit".
- Fourth episode that Meredith Baxter does not appear in due to her pregnancy.
- An alternate title considered for this episode was "Keaton Towers" (a reference to the popular British sitcom Fawlty Towers).
Gallery[]
