Is a 'Family Ties' reunion finally happening? Not quite, but Steven and Elyse Keaton -- a.k.a. Michael Gross and Meredith Baxter -- are together again, and this time they're getting animated.

The famous TV couple reunites for 'Dan Vs.' (season 2 premieres Sat., Nov. 19, 8PM ET on The Hub) -- it's a very special Thanksgiving-themed episode, which is perfect since we're infinitely thankful to have them both back on TV. What would we do, baby, without them? Stop me before I sha-la-la-la.

Dan always assumes everyone is against him (hence the show's title), but as his best friend's wife Elise's parents, Gross and Baxter's characters might actually be on his side. Or not. ''They're quirky parents, and they're conspiratorial," Gross said. "They're not nearly as nice as Elyse and Steven Keaton were, which is a lot of fun for us. We hate our son-in-law and his friends -- what could be more fun?" Baxter chimed in with a laugh: "We don't treat our daughter too well, either!"

Yep, these two portraits of all-American sitcom hunky-doryness are relishing in playing against type, but that doesn't mean they shun their most iconic roles. I put them to the test with some 'Family Ties' trivia, which brought out the laughs, the talk of an actual reunion and the clever middle names for Alex P. Keaton.

Get ready for Keaton time on 'Curb Your Enthusiasm.' It's been announced that both Michael J. Fox and his 'Family Ties' onscreen father Michael Gross will be guest-starring on the upcoming Season 8.

According to TVGuide.com, Fox will play himself in Episode 10, in which 'Curb' uses Fox's real-life battle with Parkinson's Disease as a comedic plot device. "Larry moves to New York and takes the apartment below ours," says Fox.

The famously irascible Larry then believes that Fox is "being symptomatic just to annoy him -- a whole passive-aggressive thing. He's complaining because I'm shuffling and making noise upstairs. It's very funny."

For several years, 'Family Ties' was among the top-rated shows on television, and its enduring popularity made it a staple of syndication for years after it went off the air. At the '2011 TV Land Awards' (Sun., 9PM ET on TV Land), Ben Stiller presented the cast of this iconic show with the Fan Favorite Award.

Michael Gross talked about the years 'Family Ties' followed 'The Cosby Show' on Thursday nights as a one-two ratings punch. "It truly was Must-See-TV in those days," he said. "I appreciate the love that still extends to this cast."

"It was the seven sweetest years of my life," Meredith Baxter said of her time on the show. "There was a lot of love and respect among us -- and I think that's what everyone seemed to see on the screen when they watched the show."

In case any of us '80s kids were not glued to 'The Joy Behar Show' (weeknights, 10PM ET on HLN), here's a clip from her interview with our beloved 'Family Ties' stars (minus Mallory's Justine Bateman and Alex P. Keaton's Michael J. Fox). Michael Gross (father Steven) and Tina Yothers (Jennifer) joined her in the studio, Meredith Baxter (Elyse) and Brian Bonsall (Andy) by satellite.

Joy Behar chose the opportunity to ask a ridiculous hypothetical question to Baxter, who came out in 2009. "What do you think Alex P. Keaton would have thought about you being gay?"

Tom Hanks has announced that he'll be taking on his first TV acting gig in years this spring. And that it was Tina Fey who lured him back to the small screen, with a guest spot on '30 Rock'.

The movie star Tweeted the news Friday night: "RadioMan delivers msg from T.Fey. Result? I'm on 30 Rock! Thanks, RMan Hanx."

No details have been released yet about his '30 Rock' role -- could Kip/Buffy from 'Bosom Buddies' be moving into Liz Lemon's apartment building? -- and it's possible that he'll appear as himself.

But, according to TVLine.com, if he does play a character it will be his first TV acting job on a major network since he played alcoholic Uncle Ned in 'Family Ties' over 20 years ago.

'Family Ties' star Meredith Baxter alleges on 'Today' (weekdays, 7AM ET on NBC) that she was the victim of domestic abuse by David Birney, her former husband and co-star of 'Bridget Loves Bernie.'

Baxter said she broke the cycle of mental and physical abuse after a period of intense introspection. "I'd been committed to being a victim for a long time because it felt really warm and comfortable and familiar, but it was a disastrous position to be in," she said. "I had to look at what was in my thinking that told me it was OK to be in this relationship."

I was recently surprised to learn that not only is 'Highlights Magazine' still being published, it actually owns the domain name highlights.com (which you would think would have gone to something far more profitable than a magazine - a hair care products link farm, perhaps).

'Highlights' was one of the few pleasures of my childhood trips to the dentist's office, the others being the toy at the end of the visit and a dentist who had a very liberal nitrous policy. Every six months, I spent an hour split between enjoying the games and puzzles in 'Highlights' and burning a hole through my stomach-lining with dentist-inspired fear.

One feature of 'Highlights' that always stood out to me was "Goofus and Gallant": a teaching aid using two brothers, one of whom always did everything wrong - Goofus - and one who always did everything right - Gallant.

Since most TV executives are like children anyway, I figured the "Goofus and Gallant" model would be ideal to teach them a few things about how to improve their product.

Since NBC's new family dramedy 'Parenthood' premiered last week, it's time to reflect on the best of primetime parents. All of us who grew up watching TV had favorites -- the kind of parents we measured the very notion of parenthood by, and sometimes even our own mothers and fathers, because they were so sweet and loving or patient and smart or fun and free-spirited -- or all of the above. Here's your chance, as Inside TV readers, to pick your favorite set of fictional TV parents. Don't see your personal faves as a choice, just tell us in the comments.

I hate it when a celebrity gets into trouble and various writers trot out the old "_____ is cursed!" stories. As if various people, even if they were on the same show, can't have bad things happen to them. I mean, I worked at a place once where my coworkers later had arrests, miscarriages, divorces, illnesses, and money problems, but I don't go around saying "my God, that office was cursed!"

But that doesn't stop the San Diego Reader saying that the cast of Family Ties is cursed, because Michael J. Fox has Parkinson's, Brian Bonsall keeps getting arrested, Meredith Baxter battled cancer, and Justine Bateman...well, what, made a bad movie in the '80s? I love how the writer glosses over the fact that Courteney Cox went on to star in a rather popular NBC sitcom in the'90s.

When a bunch of people from one TV show get into trouble or have some sort of misfortune, it's not a "curse." It's called "life."

The former Family Ties star has been busted again, this time for an assault he barely remembers.

Brian Bonsall, the actor who played little Andy Keaton on Family Ties, has been picked up in Colorado for assault. Police arrested him for smashing a bar stool over his friend while the two were drinking. Drugs may also have been involved since the police report said, "He and Trujillo both are bipolar and like drugs. Bonsall said that he takes a lot of drugs and sometimes those drugs make him forget things."

It gets worse. Prosecutors believe he violated his probation from his previous assault involving a former girlfriend and filed a warrant for his arrest, so now he could face serious jail time.

Meredith Baxter, best known for her role as Elyse Keaton on 'Family Ties,' revealed yesterday on 'Today' that she's been living as a lesbian for the past seven years.

The 62-year-old, who has been married three times, confessed that she was a bit reluctant to reveal her new sexual identity. "I have to admit to a certain level of anxiety; I'm a very private person," she said. "I've always lived a very private life, and to come out and disclose stuff, it's really antithetical to who I am."

Watch the video after the jump.

Sitcom mother Meredith Baxter is enjoying the most attention she's had in two decades. After reports emerged that Alex P. Keaton's mom enjoys gay cruises, Baxter decided to pull a 'DeGeneres' this morning on 'Today.'

While some '80s TV fans were shocked, vigilant 80-philes already saw it coming. Just like there were hints towards Ellen's sexuality in her sitcom before she came out in 'The Puppy Episode,' there were plenty of signals in 'Family Ties' about Baxter through her character Elyse Keaton. We present five of them -- with tongues planted firmly in cheek, of course.

Meredith Baxter, '80's sitcom star and beloved matriarch of 'Family Ties,' has lived these past few years with a secret.

The National Enquirer and gossip blogger Perez Hilton had reported seeing Baxter on vacation with an alleged lesbian lover. Baxter sat down with Matt Lauer this morning on NBC's 'Today' to finally set the record straight, stating, "I am a lesbian, and it was a later-in-life recognition."

The interview had started off fine until Lauer seemed to almost essentially push her out of the closet. Lauer quipped, "Do you want me to say it? I don't know what the appropriate etiquette is here."

Watch the clip after the jump.

Real-life dads are sometimes preoccupied with their careers and distracted by life's many complications. Happily, on TV, all dads have plenty of quality time to share with their kids, while dispensing encouraging words and occasional tough love.

Maybe that's because TV dads never spend much time at work. (We're pretty sure everyone's fathers would sign up for that!) Step into the wonderful make-believe world where every day is Father's Day, and join us as we count down our 20 favorite TV dads.

It may have been the Me Decade.

But in TV land, the sisters were doin' it for themselves and finally getting respect as cops, war nurses and working moms; iconic shows like 'Hill Street Blues,' 'St. Elsewhere' and 'L.A. Law' would forever change (for the better) cop, medical and legal dramas; and no idea was too high concept to fill a primetime spot (time-travelling physicist? check; housewife-turned-CIA op? check; New York City beauty in love with a subterranean monster? check).

The bottom line: They all add up to 10 years of fine channel surfing -- and our awesome list of the 40 best series of the 1980s.