Tread Perilously is a podcast in which hosts Erik Amaya and author Justin Robinson watch the “worst” episodes of popular TV shows, attempting to determine if they would continue to watch the series based on the most off-key moments.

This Week: The Art of Being Nick‘s “Pilot”

Tread Perilously‘s pilot season continues with the first episode of The Art of Being Nick — the bizarre Family Ties spinoff with one notable star in its cast.

When Family Ties guest character Nick Moore moves back to New York to concentrate on his art, he ends up living with his older sister, Marlene, and her young son, Louis. As soon as a job is mentioned, he pushes to work in her bookstore, where he immediately catches the eye of co-owner Rachel. All seems well until Marlene announces she is engaged to Louis’s teacher, Bob. Is Louis really okay with it, or will Nick’s strange anti-intellectualism reveal the truth?

Paul and Corey Cross the Streams‘ Paul Pakler joins Erik and Justin for a deep dive into the strangest part of Family Ties‘ history. Paul reveals the history of actor Scott Valentine while Erik discloses the other attempts to spin off the actor and his character. Nick inadvertently demonstrates the gross and unexamined underpinning of the Keatons’ real political biases. The age gap between Nick and Mallory also comes into the conversation. The “Tom’s Rule” makes its debut. Paul acknowledges the existence of the Bronx Wars. Erik theorizes NBC was looking for Friends for a long time. Julia Louis-Dreyfus easily proves to be the standout in the ensemble and Nick’s anti-intellecutal tendencies provide a possible way forward for the series.

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