Congratulations are in order for Meredith Baxter nee Birney, better known as the WASPy mom from Family Ties and the Queen of the MFTVMs (Made for TV Movies), who announced via The Today Show, People Magazine and The Advocate that she is a lesbian, or, more specifically, “Lesbian Mom.” What would Alex P. Keaton make of all this? Well, if Baxter’s own children are any indication, he’d probably be totally fine with it (all while rolling across a room in an office chair and running his fingers through his hair, obvs.) He’d also be 40 and likely divorced himself, so really, who is he to judge?
So, to celebrate Baxter’s Coming Out as a Lesbian Day, we’ve put together our 6 favorite clips featuring one of the most famous faces of the 1980s. We even threw in some Bonus Hasselhoff. And thank you most of all to Meredith, whose courage today reminds us all that she has been part of some of the most hilarious Made for TV situations of the last century.
6. Maniac Socialite Wife in Woman Scorned: The Betty Broderick Story. No, we’ve never seen this movie. But part 5, which we just happen to randomly click on, makes us want to sit through the entire thing on repeat. Forgetting the fact for a moment that Baxter resembles a younger, much whiter Grace Jones, she also has completely lost her d mind. From the Youtube description:
This made for tv docudrama stars Meredith Baxter-Birney as Betty Broderick, a former San Diego socialite convicted of the November 5, 1989 murder of her former husband Dan Broderick and his second wife, Linda Kolkena. After sixteen years of marriage and four children, Betty Broderick’s high-powered attorney husband, Dan Broderick decides to leave her for Linda Kolkena with whom he’s been having an affair. Hurt by his betrayal and feeling helpless against his legal expertise, Betty begins a campaign of vandalism and verbal assault. Her rage consumes her and ultimately leads to a terrible and violent act.
Um, say hello to my Amazon wishlist, Betty. The following scene is uhmmmmazing.
5. Venereal Diseases and Babies PSA. Has this problem been officially eradicated? Because it sounds pretty scary. If, indeed, babies are still being born wearing gonorrhea pants, then NBC needs to get this ish back on primetime stat. They can even use the one Meredith tapes so many years ago — it’s topical again! Though, to be fair, this still doesn’t beat Bea Arthur & horse urine.
So much more goodness ahead. Trust.
4. The Family Ties Theme Song. One of the best themes of all time, no doubt about it. And as far as Family Ties dad Michael Gross is concerned, we think comedian Julie Klausner said it best via Twitter: “So you guys know, Michael Gross is NOT gay. The only beard in his life is the one that used to be on his famous face!” Strangely, even in their family painting, Michael Gross looks much more psyched to be part of their loving embrace than Meredith does, no? Hindsight, people. Hindsight.
3. Extreme-Close-Up Preference by L’Oreal Ad. If only the project had been called “Sexual Preference by L’Oreal,” we could have cleared this whole Baxter confusion up ages ago. Also is this commercial how HDTV was invented? Mr. De Mille for the loss.
2. Modeling with David Hasselhoff. We literally have no other reason to post this other than a HILARIOUS cameo by David Hasselhoff. At the end. Worth sitting through, believe me, he looks like he just came back from Jupiter.
1. “Kate’s Secret” is that She Binge Eats with No Pants On. I can’t tell if this is a TV movie about binge eating or a promo for next season of The Biggest Loser. I know it is 10 minutes long and all, but it is so so so worth sitting through the entire thing: Shoving donuts into her face at the supermarket, eating cake with her hands and guzzling milk, binging on pizza in her truck with on pants on while serial killer music plays all the while. We feel, for all of the reasons presented above, that this is Meredith’s finest hour. After today’s admission, of course. Enjoy.
