Romance is in the air in Family Ties' fourth season; when Alex (Michael J. Fox) starts his sophomore year at Leland College, his plan to pick a prospective girlfriend from the freshman directory goes awry when he battles with her art-major roommate, Ellen (Tracy Pollan). Not surprisingly, opposites attract, and Alex and Ellen's dance together and the heart-tugging aftermath became one of the series' emotional highs. Mallory's boyfriend Nick sets off warning bells for her father Steven (Michael Gross). Mallory tops Alex in an IQ test, Steven finds a new and demanding job, Elyse (Meredith Baxter-Birney) and Alex take an automotive class, Jennifer (Tina Yothers) winds up in a difficult spot when Alex helps her with a speech, and Skippy (Marc Price) finally decides to pursue Mallory.