'Family Ties' Cast Members Reflect on the Hit TV Show During Cast Reunion

— -- It's a family reunion some 30 years in the making.

The cast of "Family Ties" reunited for a feature in Entertainment Weekly's annual Reunions Issue.

The feature included stars Michael J. Fox (Alex Keaton), Michael Gross (Steven Keaton), Meredith Baxter (Elyse Keaton), Tina Yothers (Jennifer Keaton), Justine Bateman (Mallory Keaton) and Tracy Pollan (Ellen Reed).

"We cared a lot about each other as performers," said Baxter, 68. "There was a lot of respect and there was an awful lot of affection and I think that translated. And they wrote so beautifully for us."

Pollan, 55, said the show had a broad appeal.

"It appealed to two different generations equally, which is an unusual thing," she said.

"I've seen people write that it was a comfort," said

Bateman, 49, said that people have mentioned the show was a "comfort."

"They could pretend they were part of that family and they could count on that being there no matter what was going on in their life," she said.

The cast also revealed that their real-life bond stayed intact even after the show ended.

“We definitely stayed in touch,” said Yothers. “It’s probably more so than any normal job when you leave an office or workplace. And now with social media, Michael Gross for instance is all over Facebook. He is the Facebook king! My dad passed away 10 years ago and Michael reached out. He’s been my dad. It’s like we’ve never been apart.”

Entertainment Weekly's Reunion Issue will hit newsstands on Friday, Oct. 9.