Overview
Plot
Jason Seaver takes over cooking, cleaning, and caring for the kids so his wife Maggie can pursue journalism after 15 years as a housewife.
- Directors
- Neal Marlens
- Cast
- Alan Thicke, Joanna Kerns, Kirk Cameron, Tracey Gold, Jeremy Miller, Ashley Johnson, Leonardo DiCaprio
- Country
- United States of America
- Genre
- Comedy
- First aired
- 1985-09-24
- Studios
- Guntzelman-Sullivan-Marshall Productions, Warner Bros. Television
Episodes
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Episode 1 Pilot Maggie goes back to work as a journalist, prompting psychologist Jason to move his office into their home so he can keep his eye on the kids. Things don't get off to a great start: the first night he gets a call from the police that Mike has been picked up for illegally driving a car.
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Episode 2 Springsteen Jason embarrasses Mike at a Bruce Springsteen concert when they are interviewed together.
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Episode 3 Jealousy Jason fumes when Maggie spends long hours on a toxic waste story with handsome co-worker Fred.
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Episode 4 Carol's Article Maggie gives an honest assessment of Carol's writing of an article for her school magazine; Mike and Ben discover track betting.
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Episode 5 Superdad! Maggie accuses Jason of monopolizing the children.
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Episode 6 Mike's Madonna Story Mike's infatuation with a Madonna look-alike worries Maggie.
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Episode 7 Weekend Fantasy Jason and Maggie want to go to a mountain lodge for a weekend, but are reluctant to leave the kids alone.
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Episode 8 Slice of Life Coming across a compatibility test in Jason's office, Maggie decides she and Jason should fill it out, but her answers don't tab with his. Meanwhile, Mike feigns interest in karate when his real goal is a girl attending the course.
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Episode 9 Carol's Crush Carol develops a crush on a family friend, who thinks of her as his little sister.
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Episode 10 Dirt Bike Mike hurts more than his pride when he takes a nasty fall off a dirt bike that he promised his parents he wouldn't go near.
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Episode 11 Standardized Test Mike doodles on his aptitude test and winds up with an IQ score of 27.
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Episode 12 A Christmas Story A depressed department store Santa consulting Jason decides to commit suicide by leaping down the Seavers' chimney.
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Episode 13 The Love Song of M. Aaron Seaver Mike backs out of the family-bowling match so he can date a snobbish girlfriend.
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Episode 14 First Blood Jason faces off against Ben's hockey coach, who's teaching the boys to play dirty; Mike learns ballroom dancing.
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Episode 15 Slice of Life II Maggie casually mentions to Jason that she might be pregnant; Mike acts as a weekend servant to Ben; and Carol wants to divorce her class-project husband.
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Episode 16 The Seavers vs. the Cleavers The PTA head rejects the Seavers as dance chaperones.
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Episode 17 Charity Begins at Home Ben gives Jason a very expensive birthday present, causing speculation on how he can possibly afford it.
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Episode 18 Reputation Mike writes test answers on his shoe soles.
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Episode 19 The Anniversary That Never Was Maggie's assignment interferes with anniversary plans.
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Episode 20 Be a Man Custodian Mike watches a wild party explode in his home.
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Episode 21 Career Decision Reporter Maggie and psychiatrist Jason both face important career decisions.
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Episode 22 Extra Lap Mike's practical-joker uncle Bob visits from the hereafter.
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Episode 1 Jason and the Cruisers Maggie plans a surprise reunion for Jason's college rock band.
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Episode 2 Fast Times at Dewey High A new school year brings boredom, bullies, and romantic mix-ups.
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Episode 3 Long Day's Journey Into Night A cheerleader befriends Carol solely to meet Mike.
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Episode 4 Call Me Ben has been calling an X-rated phone service.
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Episode 5 Employee of the Month Fired Mike hides the truth from his parents.
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Episode 6 Dream Lover Carol spreads rumors about herself and a "hunk".
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Episode 7 Do You Believe in Magic? A con man sells Mike a "magic" rock.
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Episode 8 Jason's Rib A proposed school dress code puts Maggie and Jason at odds.
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Episode 9 The Kid Ben invites a street girl home for the holidays.
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Episode 10 The Breakfast Club Grounded liar Mike hears Maggie fibbing to her boss.
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Episode 11 Choices Carol has the chance to skip a high-school grade.
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Episode 12 Higher Education A girl raises a grade for Mike, then demands payment.
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Episode 13 Some Enchanted Evening The winter formal causes opposite problems for Carol and Mike.
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Episode 14 Thank You, Willie Nelson Maggie's quarreling parents come to visit the Seavers.
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Episode 15 Thank God It's Friday Mike and his friends go to a college party and have to decide whether to use drugs or not.
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Episode 16 My Brother, Myself Mike plays Cupid for smitten Ben and his baby sitter.
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Episode 17 Jimmy Durante Died for Your Sins Carol wants to use radio-contest winnings on a nose job.
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Episode 18 Carnival Maggie's busy schedule leaves Ben feeling neglected.
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Episode 19 The Awful Truth A genealogy assignment unearths a dark family secret.
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Episode 20 Born Free Airlines passengers Jason and Mike must deliver a baby.
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Episode 21 The Long Goodbye Maggie wants Jason to fire the elderly handyman he hired to fix the furnace, but he refuses because the man is a friend.
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Episode 22 Confidentially Yours Jason knows the editor offering Maggie a dream job is a notorious womanizer.
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Episode 23 Episode 23
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Episode 24 Episode 24
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Episode 25 Episode 25
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Episode 26 Episode 26
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Episode 1 Aloha The family is stranded in Maui. Ben videotapes Mike and Carol's Hawaiian romances.
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Episode 2 Taking Care of Business Mike uses double talk to sell stereos.
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Episode 3 Not Necessarily the News The family scrambles to help find an out-of-work Maggie a job after she turns into Super Mom, preparing oversize meals and assigning new chores.
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Episode 4 Michaelgate Mike is unaware that he's been nominated for student-body president because he's "a sure loser."
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Episode 5 Big Brother is Not Watching Ben asks Carol's advice on getting a new bike from their parents.
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Episode 6 A Star is Born A star is born when Mike lands a leading role in the school play opposite the lovely Monica.
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Episode 7 Gone But Not Forgotten Burglars hit the Seaver home.
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Episode 8 Who's Zoomin' Who? Bobby's annoying habits make Carol look elsewhere for the man of her dreams -- just in time for her to notice a new student.
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Episode 9 This is Your Life During a tonsillectomy, Ben has an out-of-body experience, dreaming that he escapes with a friendly cabbie, only to find a new Ben has replaced him at home.
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Episode 10 Broadway Bound After their success in the school play, Mike and Monica set their sights on a Broadway audition for ""Our Town.""
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Episode 11 The Scarlet Letter An unearned "A" makes Carol doubt her academic record.
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Episode 12 A Reason to Live A troubled student named Jill volunteers to work on a school project with Mike and Boner. This, however, is a subterfuge: Jill has been contemplating suicide due to some very serious problems at home, and she hopes to get some free counseling from Mike's psychiatrist dad Jason. But as it turns out, Jason is presently weighed down with a few self-pity issues of his own.
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Episode 13 Nasty Habits Maggie and Jason try to keep Mike in his room to complete an English paper, but Mike's mind is of course elsewhere.
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Episode 14 The Marrying Kind Reason flies out the window when Bobby and his parents arrive at the Seavers' for dinner and a special announcement -- that Bobby and Carol are engaged.
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Episode 15 State of the Union Maggie fumes over the many irritants that seem to be driving her and Jason apart -- until unexpected news sheds light on the situation.
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Episode 16 The Mom Who Knew Too Much Maggie and Carol share confidences at the beauty salon, but later Carol learns to her chagrin that a secret isn't safe with Maggie.
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Episode 17 Great Expectations A letter from the girl he met in Hawaii has Mike scheming to fly to Los Angeles to see her without his parents' knowing.
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Episode 18 Dance Fever (1) At the school dance, Mike gets a girl and Carol gets raked over the coals. Meanwhile, Ben's adventure goes awry.
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Episode 19 Dance Fever (2) Great expectations turn sour at the Dewey High dance after Mike hears Lydia's voice; and Ben and Stinky find themselves in a seedy diner eyeing a pinball machine that pays real money.
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Episode 20 Bringing Up Baby The Seavers begin to make room for baby, relegating Ben to the guest quarters and making the others lament the changes bound to come. Meanwhile, Maggie grasps for a way to tell her boss she is pregnant.
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Episode 21 The Obscure Objects of Our Desire Spring-cleaning breathes new life into the family's household objects, and each has a story to tell.
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Episode 22 How the West Was Won (1) Mike and Boner learn that Coach Lubbock has been fired, prompting them to organize a protest.
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Episode 23 How the West Was Won (2) Jason, Carol, Mike and Boner are arrested in the demonstration over the dismissal of Coach Lubbock.
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Episode 24 Graduation Day At Mike's high-school graduation, family members recall moments when it seemed like his graduation would never take place.
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Episode 1 Fool for Love Ben gets spooked at the prospect of asking a girl to a Halloween party; Jason becomes a disruptive force at Lamaze class.
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Episode 2 Birth of a Seaver Maggie goes into labor on Ben's 12th birthday and Ben confesses to a patient at the hospital that he's already feeling crowded.
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Episode 3 Family Ties (1) Mike has a showdown with Jason over his rights as an 18-year-old college student, and declares his freedom from parental rule.
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Episode 4 Family Ties (2) Landlord-tenant problems abound when Mike (Kirk Cameron) moves into the storage area over the family garage
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Episode 5 Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? Jason sends his mother on a cruise to get her mind off her dead husband, but when she returns with a fiancé in tow, Jason finds it hard to accept the man who will "replace" his father.
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Episode 6 Homecoming Queen Carol is chosen for homecoming court.
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Episode 7 Nude Photos Mike's photography course includes nude studies.
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Episode 8 Ben's First Kiss Ben throws a party to get to know a girl.
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Episode 9 The Nanny The Seavers hire a nanny for Chrissy.
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Episode 10 Mandingo A travel snafu strands Julie with Mike.
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Episode 11 In Carol We Trust Carol sneaks out of the house for a date.
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Episode 12 Mom of the Year Maggie prepares her "Working Mother of the Year" acceptance speech.
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Episode 13 Semper Fidelis Boner flunks out of college and joins the Marines.
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Episode 14 Feet of Clay Maggie arranges for Ben to meet his favorite rock musician.
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Episode 15 Anniversary from Hell Guests bicker at the Seavers' 20th-anniversary party.
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Episode 16 Fortunate Son When Mike takes a job at a convenience store, his mother is worried about him working the dangerous night shift; but Mike is more concerned about the favoritism his racist boss shows him as one of the few white employees.
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Episode 17 Double Standard Jason punishes Carol and Ben unequally for the same offense when they are both caught after sneaking out for dates without permission.
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Episode 18 The Recruiter Carol doesn't want to attend her parents' alma mater.
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Episode 19 Show Ninety -- Who Knew? Jason intervenes when Mike gets bad grades in psychology.
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Episode 20 Second Chance After Carol disobeys Maggie and Jason by sneaking out to a bar with her college-aged boyfriend Sandy, she learns a valuable lesson when Sandy gets into an accident and ends up in the hospital.
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Episode 21 The Looooove Boat (1) Jason's mother plans to wed aboard a cruise ship.
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Episode 22 The Looooove Boat (2) Jason tries to mend his mother's broken wedding plans.
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Episode 1 Anger With Love Maggie opposes Mike and Julie's wedding plans.
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Episode 2 Mike and Julie's Wedding Julie and Mike suffer prenuptial jitters.
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Episode 3 Carol Meets the Real World Jason tells Carol to get a job.
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Episode 4 Fish Bait His drama teacher and classmates intimidate Mike.
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Episode 5 Teach Me Carol brings a bogus boyfriend to a family party.
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Episode 6 Carol's Papers An angry Jason confronts Ben and Mike, who gives conflicting versions of how Ben came to sell Carol's old term papers to students at Dewey High -- and to date a seductive 18-year-old.
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Episode 7 Coughing Boy Mike is over the moon when he attends an open casting session and wins a part on a TV cop show -- and crushed when his single line is cut in the editing.
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Episode 8 The New Deal (1) Jason gets a promising job offer.
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Episode 9 The New Deal (2) Jason can't tell Maggie about the job offer.
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Episode 10 Paper Route Ben assumes Mike's paper route for half the money.
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Episode 11 Five Grand Their grandparents give Mike, Carol and Ben $5,000 each.
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Episode 12 Carol's Promotion Promoted at work, Carol decides against college.
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Episode 13 Ben and Mike's Excellent Adventure Mike takes Ben girl chasing.
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Episode 14 The Triangle Mike falls for his leading lady.
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Episode 15 The Return of the Triangle David turns to Mike for help with Kate.
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Episode 16 The Home Show The Seavers' reception to raise money for a free mental-health clinic spells disaster when they forget the date of the party and must scramble at the last minute for a caterer.
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Episode 17 Jason vs. Maggie Ben asks permission to get his ear pierced, which leads to a serious argument between his parents.
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Episode 18 Mike, Kate and Julie While on a Valentine's Day dinner date with Kate, Mike runs into Julie at the restaurant.
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Episode 19 Mike, the Teacher Mike goes to work as a substitute teacher.
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Episode 20 Carol in Jail Carol lands in jail after a minor traffic violation.
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Episode 21 Future Shock Chrissy becomes a teenager in Maggie's dream, which is influenced by her fear of being an older parent in a sea of youngsters taking their kids to preschool.
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Episode 22 Cheating Ben weighs the pros and cons of cheating after he learns the tricks of the test-passing trade from sly schoolmate Vito.
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Episode 23 Mike the Director In a moment of introspection as he prepares to graduate, Mike wrestles with self-doubt about his ability as a director.
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Episode 24 Weekend at Mike's With Jason's wallet missing, the Seavers must rely on others to provide them with room and board while their house is being fumigated.
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Episode 25 Ben's Movie Ben casts a girl he likes as the lead in his home movie.
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Episode 26 Where There's a Will Jason and Mike head off together to inspect the mountain cabin Jason has inherited from his Uncle George.
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Episode 1 Mike's Choice When Mike lands a role in an off-Broadway play, he leaves college to pursue acting full-time in New York City.
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Episode 2 Midnight Cowboy Mike is broke and homeless in New York City.
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Episode 3 Roommates Mike becomes roommates with sister Carol, now a Columbia University student.
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Episode 4 Daddy Mike Mike and his friend Eddie schemingly join "Parents Without Mates" to meet women.
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Episode 5 Ben's Sure Thing At the school's Parents Night, the Seavers learn Ben's been telling his friends that the girl he's dating is promiscuous.
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Episode 6 Jason Flirts, Maggie Hurts A flirty Jason gets jealous when Maggie turns the tables.
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Episode 7 Happy Halloween The Seavers spend a rainy Halloween night telling ghost stories.
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Episode 8 Let's Go Europe (1) Jason buys an anniversary trip to Paris from travel agent Mike, who himself wins a European tour that falls apart; Maggie, in Paris, is struck with appendicitis.
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Episode 9 Let's Go Europe (2) Maggie is hospitalized in Paris, while Mike finds himself stuck on the road with an angry customer.
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Episode 10 Let's Go Europe (3) Mike and Amy continue to bicker their way toward Paris.
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Episode 11 Divorce Story Jason, happy to see his mother's second marriage crumbling, doesn't want to provide her with professional help.
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Episode 12 The World According to Chrissy Chrissy starts spending much time with her imaginary friend, a six-foot-tall mouse named Ike.
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Episode 13 How Could I Leave Her Behind? Mike's friend Eddie shows up for a double date with Mike's ex-girlfriend.
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Episode 14 Like Father, Like Son An an intrafamily communications seminar, Mike and Jason discover just how alike they are.
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Episode 15 Ben's Rap Group Jason becomes Ben's business partner in the management of a rap group, but uses the money he's invested to control Ben.
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Episode 16 Eddie, We Hardly Knew Ye Maggie's dad drops in for an unexpected visit, with news of his imminent death.
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Episode 17 Maggie Seaver's: The Meaning of Life Jason takes Maggie on a tropical getaway to lift her spirits after her father's death, trusting Chrissy to Mike and Carol.
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Episode 18 All the World is a Stage Mike competes with a well-established actor for a role in a soap opera, learning how tenuous an acting career can be.
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Episode 19 Not With My Carol You Don't Though Jason had an insensitive Carol pitch in at the clinic, he objects to her dating an ex-con she meets there.
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Episode 20 Meet the Seavers In an homage to The Twilight Zone, Ben awakens to discover he's Jeremy Miller, an actor on the set of ""Meet the Cleavers"".
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Episode 21 Carol's Carnival On a blind date shaping up as a disaster, Carol goes to the carnival, and finds unexpected fun and excitement.
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Episode 22 Home Schooling Maggie teaches Ben at home after he is suspended from school.
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Episode 23 Viva Las Vegas Mike and Kate accompany the eloping Eddie and a hat-check bimbette to Las Vegas, giving Mike and Carol the wrong idea.
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Episode 1 Back to School Mike teaches at an urban high school.
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Episode 2 Stop, Luke, and Listen Mike gets involved when he learns his prize pupil Luke is homeless.
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Episode 3 In Vino Veritas Mike persuades Jason and Maggie to let Luke stay with them temporarily; then Jason's wine cellar goes missing.
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Episode 4 Paper Tigers Jason and Maggie compete to write a newspaper column; Ben hates his glasses.
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Episode 5 The Young and the Homeless Mike gears up for his big day as a TV soap opera star just as Luke gears up to move out of the Seavers'.
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Episode 6 Jason Sings the Blues Luke is afraid to visit the doctor, so Jason accompanies him -- but it's Jason who turns out to need surgery.
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Episode 7 The Kid's Still Got It Carol accompanies Maggie to a resort, which turns out to be hosting a singles convention; meanwhile, the all-male weekend planned at home is ruined when Chrissy is set home with head lice.
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Episode 8 There Must Be a Pony Nouveau riche neighbors move in next door; Ben is forced to look after Luke on his first day of high school; Jason's scheme to let Chrissie stay up late backfires when the neighbors throw a lavish party.
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Episode 9 The Big Fix Consumer advocate Maggie raps a vacuum cleaner that Ben broke without telling her.
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Episode 10 Home Malone The ghost of Maggie's father oversees the Seavers' visit to her childhood home.
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Episode 11 Bad Day Cafe While Jason and Maggie are away, the principal informs Mike that Luke's birth father is back in town -- and wants him back.
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Episode 12 B=MC² Ben crams for a college entrance exam, but gets no help from Jason.
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Episode 13 It's Not Easy Being Green Christmas brings anger and angst to the Seavers.
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Episode 14 The Call of the Wild Penniless Mike schemes to give Kate a skiing trip.
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Episode 15 Honest Abe Luke's homeless friend steals a Seaver momento.
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Episode 16 Vicious Cycle Maggie and Jason put Mike on the spot for Luke's curfew problems.
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Episode 17 Ménage à Luke A love triangle involves Ben, Luke and a classmate.
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Episode 18 The Five Fingers of Ben Tired of being bullies, Ben takes karate lessons.
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Episode 19 Don't Go Changin' Mike thinks his friend is a bad influence on Luke.
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Episode 20 The Truck Stops Here Luke's father George visits the Seavers hoping that Luke has mellowed a little and would like to spend some time with him but Luke doesn't. He was about to leave when he collapses outside the door. He says that can't move, so they take him in. Jason and Ben offer to deliver his load, and they experience all sorts of chaos on the way. Mike thinks that George is faking his injury so that he could stay and Luke would have to talk to him. But the doctor tells Maggie who tells Mike that unless George stops driving trucks, he could become paralyzed. Mike talks to George and tells him to tell Luke but doesn't want Luke to pity him and doesn't anything else to do but be a trucker. Mike suggests that maybe he could open a truck stop. Luke finds George struggling to get up and they finally talk. The next day after Jason and Ben return, George tells them that he is giving up trucking and will open a truck stop and Luke's going with him. Luke says goodbye to the Seavers.
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Episode 21 Maggie's Brilliant Career Maggie wants to fulfill a dream by climbing a mountain.
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Episode 22 The Wrath of Con Ed A power failure causes dissensions in the Seaver household.
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Episode 23 The Last Picture Show Maggie is offered a plum job in Washington, D.C. The Seavers move to Washington, D.C., but share a final meal and memories in the empty house.
Plot
Warning: spoilers
Growing Pains Plot and Cast
For Jason Seaver, fatherhood takes on a new meaning as he handles the cooking, cleaning, and child-rearing while his wife, Maggie, returns to work. After 15 years as a housewife, Maggie is now pursuing a career in journalism, and Jason has become the at-home parent.
Did you know...
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Goofs
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