Original pilot. Shirley's name is Connie. She's dating a man played by real life husband (at the time) Jack Cassidy. There are some other scenes that were changed for the aired version.
Recent widow Shirley Partridge joins up with her talented children to form a singing group.
Reuben and the kids try to expose a man who wants to win a large financial sum from Shirley after a minor traffic accident.
Shirley's father wants to tour with the family and perform his outdated songs.
When Danny mistakenly receives a draft notice, he becomes convinced that he will have to join the military.
Reuben and the kids suspect that Shirley's new love interest is not what he seems.
Keith is annoyed by the young girls who follow him around and frustrated when he can't break through with the object of his affections.
A mobster thinks that stock-market whiz Danny is after his lady.
While the family is at a picnic, a skunk wanders onto the bus and creates a big stink.
When Danny becomes convinced that he is a comedian, the family can't tell him that he isn't really funny.
After performing at a penitentiary, the family must stay overnight in a jail cell.
Keith has been having a dry spell; he has not been able to write a new song and the group has a live record date in two weeks. Danny offers to help by knocking out a couple of quick tunes, and everyone laughs at him. To prove he can do it, Danny locks himself in his room and refuses to come out until he has a song. He finally comes up with what he thinks is a new melody, but he is informed that it is the one he heard on TV the night before. The next 'original' song he comes up with just happens to be "Born Free." That night Keith gets a sudden inspiration and begins to work it out on his guitar. The walls are thin between his bedroom and Danny's and as Danny is falling asleep, he hears the melody from Keith's guitar. In the morning Danny hums the notes while Laurie writes them down... and he is convinced he is a genius. He doesn't believe Keith who tells him that his new song is Keith's.
Shirley Partridge receives a call from the school principal, George Clauson, asking her if she and her family are identified with women's liberation. There is a poster in school saying that they will sing at a rally for POW, Power of Women. Shirley tries to find out which member of her family committed them to this appearance. She learns that it is Keith; his new girlfriend Tina Newcomb is very involved in the movement and has taken Keith's maybe for a definite yes. Shirley has to confront angry, hostile parents who are called "Morality Watchdogs." She tries to keep calm in the face of their threats, but she finally blows up and says that her family will definitely appear at the rally. Keith invites Tina to dinner so that his family can finally meet her and they are shocked with what she has to say on the subject of women's lib. Keith is annoyed and when he takes her home, he refuses to walk her to the door or even kiss her. He tells her that if she wants equality, she can have it.
Sheila Faber, a famous syndicated columnist, writes an item about the Partridge Family after catching their performance. However her article singles out Danny – praising him for his "personal magnetism" and "star quality." When Danny reads Sheila's column, all the praise goes straight to his head and that night he dreams he leaves the family act and becomes the biggest star in show business. The next night, he calls Reuben Kincaid and Danny's mysterious urgency has Reuben on the next plane. When Reuben arrives, Danny proceeds to tell him about his plans to leave the act and make it a single, stressing that his only reason for this decision is financial security for his family don't know what to make of Danny's strange behavior or Reuben's unexplained visit. A few days later, Shirley sees children and their mothers heading for the garage. When she goes to investigate, she finds Danny holding Danny holding auditions to find his replacement and Shirley learns of his plans.
For years it has been rumored that Red Woodloe, one of the country's best known folk composers, is dead. Shirley Partridge recognizes the famous composer when passing by an obscure country church and gets Reuben to try to get Red. The old musician, who has been passing the hat after fiddling on street corners, at first seems overjoyed at the prospect of playing with one of the hottest recording groups in the country. Woodloe has visions of Woodstock as Reuben searches around for possible bookings. To the Partridge Family's dismay, no one wants to book Red because he's been away from things for so long. Determined that the famous folk composer be given a chance to be heard, Shirley gets Reuben to book him into their act. Just as he's about to be introduced, Red Woodloe sneaks out a back door and runs out on an audience and a family, the Partridges, who had virtually made him one of their clan.
Logan Mayes, a middle-aged concert promoter who tries to dress and act just a little too "cool," arranges a European tour for the Partridge Family but the contract doesn't include Shirley. Logan thinks she won't appeal to a young European audience and doesn't want her in the group. Shirley knows the kids will never accept Logan's contract but she doesn't want them to miss out on a trip to Europe. So, she announces her retirement, telling the kids that she's tired of show business and wants to go back to being the kids that she's tired of show business and wants to go back to being just a mother. The next day, Keith and Laurie go to Logan's hotel room and learn the real reason behind Shirley's sudden resignation. Furious, they try to get their mother back in the group by deliberately messing up a nightclub performance in front of Logan. When that fails, they all decide to quit until Shirley tells them she'll join the group after the tour.
Dr. Kessler, the family dentist, tells Shirley that Laurie will have to wear braces. Laurie isn't in the best of moods when Shirley breaks the news because her boyfriend, Jerry, was supposed to ask her to go steady that day but lost his nerve. After hearing about the braces, Laurie is sure Jerry will never ask her. The next day, Laurie returns from the dentist with her mouth full of metal. She broods in her room; refusing to speak unless it's absolutely necessary and then only with her hand over her mouth. Meanwhile, Reuben shows up... proudly announcing that he's set up an appearance on the nationwide Wink Burgess TV Show, which will be taped the following day. The thought of being on coast-to-coast television horrifies Laurie, but she agrees to do the show. The next day, Wink Burgess and his entire crew arrive for the taping. When Burgess tells Laurie to smile for the camera, she storms out of the house in tears and hides in the bus.
Shirley gets the notion that show biz may be robbing the kids of a normal life. Thinking that the hectic grind may be too much of a strain on them, she takes them all for a medical checkup only to find that they're in perfect health. Still convinced that they're missing something, Shirley tells them that she thinks they should quit show business for six months. All are baffled by the announcement except Laurie, because she thinks that the reason for Shirley's sudden decision is handsome, eligible Jim Lucas, Shirley's former doctor. When Laurie tells the others, they agree not to stand in the way of Shirley's happiness, and after consenting to the six month rest, Shirley thinks she was right about her fears. Several days later, the kids are bored to death without their music and, feeling they're sacrificing in vain, Danny plays matchmaker by finding Jim and dropping a not-so-subtle hint that Shirley is always at home.
Booked for a weekend stint in Detroit, the Partridge Family and manager Reuben Kincaid get quite a surprise when they see the club where they are supposed to perform. Called "The Fire House," the club is just an old fire house in the ghetto. Owners Sam and A.E. Simon started the club as an inexpensive place of entertainment for the people living in the black neighborhood... but they're in debt to a loan shark named Heavy, who can't wait to take the club away from them and will use any gangster-tactic in the book to do it. When Shirley learns that The Temptations were supposed to appear at the "Fire House" and not the family and after discussing it with the Simons, it's apparent that Heavy deliberately had the bookings mixed up so that Sam and A.E. wouldn't be able to make their last payment. In an effort to help, Shirley and the kids give a free performance, but Heavy and his boys see to it that there is no audience.
When the Partridges arrive at a nightclub called "The Two Hall Inn" Laurie receives a warm greeting from an old friend Marc Baldwin. Marc, who once attended Laurie's high school, is putting himself through college by working at the club. There's barely enough time for introductions when club owner Harry Marino comes out, orders Marc back to the kitchen and the family inside for rehearsals. After Shirley and the kids run through one number, they see Marc come storming out of the kitchen with Marino shouting right behind him. Laurie learns that Marc and the rest of the Marino's employees (all of whom are college students) are going to strike... for better pay and better working conditions since the kitchen is hazardously outdated. Laurie, deciding it would be morally wrong to cross their picket lines refuses to perform. Shirley realizes Laurie's sense of moral obligation, but there's also the family's legal obligation to consider.
The Partridge Family's concern about manager Reuben Kincaid leads them to believe he needs a wife. After one unsuccessful attempt by Danny, Shirley decides to do some matchmaking of her own. She has a barbecue and invites Reuben and Cathleen D'arcy, a wealthy cosmetic manufacturer. For Cathleen and Reuben, it's love at first sight, and it isn't long before they announce their marriage plans to the family. Bad news accompanies the good when Reuben tells them that he'll no longer be able to manage the group because Cathleen wants him to handle all of her affairs. He does, however, set up one last booking for the family and after going over the details, he bids a sad farewell to Shirley and the kids. When the family arrives in Miami Beach for their show, everything starts to go wrong their hotel room is too small, the new press agent never shows up and there's a dispute over their contract.
Keith has a new possession... a 1952 Hudson... which is his pride and joy. The car is a lemon, however, and Keith has borrowed money from everyone in the family to make payments and fix it. Danny decides to become his business manager and teach him how to handle money. Keith can't bring himself to tell Carol, his girlfriend, that he is broke. Instead, he takes her to a kiddie show and gives her homemade popcorn. She tries to get Keith to tell her the truth, but when he refuses she runs away hurt. As Keith tries to follow her in the car... it breaks down again. Shirley suggests that Keith get a job to make extra money. He first becomes a trainee to a plumber, but can't quite get the knack of plumbing. Then he tries to learn to become a salesman of a vegetable slicer, but ends up buying the slicer for his mother. His attempt at a newspaper route ends disastrously when he sees a beautiful girl walk by.
The Partridge family and Reuben are eating in a seedy restaurant in New Mexico when a young girl, Maggie Newton, comes up to them and asks for a ride to Albuquerque. She tells them she is going to see her father who is an archaeologist. After they leave, a patrolman enters the restaurant and asks the waitress if she has seen a young girl. The picture he shows her is of Maggie. When the bus arrives at a hotel, Maggie says goodbye and goes on. The patrolman comes to the motel and tells Shirley he is looking for Maggie and when Shirley and Reuben find Maggie the next day, they ask her why the police are after her. She doesn't tell them the truth but they learn from a sheriff in Kumquist, New Mexico, that Maggie is a runaway she lives with her grandparents in Nebraska but runs away every other week to her father in Albuquerque. Shirley tells the sheriff that she will be responsible for getting Maggie together with her grandparents.
Tall, handsome Lester Braduck transfers to Keith and Laurie's high school and within two weeks he has taken out half the girls. Keith and the other boys are having fits. Meanwhile, Laurie comes home very excited one day and announces that Lester has asked her out. Keith tells Shirley about Lester's Don Juan reputation at school, but Shirley replies that the rumors could be false. Besides, she has enough trust in her daughter... but Shirley talks to Laurie anyway. Laurie assures her that Lester is very shy and the girls are annoying him. Keith goes up to Lester at school and introduces himself. He asks if Lester would like to double with him and a girl when he takes Laurie out. Lester says yes, but when he hears who the girls are that Keith would invite, he refuses since he has already taken them out. Laurie goes on the date and Keith and Danny follow in the bus.
Preparing for a Canadian tour the Family must have their birth certificates. The attic produces certificates for all except Danny; his is not to be found. When introduced to the Family, booking agent Marty Burns jokingly refuses to believe Danny is a Partridge, "not with that hair and those ears," and Danny is convinced he is an adopted child. Shirley tries hard to talk him out of his belief, but Reuben and the others, in trying to kid Danny about his origin, only confirm his opinion he is not a Partridge. At the hospital where all the others were born Danny finds there is no record of his birth. Heartbroken, he refuses to believe Shirley's story that he was born unexpectedly while the family was on a picnic and thus missed the "regular" hospital. On a return visit to the hospital Danny learns the name of the one male child born there on his birthday is a son to Mr. & Mrs. Young.
The Partridge Family and Reuben return home one night after a long trip and are awakened by loud music. To their surprise, they discover a young man, Bobby Conway, playing his tapes in their garage. Bobby explains that he has waited one week for their return so that he could play his music for them. But he doesn't write lyrics and the Partridges don't perform instrumentals. Danny remembers some poems they received in the mail and suggests they try to find the author, Lionel Poindexter, who lives in Denver. The Partridges and Bobby travel to Denver and find Lionel who is a bit strange. He greets them dressed in a full suit of armor; one of his jobs is distributing leaflets on the street for a product called Sir Lancelot Plums. Lionel tells the group that he is tone deaf but will listen to Bobby's tapes to see if he can come up with lyrics. Bobby discovers that Lionel has all his jobs to enable him to give gifts to the orphanage where he was raised.
Keith's infatuation with a pretty young singer whom Reuben has sent prevents him from realizing that she is a terrible singer.
To raise money and create publicity, Reuben hosts a contest where the winner can spend a week with the Partridges at their home. The winner? Mrs. Gloria Neugast, a middle-aged woman.
In a hippy fan magazine interview, Keith has blabbed too much about the family, unsettling all of them, especially Laurie. He has said she had a crush on Harry Murphy but Laurie insists it was a Butch Murphy and it was years ago. A motorcycle roars outside, the bell rings, and the door is opened to reveal a burly young man in Levis, dirty white T-shirt, boots, and an earring in one ear. He announces he is Harry """"Snake"""" Murphy and is looking for the chick who is crazy about him. When Laurie explains the mistake, Snake laughs and admits he came on a dare. If Laruie will give him her autograph – on his bare chest – he will shove off. Reuben comes in carrying a twisted wire lawn-flamingo which he says some idiot had run over with a motorcycle, but when he spots Snake he drops that line and gushes about the beautiful machine he saw on the front lawn. In the following weeks Snake roars his motorcycle right in and out of Laurie's life. She refuses to talk with him, but during a rehearsal of
Shirley is accepted to a class in Psychology 1A in college and she learns that Paul Bruner, a freshman in her class, has a crush on her. On the first day of school, Paul comes by the Partridge Family house to ask Shirley for a ride to a lecture given the following night in connection with their class. Paul anticipates an amorous episode to take place enroute and, quite unexpectedly, the car does run out of gas on the way home. The Family teases Shirley mercilessly for using such an old trick and Paul's parents pay a serious visit to look into the supposed romance between their son and Shirley. Their visit alerts Shirley to the fact of Paul's attachment to her. With the help of Mr. and Mrs. Bruner, Shirley decides to end the romance with a special dinner for Paul. That night, Paul rings the doorbell to find Keith Partridge greeting him.. much to his astonishment. He is then introduced to all the other members of the family and finally realizes that he is in the midst of the famous Partr
Keith, Laurie, Danny and Reuben are playing croquet when Shirley brings them some lemonade. Danny takes a sip and makes a face... says he has a slight sore throat. Shirley looks at his throat and takes him right to the doctor, who tells Danny that he must have his tonsils removed. The doctor and Shirley assure Danny that the operation is very simple. At home, the family acts very nice to him and even lets him choose the dinner that night. Danny's friend, Punky Lazaar, comes over and tells Danny that he had his tonsils out and that it was the most harrowing experience of his life... and Danny believes him. Shirley tells Danny again that it is a simple operation and he has nothing to worry about. Danny starst to watch TV and on Marcus Welby, M.D., he hears the doctor talking to a woman on the phone. Dr. Welby asks her if she has told her son the truth... and she says she feels it is better if her son thinks the operation is just a simple one. That does it for Danny! He relates the TV pro
Danny comes up with an idea for cashing in on the ecology movement... the Partridges should get a whale to be their lead singer. He had just played Laurie's new record, """"Song of the Humpback Whale."""" Laurie explains that whales are becoming extinct and she doesn't want to profit from their plight, but Danny doesn't understand. He puts an ad in the paper for a singing whale, and loads of people show up with their animals – a dancing bear, singing dog, chimp – but no whale. The Partridges go to Marineland and talk to Dr. Whelander, who agrees that they should make a record – to allow people to become aware of the plight of the whales so that maybe they'll do something to stop them from being slaughtered. He said that any profits Marineland receives will go to the New York Zoological Society, where they are working to save whales. Shirley says that her family will devote their profits to the whales too. At the recording session, E.J. Flicker walks in and claims the whale belongs to him s
After getting some unsolicited advice from his school coach, Keith decides to accept the responsibility of being the eldest male in the family. He feels he should take care of his younger brother and sisters. Unfortunately for the kids, Keith gives them an educational and cultural whirl that includes a classical music concert in the park and the Bolshoi Ballet. The kids have no time left for plain old fun. Fed up with the whole situation, Danny initiates a 'get back at Keith' drive. The kids start laying all their problems – reall and imaginary – at Keith's door. The pressure finally gets to Keith when Danny asks him to explain the 'facts of life.' Keith realizes that the burden is too much for him – he has no time left to do his homework. Later on, Keith overhears the children talking about the success of their plan and he feels very hurt and humiliated. Knowing they have wronged Keith, the kids apologize and all is forgiven.
Wendell is 16 years old, skinny, unsure of himself and a real klutz. He is a student at Laurie's and Keith's school and also delivers groceries to the Partridges. The family suddenly realizes that he has flipped over Laurie, but he is much too shy and awkward to ask her out. Danny goes to the store where Wendell works and asks him if he'd like to have a date with Laurie. He drags Wendell back to the house and recruits Keith to give him a few lessons concerning girls. Both Partridge boys take Wendell into the house and hold him there until he finally stammers out an invitation for Friday night. Laurie accepts. Later, the Partridge Family realizes that they will be doing a concert in Phoenix Friday night, so Laurie has the difficult job of breaking her date. Meanwhile, Wendell has gained such confidence from her acceptance that it is doubly hard for her. She tells him and he immediately slips back to his former self... stumbling and clumsy. Laurie wants to make it up to him the next week
Danny, Chris & Tracy start a hamster raising business. It turns out that hamsters really multiply. When they were going on the road, they can't find no one to take care of all the hamsters. So they take them with them. The hotel doesn't allow those pets, so they have to drive around the block to keep them warm. Shirley tells Danny that he has to dispose the hamsters, so he has an idea. Danny makes a deal with a department store manager to give out free hamsters with a purchase of The Partridge Family's newest album.
Shirley's dad visits the Partridge Family at one o'clock in the morning and surprises them with the announcement that he and Grandma have split up. Grandpa plans to stay the night before leaving for Big Sur, but he is also surprised when Grandma arrives on the scene. It's a youth versus old age confrontation between them. Grandpa wants to be """"with it"""" and Grandma is content to live a more quiet life. It's up to the Partridge Family to get things patched up, and it's not easy. Not only are Grandma and Grandpa difficult to live with when they aren't speaking to each other, but the Partridges have a club date and can't leave until the folks are back together. Plans for a reconcilement backfire and Grandpa leaves to hitchhike to Big Sur. The Partridges set out to look for him on the road and on the way to their club date. Despite the fact that they pick him up in quite a disheveled state, Grandpa is determined to continue to Big Sur. He is convinced to delay his trip and stay for the clu
When Shirley favorably comments on a mink coat, Danny decides to buy it for her birthday. Discovering that the girls in school are anxious for Keith Partridge souvenirs, Danny enlists Chris' aid and they start collecting a variety of Keith's belongings to sell. These are to help pay for Shirley's mink coat. After a week of constantly losing things, Keith thinks he is going crazy. The final blow comes when Danny and Chris wait until Keith is asleep and cut off a large patch of hair. Shirley puts two and two together and she and the family interrupt Danny and Chris as they are auctioning off their """"wares."""" Shirley makes them give back all the money and return the balance of Keith's possessions. This partly results in Shirley receiving a mink rabbit's foot for her birthday instead of a mink coat.
Reuben brings the schedule for the Partridge Family summer tour and Shirley does not like the prospect of driving for two months. They decide to hire a driver. Most of the people who answer the ad are lousy drivers... until Johnny Burnhardt comes along. He helps them fix the bus and then is interviewed by the family. They tell him he's hired. Danny begins to notice that Johnny is doing some strange things on the road. He makes lots of phone calls, looking around to see that no one is watching. Then, he runs into a guy he knows at a gas station and takes money from him. Danny suspects that he is a floating bookie. One day, while Danny is spying... behind his glasses and false nose... he learns that Johnny is having coffee with the local parole officer. Danny tells Shirley who then confronts Johnny. Johnny admits that he is on parole for armed robbery and he must check in with the parole officer in every city. The following day, Danny picks up a newspaper and reads about a bank robbery.
As the Partridge family is driving home from Las Vegas on Christmas Eve, the bus breaks down. To their dismay, they discover they are in a ghost town in the middle of the desert. Charlie, an old prospector, comes up to them leading his burro. He tells them that there is a garage 12 miles away, but it is closed. Keith and Reuben stay to try to fix the bus and the rest of the family go to Charlie's cabin. When Chris and Tracy complain that they will miss Christmas, Charlie tells them a story about the ghost town 100 years ago. In the fantasy, the two is now clean and new and there are many people. Charlie explains that the town had a beautiful, shiny silver bell which people came for miles to see and which brought Santa Claus to the town each year. Keith becomes the singing Sheriff Swell, Laurie is the school marm and Shirley is saloon mistress Belle. Everything is fine and happy one year until the day before Christmas when Mean Sidney (Reuben) comes to town and steals the bell so that S
Reuben and the Partridges stop off for a picnic on the way home as they unwind after several weeks on the road. At the picnic spot they meet Jenny, a free spirit, just traveling around and doing her thing. The Partridges strike up a friendship with Jenny and she goes home with them and stays for a few days. Jenny, however, is really very wealthy and before she hits the road again she leaves the Partridge family a bank book containing one million dollars! The kids are thrilled with this unexpected windfall but Shirley is skeptical and wants to return the gift. Shirley calls the police to have them find Jenny. In the meantime, the family is having a hard time handling their new wealth. The Partridges go back to their picnic spot and find Jenny there. They give back the money and return to their normal lifestyle.
Chris and Tracy have left the kitchen in a mess and Shirley scolds them. Chris suggests to Tracy that they ought to run away... and Shirley says they should wait till morning after a good night's sleep. After rehearsal the next day, Chris and Tracy pick up a few prize possessions and announce they are going to run away. Shirley tells them they had better pack a suitcase as they'll need a change of clothes and a jacket for the night. She is convinced that they will get only as far as half a block, stop into a neighbor's house for brownies and come back. However, the kids leave the neighbor's house and go to Reuben's apartment by taxi. There is chaos as Chris lets in a sheepdog which gives Reuben hives and Tracy overflows the bubblebath. As Reuben's luck would have it, Bonnie Kleinschmitt shows up that night with a bottle of champagne and plans to stay with Reuben. When she sees the kids, Reuben tells her to give him a hour, and they will be gone. She leaves and Reuben starts to play bla
A heated discussion follows when Keith and Laurie see an underground movie. The result is Laurie's challenge to Keith that he couldn't do any better. Keith rises to the occasion and with Danny's financial backing and help he proceeds to film """"The History of the World,"""" starring the Partridge family and featuring Reuben Kincaid as Dolly Madison. The family gets a few good laughs out of the movie and even Reuben likes it. Danny, however, sees this limited success as a chance to recoup his investment and makes a large profit. Unfortunately, no one wants to see the film and it looks as though Keith will have to take a loss on the venture because Danny wants to be paid back in any case. Finally, a local theater owner shows some interest in the film. The Partridge will not allow the uncut version to be seen in public and Keith must edit the film. There's not much left after the cutting and the Partridge family winds up adding a live musical background to a film of the Partridge family wavi
Keith is envious of his friend Archie, who seems to be enjoying an independent bachelor life with his own apartment and all the trimmings. Naturally, Keith wouldn't mind that kind of life. So, he campaigns for permission to move out of the house saying that he needs the solitude to be able to write songs for the group. Shirley's answer is an emphatic NO! Keith persists and Shirley finally allows him to take a room next door where she can still keep an eye on him. Instead of paying rent Keith has to do some """"light"""" gardening. Exhausted from the """"light"""" gardening, Keith has no time to enjoy his independence, let alone write songs. However, he doesn't want to admit defeat so soon. With Danny smuggling him peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and clean shirts, Keith manages for a short while. The fun bachelor life eventually gets to Keith and he admits to Shirley that living alone is not at all what he expected. He is happy to come back home.
Danny draws the ire of his brother and mother after writing provocative but false pieces about them for a local magazine.
The Partridge Family awakes one morning to find they have an unexpected visitor: Nicholas Pushkin, or, as he is otherwise known, Puskin the Magnificent. Nicholas is a jack of all trades; master chef, master carpenter, master artist, etc. Nicholas has decided to offer his services to a typical middle-class American family and two Partridges are that lucky family. The family likes Nicholas well enough but he seems to break just as many things as he fixes. In his sincere desire to be helpful, Nicholas paints the garage door while the Partridges are away on a concert date. It may sound innocent, but Pushkin the Magnificent has painted a scantily clad young lady on the garage door and although Nicholas is an accomplished artist, the location of the work is a cause for much embarrassment. As it turns out, Nicholas may not be the greatest of carpenters, but he is a recognized artist. The local museum purchases the garage door for a large sum so Shirley is able to buy a new garage door and Pus
It's a battle of the sexes as Shirley and Laurie prove to their male chauvinist counterparts to be better able to handle the wilderness.
Danny is in love for the first time... with an 11-year-old girl named Gloria Hickey. He thinks he hates her and constantly hits her with mudballs and his fist, but his family sees that he has a big crush on her. When Gloria visits the Partridge family to sell them cookies, Danny buys 12 boxes for $1 apiece. After he is teased, Danny runs up to his room and Shirley goes up to talk to him. Danny confesses he gets a yearning whenever he sees Gloria – an overwhelming desire to run up and grab her and punch her in the arm. Shirley assures him that he is perfectly normal. Danny wants to ask Gloria to the 6th grade dance and tries to seek advice from Keith and Laurie. He's really afraid to make the move. Just then, Gloria rings the doorbell and Danny dashes away. She has come over to ask a Partridge to the dance... but unfortunately not Danny. It seems she is in love with Keith. Danny learns the truth and makes life miserable for Keith, the """"housewrecker."""" First he kicks Keith in the shins,
The school newspaper is collecting items for an auction to raise money. While Laurie is out, Danny accidentally grabs the wrong box with Laurie's items to contribute. Her personal diary is contributed. The newspaper threatens to publish it.
As the Partridges start their vacation, the bus breaks down in a small town. The locals want them to do a benefit show to help Native Americans build a school. The mechanic finds ways to delay fixing the bus until the day of the show.
The Partridges hire a psychic performer for Tracy's birthday party. Keith and Danny keep asking for predictions about their lives, so the psychic asks them to help his failing business from a foreclosure.
It's role reversal time in the Partridge household as Keith takes home economics and Laurie takes auto shop. Keith's struggles with cooking make him the target of barbs from the school bully, and things really heat up when Laurie gives the tough a Judo flip. Keith is then challenged to a fight, and must face up to the bully even if it means getting his face turned to hamburger.
When Shirley is named """"Mother of the Year,"""" she decides to take the whole family, by bus, to the award dinner in Sacramento. Shirley decides to drive the scenic route so that the children can see the countryside. The scenic route proves to be a road to disaster. Besides awful roads and bad diner food, the group loses all their money. While still heading for Sacramento, the bus is stopped by Deputy Haynie for speeding. Shirley refuses to pay the ticket because she believes it was a speed trap. Haynie hauls the family off to see Judge McElwreath, a man who is as crooked as the deputy! The judge keeps adding fine upon fine when he learns that Shirley is the mother of the famous Partridge Family. But the Judge finally backs down and dismisses the case when he learns that Shirley is also the Mother of the Year. His decision is not based on admiration, but the far that no woman in town will vote for him if he fines a woman who has received such an honor. The bedraggled family depart from t
Keith is having a hard time getting a date for the weekend until Reuben announces that a princess who is visiting the United States wants to spend a few days with him. After a diplomat warns Keith to take good care of the girl since he is acting as a representative of the United States, Keith meets Princess Genevieve, commonly known as Genny. She is beautiful and unaffected by her royalty, but unfortunately the two young people are allowed very little time together because they are constantly surrounded by security guards. The solution which Genny proposes is for Keith to kidnap her. This is achieved with relative ease, and afterwards, they go to a drive-in movie. But Keith is so hung up about Genny's being """"royalty"""" that he can't even put his arm around her. Finally, she advises him to pretend that she's just an ordinary girl. They kiss warmly until a white flash explodes in their faces. It is a photographer – and the next day, the picture of Genny in Keith's arms makes the front pa
Because he wants to take Gloria Hickey to a swimming party, Danny suddenly becomes self-conscious about being overweight. At the end of his first week of dieting, not only has he not lost any weight, he has gained four pounds – he could not resist the temptation of a few candy bars and tacos, just as """"energy food."""" Reuben tells Danny that he is too young to have enough will-power to diet in order to shame Danny into continuing his effort. But his plan backfires as Danny challenges him to a contest which involves Reuben's breaking the cigarette habit for as long as Danny diets. While Reuben is feeling withdrawal symptoms, Danny is fantasizing about chocolate cake. Shirley decides that both Danny and Reuben should turn to the other members of the family at any time for added incentive if they feel themselves giving in to temptation. This plan fails miserably because no one is getting any sleep, and Shirley's new tactic is to present Danny with a bowl of chocolates and Reuben with a pac
In the middle of the night a Hells' Angel-type named Snake zooms up on his motorcycle and rings the Partridges' doorbell. Irritated at being awakened, Shirley and the rest of the family feel obligated to listen to his friend of Laurie's tale of woe. He wants to commit suicide because after breaking all convention by proposing to his girlfriend Penny, she has the audacity to hang up on him. When Shirley realizes that Snake's proposal took place over the phone, she patiently explains to him that a marriage proposal, being the most important event in a girl's life, should not take place over a telephone. She suggests that he dress in a tie and jacket and go to propose in person. But Penny again refuses, for she feels that Snake is making fun of her by having donned such fancy clothes. Laurie goes to visit Penny and tells her that Snake will kill himself if she does not accept his proposal. Finally convinced that Snake truly loves her, Penny rushes to the Partridge house, where he has temp
Shirley makes an appointment with Dr. Beecher, the school psychologist, who informs her that Danny's behavior in class is quite disruptive. In order to find out what is bothering him, Dr. Beecher suggests that Shirley be very permissive with her son, and watch closely how he handles his freedom. At home, Danny quickly takes advantage of Shirley's mysterious change of attitude. He is permitted to stay up late to watch the talk shows on TV, stay home from school, and force Keith's and Laurie's friends to focus their attention on him. Shirley returns to Dr. Beecher in desperation, for the other kids feel very hostile toward Danny. The doctor realizes that Danny badly wants to identify with the """"big kids"""" – Laurie and Keith. To try to cure him of this she suggests giving Danny all the responsibilities that go along with being an adult. It takes going on a double date with Keith to erase all thoughts of being grown-up from Danny's mind. While Keith and his date sit around talking and maki
Grandma and Grandpa come to the Partridge house having rediscovered themselves, or so they think, through an experience with an encounter group. In an effort to share what they lerned with Shirley and the kids, the grandparents provoke them all into expressing their hostility toward each other so that their pent-up feelings will be brought out into the open. When the kids start arguing bitterly, Shirley is forced to tactfully suggest to her parents that they are interfering with her family life, and they leave. A few days later a tearful Grandma comes knocking on the Partridges' front door, explaining that she and Grandpa had been too honest with each other, for he had said that their marriage had no zip to it. Grandpa later arrives and they consider first getting a divorce and then living together as a means of revitalizing the marriage. Instead, they take Shirley's suggestion to pretend that they are divorced, and then go out with other people.
Keith is suddenly jolted out of his political apathy when Laurie takes him to a rally where Richard Lawrence, a candidate for Congressman, is speaking. Keith is so enthusiastic about the man that he decides to help Lawrence run his campaign. That night, Lawrence, who is handsome and charming besides being an excellent candidate, visits the Partridges to see if they will perform at a rally he is giving. All the kids notice that there is an immediate attraction between the politician and Shirley and, in fact, Richard invites their mother out to dinner that very night. Within a few days there is obviously a budding romance going on between Shirley and Richard, now known as """"Dick."""" But Keith feels insecure about this, afraid he is going to lose his mother. Shirley dispells her son's jealousy by explaining to him that there are some times when she feels very lonely and wants a man's companionship. Although Richard later loses the election, he flatters Shirley by saying that losing has its
After a few weeks on the road, the kids are overjoyed to hear that Shirley and Reuben have arranged for the family to spend a weekend in the mountains near Lake Tahoe. But as soon as they enter the cabin, which has no heat or electricity, the skies open and buckets of rain come pouring down. Fated to at least a few hours of being inside, the kids realize that there is no television with which they can plug the electrical musical equipment. Boredom takes over, and when they hear over the transistor radio that the rain will continue for at least another five days, everyone, including Shirley and Reuben, begins to panic. In fact, they feel doomed to die. All the melodramatics prove unnecessary, however, and a forest ranger knocks on the door, in the process of checking the area to see if anyone is in trouble. With his help the Partridges are able to leave, and once again they find themselves in the warmth and security of their own living room.
Laurie meets a former neighbor at the local tennis courts. His name is Greg Houser and he's grown up to be quite a handsome fellow. Laurie eagerly agrees to see him that evening to talk over old times and to catch up on new times. When Greg arrives to take Laurie out, the entire family is surprised to see that Greg is wearing a clerical collar. Laurie feels very uncomfortable with Greg now that she knows his occupation. Greg finally puts her at ease. He does this so successfully that later in the evening Laurie tells Shirley she is in love with Greg. Talk of marriage is in the air. Shirley has told Laurie that she should take time to be sure of her feelings for Greg. Laurie promises to do this, but she is going through all the motions or being in love. Laurie's preoccupation with Greg causes her to leave out a few words in a note she leaves her mother. From the way the note reads, it appears that Laurie has eloped with Greg. Shirley rushes to the church and discovers that Laurie is mer
After a show the Partridge Family is approaching by a talent scout who informs them that Keith would be perfect for a part in a new movie and he wants Keith to take a screen test. Reuben and Shirley coach Keith and the family all act out the characters in the script to help him learn his lines. He will play a baby-faced gangster. A week later the whole family goes off to Hollywood for the test. A very nervous Keith manages the part well and is notified a few days later that he got the part. Keith is being treated like a great Hollywood star by everyone in town. The family has planned a surprise party for him the night before he leaves to make the movie. That afternoon Reuben tells Keith that World Pictures has decided against starring an 'unknown', so he has lost the part. When Keith finally brings himself to tell Shirley the news, he is unknowingly walking into the surprise party. When everyone cries for a speech, Keith explains what has happened. The party is a good one despite the b
Danny wins a raffle. First prize is an expensive Italian race car, but Danny isn't that lucky, he wins second prize – F. Scott Fitzgerald, a race horse! Will Fowler has trained the horse since birth and tells the Partridges that he would like to continue working with F. Scott. Shirley is finally convinced to give racing a try. F. Scott will be entered in the race at the San Pueblo County Fair where the Partridge Family will be performing anyway. The horse is working out well and a young Latin jockey is hired to ride him in the race. A few days before the race, Will calls with the bad news that F. Scott has insomnia – he hasn't slept in four days. If this continues, he will never make the race. Danny tries hypnotism, Keith tries singing the horse to sleep – nothing works. It is learned that F. Scott's groom, Homer Peck, usually sleeps in the barn and plays Glenn Miller songs on his tape recorder. About the same time that F. Scott had stopped sleeping, Homer's tape recorder had broken an
The Partridge house just doesn't seem big enough – they need more bathrooms and just more room in general! Reuben takes Shirley to look at a new, larger house. The Partridge house is home to her, so Shirley doesn't really want to move, but all the kids are very anxious to. They put their house up for sale, with Reuben acting as real estate agent. After a week without even one """"looker,"""" Reuben and Danny cook up a scheme for """"open house"""" with the Partridge Family. The open house is like a carnival – hundreds of people show up. As the family overhears various disparaging remarks about their home from the visitors, they begin to realize just how much the house means to them. Just as the kids tell Shirley that they don't want to move either, Reuben arrives with the news that he's sold the house. When the buyers, Mr. and Mrs. Sharp come to look the house over, the kids sabotage the plumbing, the doors and the windows to make it seem like the house is falling apart. They confess that they
By coincidence, Shirley meets a doctor whom she once dated, named Bernie Applebaum. Trapped into accepting a date with him for the following evening, they go to a fine French restaurant. But Bernie allows her to eat only plain lambchops, carrots, and buttermilk – the rest is too high in cholesterol. The doctor is evidently very wrapped up in his vocation, for the following night, he takes Shirley to the hospital cafeteria for an after-concert dinner. Shirley finds herself in the embarrassing position of having to tell Bernie that she's really not interested in him without hurting his feelings. Her plans to do this are complicated when the doctor brings his mother to visit the Partridge household. However, the enthusiasm of the two members of the Applebaum family does not diminish even when the kids try to help out their mother by misbehaving. Later, Bernie approaches Shirley with what he feels will be terribly upsetting news – that he can't marry her because he enjoys the swinging bach
The Partridge Family discovers that during the night someone has entered their house and burglarized their TV, radio and stereo. As a gift Reuben has a burglar alarm installed in the Partridge home. It has sensor pads in various places under the carpeting – one step on a sensor and the house is filled with a heart-stopping, loud, clanging bell. While the Partridges are trying to adjust to the alarm and remember to turn it off when they are in the house, the neighbors are getting more furious each time it is set off accidentally. Petitions are being signed asking that the alarm be removed. When Shirley goes to the garage to shut off another """"false alarm"""" she finds Morris Dinkler, an escaped-con who holds the Partridge family and Reuben hostage. He purposely chose their house because of the alarm, knowing that new alarms are frequently set off by accident and after awhile the police don't bother to come. Everyone assumes the bulge in Morris' pocket, which he refers to as """"Big Bertha,""
Laurie is falsely accused of stealing a test, but refuses to name the real culprit.
One season before The Brady Bunch went to Kings Island, The Partridge Family does a gig there. Keith falls in love with the park director. When Keith asked her out on a date, he finds that Danny asked first. So Danny humiliates Keith by taking him on all the fast scary rides on their date! Shirley found out what happened & was mad @ Danny! Keith has a talk with Danny saying that she's 20 years older than him. And when gets ready to ask her out to a movie, she has a date, CHRIS!
When an old friend, a romantic interest of Shirley's, Richard Lawrence, comes to town he brings his 11-year-old daughter, Julie. Julie is a Partridge fan and everyone teases Keith, being sure Julie will be groveling at his feet during the visit. When the Lawrences arrive, it seems that Julie's affections are not lavished on Keith, but on Danny! Julie spends all her time following Danny, while Danny spends all his time trying to hide from her. When Shirley tries to tell Richard that Julie is a bit too aggressive and Danny is not ready for this, Richard reacts like a wounded father. Laurie and Keith ask Danny to be nice to Julie for just a few days, in order not to ruin Shirley and Richard's relationship. Danny reluctantly agrees, and when he tries it, he finds he really does like Julie. When he gives in to a sudden urge to kiss her, Julie reacts by giving him a black eye! This doesn't make any sense at all to Danny so he goes to the """"older folks"""" for an explanation. When Keith and Lau
Reuben arranges for the Partridge family to make a TV commercial for Erwin Tully, owner of a large take-out chicken outfit. Up until now """"Uncle Erwin"""" has been making all his own commercials, very corny ones complete with chicken costumes. His sales have dropped and he feels he needs a new image. The family films the commercial -- the setting is a picnic; all the kids are playing and enjoying Uncle Erwin's chicken. Everyone is very pleased with the ad, everyone but Erwin! He feels something is missing – chicken suits! The Partrides are 100% against it but are forced by a contract to make another commercial. They try to make it as bad as possible, hoping Erwin won't like it and use the first one. He loves it. Erwin is going to preview his new commercial at a convention for all his franchise owners. Shirley realizes everyone there will hate the ad. So, when the conventioneers assume the commercial is a joke and ask for the """"real one,"""" Shirley saves the day by having the first ad read
American's "heartthrob," Keith Partridge, is falling his sex education course at school. When the family hears about this they find it hard to stifle their laughter, until they realize that if he does fail, he won't graduate.
All havoc breaks loose when Shirley buys a cockoo clock for $29 at Bartlet's Department store. It seems Bartlet's has recently installed a computer to handle all their accounts. When Shirley receives her computerized bill for the clock, it reads $290 instead of $29. She goes down to the store to straighten things out with Mr. Atwater. Atwater apologizes and instructs the computer operator, Tom, to program the 1984-Z to move the decimal point and correct the bill to read $29. (Tom is quite impressed with Laurie). The decimal point is moved – the wrong way! Shirley's bill is now $2,900. The computer has sent bad-risk notices to other companies, ruining the Partridge's credit rating. It has also had a collection agency pick up the check from the family's last engagement. Shirley again goes go Barlet's; things are quite out of hand. While she's seeing the manager, Laurie leads a picket line outside the store. When they arrive home, the collection agency has repossessed all their furniture.
The yo-yos in Mr. Phelps' store look great to Danny and his friend Punky Lazaar, but they've spent their money on ice cream. Punky figures where there's a will there's a way and when Mr. Phelps isn't looking, he puts the yo-yo in his pocket. Danny is shocked, but when Punky calls him chicken, he too steals a yo-yo. Danny has a very guilty conscience and finally can bear no more and confesses to the family. Shirley goes with Danny to see Mr. Phelps and returns the yo-yo. After this, Danny is so relieved and proud of his act that he goes about preaching integrity to anyone and everyone. When Shirley sends Danny for some shampoo, he meets Punky. When Mr. Phellps sees Punky steal a bottle of perfume, he puts part of the blame on Danny who he believes acted as decoy for Punky. He writes their names on a card for his """"records."""" Danny promptly turns himself over to the police and confesses everything he has ever done or thought of doing. Danny feels he is a disgrace to the family, a crimina
Laurie is chosen to be campaign manager for Phyllis Goldberg, who is a candidate for the school presidency. Unfortunately, Phyllis, an intelligent but very timid girl, will have to compete for this chose position with Keith, who is without a doubt the more popular of the two.
Reuben books the Partridges in what they all believe to be a mountain resort called Rose Mansion. At the family's first performance, they realize that there is only one person seated in the audience, named Sidney Rose. A multi-millionaire who has become a recluse for the sake of privacy, Sidney must bring all entertainment to his own estate. On the rare occasions that he does go out, he does so in disguise. The lonely man develops an affection for the Partridge family and tries to persuade them to stay at Rose Mansion for a few weeks, but they are unable to do this and so invite him to come to their house. Sidney says he is afraid of crowds that would attack him if he did this, thus politely refusing the invitation. A few days later, a policeman comes to the door, who turns out to be Sidney, planning to spend a few days with the family. Unfortunately, a news reporter comes in for an interview, and although Sidney is now disguised as a TV repairman, the reporter recognizes the millionai
The Partridge Family attend a lecture by Mike Rezo, a famous mystery writer. After the lecture they meet him and the discussion leads to the fact that everyone but Rezo feels that his stories are more fantasy than true to life. Rezo believes that using human nature and logic anything is possible. In order to prove his point, Rezo offers the Partridges a deal they can't refuse. He will give them a two-hour head start and then begin looking for them; if he can't locate them within 24 hours, he will donate $25,000 to their favorite charity. The next morning the chase begins. No matter where they go, Rezo and his agent, Lazaar Hannibal, seem to turn up. The family pretends to leave their house and drive around for an hour before returning to the house – thinking that's the last place he'd look. When they get out of the car Rezo is waiting. They try getting lost in a crowd, hiding in an apartment of a friend of Reuben's, even the local """"lovers' lane,"""" always to find Rezo waiting. Shirley
Noise pollution is the issue as the musical Partridges face professional ruin in the fourth-season opener. Seems the new next-door neighbor doesn't dig pop music and has installed a new kind of sound barrier-the law! This episode introduces regular Ricky Segall as the neighbors' four year old son. (1/2 hour)
Keith's scheme to meet a new girl at school using Laurie's newspaper advice column backfires.
Keith meets Rachel Weston, a beautiful classical music student, at his junior college and is surprised when he learns he has never heard of """"The Partridge Family"""" and their music. Keith invites her home to meet the family and hear some of their hits. Rachel thinks their music is nice, but unimportant. She tells Keith that with his talent, he should write something classical. The family's eardrums suffer when Keith begins to compose """"Partridge's First Concerto for Cello in D Major,"""" which is played at the conservatory by the college orchestra. The concerto turns out to be a total disaster, but the family decides to be kind to Keith and help him over his failure. Keith, however, encouraged by Rachel, who loves the concerto, thinks he's on the road to musical immortality. He decides to use his trust fund to pay for a recording session with professionals to preserve his great work for posterity. Shirley, worried about Keith's wasting his money, has Reuben contact Walter Yost, a famous
Keith & Laurie tells Shirley that Danny has to hang out with kids his own age. So Reuben suggests little league baseball. But Danny hates the idea. Keith & Laurie later blackmail Danny into joining the team. It turns out that Danny's the ace pitcher of the Dodgers. Shirley & Reuben attended the game & don't like the other parents discouragement towrads their own kids. Shirley tells Danny that he could quit, but Danny wants to stay since the coach likes him. Shirley also gives a lesson to the coach that winning isn't everything. The team beats the Astros & wins the trophy. The epilogue has Danny thinking about joining a football team, & they discouraged that idea instantly.
Shirley decides the family's been too hard on Reuben lately and they have to start appreciating him a little more. They decide to give him a surprise birthday party and invite his mother. Reuben can't understand why everyone is being so nice to him, even Danny. When he tries to bribe Danny to see what's going on, Danny just says they are appreciating him. Reuben tells the family he believes he's dying, that's why they are being nice to him. There was something in his annual physical that the doctors didn't tell him about and they know the truth. Shirley just about convinces him he's being foolish when Reuben's mother walks in. Now he's convinced he's going to kick the bucket. No amount of talking can change Reuben's mind and he begins to prepare for the hereafter. The family, meanwhile, goes ahead with the plans for the party, hoping that will jar him into realizing the truth. Shirley tricks Reuben into going to the restaurant where the party will be held, and everyone is there, includ
Keith tries to land a date for the beach party with Johanna, one of the prettiest girls in school, but she turns him down for a member of the basketball team. Laurie offers to get him a date with her friends Sally, who is not exactly Keith's ideal, but he reluctantly agrees. Later, Keith finds out Johanna's date fell through and he eagerly agrees to take her out. Now he's stuck with two dates. Keith confides his problem to Reuben who advises him to take out the sexy one, not the nice one. Later, Shirley and Laurie learn Keith has made two dates for the same evening and tell him he should break his date with Johanna. He tries, but he can't do it. Keith devises a plan. He pretends he has a cold and arranges for his friend Wally to take Sally out to a play. He thinks he's free and clear to go out to the beach with Johanna when Sally sows up with hot soup to nurse his cold. After she and Laurie give Keith a hard time at the beach with Johanna. She knew about the double date all along. Laur
The family and Reuben board the T.S.S. Fairsea, a cruise ship, to play a singing engagement while sailing to Acapulco. On board, Laurie meets a young man who introduces himself as Howard Wainwright III, the heir to a large fortune. Despite Wainwright's clumsiness and his attempts to impress everyone, Laurie agrees to go out with him. Keith is suspicious of the young man's intentions and enlist Danny's aid in spying on them. A few days later, Howard gifts Laurie with an expensive bracelet that he claims is a family heirloom, but which Keith believes to be the stolen property of a wealthy passenger. He's convinced that Howard is an international jewel thief who is using Laurie to smuggle the stolen bracelet through customs. Keith, Danny and Reuben concoct a scheme to steal the bracelet back and return it to the rightful owner during the ship's costume party. At the party, the idea backfires and the trio is caught.
Shirley receives an unexpected invitation to dinner from Howard Lipton, the presidential ambassador and well-known ladies man. It seems he's visiting San Pueblo, on his way to talk in China, and he remembers her from a previous short meeting. On the big night, Lipton shows up two hours late for the date and then spends more than half the evening on the phone with world dignitaries. When Shirley gets a second request for a date, she turns him down, explaining that she really didn't have a very good time. Lipton's ego is crushed. The diplomat showers Shirley with gifts from around the world, trying to make her reconsider her decision. Shirley is being hounded by newspapermen and ostracized by her neighbors, but she refuses to give in unless Lipton visits her in person to ask for a date. When Lipton finally agrees, Shirley sets up the terms for the date – the ambassador must come and spend a quiet dinner in the Partridge home, with no interrupting phone calls. During the evening, Lipton c
Keith enrolls in a Sociology class in college and discovers one of his favorite subjects, a beautiful girl, 23-years-old, Dory Kimmel. He maneuvers his way into working on a class project with her. After a study session with Dory at the Partridge home, Keith announces to his mother that he's finally found true love in an older woman, Dory. As their work together continues, Keith becomes completely infatuated and believes that Dory feels the same way about him. But he's totally stunned when he learns Dory is married. An unhappy Keith confides to his mother that he thinks Dory is going to leave her husband for him. When Shirley confronts Dory with this bit of news, it's Dory's turn to be stunned. She likes Keith as a friend but she's truly in love with her husband. She has to find a way to tell him the truth without hurting his feelings. Dory finally decides to invite Keith over for dinner to meet her husband and see how happy they are; Keith arrives for the dinner, expecting Dory's husb
Danny gets caught trying to sneak into a movie theater without a ticket and the police bring him home. Shirley punishes Danny for his dishonesty by taking away his movie privileges for a month. Danny, depressed about his punishment, begins to write down every instance when other members of the family tell a lie or are dishonest. Later he confronts them with his notes. Shirley, trying to teach Danny a lesson, proposes that the family try to be completely honest for 24 hours. As the day of honesty progresses, everyone, including Shirley, gets into trouble when they have to tell the truth. But Danny, seeking revenge, keeps them all in line. Then Danny is faced with the problem of telling Laurie that basketball player Jim Benson has canceled his date with her for another girl and he lies, rather than hurt Laurie's feelings. Danny confides to his mother about his lie and offers to do another 24 hours of honesty. But Shirley feels that Danny has finally learned his lesson about how people's
Reuben Kincaid's nephew, Alan, comes to live with him to be his assistant. It's evident right from the start that Alan is eager to learn but he's always failed at everything. He suffers from shyness and a total lack of confidence. Keith and Laurie try to build him up and find out what he really would like to do. Alan confides that he wants to be a comedian but he's terrified of audiences. When he does some of his act for them, they discover he's really funny but he's too afraid to try. Alan gets a chance to show he's learned about managing when Reuben can't go with the family on a club date. Alan will manage the family all by himself for two days. Everything goes smoothly, until Alan loses his notebook with all the itinerary written in it. Then the date becomes a total disaster. Alan loses the costumes at the cleaners, fouls up their dinner reservations and then, in a grand finale, turns out the lights during the Partridges' performance. Alan confesses the loss of the notebook to the f
Shirley, advertising for a maid, has an unexpected applicant, her mother, Amanda Renfrow. It seems Shirley's parents are fighting again and Amanda has decided to move out and become the family's maid. By the end of the week, the family is exhausted because they are trying to get all the work done before Grandma sees it. They decide they have to get the battling grandparents back together again so they can get some rest. Shirley invites her father to dinner but he insults her mother and the war is on again. This time the whole family gets involved as the girls re fighting with the boys on who is the most independent. The women are getting along very well but the men are starving as Grandpa is doing the cooking. Keith and Danny cook up a scheme to have the house invaded by a burglar. The boys will then rescue the women and all will be forgiven, again. They appoint Reuben as the fake burglar. Shirley learns of their scheme and has the police arrest the """"burglar."""" Shirley, now angry over
Shirley Partridge joins an art class and is encouraged by her teacher, Lorenzo Bernard, who says she shows a natural artistic ability. When she shows off one of her paintings to the family, the kids thing it's awful but pretend to like it not to hurt her feelings. When Lorenzo begins coming to the house to give Shirley private lessons, the kids are suspicious about his intentions. They enlist the help of Reuben in getting an expert's opinion on their mother's painting talent. The art expert agrees the painting is bad. But, by now, Lorenzo has talked Shirley into showing her paintings at the annual San Pueblo Art Festival and Shirley is beginning to think she might really have talent. At the art show, the kids devise an elaborate plan to protect Shirley's feelings and not let her see how much people dislike her paintings. Shirley catches them in the act and makes them confess their true opinions of her art work. Shirley decides she's been taking her hobby far too seriously and from now
Reuben has discovered a new singing act, 14-year-old twin brothers Andy and David, and he brings them to live with the Partridges until they cut their first record. The boys have a crush on Laurie and she doesn't want to hurt their feelings and agrees to go out with them. The family thinks Laurie's double-crush is cute and kids her about it. Andy and David become serious and tell Laurie she has to choose which one of them she wants to date. They decide to help her in the decision by not dressing alike anymore and breaking up their singing act to become more individual. Now everyone realizes how serious this has become and Keith and Danny try to help Laurie but the plans backfire. The twins are more in love than ever. Finally Shirley enters the picture and explains to the boys that they will get over their crush but they shouldn't sacrifice their friendship over this. But this time even Shirley seems to fail. Laurie gets up enough courage to confront the boys but they have changed their
Danny announces his decision to drop out of school. He tells Shirley that he's bored at school and, since he knows how to read and write, he can now pursue his chosen profession – song writing. Shirley consults the school psychologist and learns that such feelings are common in children Danny's age. The psychologist advises Shirley to let Danny believe he's dropped out; after a while he'll realize how much he misses and needs school. Shirley reluctantly agrees; Danny can stay home and write his songs. The very first day Danny spends at home alone he is bored. He finds the song writing is not so easy and he misses his friends. He's beginning to get discouraged when he meets millionaire hotel owner Claude Tubble and discovers that Tubble never got beyond sixth grade. Now Danny's all enthused again and wants to become a millionaire. Shirley feels Danny's gone far enough and gives him an ultimatum – he must either return to school or get a job. Danny soon learns that there are no budding e
Laurie's girlfriend, Frankie, tries out for the varsity basketball team and shows a great deal of ability. When the coach turns her down because of her sex, not judging her skill, both girls are indignant. Keith and Danny kid Laurie about it and she argues that men think of women as objects capable only of being cheerleaders of homecoming queens. Laurie becomes even more upset when Reuben suggests she run for homecoming queen. Shirley later convinces Laurie to enter the contest because if she does win, people will listen to what she has to say. Keith and Danny overhear the plan and do a little scheming of their own: they convince handsome Jerry Bishop to run against Laurie. After all, if a girl can try out for basketball, a guy can run for homecoming queen. The night of the contest Laurie wins the title and Jerry is chosen first runner-up. Laurie thanks everyone who voted for her, but declines the honor. She tells the shocked audience that the contest is just another way of turning wom
Danny Partridge is so smitten with Renee, the daughter of Rabbi Stern, that he pretends to be of her faith. Somehow, however, he can never find the right moment to set the record straight. His alarm grows when Rabbi Stern and Mrs. Stern invite the entire Partridge family to dinner. The Partridge family performs """"I Heard You Singing Your Song.""""
Laurie Partridge is appointed student-teacher of Miss Halstead's 7th grade English class, which includes her brother, Danny. Danny takes an apple to school for his new teacher, but after experiencing Laurie's strictness, he eats it himself. Laurie is concerned when Miss Halstead informs her that unless Danny does better, he'll have to repeat the class in summer school – and the Partridges are scheduled for a summer tour. But, in Laurie's harsh judgment, Danny's grades do not improve, despite the fact that he submits a piece of work that actually had been written by Ernest Hemingway at a time when Hemingway was a high school student.
Laurie wants to go skiing, but is committed to babysit. Her efforts to con Danny or Keith into working in her place are futile. Keith also has a problem. He met a new girl at school, Karen, and invited her to a party, only to learn that she is bringing an escort. Danny suggests that Keith get another date to make Karen jealous. He tries every number in his phone book to no avail. As a last resort, Keith makes a deal with Laurie – if she'll pose as his date, he'll babysit. Danny complicates matters by telling Karen that Keith's date is a beautiful southern belle, Lauriebelle Culpepper. At the party all is going well when """"Lauriebelle"""" slips and calls Shirley """"Mom,"""" bringing Shirley into the charade as """"Mother Culpepper."""" Keith is sure he has been successful when Karen dances with him and invites him to her house – until he learns that the invitation is to her engagement party!
Scheduled to appear at a rally for energy conservation, the Partridge family is chagrined when Danny's guitar blows all the fuses in the auditorium. To make amends they decide to be the """"model"""" family, showing everyone how easy it is to cut down on use of electricity. Danny suggests printing the name of """"energy hogs"""" in the local newspaper for all to see. Things go well until two days before the end of the electricity billing period when Danny realizes he has been reading the meter wrong – instead of 270 kilowatts they only have 27 left! To prevent the """"model family"""" from being exposed as """"energy hogs,"""" the Partridge family must spend one day without any electricity at all – including lights, stoves and heat! Sitting around the fireplace toasting marshmallows and singing, they realize the situation isn't really so bad – it's fun and it's brought the family closer together.
Danny finds a broach and gives it to his mother for her birthday. He is dismayed when he sees a newspaper ad offering a $50-reward for its return. Danny then involves Laurie and Keith in an ill-fated plan to get the broach back from their mother without Shirley's knowledge, and buy her a duplicate with part of the reward money.
Shirley's memories of a high school romance are stirred when Navy Captain Charles Corwin arrives in town. She sees the Captain's picture in the paper and recognizes him as "Cuddles," an old flame. Laurie invites the Captain to dinner. He and Shirley are happy to see each other again, and the kids are favorably impressed - except for Danny. He is upset by the Captain's romantic reminiscences. When Shirley and Captain Corwin go out the next evening, Danny and Keith are in hot pursuit in the family bus.
