Danny is an idealistic dreamer who's great with kids, because in a way he still is one. That's why, in the opener, he doesn't handle turning 40 very well. And at the "Wreck Center," Danny deals with a host of problems, including making projections for last month's budget, going "Great Santini" on his son during a basketball game, and filling in for a ballet teacher while trying to get to his birthday dinner — made by his daughter on time.
Danny's desire to be a cool dad clouds his sense of good judgement when Henry is invited to a beer party. At the community center, Danny has a donut date with Rachel.
Danny learns a secret about his father's romantic past when he donates a dress to a rummage sale.
The recently divorced father of two finally works up the nerve to ask bubbly ballet instructor Rachel to be his date for the annual Wrecking Ball, but stops short when she mentions her new boyfriend, Jeff, a motorcycle-riding doctor. Embarrassed, Danny pretends that he too has a significant other and that he's bringing her to the fund-raiser. Desperate times call for desperate measures so---just as he did in high school---Danny asks his cousin, who's now married with children, to pose as his sweetheart.