Dr. Jonathan Lerner, along with his family (wife Denise, oldest son Jeffrey, oldest daughter Nicki) decides to leave sunny California for the ""friendly city"" of Philadelphia. Jonathan's father Sid Lerner, also a physician, Denise's mother Ruby, a hair dresser, Denise's sister Sheila and Denise's nephew Elvis (Sheila's child) greet them on their return to their roots. Bickering starts immediately.
Afraid to face her upcoming 20th class reunion, Sheila tries to borrow money from Denise for plastic surgery.
After one of Dr. Jonathan Lerner's patient's dies, Jonathan is worried about his family's potential future if he and Denise should both die. Jonathan wants both Denise and himself to write their wills to protect the interests of their children.
Jonathan and Denise are upset when they think a couple they've befriended doesn't want to see them anymore.
Missions impossible: Denise tries to give mother Ruby's hair salon a makeover, and Jonathan tries to get Jeffrey to stop watching so much television.
Drs. Jonathan and Sid Lerner are unnerved to find that Lillian needs a gallstone operation. Even more upseting, Jonathan's mother refuses to have the operation.