Debut: Family man Joe Gennaro (Peter Onorati) is a laid-off defense worker who has to deal with the problems of running the house while his wife, Sandy (Mary Page Keller), works as an office temp. In the opener, Joe faces a hairy issue: son Scott (Spencer Klein) wants to wear a ""Rat Tail.""
Stan (George DiCenzo) is burned up when he finds out that his son has been smoking—and that Joe knew about it.
Stan stews because Joe won't work full time as a chef, but Joe tells him to put a lid on it.
Joe wants to buy Sandy a birthday gift, but to him, ""shop"" is strictly a four-letter word.
Despite Sandy and Stan's misgivings, Joe sticks up for Leo's bad-news buddy Josh—Until Josh dates Amy.
Joe gets the awful feeling that Sandy's taking him for granted—but she takes no notice; meanwhile, Paul's doing poorly in algebra because of his sexual attraction to his teacher.
Sandy's offered a full-time job that will take her away from the family even more so than now. Can she take it? Can they?
Sandy's not happy to see her long-estranged father again, but he's a big hit with the kids.
After Thanksgiving dinner, Sandy talks Joe into going to a movie, where they unexpectedly get to observe Amy with a date.
Joe refuses Stan's offer of half-ownership of the restaurant.
The last thing Barb wanted for Christmas is just what Leo brings home: a 21-year-old girlfriend with a baby, and a husband—somewhere.