After Charles is devastated at being dumped by his girlfriend, Buddy fixes him up with Beth (Brenda Swanson), a female bodybuilder at his health club.
Charles suggests the family spend the Christmas holidays in the mountains, but a storm leaves everyone but Walter stranded in a cabin.
News of the sudden arrival of Commander Powell throws the household into chaos.
When Charles is named Student of the Year, local newspaper reporter Pat Walker (Barbara Rhoades) arrives at the house to interview him.
When Charles' and Buddy's history teacher changes their team assignment from a written to an oral report, Charles insists that Buddy deliver the speech.
Charles becomes infatuated with Trish (Susannah Woodside), a beautiful fashion model and the daughter of Walter's friend.
When Jamie enrolls in a modeling school, a suspicious Charles decides to investigate. He and Buddy enroll in order to expose the school as a fraud.
Charles tries to end a feud between Walter and Lillian by giving them each a ticket to a swing music concert.
The death of a lifelong friend causes Walter to have visions of mortality, so Charles summons Walter's father, Buzz (Dabbs Greer), for a visit in order to show him his son has many years left.
When Buddy receives word that his shy sister Bunny (Mindy Cohn) is arriving for a visit, he pleads with Charles to help entertain her.
Charles asks editor Gayle Landis for a job on her newspaper, but acting as a fill—in for "‘Dear Amy" is not what he had in mind.
Unable to decide on a college major and faced with a tuition increase, is determined to convince his Uncle Joe (John Astin) that he should be made the heir to his business.
When Buddy's new girlfriend unceremoniously dumps him, he sinks into a bout of depression. Under the circumstances, Charles requests that everyone be especially nice to Buddy.
Charles convinces Ellen to allow Adam to stay up and watch television all night, let Jamie streak her hair, and allow Sarah to go on her first unchaperoned date.
Charles is ecstatic when he scores an A on his English assignment, until he turns past the cover page and discovers Sarah's poem there by mistake.
Charles calms Lillian's fears about an upcoming trip out of town, saying that he's more than able to manage the pizza parlor himself, even though she's just hired a new chef, Dine (Vito Scotti).
Charles and Buddy decide to pledge a fraternity, and must put up with a series of humiliating tests and activities during "Hell Week."
When Charles and Buddy foil an attempted holdup at the pizza parlor, their names appear in the local newspaper. They can't resist capitalizing on their new-found popularity with the girls at the sorority house.
When the Powells learn their house is to be sold and Ellen loses her job, Charles takes to bed with a sneezing fit and falls asleep.
This is just not Charles' day. He's trying to prepare for the new school year, but Buddy needs his help in planning their end of summer party.
Charles becomes frantic when he makes too many commitments for one evening.
Charles is outraged when he learns his mother is hosting a sorority slave auction. Outraged, that is, until he finds out that attractive new transfer student Jeanie intends to bid for him.
Confused by the instructions that came with a new stereo component rack, Charles is frustrated trying to assemble the unit.
Charles seems to be the only one excited about his new post as teacher's aide. Jamie resents his sitting in on her class, and the teacher can't understand why anyone would want to teach.
When Sarah tries to get closer to a boy that she likes by inviting him over to study, she is upset when he pays more attention to Charles than her.
The kids each must find a gladiator to represent their class in the school's stunt-filled quiz contest complete with pies in the face and a dunk tank.
