Top-rated
Wed, Sep 17, 1969
On a movie studio tour, Eddie meets aspiring actress, Dolly Daly, who is recently arrived in Los Angeles and who Eddie sees as a potential mother. Eddie invites her home more as an act of generosity than anything. Dolly accepts, much to Tom's consternation especially since he can't fully explain to Eddie why what he did was wrong. Back at the apartment, Tom tries to explain to Dolly that she can't stay but in a losing battle, he ultimately let's her sleep on the couch. The next morning, Mrs. Livingston sees Dolly on the couch and is angry with Tom for what she sees as the bad example he is setting for Eddie by having one of his dates stay overnight. Mrs. Livingston storms out, Eddie and Tom thinking that she's gone forever. Just as Tom feels at the end of his rope, he comes up with an idea: he sends Dolly off to deal with Norman who has always wanted to do a story on young women new to Los Angeles hoping to make it into the movie business. In doing so, Tom solves most of his problems - Dolly is now out of his personal life and the story resolves some work problems Tom was having with Norman. The only unresolved issue is Mrs. Livingston's absence from the Corbett household. However Mrs. Livingston solves what was never a problem - she left the apartment solely to go to the market to get more eggs for breakfast.
Wed, Oct 8, 1969
Eddie is concerned for Mrs. Livingston, who he sees as being all alone in the world. Eddie first wants Tom to marry her, and when Tom explains to Eddie why he can't and won't marry her, Eddie then brings home five-year old Frank, his Japanese friend, to give to Mrs. Livingston to be her son. Frank seems quite happy with this new arrangement. Tom and Mrs. Livingston are obviously concerned as Frank must have a real family who are concerned of his whereabouts. Eddie explains that Frank doesn't have a mother and father, but that he has a mother and a father: they're separated. Since Frank can't tell Tom any more information about himself than that his name is Frank and that he's five-years old, and since the school is closed, Tom feels the only option is to call in the police to locate Frank's family. The police can't do anything until Frank's family calls and feel that the Corbett household a better environment to keep Frank than the police station. Finally, Frank's parents, Duke and Kendis Komosori, locate Frank at the Corbetts. Although his ethnic background is Japanese, Duke is a totally westernized fourth generation American, while Kendis is traditionally Japanese, these differences which led to the break-up of their marriage. Although there are deep feelings still within the Komosori family, they will have to work hard if they want to reunite their family happily under one roof. The dysfunction between the Komosori's shows Eddie that Tom and Eddie and Mrs. Livingston all really have each other in a meaningful way despite Mrs. Livingston having a different last name.
Wed, Oct 15, 1969
Norman and Tina convince Tom to try computer dating as part of a story Norman is doing for the magazine. Tom however wants to make it clear to whomever his date that this is purely an academic exercise. Unfortunately for Tom, Norman bring's Tom's computer date over to the apartment on a day Tom is home sick with a cold. Diane Kirby, Tom's computer match, actually works for the computer dating company and is a fervent believer in the powers of her computer. It's love at first sight between Diane and Eddie, and Diane is attracted to Tom, but Diane is not Tom's type. Beyond that, Tom just wanted to talk to Diane solely for the story anyway. The wise Mrs. Livingston thinks she knows what went wrong: Tom's answers for the computer were all with Eddie's welfare in mind. This is proven true when, as a lark, Diane allows Eddie to answer the computer dating questions and insert it into the computer. Diane was not expecting any match to appear, however one match came back: her. This exercise made Diane herself realize that when she answered the questions, she was projecting her own strong want to be a mother.
Wed, Oct 22, 1969
Eddie dreads his first day of school as he likes his current general routine. Tom forces him to go, but Eddie doesn't make it to first bell as he runs home before class even starts. Tom is frustrated, but is just as upset that Eddie is lying about his reason for running home. Tom tries to appeal to Eddie's sense of logic to convince him to go to school. Day after day, Eddie gets closer and closer to making it through a full day, however he is placing up fences around himself from actually letting himself to like the situation. Tom, feeling at the end of his rope, contemplates hiring a tutor, which Mrs. Livingston doesn't think a good idea since it will make Eddie different than all the other kids. Finally Tom thinks he's found the answer: he's going to quit his job and stay at home to teach Eddie himself, or so he tells Eddie. Tom pretends to be a tough, boring and quite bad teacher. In addition, he also tells Eddie that Mrs. Livingston will no longer be around since Tom can't pay her if he's not earning a living. Although Tom is somewhat ashamed of telling these white lies - especially after chastising Eddie for lying - the ploy works and Eddie decides to go to school and begins to like it. In Tom and Mrs. Livingston's minds, sometimes the end does justify the means.
Wed, Oct 29, 1969
Eddie gets a new second best friend - Tom will always be his best friend - by the name of Max, who Eddie wants to spend time with when best friend Tom needs to do his adult things. Tom finds out that Max's mother, Betty Kelly, is a single parent, which makes Mrs. Livingston think that Eddie is once again "mother shopping". On Eddie's urging, Tom invites Max over to stay for the weekend, and in turn invites Betty over for dinner on a pseudo blind date. She ends up being everything Eddie explained - beautiful with warm round eyes - and what Tom imagined, but she's also African-American. Eddie and Max have a tiff to start the evening, but Betty and Tom have a great evening from start to finish (except for the burnt dinner).
Top-rated
Wed, Nov 5, 1969
Eddie is embarrassed by a knock-out punch he received from Joey Kelly, who Tom learns is smaller and younger than Eddie. Tom is concerned that Eddie is neither fighting back or defending himself against Joey. The last straw for Tom is when Joey knocks out Eddie's tooth. Tom understands Eddie's behavior when he finally meets Joey. Joey is a girl. It's even more clear when Tom learns of and sees Joey's home-life: she is raised by her single father, Joe, a rough and tumble guy's guys who doesn't know the finer details of raising a girl. A learned trait from her father, Joey continues to hit Eddie because she likes him. In an effort to expose Joey to other adult influences, Tom invites her over to the apartment where Mrs. Livingston teaches Joey the fine art of being a woman, Japanese style. It works in part, but old habits are hard to break, and Joey finally rebels once against Eddie. Eddie, in turn, based on advice from Joey's father, decides this time to punch Joey back. They come to a better understanding as Joey didn't like getting punched back. Eddie and Joey are going to become good friends after all.
Wed, Nov 19, 1969
Harvey Henshaw, an old college friend of Tom, stops by unexpectedly, Harvey who is in town on a business trip. Friend is overstating their relationship as Tom, although remembers him, probably would have been happy in life if he never saw Harvey again. Harvey is brash and overbearing. However, Harvey is happy to see his old buddy, Tommy, and ingratiates himself quickly into the Corbett household, especially gaining Eddie's favor, Eddie who calls him Uncle Harvey. Despite initially saying that he doesn't want to impose, Harvey stays for dinner, stays overnight (in Eddie's bed, Eddie who has to sleep with Tom), for breakfast, overnight again... Tom wants to stop being gracious to Harvey, but can't stop being so. One evening, Harvey brings home two "loose" women to double date with Tom. Tom doesn't want to spend any time with Harvey let alone date anyone who is not mother/wife material. Tom uses Mrs. Livingston not being able to sit with Eddie as an excuse not to go out with Harvey and the girls. However, Mrs. Livingston as his excuse falls through, and Tom is forced to go out with Harvey, or else get exposed in a lie. Just as Tom is about to finally tell Harvey to leave for good, Harvey announces that his trip is coming to an end and graciously gives beautiful and meaningful gifts to Eddie, Mrs. Livingston and Tom for their hospitality. Harvey really is a friend, but one better kept at a distance.
Wed, Nov 26, 1969
Mrs. Livingston is unusually preoccupied with her thoughts, and not in a good way. Tom and Eddie learn what's bothering her: she failed her final English exam. She feels ashamed. She also feels she has brought disgrace to the Corbett household. Based on what Eddie's friend Paul saw on TV, Eddie is concerned that since Mrs. Livingston lost face, she might attempt hari-kari, or what Paul and Eddie call berry-berry. Eddie watches her every move and is concerned when she won't let him in the kitchen and is wielding a knife. Eddie, not knowing what to do, calls Tom at the office. Eddie speaks only to Tina since Tom is unavailable. Harried herself with work, Tina mistranslates to Tom Eddie's message of berry-berry and Mrs. Livingston wanting to kill herself into that there will be no berry pie tonight due to a disaster. Eddie is still worried even after Mrs. Livingston explains the knife and the reason for not letting him in the kitchen. Eddie needs the help of an adult and even tries to detain a stranger, who knocks on their apartment door by mistake. Mrs. Livingston finally understands why Eddie is so worried, and when Tom comes home, Tom tells Eddie that Mrs. Livingston would never commit hari-kari. Eddie shows Mrs. Livingston how much she means to their family, after which she regains "her face". After all is said and done, Mrs. Livingston passes the make-up exam.
Wed, Dec 3, 1969
Norman is working on a wedding themed story, which inspires Tina to want to get married, specifically to Norman. On the spur of the moment, she proposes to him. Norman is flabbergasted since they haven't dated and hardly even know each other. Tom thinks it's a nesting instinct in Tina coming through, but he also thinks it's Norman's fault for his off the cuffs "I adore you" and "I can't live without you" comments to Tina. Norman decides that if he says those things, he must really mean them. So he decides to marry Tina. Talk of weddings brings up questions from Eddie and very fond remembrances from Tom of Tom and Helen's engagement, wedding and early life. Eddie tells Tina and Norman about Tom and Helen's life. Tina then Norman finally realize that marriage will mean a whole-scale change in their lives, from dates every night at the Licorice Stick - a discotheque - to a house with a white picket fence and children. They decide to call off the wedding, but being the party people that they are, decide to hold the reception anyway.
Wed, Dec 17, 1969
Eddie is feeling left out in school. Eddie's teacher, Miss Lister - who is really Mrs. Rogall - is pregnant and the mothers of her students are planning a surprise party for her. Of course, Eddie does not have a mother. Miss Lister finds out about Eddie's troubles and the party when Eddie writes her a note stating that since he doesn't have a mother, the only thing he can provide for her party is his father. In fact, "Mrs. Tom Corbett" receives a letter asking for her assistance in the party. After conferring with Miss Lister, Tom does decide to become Eddie's mother for this function. The other mothers are reluctant to let Tom into the party organization because of his gender and his supposed inability to do motherly things, like make finger sandwiches, or what Eddie and Tom call fingertip sandwiches. But Tom, after refuting the statement by organizer Mrs. Harris that the party is not one for "the ladies" but rather for Miss Lister and her class, does join in and volunteers to make such sandwiches for the party. The other mothers still think that Tom will ruin everything for the party. Tom very well could as he has no idea what are in finger sandwiches nor does he want to enlist the help of a female, even the help of Mrs. Livingston, in making them. But seeing that the food is for the children, Tom takes his cue from the sandwiches that Eddie makes for himself. The results may not look pretty, but end up being a big hit not only among the children, but also Miss Lister and the mothers. The sandwiches consist of chopped hot dog, peanut butter, mayonnaise, pickles, chocolate, milk, jelly beans and chewing gum (although Tom lied about the pickles and milk). Tom later admits to Mrs. Livingston that the success of making the sandwiches was due to one important factor: taking a good hit of bourbon before starting.
Wed, Dec 24, 1969
Tom's sister-in-law, Kate, is in town for a visit. Eddie doesn't even know he has this aunt, Tom protecting him from memories of his mother who Kate strongly resembles physically. Tom thinks that family is family and decides to let Eddie meet his Aunt Kate. Kate may look like her sister, Tom's deceased wife Helen, but has a very flamboyant personality. In Tom's eyes, Kate is kooky and irresponsible. After Kate takes Eddie on an outing, Tom feels that Kate may not be the best influence on Eddie, especially since he thinks that Eddie's impressionable mind would think that kooky Kate is just like Helen. So Tom kindly asks Kate to leave for good. But after Tom witnesses a tender moment between Eddie and Kate and has his own remembrances of Helen, Tom changes his mind and realizes that family is important for Eddie. And most importantly, Eddie does have a clear distinction between his mother and his Aunt Kate.
Top-rated
Wed, Dec 31, 1969
Because Eddie's progress at reading is going slowly, Tom thinks a good solution is to get Eddie a library card. It does the trick as Eddie is enthralled both with his very own library card and by association the book he checked out with it. Tom tells Eddie that having a library card comes with some responsibility, which Eddie apparently forgets as the book becomes overdue. What's worse however is that he can't find the book. Eddie turns his room upside down to locate the book, but to no avail. Eddie's friend, Alice, tells Eddie that he's going to go to jail for losing the book. Since Tom is too busy when Eddie tries to tell him he lost the book, Eddie decides the right thing to do is to turn himself into the police. The news of this act obviously gets back to Tom, who has a heart to heart with Eddie about the lost book. But after all is said and done, Tom has two apologies to make to Eddie, first for not being available for Eddie during his time of need (when Eddie was trying to tell him about the missing book), and second because Tom actually was the one who mistakenly "lost" the book.