Wed, Jan 17, 1979
Tired of Tom's strict rules, Nancy, Susan, and Joannie look for an apartment of their own because Tom has trouble accepting that his daughters are growing up. David buys a new truck and agrees to sell Tommy his van. Tom is upset when Abby loans the girls the money to get their own apartment.
Wed, Jan 24, 1979
Abby's mother lands on the Bradfords' doorstep after leaving her husband; a rent increase forces Susan, Joannie and Nancy to return home; Nicholas grapples with learning to sleep in his own room; Tom's station wagon becomes a magnet for parking tickets every time one of the kids borrows it.
Wed, Jan 31, 1979
A torrential downpour causes a power outage across Sacramento, trapping Tom and Abby in an elevator, leaving Nancy stranded at work, and causing imaginations to run wild at home -- especially after a knock on the door from a stranger who bears an uncanny resemblance to Norman Bates in "Psycho."
Wed, May 2, 1979
A kitchen sink pipe failure plunges the family into chaos while dealing with the pressures of finals week; Nancy sympathizes with a brainiac Elizabeth is using to help her pass algebra; Tom's column about passing the torch to the younger generation results in a picket line of protesting seniors outside the Bradford house.
Wed, May 9, 1979
Tom sells a short story, but his elation turns to mortification when the publication turns out to be a stag magazine; David and Janet no sooner announce their engagement than they begin seeing the pitfalls of wedded life, ultimately leading David to break off the engagement and take off on a cross-country road trip.
Wed, May 9, 1979
On his odyssey to Santa Fe, David befriends Dutch, a veteran hang glider, who entices him to take flight on his own. When no experienced test pilots will fly Dutch's untried prototype in a local competition, David contemplates taking the risk to prevent the older man from doing harm to himself.
Wed, May 23, 1979
Elizabeth's part in a senior prank gets her barred from attending graduation, just as Tom is asked to deliver the commencement speech; Joannie faces an uncertain future as she approaches college graduation, which leads to a blowout with Abby; Tommy agonizes over cutting his hair for a summer lifeguard position.
Wed, Sep 5, 1979
Susan captures the attention of a minor league baseball player; Nicholas is in the throes of puppy love with a girl on his little league team whose family is planning to move; Tom trades in his sedan for a new car; Tommy conspires to get a sneak peek at a blind date for an upcoming dance.
Wed, Oct 31, 1979
Three Bradfords struggle to meet the expectations of others: Nicholas turns truant to escape the long shadow of his siblings; Tom's boss pressures him to participate in a father-son golf tournament; Nancy feels compelled to date a stockbroker uniquely positioned to help David's slumping business.