Tue, Sep 17, 2002
In the Pilot episode, Cate decides to return back to work while Paul tends with the family. Paul discovers that his oldest daughter, Bridget, is dating his co-worker's Tommy's son Kyle. Paul sees that Kyle might hurt his daughter's heart, and gives Kyle a little talk about the way he feels. Kerry, Paul's second daughter, is suspended from school for ditching school.
Tue, Oct 1, 2002
Paul gets angry at Bridget for spending too much money on fashion, and tells her to find a job to learn more about money responsibility. Bridget gets a job at a local clothing store. Bridget receives a 40% discount off merchandise for being an employee of the store. She abuses the discount and overspends and receives no money on her first paycheck.
Tue, Oct 15, 2002
Paul is upset when he walks in on Bridget and Kyle alone on the couch, unaware that they are in the process of breaking up. He then walks upstairs and finds Kerry alone with her study partner Guy. Kerry is annoyed when Paul remarks that he doesn't have to worry about Kerry alone in a bedroom like he does Bridget. Later that night, Rory informs Paul that Bridget is out past curfew on a date with some basketball player. After realizing that Bridget's date is none other than Travis Smith, AKA "The Rainman" - one of the best high-school basketball point guards in the state - Paul agrees to let Bridget skip the once-sacred 'family movie night' to go out with Travis. She continues to see him throughout the week staying out later and later each night. It soon becomes clear that Bridget has been manipulating the situation, while Kerry is now a young woman not an innocent little girl.
Tue, Oct 29, 2002
Paul is looking forward to a traditional family Halloween, but the kids have each made plans of their own. A saddened and dejected Paul announces that he's retiring his man-with-ax-in-head costume and is done with holiday. For his final Halloween request, he asks the family to have one last campout in the treehouse. The event turns into a disaster. The kids fight and Cate doesn't enjoy the experience either. Paul finally gives in and lets everyone leave. While he and Cate look at all of the memories that fill the treehouse, Kyle appears, attempting to sneak out with Bridget.
Tue, Nov 5, 2002
Paul and Cate come home to find Rory rolled up in a carpet in the living room. Bridget and Kerry are punished for what they did to their brother. Later on, the doorbell rings and Paul answers it to meet Anthony, a white kid acting and dressing ghetto. Anthony asks for Bridget and Kerry in a ghetto lingo unfamiliar to Paul who slams the door on him. Cate discovers Paul is reading a parenting book - Paul says he's tired of always being the bad guy and reveals some of what he has learned from reading the first five chapters. Later on, Rory comes to Paul claiming to have helped out with the laundry and having conveniently found a fliers for an extreme rock concert in Bridget's pocket and under Kerry's bed, which he feels he needs to show Paul. Rory tells Paul that the concert is the same night the girls' sleepovers are planned...
Tue, Nov 12, 2002
It's Friday night and everyone is home. Paul has just kicked Kyle out of the house leaving Bridget home for the night. Kerry is unusually happy because a boy she is interested in, Jason, asked her out but Paul won't let her date yet because she is not old enough. To take advantage of the whole family being together, Paul decides they should all go out to a movie. Back at home later that night, Bridget announces she is going out with Parker, a boy she met in the food court who works at a cool clothing store. Paul is happy to see Kyle out of the picture. Cate talks Paul into letting Kerry go on her date. Jason comes over the house to pick up Kerry and a protective Paul lays down the law to an intimidated Jason. Later that week, Bridget and Kerry complain to each other about their situations: Kerry is confused about why Jason doesn't call her at home, but still talks to her at school. Bridget feels guilty about what she did to Kyle and really misses him.
Tue, Nov 19, 2002
Paul announces to the family that he wants to go to the cabin on the lake for their annual family vacation. No one else is happy about the location or spending two weeks together. Paul challenges everyone in the family to give up a bad habit for a week and the winner gets to choose the vacation spot. Paul can't use the TV remote control, Cate gives up drinking coffee, Bridget can't talk on the phone, Kerry has to curb her sarcasm, and Rory must stop telling tales on his sisters. They all try to trick each other into doing their bad habits, but it's not working. Bridget and Cate form an alliance and continue drinking coffee and talking on the phone in the laundry room. Rory finds out but cannot tell on them because then he will lose.
Tue, Nov 26, 2002
Paul wants to have a quiet Thanksgiving with just the family. Kerry comes downstairs with boyfriend Jason and irritates her father. Paul reinforces the rule about no boys upstairs when Bridget comes in from the basement with Kyle. At Paul's workplace, Paul and Tommy discuss the rudeness of new editor Nick Sharp. Nick shows up and meets Paul. The two hit it off because they are both dads of teenage daughters. Bridget and Kerry tell Paul that he is overprotective of them and he needs to stop being a "psycho dad" like Nick. Paul decides to get to know the girls' boyfriends, Kyle and Jason, a little better and lets them stay for Thanksgiving dinner.
Tue, Dec 10, 2002
Paul decides that he is going to make this Christmas the best one ever. As he and Cate decorate the Christmas tree the kids tell him what they want for Christmas. Rory wants a motorcycle, Bridget wants to be with Kyle on Christmas Eve, and Kerry wants to keep a lost puppy that she just found wandering in the street. Paul wants to win the brightest lights competition in the neighborhood, but it seems like the neighbors are winning.
Tue, Dec 17, 2002
Kerry and Bridget are sitting in the living room reading. Paul, Rory and his friend Sabrina and enter the house after playing basketball. Sabrina thanks Paul for the ride home. After she leaves, Paul reprimands Rory for teasing Sabrina. The girls find this amusing and begin to tease Rory about his new girlfriend. Cate comes in with the mail which contains Bridget and Kerry's state aptitude test results. Kerry opens hers first and proudly announces that she got an eighty-eight. Then Bridget opens her envelope and screams out that she received a ninety-two, beating her extremely brainy sister. Kerry is annoyed. Rory, later that evening, comes to Bridget and Kerry to ask how he should ask Sabrina out.