Brotherly Love

September 15, 1996

The boys fend for themselves when Claire goes to a spa for the weekend.

September 22, 1996

Perched at a bar on his twenty-first birthday, Joe reminisces about his dad and about turning sixteen, while at home Claire and the gang plan what they hope will be a nifty surprise party.

September 29, 1996

Claire has butterflies as she prepares for a first date. So do Matt and Andy, who fear that a newcomer will replace their dad.

October 6, 1996

Joe and Lou agree to be just friends and date others, but Joe fumes when Lou dates someone he doesn't know. He then unwittingly asks out Lou's best friend.

October 13, 1996

Both Joey and Matt ask Andy's new babysitter for a date.

October 20, 1996

The boys' lovable grandpa Big Mike rolls into town in a big rig and for a time endears himself to Joe with some promises he can't keep.

November 3, 1996

Lloyd's RV-driving mom visits as Joe is pushing to enter Andy in a pine-box derby to prevent a business rival's son from beating Matt's previous winning record.

November 10, 1996

Andy figures he won't get into any more trouble in school if Joe dates his teacher. Claire meets a potential date at the supermarket. Psychology student Matt fears he may have obsessive-compulsive disorder.

November 17, 1996

Joe regrets the path his life has taken after running into a once-unpopular classmate who's now headed for rock stardom.

November 24, 1996

Andy's excited about wearing his wilderness badge from the Young Pioneers, but his enthusiasm is dampened when a storm cancels his planned camping trip.

December 8, 1996

A merciless driver's-ed teacher may have Matt's future in mind when he passes out grades, but Joe has only revenge in mind when he rallies Matt, Lloyd and Lou in a payback prank on the man.

December 8, 1996

Lloyd quits the garage to fulfill his dreams after he sees a self-help video.

January 12, 1997

Even Joe agrees with Claire that the new girl in Matt's life seems to be out of his league, frequenting after-hour rave parties and drinking.

January 19, 1997

Matt's new girlfriend wants him to get a tattoo.

February 2, 1997

Joe is reunited with old friend Nell Bascombe.

February 9, 1997

Matt hopes to reinvent himself for a newcomer visiting her grandfather in the neighborhood; Andy fears getting hit by a comet.

February 16, 1997

Kristin gets Matt a job at a music store, but his future there looks bleak when the manager collars a shoplifter.

February 23, 1997

Joe helps Lou carry her art work to a gallery when the daughter's owner mistakes him for the artist. Also, Matt takes up playing the guitar & wants to write a song.

March 30, 1997

Romance is in the air at the pizza parlor as Matt's co-worker falls for Joe and Andy falls for a young girl who doesn't think his jokes are funny.

April 20, 1997

Andy becomes Joe's good luck charm on a trip to Atlantic City. Meanwhile, bad luck crashes the scene when Matt throws his first big party.

April 27, 1997

Joe moves in for the kill after Matt claims he's just friends with Kristin; an ice-cream vendor is a real treat for Andy and Claire.

May 4, 1997

Matt and Joe nearly come to fisticuffs over Kristin, who's unable to handle the truth when she hears it; and Lou receives an e-mail message from an admirer.

May 11, 1997

Mother's Day brings a surprise visit from Joe's hippie mom, who's pregnant and married to an aura-photographer.

May 18, 1997

Julia returns hoping to strike up a relationship with Matt again, but his friends aren't part of her plans. Meanwhile, Andy sells his childhood at a garage sale.