Plot Summary
A middle-class household navigating the challenges of raising teenagers in a rapidly changing world. Paul Hennessy, a protective and often overbearing father, works from home as a columnist, which gives him plenty of time to closely monitor the lives of his children. His wife Cate, a more composed and practical partner, balances Paul’s intensity while managing her own career and responsibilities. The family dynamic revolves largely around their three children: Bridget, the attractive and somewhat naive eldest daughter; Kerry, her intelligent and more grounded younger sister; and Rory, their mischievous younger brother.
Much of the early storylines focus on Paul’s struggle to accept that his daughters are growing up, particularly when it comes to dating. His humorous yet strict approach to parenting often leads to awkward and exaggerated situations, especially when he attempts to enforce his “rules” for teenage behavior. As the series develops, it moves beyond lighthearted family comedy into more emotionally grounded storytelling. The family faces an unexpected and devastating loss that fundamentally changes their lives. This turning point forces each member of the Hennessy family to confront grief in their own way, reshaping their relationships and responsibilities. Cate steps into a stronger leadership role within the household, balancing discipline with emotional support as she helps her children adjust to their new reality.
Bridget begins to mature, gradually taking on more responsibility and developing a deeper understanding of herself and her family. Kerry continues to navigate adolescence with intelligence and sensitivity, often acting as a stabilizing presence. Rory, though still comedic, also experiences moments of growth as he learns to cope with change and loss. The series explores how a family rebuilds itself after tragedy while maintaining a sense of humor and connection. New dynamics emerge as extended family members become more involved, offering both support and additional challenges. The household evolves into a space where love, conflict, and resilience coexist, highlighting the complexity of family life.
Meet the Cast
Info & Stats
Creator: Tracy Gamble
Categories: Comedy, Drama
Stars:
Katey Sagal, Kaley Cuoco, Amy Davidson
Age: PG
Episode Duration: 22m
Watch the Trailer
All information, images and videos are credited to:
Internet Movie Database | The Movie Database | The Tv Database | The Poster Database | Wikipedia | YouTube
All information, images and videos are credited to:
Internet Movie Database | The Movie Database | The Tv Database | The Poster Database | Wikipedia | YouTube
Season 1
Episode List

When Cate goes back to work, Paul has trouble dealing with his daughters' burgeoning interest in boys.

Paul's plan to watch an important football game is put on hold when Bridget is accused of shoplifting.

Bridget gets a job at a mall clothing store to learn fiscal responsibility, but she can't resist the employee discount.

Paul makes excuses to keep Bridget from taking her driver's test; when Paul encourages Kerry to enter an art competition, her submission is rejected.

Paul eases up on the rules when Bridget dates a boy whose father is a baseball legend.

Kerry is chosen over Bridget for a spot on the cheerleading team; Paul tries to switch Rory's attention from video games to books.

Paul wants to relive the past with one last family camp-out in the old treehouse for Halloween, but it might turn into a nightmare.

Turning to a parenting book for advice backfires on Paul when Bridget and Kerry discover it and turn it to their advantage.

Paul advises Bridget to tell Kyle the truth about her date with another boy; Kerry is dismayed when her dream date does not call her back.

Each of the Hennesseys gives up a bad habit for a week in a contest to determine who gets to pick the family vacation.

Paul discovers he has a lot in common with his new editor; Paul forbids the girls inviting their boyfriends to Thanksgiving Day dinner.

Paul searches for perfect Christmas gifts for his family; Cate's church asks her to sing a solo at midnight Mass.

Paul proudly permits Rory to go out on his first date, prompting the girls to accuse him of having a double-standard because they weren't allowed to date when they were 13.

Paul and Cate are shocked when they're called into the principal's office and told Bridget wants to go to beauty school.

After a breakup, Kerry goes to a party. Kerry is shocked when a spark goes off between her and Kyle and the two share a romantic kiss. Meanwhile at home, Paul and Cate try to discover what is hidden in Rory's secret box.

Bridget gives Kerry the silent treatment after she learns her sister kissed Kyle at a party; Paul has a nightmare about Kyle and his daughters.

Paul lets Bridget learn to play the drums. She later defies her father's rules and dates her drum instructor, Ben.

Defying her dad, Bridget takes the car and follows her older boyfriend (guest star Nick Carter) to his college dorm.

Frustrated with the unsupervised parties Bridget and Kerry have been attending, Paul decides to chaperone a party for his daughters and their friends, but falls asleep while chaperoning.

A security camera catches Paul in the act of stealing something from a race car driver's home.

Kerry decides to videotape Bridget for a school project to show that life is easier for "beautiful people."

Kerry and Bridget are caught partying on the evening news while the family is vacationing at Cate's parent's home in Florida. The news also runs an archived video that features a young Cate, who is very drunk at a bar.

Paul's parental duties increase when Cate has to spend more time at the hospital; Rory is introduced to the hobby of baseball card collecting.

Paul crashes a co-worker's poker game to socialize with his boss; Bridget tries to break up her ex-boyfriend and her nemesis.

After Bridget begrudgingly mothers a sack of flour for school, she notices her "baby" is mysteriously losing weight.

Neighbors invite the Hennessy clan to take part in their daughter's wedding.

Paul invites Cate's sister Maggie to visit when he learns of her marital troubles; Bridget's sudden maturity impresses Paul and Cate.

Cate's sister Maggie alarms her by getting a sexy makeover and giving Bridget a water bra; Paul discovers an empty pregnancy kit.
Season 2
Episode List

Bridget's popularity wanes, while Kerry's social status soars; Cate waits for the results of her pregnancy test, while the others gripe about how disruptive a baby would be.

Bridget is dismayed when the sex-education teacher turns out to be Cate; Kerry is a changed person since she starting dating Kyle.

The Doyles are shocked when Bridget breaks up with Donny in a video message.

Cate's parents console her and the children, as they grieve over the loss of beloved family patriarch Paul.

Cate's parents help console their daughter and grandchildren as they cope with the loss of family patriarch Paul.

Cate is unprepared for Bridget and Kerry's reactions to their first day back to school following their father's death.

Cate urges Rory to try out for the basketball team because it would have made his father proud; the sisters manage to refrain from fighting until Bridget accidentally destroys Kerry's collage honoring Paul.

Cate plans to raise the family spirits with a special Thanksgiving dinner; Bridget and Kerry plan to attend a party with their boyfriends during Thanksgiving.

Bridget lands the lead in a high-school play about Anne Frank's life, but she is not sure whether she can act; Rory becomes obsessed with a dummy named Skeevy.

Cate orders Kerry, Rory and Jim join the YMCA; Rory falls for a yoga instructor; Jim punches a man for making a lewd remark about Bridget.

Cate's wrongheaded nephew C.J. turns the household upside-down when he comes to pay his respects to Paul.

Rory steals a police dog to make a name for himself at school, then the dog sniffs out marijuana in Kerry's bag; Bridget refuses to wear a helmet while riding on her boyfriend's motorcycle.

Bridget's friends suspect she is falling for her shy, brainy tutor; Kyle indulges in old-fashioned romance on St. Valentine's Day; Jim sends C.J. on an errand that takes him to Canada.

Bridget flirts with her brainy tutor, but he seems more intrigued by her debate-team rival; Cate forces Jim to share his basement room with C.J.

Bridget examines her feelings for Jeremy and ex-boyfriend Damian; a ban on provocative dancing at the high-school formal vexes Kerry; Jim falls for a PTA member.

The family therapist encourages Cate to pursue her dream of becoming a singer. Connie Stevens also guest stars.

Kerry might have to fire her grandfather for treating customers with disdain at the fast-food restaurant; C.J. busts Bridget for sneaking into a movie without paying; Cate catches Rory selling worthless items on the Internet.

The girls see Cate at a saloon with a stranger while visiting their grandmother; Kerry learns of Rory's crush on her friend.

The girls blow off their trip to their grandmother's in order to sort out their feelings about Cate and Artie; Rachel confesses her true feelings to Rory.

Cate banishes C.J. and grounds Bridget for going to C.J.'s college keg party; Jim has to take a written drivers exam after being pulled over with an expired license.

Bridget and Kerry try to set up a special Mother's Day surprise for suspicious Cate; Jim falls in love with a classic car and decides to try to fix it.

Bridget gets in trouble at school, prompting a meeting between Cate and Principal Gibb (Adam Arkin), who turns out be an old schoolmate.

Cate has to deal with Principal Gibb again when she forgets to turn in a health form for Kerry's trip to Europe.

Cate tries to set the record straight with Principal Gibb over coffee but the girls are convinced it's a date.
Season 3
Episode List

Bridget breaks up with Kyle for Kerry; the principal offers Cate the position of school nurse; Rory does not want to hit the showers after gym class.

The children question Cate's motives when she changes her hair and buys a new bed; Kerry's summer fling makes Bridget envious.

Bridget and Kerry believe Cate took the job as school nurse so she could spy on them; a private conversation becomes public when Cate accidentally switches on the public address system.

Kerry is livid when Bridget mocks her art project at the mall, but she forgets her ire when a hot young artist asks her out; C.J. finds himself striking out at speed-dating, while Jim discovers he is a hit with women.

Cate gives Bridget and Kerry the keys to the minivan in exchange for driving Rory where he needs to go.

Bridget, as part of her duties as student-body president plans the school's Halloween party despite Kerry's misgivings.

Bridget develops a crush on the tennis coach, who has a crush on Cate; Kerry and Rory question the veracity of Jim's war stories.

Rory refuses to reveal the identity of the bully who has been beating him up at school, prompting principal Gibb to tell Cate.

The family decides to prepare Thanksgiving dinner to give Cate a break; Cate brings home an unexpected guest.

When Jim learns that his old flame is the woman who rejected Bridget for a car commercial, he tries to persuade her to reconsider.

Bridget's grades jeopardize her chance to play tennis in front of a Princeton scout and Cate's interference only proves Kerry's point that Bridget is always getting the easy way out.

The Hennessy household bends over backward to keep C.J. from spending Christmas alone in Las Vegas; Rory decides to break up with his wealthy girlfriend rather than buy her a substandard gift.

C.J. is hired to be a substitute teacher and catches Rory cheating, but Cate tries to persuade him not to report it.

Cate finds herself becoming jealous of Principal Gibb's new girlfriend, while C.J. finds himself the target of her affections.

Cate, fed up with the demands of family, takes off with her college flame, Matt, and relives her adventurous past.

Cate and CJ discover Kerry has been emailing Bruno, the boy she met in Europe. What they don't know is that she invited him to stay, and he's living in the attic.

Cate's alleged antics at Kerry's volleyball game threaten to make her team forfeit the match. Guest star Gabrielle Reece.

After watching the movie Freaky Friday, everyone but Kerry wakes up in a different body. Kerry finds the whole thing amusing.

Cheryl comes back into C.J.'s life just as he finds true love, and on Valentine's Day she presents him with a temptation almost too great to resist.

C.J.'s father, a motivational speaker, comes to town to reunite with his son, but when he uses the reunion to spark book sales, C.J. must make a decision.

When Cate decides to throw a school-sanctioned party after the prom, she only succeeds in embarrassing her kids.

C.J. is bullied out of the teacher's lounge by the school's overzealous home economics instructor; Rory gets a makeover to impress a girl.

When Principal Gibb and Cate fall asleep watching a movie, the family sees them and automatically assumes that they are having a relationship.

C.J. spills the beans to Bridget when he realizes Cate may be starting a relationship with Principal Gibb, and Cate gets even by assigning C.J. to take charge of the students detained on Ditch Day.