Getting By

Dolores' oldest son, Marcus, is depressed because he must repeat the ninth grade, but Cathy cheers him up.

Marcus meets a cute girl in Julie's ballet class and joins the class to be close to her. Embarrassed, he tries to keep his dancing activities a secret from the family.

Cathy invites Dolores and her sons to her family's nice cabin in the woods, but the woods and the cabin turn out to be a nightmare.

Marcus tells his girlfriend that they can date other people but is angry when she spends an evening with Darren. Nikki is reunited with an old boyfriend who has lost his sexy physique. Cathy gets drunk at a party.

Darren must attend an honorary banquet for winning an essay contest. Cathy teaches him the social graces, but he learns too well, inventing an impressive family background to make a good impression and belittling the memory of his father.

Nikki gets a job in a dress shop and spends more on clothes for herself than she can pay for on her salary.

Dolores thinks she has a second problem child when Marcus lets Darren take the blame for a dangerous prank.

Dolores wants to enter a gospel competition. Her sons refuse to sing with her and Julie has a panic attack, so Cathy becomes her singing partner.

Marcus and Darren quarrel with a bully at school. Trouble really starts when Cathy punches the bully's father.

Dolores begins dating a handsome football coach. But Darren and Marcus are upset because he is their strict physical education teacher.

Cathy's plans to have the entire household spend time together at home meet with resistance from the others.

Cathy and Dolores quarrel at work. Marcus and Nikki decide to keep them angry at each other so they won't attend Parents' Night at school and learn about their children's misbehavior.

Marcus overlooks other girls to get the most popular one to ask him to the dance. Meanwhile the mothers are going to be escorts for the dance.

Cathy gets in trouble after writing a letter to the President of the United States.

Marcus tries to fake his report card grades.

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During a Halloween party at home, Dolores gets stuck in a box while helping Cathy perform a magic trick.

Marcus admires his new friend, Smoke, for his sexual exploits, until Smoke decides his next conquest will be Nikki.

When Cathy loses her job, Dolores believes the way to end Cathy's depression is for her to meet her idols, The Temptations.

Marcus gambles away his money playing pinball and Cathy must try to win it back.

Cathy, Dolores and Julie help Nikki with her job at a fast food restaurant when Marcus and Darren undermine her efficiency.

Cathy, Dolores and her boyfriend, Wes, are forced to hide on the balcony of a corporate apartment when Wes' married boss unexpectedly arrives with a girlfriend.

When Cathy invests her life savings in a ""miracle"" product, Dolores is suspicious. Marcus borrows a camera to video embarrassing family incidents for a TV show.

When Marcus fails to pass his driving test, Dolores is convinced he'll steal her car to take a girl out on a date.

When Darren and Marcus' girlfriend, Yolanda, are cast in the lead roles in the school play, Marcus gets jealous. Cathy is romantically interested in the drama teacher, Niles.

When Cathy's purse is stolen, Marcus and Darren impersonate girls in order to trap the thief.

After Dolores stops dating her boyfriend, Wes, she meets a billionaire and must choose between love or money.

When Marcus wants to move out on his own, Dolores puts him in the garage.

Marcus plays practical jokes on substitute teacher Cathy.

Cathy tries to discourage an infatuated suitor.

Dolores' cousin Herbert comes to Chicago to become a professional boxer -- until Cathy discovers that he is also a talented cellist.