New York writer Tom grew up an only child and is a loner by nature. He's a man who takes pride in refusing to learn the names of his neighbors. But his life is destined for change when he marries Susan, a gregarious social butterfly from the Midwest. Tom loves the big city, but Susan longs for something more, so Tom promises her that when he sells his first book, they'll move wherever she wants. Well, he sells one and has to make good – the couple moves to Kansas City to be near her large and close-knit family. And what a family it is!
CreatorTom Hertz
Pilot
Oct 3, 2003
Tom and Susan, newly transplanted to Kansas City, are invited over for dinner and game night. The reserved Tom, terrified at the prospect of being thrown in feet first with such a tight-knit group of people, begs Susan to decline the invitation. But, of course, she accepts and soon Tom finds himself thrust into the close-knit Kelly clan – complete with game-playing, dinner-song-singing and collective corn-shucking, and initiated into the dreaded "doghouse system."
Barbecue
Oct 10, 2003
After Tom loses a taco-eating contest to the Kelly men, he tries to prove his machismo by hosting a barbeque – but he can't assemble his new grill and Susan can't cook.
Lewis May Have a Girlfriend
Oct 17, 2003
Tom meets a girl in a clothing store and decides to set her up with his socially awkward brother-in-law Lewis. The date seems to go well until Lewis reveals to Tom that he already has a girlfriend.
Corrupting Chris
Oct 24, 2003
Tom tries to convince Chris that the family is taking advantage of his overly-helpful generousity and decides to loosen him up by taking him golfing. Eventually Tom's plan to make his brother-in-law less helpful and more laidback backfires when the family starts to rely on Tom to takeover all of Chris' chores.
Tom Makes a Friend
Oct 31, 2003
When Tom meets fellow New Yorker Bob they instantly become best friends but the same can't be said when their wives meet. Susan tells Tom that Bob's wife was a girl that Mary and she hated back in high school. Meanwhile, Dave talks Chris into betting on a football game behind Mary's back.
Awkward Silence
Nov 7, 2003
Tom feels awkward around Bill because he thinks that they don't have anything in common. Meanwhile, Mary and Chris prepare to compete in an annual folk-dancing contest.
The New Car
Nov 14, 2003
Sandy isn't happy when Tom and Susan buy a small car because it means that they're not thinking about starting a family any time soon.
The Apartment
Nov 21, 2003
Susan finds out that Tom is still renting their old New York apartment after Lewis decides to skip Thanksgiving dinner with the family so that he can take a trip to the Big Apple.
Susan's Secret
Nov 28, 2003
Tom becomes so preoccupied with getting Chris a great present for his birthday and trying to impress the family at the birthday party that he inadvertantly reveals something about Susan that she didn't want her family to know about.
A Kelly Carol
Dec 12, 2003
Tom and Susan are obliged to stay overnight at the Kellys' on Christmas Eve to help with Sandy's frantic Christmas preparations, and Sandy has to face her first Christmas without her mother.
Tom Doesn't Get It
Jan 9, 2004
Tom breaks a promise to join Susan and her family for dinner and instead goes drinking with the gas utility man.
Who's Pants are Smarter?
Jan 23, 2004
The rivalry between Tom and Mary heats up when he shows her up at her own award presentation and is invited to be a guest speaker at her university. Meanwhile, Lewis decides that it is time for a name change so he asks everyone to start calling him Lew.
The Contractor
Jan 30, 2004
Tom wants to turn a storage room into his own private sanctuary so he hires a contractor named Mike after meeting the man's parents, who are good friends of the Kellys, only to learn that his work is suffering due to his failed marriage. Meanwhile, Mary is feeling guilty because she never told Chris that she dated Mike in high school.
A Portrait of Susan
Feb 13, 2004
Tom notices that his new doctor, Jim Coglan, has an old portrait of Susan up in his office and discovers that the man was actually a childhood friend of Susan's who used to hang out on a tree outside of her window. Meanwhile, Bill tries to get his old lucky sweater back from Lewis who seems to have fallen in love with it.
Lewis Turns Twenty-Fun
Feb 20, 2004
Tom discovers that the family is throwing Lewis a childish birthday party in honor of his 21st birthday so he convinces Chris to treat the birthday boy to a night of guys-only partying. Meanwhile, Susan finds out that her new job as a restaurant hostess may cause her to miss her brother's birthday entirely.
Double Dating
Feb 27, 2004
Tom wants to socialize with couples other than Mary and Chris, so Susan – who has a history of disastrous set-ups – secretly sets up his friend, Bob, at Mary's Oscar viewing party.
Chris and Mary Fight
Mar 5, 2004
Mary moves in with Tom and Susan after she has a fight with Chris. Meanwhile, Lewis invites his girlfriend over for dinner.
Talk Radio
Mar 12, 2004
Mary sets up a talk-radio interview for Tom to brag about the Kellys. But when the bitter talk show host twists Tom's every Kelly compliment, the entire community turns against Tom.
The Other Sister
Mar 19, 2004
When Susan's sister, Lisa, comes home after studying abroad, Tom finds himself back in the doghouse when he supports her decision to quit school and backpack around Europe. Meanwhile Lisa's gay roommate, Shannon, seems to pay a lot of attention to Mary – which makes Susan jealous.
The Plan
Mar 26, 2004
Chris loses his job but doesn't tell Mary, Susan worries that she and Tom have no long-term financial plan, and Lewis decides to move out after Bill asks him to pay rent.
The Good Son-in-Law
Apr 16, 2004
Chris borrows money from Tom to start his own house-refurbishing business, and Tom is offered a job ghostwriting a book for a famous football player.
Kansas v. Tom's Parents
Apr 23, 2004
Tom's pretentious parents from New York attend Bill and Sandy Kelly's anniversary party in Kansas, and Chris refuses to sell the house he just refurbished.
