David meets an attractive young woman who is the daughter of a wealthy construction man. Joannie tries to get the family to communicate better using encounter-like truth games. While helping Nicholas build a coaster car, Bradford takes over completely.
This often comical, always touching, drama stars Dick Van Patten as the father of eight very independent and different children. Together, this close-knit family faces the hardships and challenges of the ups and downs of everyday life in a family of ten. Guest stars include Robin Williams, Rosanna Arquette and Ralph Macchio.
Bradford learns a lesson about parental pressure when Tommy, trying to please him, buys a term paper from a high school hustler.
To keep Abby awake after an accident, the family takes turns telling stories, which are flashbacks from previous episodes.
Abby and Tom go for a visit to her parents. While they are away, the house is overrun with chaos and the kids barely manage to get things back in order before Tom and Abby return.
David meets an attractive young woman who is the daughter of a wealthy construction man. Joannie tries to get the family to communicate better using encounter-like truth games. While helping Nicholas build a coaster car, Bradford takes over completely.
Susan brings a boy home for dinner and gets jealous over his working with Abby. Nicholas is appointed water commissioner at home and gets fired for being too tough.
Joannie, Susan, and Nancy meet three guys at a disco and love times three drives the Bradford household crazy. David is fixed up with a blind date who turns out to be his sister, Mary, and Tommy is trying to win tickets to a rock concert.
Tom is drafted into doing a "Dear Abby" column for the paper. Abby decides to stay at home more and drives everyone, including herself, a little crazy trying to be a Betty Crocker type.
Tom has garbage trouble and writes a tongue-in-cheek column. That's when his troubles start to pile up... along with his garbage.
The Bradfords celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. Tommy receives a very special gift.Christmas episodeSecond part of a two-part episode.
Christmas is temporarily put on hold in the Bradford house when the family's presents are stolen.Christmas episodeFirst part of a two-part episode
Tom's eccentric sister comes to town and decides that the Bradfords need a new home. The kids are excited, but as they fix up the house for sale they begin to fall in love with it again.
The son of Tom's wartime buddy comes to Sacramento to set up a new R.O.T.C., which does not please Mary's liberal anti-war feelings. Over the course of time, they learn to respect each other's beliefs. Nicholas has problems with a bully, and another of Tommy's money making schemes backfires.
Off to San Francisco for a combination honeymoon and acceptance of an award for his column, Tom also finds that the kids wrangle their way along -- and the chaos begins.
Joannie is offered a role in a Shakespearean play for the same night that Abby is going to tell her ex-father-in-law of her plans to marry Tom. Tom buys an engagement ring through one of David's friends.
Tom proposes to Abby after she and Mary are able to work out their difficulties over Mary's running for the school board. Abby accepts Tom's proposal.
David takes a roommate who romances both Joannie and Susan. Tom drives Nicholas crazy with over-attention, and Tommy organizes a garage sale.
Abby is now guest staring in the role of Sue Abby Abbott who comes to help tutor Tommy who has broken his foot and has to miss school. Don Johnson guest stars.
Doctor Maxwell moves in after a fight with his wife and drives the family crazy with his fussy ways. David tries to raise money to cover a bad check he wrote at a poker game.
Tom's dentist challenges the family to a touch football game.
Joanie has a fender-bender with a real estate developer who is already upset with the Bradford's column opposing his project. Meanwhile, Elizabeth goes from three prom dates to none when they all show up at the same time.
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