George and Tom get into an argument over who's in better shape, so to prove who actually is, George and Tom agree to run in a marathon through Central Park.

Tom and Helen are enjoying their vacation in Hawaii, while Florence is back home wanting to take a vacation. This leads Louise to buy her a plane ticket to Hawaii. Meanwhile, George visits his doctor and learns that he must lower his blood pressure so he decides to take a vacation to Hawaii with Louise.

George, Louise and Florence arrive in Hawaii and discover that Tom and Helen have decided to stay a few more days. Meanwhile, George begins to work on lowering his blood pressure which leads him to decide that he wants to sell his business and move to Hawaii.

George begins to get involved in the investment plan that would allow him and Louise to live in Hawaii and begins hinting to her that that's what he wants to do. Meanwhile, a sailing trip goes awry when Tom and George get lost.

After their boat tips over, George and Tom wash ashore on another part of the island. George and Tom are aided by some friendly islanders who will have to leave their home due to a development project, which happens to be the project which George is considering to invest in, which would keep him in Hawaii.

Helen and Jenny talk a hesitant Louise into going to a male strip club but when George forbids her to go she's all for it. Unknown the Louise, Helen and Jenny, George and Tom follow the girls to the club where George concocts a plan that involves themselves showing some skin.

Florence's cousin, Ernie, comes to town and pays Florence a visit. He quickly asks her for $1000 and Florence doesn't hesitate to ask George. However, George is convinced Ernie's a crook, and Florence will do anything to prove him wrong.

Lionel and Jenny are both dead set against entering baby Jessica in a baby contest much to George and Louise's dismay. However, one afternoon when Lionel and Jenny leave Jessica in George and Louise's care, they secretly sneak off to enter Jessica in the contest but in the process misplace her instead.

When Tom sprains his ankle, Louise and Helen coerce George into dressing up as Santa down at the Help Center. However, George gets carried away with holiday cheer and promises all the kids that they will get "anything" they want for Christmas.

Wanting to do something more with her life, Florence tries writing a soap opera script using the 'Who Shot J.R.' storyline on "Dallas" as a basis, with George portraying the evil, greedy leading role.

George is ecstatic when he is chosen to guest star on a talk show to discuss Americanism. However, his chance at appearing on the show is up in the air when the host learns that George is sponsoring a Cuban refugee.

George and a rival cleaner are competing against each other in a bowling league. When his star bowler gets sick, George is reluctant to have Tom take his place, especially since Tom has only bowled a couple of times when he was 10 years old.

A childhood friend of James' arrives for a visit and quickly his gambling problem becomes an Evans family problem when two hoods show up looking for him to pay off a $5000 debt. Meanwhile, with a houseguest, J.J., Michael and James must learn to share the pull out couch in the living room.

Florida thinks it's strange that she has never met the often talked about Henrietta, J.J.'s girlfriend. So when she calls the Evans home, Florida invites her over for dinner. Meanwhile, J.J. makes an announcement that he has been thinking of asking Henrietta to marry him. This sends shockwaves through the Evans household, but things really get touchy when Henrietta shows up at the door, pregnant.

While Florida is away in Cleveland for a family funeral, the Evans' family is hit with a double dose of unemployment blues after both James and J.J. lose their jobs. James' boss at Brady's puts him on a temporary lay-off and the movie theatre where J.J. works is closing down. Wanting to support his family, J.J. decides to join the U.S. Army.

Thelma has a chance at winning a scholarship to an exclusive boarding school in Michigan. However, even before she knows she won, a snobby girl from a fraternity comes around wanting Thelma to join and quickly discovers they just want her because she's black.

A small-fry extortionist bullies Michael into handing over his lunch and milk money on a daily basis. When the rest of the family finds out, turmoil erupts as they argue about how Michael should deal with his bully of a classmate.

It seems crime has been at an all time high in the neighborhood, causing the Evans family to take extra precautions, like for instance, installing extra locks on their doors. However, James has taken a step that Florida and the kids aren't ready for, he has bought a gun. Later, when the gun disappears, all hell breaks loose, as James tears the apartment apart, looking for it.

After taking some courses at a trade school, James has graduated and now has a chance at getting better paying jobs. However, James soon, finds that he's still in the same old situation, of having a hard time finding work period. So, when he is finally offered a job, he accepts it despite the fact that there is one catch, it's in Alaska.

Florida has had a pain in her side for the last two weeks but doesn't want to see a doctor out of fear of the cost. However, when James learns of her dilemma he decides to pay any cost for Florida's treatment, even after he learns she has to have a gallbladder operation.

Florida plans on borrowing money from her cousin to help pay some unexpected bills. James's pride stands in the way causing him to storm out to a bar, leaving Florida to learn about the shocking news about her seemingly wealthy cousin by herself.

A feud erupts in the Evans' household when James and J.J. take the side of Alderman Fred Davis during his attempt at a re-election while Florida, Thelma and Willona take the side of his young opponent. It seems Davis is a shyster who gets nothing done in the neighborhood, which is why she can't believe James would back such a loser.

Thelma has great news, she's engaged to her latest boyfriend, but she's nervous about breaking the news to James and Florida. Later, her opinion of great news differs greatly with her parents who hit the roof after learning this, and in a surprise move, J.J. is on Thelma's side.

A friend of James' gives him permission to use his cabin to celebrate his and Florida's 20th wedding anniversary. However, the trick is trying to get Florida to stop worrying about the kids. Meanwhile, while James and Florida are away, J.J. takes over the household by force and acts like a dictator.

While James is out of town, Florida and the kids throw a baby shower for a friend, Loretta. However, the joyous occasion is dampened when Loretta announces her plans of giving the baby up for adoption. Meanwhile, while Florida, Thelma and Willona go out shopping, Loretta goes into labor, leaving J.J. and Michael panicking.

When James is out of town, Florida and her brother Wilbert are left to deal with a troubled Michael. His cutting classes, getting into fights at school and low grades are all warning signs that lead Florida to make an appointment to see Michael's teacher.

When J.J. brings home Walter, a man from his art class, he hits it off with Willona. Despite the fact that he's deaf, he and Willona begin a relationship one that Willona thinks is headed for the alter and she is unsure of how to tell him that she's not interested in marrying him without making him think that him being deaf is the reason.

Florida and James become outraged when the kids get a touch of food poisoning after eating meat from the local supermarket. She organizes a group of concerned citizens and they boycott the market. The protest gets effective results, but not before Florida experiences her first trip to jail.

Thelma comes home with great news that she won a college scholarship, but is short of funds by $200. Meanwhile, J.J. is commissioned by a bank to paint a mural and in return will receive $250 and agrees to give her the money she needs. However, the bank is reluctant to pay after seeing the finished product.

Thelma brings home a friend who she is tutoring in French and instantly J.J. is smitten. J.J. goes all out trying to impress her, however, when she rejects him he quickly loses all of his confidence and slips into a depression.

A bank robbery in Atlanta has the FBI showing up at the Evans' apartment to question Florida since her nephew, Cleatus is the prime suspect. Things get tense, when Cleatus arrives at the apartment with a briefcase full of money and wanting a place to stay. Meanwhile, a new stereo that Florida has won, causes a power outage whenever the family uses it.

Thelma researches her family tree for a school project and discovers James's father is very much alive and living in the Chicago area. However, when James learns that Thelma has invited him as a surprise for his birthday, he refuses to see him. This leads Florida to discover the truth as to why James lied about his father still being alive.

An elderly man that Michael befriended stops by the Evans' apartment just prior to the New Years celebration and knowing that he only has a little time left, decides that this would be the best place to pass on, surrounded by a loving family and friends. Meanwhile, James is out of town while taking a temporary job and gets snowbound causing him to miss the New Years festivities.

J.J. and his girlfriend, Diana, are getting serious and the topic of marriage comes up, something which both J.J. and Diana both want. However, both of their parents are totally against the notion. Meanwhile, Diana has been acting strange, she steals money from her mother and a ring from a jewelry store, but it turns out that this is just a means to support a hidden drug problem.

After their parents sternly refuse the notion of J.J. and Diana marrying, Diana decides to run off to Indiana and elope with J.J. Meanwhile, back in Chicago, Thelma makes two shocking discoveries, first while at the prom she realizes that J.J. and Diana never showed up and second she somehow switched purses with Diana and discovers that she has a drug problem and number for the supplier.

J.J. has been commissioned by a number's runner, Sweet Daddy Williams, to paint the portrait of his girlfriend, Savannah. In return, J.J. will get his own "one man show." However, pretty soon, Sweet Daddy's influence becomes too much for Florida and James to take and try to encourage J.J. to turn Sweet Daddy's offers down. But soon, things take a turn, when Savannah gets a look at J.J.'s painting of her.

A single mother becomes embroiled in a deadly struggle to protect her autistic, tech-savy son, after he unwittingly witnesses and records a murder.

Kyle purchases a one-way ticket for Max in the hopes of persuading her to move to London with him. Max is furious that Kyle will not stay in New York for her, and accuses him of attempting to turn her into a housewife. Overcome with frustration, she trashes her friends' apartment; but later receives counsel from Khadijah and a surprisingly sympathetic Regine. Khadijah rejects Regine's snooty roommate candidate; then recruits Tripp Williams, an aspiring songwriter who has just been booted from Russell's apartment. Regine reluctantly allows him to move in on a trial basis, after initially claiming that having a male roommate would be a disaster because he would surely fall in love with her. A pushy activities director disrupts Overton and Synclaire's honeymoon cruise. After wandering off during a luau, the newlyweds discover that they have been left stranded on a deserted island.

Overton and Synclaire begin bickering about their predicament. They realize that much of their fear is the result of their anxiety about marriage, and vow to work together to overcome their doubts. A helicopter finally rescues the couple. The cruise director tries to force them to foot the bill, but Synclaire tells her off. Tripp quickly wins the affection of Khadijah and Max, but can't seem to do right by Regine. She attempts to break up his football-viewing party, but changes her tune when R&B singer Montell Jordan arrives. Although Khadijah warns that they are making a mistake, Kyle and Max refuse to re-consider their positions about his move to London. Khadijah drives Kyle to the airport, where they sadly say their good-byes. Max arrives at the last moment, and she and Kyle challenge one another to back down. As Kyle heads toward the gate, Max forlornly asks him for one last kiss. After a passionate kiss, Kyle departs, leaving a tearful Khadijah and Max to console one another. At the apartment, Max, Regine and Khadijah confer in the bathroom. They are shocked when Tripp passes by and exposes himself as he steps into the shower. Regine is the only one who seems to mind.