Mon, Jan 23, 2006
When Ruthie's new black classmate Alex insists on doing his 'Famous Americans' report on his idol Martin Luther King and no other, although his day was the week before, baseball teammate Martin Brewer's innocent remark that it's not worth risking his sports career for has absurd consequences, as if he, not the teacher, changed the assignment to reports on 'African-Americans' only, which annoys everybody who already wrote on classics which return every year. Someone is so pissed off that Martin's car gets vandalized with racist language, which the model of fairness refuses on principle to clean up a coward's mess. Kevin gets his former colleague Phil, now the officer in charge of hate crimes, on the case, while emotions run high throughout Glenoak.
Mon, Jan 30, 2006
Martin refuses to drop baseball training to go to Sandy who is giving birth, although Eric begs him; Martin also gets a full-scholarship offer from nearby Sequoia College. Kevin patiently convinces Lucy that his 'husband at home' dreams squares ideally with a second-child wish. Martin finally visits his newborn son in the hospital, where both grandfathers commit to help each other and their offspring.
Mon, Feb 6, 2006
Martin is finally making an effort to be there for Sandy and their baby, and Ruthie is having a hard time getting over him. Ruthie and new friend Maggie must both sit in detention after school. The detention monitor, music teacher Mr. Feinstein, manages to get the students' attention by giving them new insights on music and its relation to history. He also plays Gershwin songs on the piano, which soothes Ruthie's heartache.
Mon, Feb 13, 2006
Eric welcomes Kevin's invitation for a Valentine's dinner with the whole family at the anniversary and in the restaurant of his proposal to Lucy, doubling as the twins birthday party. After all, Annie made a drama about the twins wanting a store birthday cake, not her traditional home-made ones, and Sam being by little Rachel without soon jealous David spells trouble between both them and their parents, as Eric wants to let them decide what to do together and tries to compensate by taking just David for ice-cream during Sam's play-date. Ruthie keeps dreaming about Martin dropping Sandy, the baby and college for her, yet finds some solace in a daily 'job' Eric got for her, helping old Ms. Rusnak to get used to a new bike, or rather for the company. As if his parents weren't unhappy enough about bride Rose, she even refuses Simon to get married in Eric's church. Lucy manages to embarrass herself in a daring dress at the restaurant, but nobody else enjoys dinner anyhow.
Mon, Feb 27, 2006
Lucy's life gets more complicated personally and professionally when she begins to feel the presence of her late Grandma Jenny visiting her and warning her of the challenges that are coming in her life. Meanwhile, Annie and Ruthie decide to take a day off together to unwind. Rose is angry with Simon for neglecting to tell her that he slept with Sandy. Lastly, Eric unintentionally shakes things up between Rose and Simon.
Mon, Apr 3, 2006
Simon isn't amused that Rose pulls all the stops out hosting a luxurious dinner to impress her Italian ex, Umberto 'Bert' Lanzo, who left her at the altar. He jests about wanting her back, or is he serious - and who is the mystery girl Simon agrees to talk to immediately but covertly? The Camden parents, are not amused that Ruthie's long-awaited cellphone does nothing for her social life. Eric urges the boys to call her, helped by unwilling Peter Petrowski's dad George 'Vic' Vickery and Kevin. Benjamin Bainsworth, meanwhile, finds her number and works up the courage to call after a year.
Mon, Apr 10, 2006
Annie loathes receiving an invitation to Simon's 'disaster' wedding to Rose in May, until she realizes that's the same day as Matt and Sarah's med-school graduation. Neither group will even consider another date, arguing that the other event is less important or troublesome. Ruthie considers taking a summer poetry course in Scotland to be with her ex Peter, but Eric won't pay and the phone-bill hits hard. Kevin plants the romantic idea of eloping. Rose's jealous ex Bert grills Simon about his mystery girlfriend and questions his commitment; Annie finds out and teams up with Bert, who talks Rose out of eloping as the Camdens would ruin this by attending. Yet the changes of plans and the truths that turn up inspire surprising changes of heart.
Mon, Apr 24, 2006
The cookies-and-milk 'truth serum' brings out the truth about Kevin's generous offer to pay for Simon's ring, and he and Rose 'call off' the wedding, but Simon insists that he keep working to pay off 'his' debt; meanwhile; Eric blurts to the twins that he replaced the expensive ring Annie gave him after losing it years before, and Kevin loses his and desperately tries to find it before Lucy does; Annie gets angry enough to curse Mr. Riley, who owns the building she wants for her teen-mothers' center, with warped results.
Mon, May 1, 2006
The wedding preparations inspire Eric and Annie to reminisce about their children's childhoods; Rose tells Simon she's late and he prays as passionately to make the right decision about starting a family as he once prayed to get a dog; Simon is disappointed that hardly anybody wants to attend his wedding and Rose somehow blames Umberto and keeps his doubts alive while her divorced parents, between blaming each other for everything (as usual), fear it's a "shotgun wedding"; at the rehearsal dinner, Ruthie meets charming teenage waiter Paul from Edinburgh.
Mon, May 8, 2006
Annie and Eric are delighted with Matt and Sarah's surprise visit in time for Simon's wedding--and not just because they announce they're expecting. Simon is relieved that he and Rose aren't expecting, therefore marrying purely for love; but the next minute he gets cold feet, at which Lucy eagerly pokes. More visitors, like Matt's one-time bride-to-be Heather, stir further reminiscing and speculations; Rose's ex Umberto even asks Eric's permission to sabotage the wedding. The big day is full of surprises, including from Matt and Carlos.
Mon, Sep 25, 2006
The kids, except for Sam and David, have been away for several months. The parents feel awkward, especially stay-at-home-dad Kevin. He's an amazing all-around help and thinks of starting a house-renovation business with enthusiastic Annie. Lucy is having a hard time after losing their twins and endlessly-patient Kevin always bends over backwards trying to help her, even when she goes too far in public. Martin makes a go at turning his life around to be a father to his son with Sandy, who insists that he should live his own life and let her live hers. Martin calls Sandy a Lucy-clone who still hopes Simon will take her back; meanwhile he's jealous of her date Daniel.
Mon, Oct 2, 2006
Reverend Eric Camden feels old after the twins' young teacher mistakes him for their grandfather and being unable to keep up physically with wife Annie's sexual appetite. Martin gets in trouble with Sandy when she overhears him in the baby-phone thanking Kevin for the -mis-understood- advice to seduce her by cooking for her. Lucy worries what it means about his sexual appetite now Kevin has stopped cooking elaborate dinners after talking to lonely young teenager movie theater tickets clerk T-bone, who considers her highly desirable. Kevin selflessly worries about all of them.
Sun, Oct 15, 2006
Now Annie is away for four weeks, Eric wakes up with a stiff neck but already promised the twins to sleep a night in a tent in the garden- not so easy as it sounds, especially when the dog Happy goes missing, actually tagging along with Kevin's canines. Kevin couldn't turn down his brother Ben who wants to came spend time with them, but Lucy isn't ready for any visitors yet, so he stays with Eric, whom he assures he can safely straighten his neck having nurse training- a painful mistake. When the twins' attractive young teacher Margo makes a pass at Eric, the principal laughs away the very thought: the old goat must misinterpret. Lucy changes her mind and decides to get the guest room ready for Ben to stay in 'any time'. Eric's cardiologist has crushing news. Eric publicly rages at Margo's unacceptable immorality and takes his kids away, then insists to pig out with unhealthy food as a fake birthday and even lets Ben give him another neck-crack. Lucy smells a rat.
Sun, Oct 22, 2006
While Annie is still away, Reverend Eric Camden keeps behaving weirdly, so his nosy daughter Lucy forces her unwilling, privacy-respecting husband Kevin to help her find out what's going on. For once he gets interested himself as it turns out there actually is a lot to uncover, starting with the fact Eric bought the twins hamsters as a consolation because his disgust at their teacher Miss Margo's flirting made Eric take the boys out of school to teach them himself. Kevin even ends up taking his pants off as bribe for homeless Stanley to tell what he knows about the hospital episode.
Sun, Oct 29, 2006
Lucy tells two girls that they won't get access to the pregnancy-home apartments, neither through her nor Annie, but such cheap rent remains a prize worth fighting for. When Eric's car breaks down, he learns that T-Bone, the movie-ticket seller who has a crush on Lucy, is actually a courageous abandoned kid. When the girls come the Camden house, they recognize T-Bone as "Theodore." Eric lets them stay for one night until Annie returns, even after discovering that they smoke pot, but Annie returns early and leaves it to the pastors to find a solution for the girls. Sandy makes Eric listen over the phone to her boyfriend Daniel, who she now believes to want only loveless sex and housekeeping comfort; as he states upfront intentions, Martin barges in. T-Bone insists that he can't stay or he'll spill the beans as long as Eric hasn't told the family about his heart problems, which he guessed after witnessing Kevin's sacrificed trousers . Eric only tells Annie about his intention to keep home-schooling the twins.
Sun, Nov 5, 2006
Misery all the way while Eric stubbornly keeps hiding his heart problems for Annie, the only one he wanted to know ever, even after a misunderstanding brings paramedics rushing, but ends up telling the truth to Kevin who manages to make him take his long-delayed cardiology check up. T-bone proves a second Robby, as helpful as an angel and a butler, yet incredulous Annie can find him a home, at 17. Meanwhile the bitchy girls can't wriggle out of accepting the burger-joint jobs (ironically, they're vocal vegetarians) Annie arranged for them. Tyler's baby's mother Sandy is in love again with Daniel.
Sun, Nov 12, 2006
Eric has finally decided to tell the children about his heart condition. He and Annie are flying to Scotland, so Ruthie is frantic, she doesn't want to return home but stay 'normal', not a 'preacher's kid'. Lucy plays the drama queen not to be told earlier and now refuses to listen now to Kevin, who once again is caught from all sides. T-Bone and the girls pretend to be scared and want to stay in Kevin's house while the Camdens are away, Kevin doesn't buy it; indeed Jeane is hiding from her husband, a boot-camp private she married only three weeks ago just for the benefits. Margaret has bad news for T-Bone. Sandy calls Lucy she was crazy to declare her love to co-student Daniel, she now wants her baby's dad Martin back...
Sun, Nov 19, 2006
At home, Kevin has a hard time teaching the twins pets like their hamsters are for life when they want to dump them on him; Lucy ultimately finds out their motive: they think daddy needs help. Mother Annie is furious to learn in Edinburgh, like Lucy earlier over the phone, selfish Ruthie has no interest in leaving her Scottish luxury life and privacy, even plans a Swiss ski trip, but cardio-terminal dad Eric declares he's allowed to be selfish and orders her home. T-Bone is furious when a phone-call from the girls gets his selfish mother on his trail, live- Kevin recognizes her as a whore he once arrested, but she consents with Lucy's advice to neglected son Theodore: get him legally emancipated, i.e. early majority in a court procedure. Martin's mate Mac is back, as best man for the wedding, but makes Sandy consider whether they're getting married for the right reason, love, not jealousy, an excuse to leave Daniel, etc. ...
Sun, Nov 26, 2006
Ruthie's run-in with airport security delays the family's return home. Angered that her one-way ticket triggered a search during a layover in New York, Ruthie sarcastically remarks, "I'm a terrorist," which causes Officer Keaton of the Port Authority police force to detain Ruthie, Eric and Annie for questioning. At home, Lucy finds the Camden kitchen overrun with casseroles and flowers from parishioners concerned over Eric's health. Fortunately, Lucy's calm confidence and positive attitude about Eric's heart condition lessens the anxieties of church members. While Margaret and the twins plan a musical "welcome home" for Eric, T-Bone and Jane brainstorm a special gift for him. In New York, Officer Keaton confides in Eric that his fiancée of five years, who's flying to London that night, refuses to marry him because she's afraid she might lose him in the line of fire. Later, Lucy inspires the family's neighbor, Mrs. Beeker, with her faith and strength, while Eric gives a speech at the airport, emphasizing the need to live without fear, despite the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001. In addition, he tracks down Officer Keaton's fiancée and performs a gate-side wedding ceremony. To her surprise, Sandy discovers Mac's "friendly" visit is actually a "spy" mission on behalf of Martin, who wants to know if Sandy is dating Simon, which she isn't. That evening, the Camdens arrive home to a rousing chorus of "This Land is Your Land," performed by Margaret and the twins. Up in their bedroom, Annie and Eric are surprised to find T-Bone and Jane's gift: an adjustable bed, donated by a parishioner.
Sun, Dec 3, 2006
Now Eric is terminal, he tells his parishioners the truth, even when it hurts, yet it seems to work out almost miraculously on several counts. Lucy takes a trip with Kevin. Ruthie is spiteful since her return from Scotland, and ever cheerful T-Bone tells her the truth, she just warns Eric will probably back-stab his emancipation, but when their bickering ends in kissing, her mood starts to turn. Margaret gets a domestic job. The whole Camden clan promises to come over for Christmas. Then lucky bum Stanley suggests to Eric he should just ask God for healing...
Sun, Dec 10, 2006
A few days before what Eric thinks might be his last Christmas with the whole Camden clan, he wakes up in heaven, which looks rather like Glenoak, and is welcomed by his loving mother-in-law and deceased people who appreciate what he did for them and their loved ones and worry about the mortals still on earth, including the Camden family who are preparing for Christmas--even Lucy and Kevin are back early from San Francisco. While in heaven Eric is offered miraculous Christmas gifts for his family, all things he generously gave his parishioners, such as time for Matt and Mary to spend on their families and erasers for memories which poison relationships. His family decides to extend their annual Charity Day to 3 days: 1 because it feels good, 1 as Eric's favorite present, and 1 for the infant Jesus. The best might be his own gift: everybody has a bunch of guardian angels, and the experienced one in charge of his paperwork is processing an application from colleague Stanley to grant his suggested wish for more time alive on earth.