Mark is devastated to learn Fox found a new boyfriend over the summer. Meanwhile, Mike Jr struggles to tell his dad he dropped out of school.

Fox's boyfriend threatens to beat Mark up after school. Mary learns Mike Sr is making less money than their son, and pushes her husband to demand a raise.

Mark is determined to raise the most money for the 24-hour famine; the refrigerator breaks at the Critch house and forces the family to cook all its food at once.

Desperate to seem more mature, Mark heads off school grounds for lunch, but things take a turn when the Fox boys offer Mark his first beer. Meanwhile, Mary takes a job selling Avon products.

Mark uncovers dark family secrets when he researches the Critch family tree. Meanwhile, a death in the family causes Pop to reassess his relationship with his son.

Mark falls under the spell of a visiting hypnotist and lets his grades slip. Pop struggles to lose weight when he gets too fat for his pants.

Mark learns things about his parents he never knew, after a historic storm knocks out power to the Critch house. Meanwhile, when his father’s back goes out, Mike Jr has to broadcast all night alone.

The kids are allowed to wear jeans at school for Spirit Week. The only problem is that Mark doesn’t own a pair. Meanwhile, Sister Rose picks Mary to join her choir.

Mark tries to win back Fox during a school trip to “France.” Meanwhile, Pop uses the trip to revisit his past life as a bootlegger with Al Capone.

Mark and Ritche pretend to be Protestant to fit in with a cool group of kids from another school. Pop meets up with an old flame at a retirement home.

Mark tries to fake being healthy after falling ill the day he is supposed to meet the Pope; a rival radio station tries to tempt Mike Jr. away from VOCM, breaking Mike Sr.'s heart.

Mark is excited for Halley's Comet, but the magic is lost when he learns Fox is moving. A new restaurant being built near the Critch house threatens to change the family forever.