To Meg's utter amazement she is asked to dance by Bandstand regular Jimmy Riley,before he is whisked away by another regular Teresa. J.J. quietly rejoins the football team. While Henry's son Sam earns a track scholarship to almost-all-white East Catholic. Jack invites Sam to dinner to meet J.J., being that their both now on the track team. Meg is informed by Teresa to be wary of Jimmy Riley. J.J. gets upset when he finds out Beth applied to Stanford. Helen tries to find a class that will fit her busy schedule at Temple. A Rumor starts circulating about Meg and Jimmy Riley "doing it", which Roxanne thinks is great, because it means Meg's important now. J.J. hears Beth's father call him a "Catholic kid from West Philly" to his country-club friends. Meg is asked out on her first date by Jimmy Riley and she readily accepts. While J.J. dominates the competition in his return to the gridiron.

In the aftermath of his confession to Beth, JJ struggles to put their relationship back together again, but quickly realizes that it might be too little too late. Elsewhere, Meg strikes up a musical friendship with Sam as they decide to save money by sharing records - causing problems with JJ who quickly reminds his sister about the trouble she faced after her previous interactions with Sam. Meanwhile, Jack entrusts his new employee -- Nathan, the nephew of Henry with delivery duty, but later questions his decision when Nathan fails to return. Helen volunteers to baby-sit for her professor and gets to know him better while Roxanne fights for a coveted position writing the ""Backstage on Bandstand"" column for Teenzine magazine.

In the midst of a special memory lane ""Bandstand,"" Meg (Brittany Snow) copes with a hostile Bobby Darin (guest star Duncan Sheik) while attempting to help roving columnist Roxanne (Vanessa Lengies) land an interview with the hit singer. In the midst of the chaos, Jimmy Riley (guest star Jesse Hutch ) surprises his dance partner when he shares the big news that he joined the marines. Elsewhere, Jack (Tom Verica), Henry (Jonathan Adams), Nathan (guest star Keith Robinson ) and Pete (guest star Matthew John Armstrong ) spend a rainy day playing an allegedly friendly game of poker. Helen (Gail O'Grady) receives a friendly ride home from her professor (guest star Robby Benson ) while JJ (Will Estes) spends a rainy afternoon drowning his sorrows in beer. Country music sensation LeAnn Rimes guest stars as Connie Francis singing ""Where the Boys Are"" on ""American Bandstand"" and Duncan Sheik portrays Bobby Darin singing ""Beyond the Sea."" Sarah Ramos and Ethan Dampf also star..

Roy Orbison (Chris Isaak) plays on ?Bandstand, while Nancy Sinatra (Jennifer Love Hewitt) has schlepped her boots to Vietnam, where JJ sees her perform. He could use some cheering up: He's been traumatized by killing a Vietcong soldier. Back in Philly, Meg runs away from home (but not far); Henry's business plans hit a snag; and Will starts delivering newspapers by himself. Also: Tyler Hilton sings the Beatles' I've Just Seen a Face and Days of Our Lives regulars have cameos: Alison Sweeney (as Miss USA), Farah Fath (a Playboy Bunny), and John Aniston and Frances Reid (customers in Pryor Electronics).