As film critic of the local cable show ""Brothers in the Balcony,"" Robert becomes unpopular when he gives a thumbs down to a prominent black filmmaker's new movie because of his consistently negative portrayal of African-Americans. Meanwhile, Zaria dates her opinionated classmate Shakim.

Nicholas is being bullied and shaken down by ""a bunch of baggy-pants, bandana wearin' hoodlums"" and figures the only way to beat them may be to join them. That is, until he learns about their gang initiation.

Michael auditions female singers for his band, and the front-runner is Zaria's annoying friend Theresa.

Wendell has romantic designs on Karen, an interior decorator working at the Peterson house, so Robert decides to play Cupid. Meanwhile, Cece calls on big brother Nicholas to champion her against school bully Daniel.

Michael thinks he might be able to clear up his songwriter's block by smoking some marijuana that he received from a jazz trumpeter. Meanwhile, Nicholas gets upset when Arnie and his other friends taunt Nicholas because he's not good at sports.

Upset when her parents refuse to front her the cash for a pair of expensive running shoes, Zaria takes a second job at a clothing store where she discovers the wonderful world of buying on credit. Olympic gold medallist Gail Devers plays herself.

Nicholas has been having a ball playing on a losing basketball team. But when Robert takes over as coach, the fun is done even when the wins come. Meanwhile, Michael and his friend Theresa are confused about their feelings for each other after they unexpectedly share a few kisses.

With Robert and Jerri bedridden with the flu, Wendell volunteers to baby-sit. But during his watch, Nicholas gets stuck in the chimney while trying to free a trapped bird. Hip-hop group Immature has a cameo.

Wendell is too terrified to go to the police after he witnesses a crime. Robert urges him to provide a good role model for Nicholas, who is writing an essay on heroes. After cooperating, Wendell learns the chief suspect is associated with organized crime, and hides out in the Peterson home. Meanwhile, Daniel decides he wants Zaria as his new girlfriend.

Robert and Jerri take the kids on a pilgrimage downtown to stake out a spot to view the Thanksgiving parade, but Robert and Wendell get taken by street cardsharks and wind up being arrested. Meanwhile, Jerri and the kids are looked out for by a kind homeless man.

Activists Zaria and Shakim disagree over how to organize a protest against a company that's polluting a river. Meanwhile, Nicholas wants a dog and tries to convince his parents he's ready for responsibility by ""caring"" for a loaf of bread.

The Petersons ""could be working for the next Oprah"" when Cece gets her own talk show sponsored by a toy company. But her talent for being ""refreshingly honest"" may be more than the company's president bargained for when he insists she endorse a new toy. Meanwhile, Theresa wins two tickets to a great concert, but must decide who will accompany her: new boyfriend Michael, or best friend Zaria.

While the Petersons are out of town at a wedding, Wendell tries to make a good impression on Karen's parents by telling them the Petersons' house is really his and they are welcome to spend the night. All goes well until the Petersons arrive home a day early....

Michael and Theresa impress record execs at a musicians' showcase, so much so that one of them is offered a contract -- Theresa. Meanwhile, Wendell bets on basketball games using Cece as his lucky charm.

Nicholas works the playground and accidentally smooth talks himself into two dates -- for the same afternoon. Meanwhile, Wendell thinks he's inherited a fortune and happily spends the money in advance.

Wendell claims that he met Peabo Bryson while working as a part-time cabbie, and that he's been invited to Atlantic City to attend Bryson's concert. But when the Petersons reluctantly accompany him, they find the promised free tickets have not materialized. Meanwhile, left to care for their younger siblings, Michael and Zaria decide to hire a babysitter instead.

Shakim insists on driving old flame Alexis home from a party, and the resulting misunderstanding leads to a rift in his relationship with Zaria -- until she learns Alexis has a drinking problem. Meanwhile, Nicholas and Cece find money in the street but don't realize it is counterfeit.

With Zaria's senior prom approaching, Robert and Jerri are reminded how their school dance turned into a magical night -- even though they didn't go together. To this day, it still bothers Robert that he never got to ask her to the big event; so Wendell and the kids come up with a plan to rectify the situation.

The last time Robert saw Parris, the elder Peterson brother was doing time in prison. Now he's out and visiting the family, but Robert thinks Parris has some kind of scam cooking, especially after some appliances mysteriously disappear. Meanwhile, Michael is upset when Nicholas continually breaks his big brother's possessions.

On the eve of Jerri's graduation from law school, her ""stay-at-home, full-service"" mother Elizabeth objects to her putting career before family, and announces that she is moving in as a full-time housekeeper. Meanwhile, Wendell gets bad news over the psychic hotline.

Zaria is surprised to overhear Skye professing his love for her, just after learning that boyfriend Shakim is heading off to college earlier than expected. And in a fantasy sequence, her Frankensteinish father thinks he's created the perfect guys -- Gary Coleman and singer Tevin Campbell (who appear as themselves). Meanwhile, Wendell enters a Bugs Bunny stamp essay contest for kids using Nicholas' name.