When Eddie attends their annual baseball game date without Joy, they realize that they can have separate lives, but at what cost? Meanwhile, Ally and Doug try to save a tree but end up causing a tree disease epidemic in the neighborhood.

Independent Action

Brad Garrett

Joely Fisher

John Doutt

Snore Loser

The Not-So-Perfect Couple

Eddie and Joy's free-spirited daughter, Ally, returns from a trek in the Ecuadorian rain forest with her new husband, Doug. When Ally and Doug decide to set up camp in a trailer in the Starks' backyard, they ultimately ruin Eddie's plans for installing a Jacuzzi. Meanwhile, Eddie and Joy attempt to overcome their dislike of Doug and accept him as a member of the family.

Doug and Ally Return

Joy and Eddie decide to get separate beds after years of putting up with each other's sleep habits. Meanwhile Eddie's new principal turns out to be a former student with an agenda.

Separate Beds

When Doug's father gives him and Ally a large sum of money, they struggle with the decision to keep it or give it back. Meanwhile, Eddie decides to write a book about the Hindenburg disaster.

Eddie's Book

When Eddie and Joy try to live without complaining, Eddie finds that repressing his true feelings makes him sick. Meanwhile, Kenny creates problems for parents when he works as a mall Santa.

No Complaints

When Eddie and Joy pay a visit to his parents in Florida, Eddie discovers that his parents are planning to divorce in order to qualify for medical insurance. Eddie refuses to accept the idea and tries to convince his mother that it's a bad decision to put his father back on the market.

The Courtship of Eddie's Parents

Joy's fun and beautiful new friend Eileen also happens to be Eddie's ex-girlfriend. At first, the friendship doesn't seem to be a problem until Joy invites Eileen over to the house and Eddie gets himself in trouble by reminiscing a little too fondly about the past. Meanwhile, Kenny thinks he's doing something nice for his new girlfriend by babysitting her kids, but doesn't realize she may be using him.

The Ex-Factor

After Kenny's ex-wife kicks him out of their house, Eddie invites Kenny to stay with him and Joy. Eddie quickly realizes that Joy is a lot nicer when Kenny is around, so Eddie tries to get Kenny to stay with them longer, but Kenny's annoying habits have Joy trying desperately to reconnect the estranged couple.

The Buffer

When Joy loses her job at the travel agency, she must use her best assets to find work elsewhere. Meanwhile, Eddie takes Doug to his favorite restaurant.

Joy's Out of Work

When Eddie buys a high-definition television without checking with Joy first, she decides to join in the spending spree. Meanwhile, Doug suspects he is living on a sitcom.

Hi Def TV

When Joy urges Eddie to get a check-up from their doctor, Simona (Susan Yeagley), Eddie becomes enamored with her and her husband, Stephen (Kevin Nealon), and their seemingly perfect life. Joy becomes annoyed when Eddie becomes ardent about taking Simona's advice, even though Joy has been nagging him for years, and decides to prove to Eddie that Simona isn't as perfect as she seems.

When it is realized that Eddie is grouchy because he isn't sleeping well he gets treatment. Unfortunately Joy can't sleep without him snoring so now she is the grouchy one.

Eddie and Joy pick sides when their friends break-up, but when they get back together it ends up costing them.

The Break-up

When Eddie and Joy befriend Stephen (guest star Nealon) and his wife Simona, Eddie clicks with them right away, which causes Joy to feel left out. In an effort to win Joy over, Eddie coaches their new friends on her all her likes and dislikes. Meanwhile, Kenny starts a new job as a supermarket sample salesman only to realize that sample distribution can be a competitive biz

The Perfect Couple

When Joy convinces Eddie to visit Simona for an annual check-up, he catches a nasty head cold before his big interview with a Hindenburg blimp survivor. Meanwhile, Joy can't understand why Simona won't pay her a compliment.

The Check-up

When Joy goes overboard planning Ally and Doug's wedding, Eddie convinces them to elope. Kenny agrees to officiate the ceremony, but when Joy finds out about their plans she persuades Eddie to help her stop the wedding.

Can't Elope

When the Starks meet Simona and Stephen for dinner, they decide to ditch them with the bill resulting in an all-out dining war between the couples. Meanwhile, Joy makes Eddie's life miserable at work.

Check Mate

When Eddie befriends a new teacher at school, they find they have a lot in common, but Ms. Duffy has other plans for their relationship. Meanwhile, Eddie and Joy reminisce about the music they loved in the 1980s.

The Concert

Eddie tries to get a raise so he and Joy can go on vacation, but he has a tough time convincing his principal. Meanwhile, Doug's delusion that he is a character on a sitcom gets even worse.

Merit Pay

When Joy and Eddie meet their rather unconventional new neighbors, Tommy (guest star Gottfried) and April Campbell, Eddie can't seem to get the idea of being with a younger woman out of his head. Meanwhile, Eddie and Joy hold a yard sale, and the new neighbors want to buy everything they're selling.

The New Neighbors

It's the night before Ally and Doug's big day, and everyone is nervous about what tomorrow will bring. Consequentially, everyone dreams up a different wedding disaster.

The Wedding

When Allison's boyfriend Doug is hospitalized, she rushes to his bedside only to be surprised with a proposal. No one is more surprised by their daughter's engagement than Eddie and Joy who plot to put the brakes on wedding planning. Meanwhile, Kenny tries to get Eddie's car repaired without success.

Ally Abroad

When Joy's mother pays her daughter a visit, she drives Joy up the wall with her constant criticism, and Eddie makes a valiant attempt to ease the tension. Meanwhile, Eddie meets with a publisher who wants to turn Eddie's manuscript into a children's picture book.

Joy's Mom

When Joy and Eddie experiment with role-playing to spice up their love life, they realize that pretending to be someone else isn't as sexy as being themselves. Meanwhile, to supplement his income, Kenny tries finding lost dogs to collect the reward money.

Dog Fight

Eddie and Joy want to downgrade to a smaller house, but Doug and Ally aren't ready to move out on their own. Meanwhile, when Duffy dumps Whitey (guest star Martin Mull), he moves in with Eddie and Joy as a way of coping, but he quickly overstays his welcome and Joy wants him out.

Sell the House

Eddie and Joy make the wrong impression on a newlywed couple while on vacation and Joy goes out of her way to try and convince the young bride that wedded life is bliss and not how they made it seem. Meanwhile, Kenny and Doug start spending time together, and Allison becomes jealous of their new friendship.

Family Vacation

When Ally and Doug announce that they're going to be parents, Joy has a meltdown about becoming a grandmother, forcing Eddie to call in his mother-in-law for help.

Ally's Pregnant

Eddie becomes annoyed by his students' use of cell phones in class, and soon learns that he and Joy are the only ones not infatuated with the latest technology. When Mr. White decides to drag Eddie into the 21st century, Eddie develops a technology addiction of his own.

Smart Phone

Eddie feels self-conscious when Tommy (guest star Gottfried) and Mr. White (guest star Mull) boast about their endowments, so Joy does her best to convince him that being average is just fine. Meanwhile, Doug and Ally have their first sonogram, and it appears that their unborn son doesn't take after Eddie.

Big Man, Little Man

With Eddie's brother, Charlie, and his new boyfriend, Terence, coming to visit, Eddie isn't exactly looking forward to a weekend of wine-tasting and antiquing. Much to Eddie's surprise, though, he hits it off with Terence as they both opt to watch football over participating in the planned weekend activities. When Charlie breaks up with Terence, Joy sides with Charlie and ends up questioning her relationship with Eddie.

Brother's Keeper

When Joy loses her job at Eddie's school, she accepts a position as Stephen's (guest star Nealon) executive assistant. The new gig leaves her miserable, leading Eddie and Mr. White (guest star Mull) to scheme a way to get Joy her old job back.

Work Wife

Joy goes overboard planning for Ally's baby shower and becomes obsessed with baby gifts. Meanwhile, Mr. White has difficulty giving Ally and Doug their shower gift, and Dr. Bialik invites her "Blossom" castmates to participate in a therapy session for Doug.

Baby Steps

When Whitey decides to throw a surprise party for his 93-year-old grumpy uncle, his party guests are surprised to discover that Whitey is a hoarder and his house is overflowing with junk. Meanwhile, Eddie is in a rush to get to the party but Joy, Doug and Ally all take their time getting ready to go.

Let's Go

Eddie's book finally gets published, but on the day of his book signing, Ally goes into labor and everyone shows up to welcome the new addition to the family. Meanwhile, Eddie gives Doug fatherhood tips, and Ally apologizes to Joy for being a terrible daughter.

The Baby

Joy feels inferior for not finishing college, so she decides to hit the books and earn her degree. Although she passes her classes, Eddie isn't satisfied with her grades, and he decides to take matters into his own hands, which leads to Joy getting kicked out of school.

The Joy of Learning

When Joy gets angry at Eddie for forgetting her birthday, she decides to cash in on all the coupons he has given her over the years for massages, pedicures and chores. Meanwhile, Kenny convinces Eddie that he needs to surprise her with a handbag in order to be forgiven. Unfortunately for Eddie, Joy decides to return the handbag and finds out the hard way that it's a fake.

Coupon Bob

When Joy suspects Eddie of keeping secrets from her, she decides to launch an investigation. Eddie turns to his friends Kenny and Karl for advice, and decides to give Joy a fake story in hopes of appeasing her.

Cold Case

A comedy about the triumphs and tribulations of marriage and friendship from very different perspectives. It's about the funny – and sometimes annoying – things that happen between husbands, wives, parents, children, neighbors and friends day after day after day. The show focuses on Eddie and Joy Stark, a couple married for 23 years who live in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Independent Action

Seasons4

Season 4 Episodes37

Cast2

Crew1

Discussion

Episode Summary