Growing Pains
It's hard enough to raise a kid nowadays, but when you have to cope with THESE kids, things tend to get out of hand. Jason Seaver, a psychologist, and his wife Maggie Seaver, a journalist, try to do their best raising their family, and although their kids--Mike, Ben, Carol and Chrissy--cause them endless problems, they manage to keep the family close together. As long as they got each other, nothing else matters.
- 1985-1992
- 7 seasons
- ABC
- Comedy
- TV-G
It's hard enough to raise a kid nowadays, but when you have to cope with THESE kids, things tend to get out of hand. Jason Seaver, a psychologist, and his wife Maggie Seaver, a journalist, try to do their best raising their family, and although their kids--Mike, Ben, Carol and Chrissy--cause them endless problems, they manage to keep the family close together. As long as they got each other, nothing else matters.
Season 1 Episode Guide
23 Episodes 1985 - 1986
Episode 0
Unaired Pilot
Tue, Sep 24, 1985
Jason and Maggie Seaver are raising three kids. So that Maggie can return to work as a newspaper reporter, Jason starts seeing his psychiatric patients at home and becomes the stay-at-home dad with teens Mike, Carol and Ben in tow.
Episode 1
Pilot
Tue, Sep 24, 1985 25 mins
The upwardly mobile, suburban Seaver family experiences some growing pains when Maggie Seaver returns to work as a newspaper reporter, Jason Seaver moves his psychiatric practice into the home, and 15-year-old son Mike asks for more freedom and gets it.
Episode 2
Springsteen
Tue, Oct 1, 1985 25 mins
Mike is mercilessly teased by his friends after he and Jason attend a Bruce Springsteen concert and a TV interviewer captures Jason's overzealous show of affection for his son.
Episode 3
Jealousy
Tue, Oct 8, 1985 25 mins
Late hours and rapt attention to her newspaper work by Maggie convince her husband Jason that she's having an affair with her handsome co-worker.
Episode 4
Carol's Article
Tue, Oct 15, 1985 25 mins
Maggie and Jason face the challenge of parenthood when daughter Carol tries to follow her mother's career as a reporter and sons Mike and Ben start gambling.
Episode 5
Superdad
Tue, Oct 29, 1985 25 mins
Working mother Maggie Seaver begins to feel edged out of her children's lives and excluded from family affairs by none other than husband Jason.
Episode 6
Mike's Madonna Story
Tue, Nov 5, 1985 25 mins
A Madonna-styled teenage seductress wreaks havoc in the Seaver household when she appears at their doorstep in some rather revealing clothing looking for Mike and plotting to make him her next seduction.
Episode 7
Weekend Fantasy
Tue, Nov 12, 1985 25 mins
When Jason and Maggie leave Mike in charge for the weekend while they return to a romantic hide-away they found 15 years ago, they can't stop worrying about their children. Dennis Haysbert guest stars.
Episode 8
Slice of Life
Tue, Nov 19, 1985 25 mins
Mike tries to convince his parents to provide him karate lessons to impress a girl. Ben attempts to get into a world record book, and Maggie and Jason take a compatibility test.
Episode 9
Carol's Crush
Tue, Nov 26, 1985 25 mins
The 23-year-old son of family friends stays with the Seavers and 14-year-old Carol gets a crush on him and mistakenly believes he asked her for a date.
Episode 10
Dirt Bike
Tue, Dec 3, 1985 25 mins
Ben sells his dreams to his sister Carol for a school research project. Mike disobeys his parents and rides a dirt bike, but gets injured in an accident.
Episode 11
Standardized Test
Thu, Dec 5, 1985 25 mins
Jason and Maggie encounter a case of sibling rivalry between Carol and Mike, who's upset over his sister's higher scholastic achievements.
Episode 12
A Christmas Story
Tue, Dec 10, 1985 25 mins
While the Seaver family prepares for Christmas, one of Jason's patients contemplates suicide by jumping down the Seaver chimney.
Episode 13
The Love Song of M. Aaron Seaver
Tue, Jan 7, 1986 25 mins
The Seavers are depending on Mike for the annual bowling tournament against the Koosman Family, but are let down when Mike "Romeo" Seaver finds his "Juliet".
Episode 14
First Blood
Tue, Jan 14, 1986 25 mins
After a fistfight with Ben's hockey coach, Jason is left with the task of explaining that fighting is not the way to get the job done, while Maggie endures the hardship of teaching Mike ballroom dancing.
Episode 15
Slice of Life II
Tue, Jan 21, 1986 25 mins
Jason is ecstatic over the news that wife Maggie may be having another baby. Ben is pleased that brother Mike is his slave for the weekend and Carol is enchanted with Richie's romanticism.
Episode 16
The Seavers vs. the Cleavers
Tue, Jan 28, 1986 25 mins
Jason and Maggie are displeased after being labeled unacceptable parents by prim P.T.A. member June Hinckley.
Episode 17
Charity Begins at Home
Tue, Feb 18, 1986 25 mins
Sibling rivalry in the Seaver household sends Ben soliciting money from the neighbors so he can buy Jason an expensive birthday present.
Episode 18
Reputation
Tue, Feb 25, 1986 25 mins
Mike is accused of cheating in school after receiving the highest grade in the class. Given his reputation as a goofball, can he convince Jason, Maggie or his teacher of his innocence?
Episode 19
The Anniversary That Never Was
Tue, Mar 4, 1986 25 mins
Thanks to their children, Jason and Maggie have a whole day to spend together for their anniversary. But, all their plans end when Maggie is called away on assignment.
Episode 20
Be a Man
Tue, Mar 11, 1986 25 mins
Everyone but Mike goes to visit Maggie's parents. But when they arrive, they discover that they are selling their house. Maggie offers to give the money they need to keep them from selling the house. But her dad is too proud and doesn't want anything from Jason. Mike decides to throw a party but when people whom he didn't invite show up, who in turn invite more people, things get out of hand.
Episode 21
Career Decision
Tue, May 6, 1986 25 mins
Maggie and Jason both encounter career decisions that will affect one another; meanwhile, Mike makes a philosophical discovery when he's home sick.
Episode 22
Extra Lap
Tue, May 13, 1986 25 mins
Nightmares involving his deceased Uncle Bob begin haunting Mike soon after the man's death.