Howie Comes Home to Roost

#1 ... September 13, 1972

Directed by William Asher. Written by Sam Bobrick & Ron Clark.

TV Guide: “PL’s biting sarcasm is the laugh-getter in this series pilot that has him adjusting to his new unemployed genius of a son-in-law.”

Whiz Kid Sizzles as Quiz Fizzles

#2 ... September 20, 1972

Directed by William Asher. Written by Ed Jurist.

TV Guide: “The genius gets to show his stuff, make a mint and move out: that’s Paul’s dream as his unemployed son-in-law competes on TV’s ‘Beat the Buzzer.’”

The Landlord

#3 ... September 27, 1972

Directed by William Asher. Written by S. A. Long.

TV Guide: “Insult comedy: comics Jerry Stiller & Anne Meara make the first of several appearance as son-in-law Howie’s estranged and battling parents.”

No Nudes Is Good Nudes

#4 ... October 4, 1972

Directed by William Asher. Written by Bob Fisher & Arthur Marx.

TV Guide: “A nude revue in the civic auditorium? Morality crusader Paul is seething—but he’s up against the mayor who’s counting on a box-office hit to fill the city treasury.”

To Commune or Not to Commune

#5 ... October 11, 1972

Directed by Bruce Bilson. Written by Bob Fisher & Arthur Marx.

Guest Cast: Jodie Foster

TV Guide: “There’s no preserving the harmony in this family. Paul’s the sour note as his kids leave home because of his insults; add his wife’s fury over the break and you have a lulu of a domestic hassle.”

How to Be Unhappy Though Poor

#6 ... October 18, 1972

Directed by George Tyne. Written by Phil Sharp.

TV Guide: “Troubles ahead for Paul: he’s pretending he’s been fired to make his genius son-in-law find a job.”

Pollution Solution

#7 ... October 25, 1972

Directed by Jack Donahue. Written by Bob Fisher & Arthur Marx.

TV Guide: “Ecological aggravation for Paul: the kids are fighting off-shore drilling by an oil company that’s his biggest client.”

To Wed or Not to Wed

#8 ... November 1, 1972

Directed by Ernest Losso. Written by Bud Grossman.

TV Guide: “It’s never too late for the new morality: the newlyweds aren’t married (a technical goof), but now they don’t care. Watch Paul gnash his teeth as he tries to get them to the altar.”

Unsteady Going

#9 ... November 8, 1972

Directed by Jack Donahue. Written by Bob Fisher & Arthur Marx.

TV Guide: “Going steady provides a lesson, in comic contrasts—happiness for 14-year-old Sally, snarls, grimaces, and raving tirades for daddy.”

Whose Lib?

#10 ... November 22, 1972

Directed by Ernest Losso. Written by Bob Fisher & Arthur Marx.

TV Guide: “Sexy redhead vs. Howie for a job as Paul’s temporary secretary. Howie wins, now watch Paul lose.”

Meet Aunt Charlotte

#11 ... November 29, 1972

Directed by George Tyne. Written by Ed Jurist & Stan Dreben.

TV Guide: “Comic actress Charlotte Rae as Paul’s sister, a liberated by wacky lady who’s planning to ruin Paul’s dinner with a male chauvinist.”

An Affair to Forget

#12 ... December 6, 1972

Directed by George Tyne. Written by Bob Fisher & Arthur Marx.

TV Guide: “Housewives’ rebellion: the battle of the sexes rages, and so does Paul when Martha jumps on the women’s lib bandwagon and decides to get a job. Jo Anne Worley plays the instigator of Martha’s revolt.”

Martha's Last Hurrah

#13 ... December 13, 1972

Directed by Jack Donahue. Written by William Raynor & Myles Wilder.

TV Guide: “Campaign conflicts…it’s Martha’s integrity vs. Paul’s job. She’s for a women’s lib candidate, he’ll get fired unless he back’s the mayor’s incompetent son-in-law.”

Paul's Desperate Hour

#14 ... December 20, 1972

Directed by Bruce Bilson. Written by Ben Starr.

TV Guide: “Picture Paul face to face with a mugger…it’s a hilarious confrontation when Howie & Barbara take pity on their assailant and bring him home for a hot meal.”

No More Mr. Nice Guy

#15 ... December 27, 1972

Directed by George Tyne. Written by Bernie Kahn.

TV Guide: “Paul has to be nice to Howie, after he learns he has high blood pressure.”

The Bare Facts

#16 ... January 3, 1973

Directed by William Asher. Written by Sam Bobrick & Ron Clark.

TV Guide: “Howie’s nude painting of Barbara is about to be auctioned: Paul’s about to explode. He’s been nominated for public office because of his anti-nudity campaign.”

Howie's Inheritance

#17 ... January 10, 1973

Directed by Jerry London. Written by Laurence Marks.

TV Guide: “Pollution vs. principle: an inheritance will make Howie rich enough to move out: if Paul can induce him to accept money earned in a heavy-pollution industry.”

P.S. I Loathe You

#18 ... January 17, 1973

Directed by Jack Donahue. Written by Robert G. Carroll, Jr. & Madelyn Davis.

TV Guide: “P.S. I loathe you,” says Paul—and lives to regret it after his hate letter to a senior partner is accidentally mailed.”

The Congressman's Son

#19 ... January 24, 1973

Directed by George Tyne. Written by Leo Rifkin.

Guest Cast: Tom Bosley & Stephen Nathan

TV Guide: “Free-spirited Howie’s turned hard-hat—thanks to his father-in-law. It’s part of Paul’s attempt to impress a conservative congressman.”

Out of Bounds

#20 ... January 31, 1973

Directed by Oscar Rudolph. Written by William Raynor & Myles Wilder.

TV Guide: “Fighting city hall: it’s a losing battle as Paul tries to avoid zoning laws that will force him to fill in his swimming pool.”

Is This Trip Necessary?

#21 ... February 7, 1973

Directed by George Tyne. Written by Bob Fisher & Arthur Marx.

TV Guide: “A war of sarcasm between Paul and his caustic mother-in-law. That’s not all: she’s convinced Martha that Paul is fooling around with his attractive assistant.”

Everything You Wanted to Know About Your Mother-in-Law*****But Were Afraid to Ask

#22 ... February 14, 1973

Directed by Coby Ruskin. Written by Bob Fisher & Arthur Marx.

TV Guide: “Paul vs. his mother-in-law…the continuing battle reaches a frenzied patch as the woman decides to move in, lock, stock, and sarcastic lip.”

Back Talk

#23 ... February 21, 1973

Directed by Oscar Rudolph. Written by Phil Sharp.

TV Guide: “Flat on his back and loving it: Paul’s making the most of the pulled muscle that will get him out of a dreaded dance…unless his fed-up family finds a way to get him up.”

Barbara Goes Home to Mother

#24 ... February 28, 1973

Directed by Jerry London. Story: S. A. Long. Teleplay: S. A. Long, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Monica McGowan.

TV Guide: “Paul wasn’t exactly thrilled to gain a son-in-law, but he’s ecstatic at the prospect of losing him. Watch him chuckle with sadistic glee as the newlyweds have their first fight.”

Togetherness

#25 ... March 7, 1973

Directed by Ernest Losso. Written by Barry E. Blitzer.

TV Guide: “A spoof of an American institution: organized family fun, courtesy of Paul’s brainstorm to bring his family closer together.”

Springtime for Paul

#26 ... March 14, 1973

Directed by Ernest Losso. Written by S. A. Long.

TV Guide: “Medicine for Paul’s middle-aged ego: a dose of hero-worship from a pretty teen-ager and a smidge of jealousy from his irritated wife.”