Impulse Control
FRIENDS AND LOVERS - Syd (Melina Kanakaredes) and Joe's (guest star Steven Ekholdt) relationship is strained when Syd becomes better acquainted with his estranged wife Erica (guest star Christina Haag) and the two women discover that they like each other. Brought together through volunteer work for breast cancer research, Erica asks Syd to consult on her friend Lynn's (guest star Allison Smith, ""The West Wing"") breast reconstructive surgery. Meanwhile, Joanie (Paula Cale) struggles with financial problems caused by Jim's (Mike Farrell) HMO coverage, or lack thereof. Jim discovers the joys of home shopping on cable television which adds to Joanie's concerns. Joanie and Heather (guest star Dana Daurey) interview a temporary replacement for Jim to run the vet clinic and decide to hire Dr. Sam Magala (guest star Cress Williams). Robbie (Seth Peterson) tries to help Tina's (guest star Maria Pitillo) son Pete (guest star Alex D. Linz, ""Home Alone 3"") with a school science project but meets w
More from Season 4
Episode 1
Dad
When Jim returns home to recuperate from a serious head injury after being shot in last season's finale, Syd, Joanie and Robbie clash over each other's reactions to the changes in their father. Syd believes Jim needs more help than they can provide at home, Joanie thinks he needs to be surrounded by loved ones in his own environment while Robbie is detached and angry over the ""loss"" of the father he knew. Besides trying to keep the peace in her family, Syd must also deal with a neurotic patient who believes television characters are real people.
Episode 2
Home Sweet Home
WILL SYD AND JOE PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR RELATIONSHIP? - Syd (Melina Kanakaredes) is reluctant to accept Joe's (guest star Steven Ekholdt) invitaton to join him for an evening of romance in the public eye at a glamorous political event. Meanwhile at the clinic, Syd struggles to reconcile a patient (guest star Johnny Whitworth) who has full-blown AIDS, with his estranged father (guest star Frederick Coffin.) On the homefront, an exhausted Joanie (Paula Cale) butts heads with Jim's (Mike Farrell) new home therapist (guest star Debi Morgan). Robbie (Seth Peterson) avoids dealing with family issues by busying himself with do-it-yourself projects at Tina's (guest star Maria Pitillo) apartment. TV-PG
Episode 4
You Can Count on Me
CRESS WILLIAMS GUEST STARS; IS WASHINGTON IN SYD'S FUTURE? -- Syd (Melina Kanakaredes) begins having separation anxiety from Joe (guest star Steven Eckholdt) who is on the campaign trail, which leads her to consider moving to Washington if he wins the election. Meanwhile, Syd must also treat a young man (guest star Alex Cruz) who must recover from a bicycle accident before he can donate bone marrow to his dying sister (guest star Daniella Garcia). At home, Joanie (Paula Cale) gets a much needed break when Robbie (Seth Peterson) offers to watch Jim (Mike Farrell) and Hannah (guest star Tessa Allen); Joanie spends the day bonding with Tina (guest star Maria Pitillo) as the future sisters-in-law plan Robbie and Tina's wedding; and when Jim discovers Dr. Sam Magala (guest star Cress Williams) has been hired to run the vet clinic, he decides to go back to work, with mixed results.
Episode 5
Civil Unrest
WILL SYD VOTE IN FAVOR OF CONTINUING HER ROMANCE WITH JOE CONNELLY? THINGS HEAT UP WHEN PETE (GUEST STAR ALEX D. LINZ, 'MAX KEEBLE'S BIG MOVE') SETS FIRE TO HIS BEDROOM -- As election day draws near, Syd (Melina Kanakaredes) sees nothing positive about negative campaign tactics used by Joe Connelly (guest star Steven Eckholdt) and begins to seriously question his integrity. Meanwhile, an increasingly hostile Pete (guest star Alex D. Linz, 'Max Keeble's Big Move') realizes Robbie (Seth Peterson) really cares for him when Pete accidentally sets fire to the apartment and Robbie saves him. Elsewhere, during an unsupervised moment at the clinic, Jim (Mike Farrell) administers an injection to a dog and the animal goes into cardiac arrest when Dr. Malaga (guest star Cress Williams, NBC's 'ER') unwittingly gives the dog another shot of the same drug. Later at home, Joanie (Paula Cale) gives Jim an herbal supplement, not knowing it could cause an ulcer.
Episode 6
Best Man
CHAOS ABOUNDS AS WEDDING BELLS RING FOR ROBBIE AND TINA -- Robbie (Seth Peterson) and Tina's (Maria Pitillo) wedding is marred when best man Jim (Mike Farrell) becomes flustered while toasting the happy couple and accidentally hits the groom -- but Syd (Melina Kanakaredes) is already furious with Robbie for letting Jim get drunk at the bachelor party and Robbie is annoyed by Syd's thoughtless wedding gift. Meanwhile, Tina's wisecracking father (guest star Peter Jason), youth-obsessed mother (guest star Stephanie Faracy) and mischievous twin brothers (guest stars Randy Sklar and Jason Sklar) add to the chaos of the big event. Additionally, Hannah (Tessa Allen) is on a quest to find Joanie (Paula Cale) a Prince Charming. Concetta Tomei also stars
Episode 7
The Honeymoon's Over
THE NEWLYWEDS ATTEMPT A HONEYMOON GETAWAY AS JIM RETURNS TO REHAB; LINDSAY CROUSE ('BUFFY') GUEST STARS - Newlyweds Robbie (Seth Peterson) and Tina (Maria Pitillo) grow increasingly frustrated with the airlines, and each other, when travel problems arise and it seems that they'll never make it to Miami for their honeymoon while Jim (Mike Farrell) returns to rehab and makes some painful revelations to his new coach (guest star Lindsay Crouse, ""Buffy The Vampire Slayer"") about his feelings towards Syd (Melina Kanakaredes). Likewise, Syd begins to realize that her father's condition has been taking an emotional toll on her, and that she needs to seek help to deal with it. Elsewhere, Joanie (Paula Cale) finds herself with too much time on her hands and decides to look up an old friend from school. Concetta Tomei also stars. TV-PG
