australian television information archive

Let's Dance

Episode 2.01 (45)
Tuesday, February 25, 1992
Written by Philip Dalkin
Directed by Pino Amenta

Emma Bigelow asks Thomas to the Debutante Ball but there's one problem — he can't dance. Thomas asks Tracy to teach him but perhaps she wasn't the best choice. Tracy organises a boycott of the "sexist and demeaning" Ball by all the girls in her class. Wayne's nephew, Sam, shows up at Bobby's house after running away from home.

Starring: Jon English as Bobby Rivers, Rebecca Gibney as Tracy Lawson, Garry Who as Doug Stevens, Jane Hall as Anna Sumner, Steven Jacobs as Thomas Sumner, Bruno Lucia as Wayne Lovett

With: Simon Gligora as Sam Punchetto

Note: new opening credits

Taking Care Of Business

Episode 2.02 (46)
Tuesday, March 03, 1992
Written by Megan E. Rees, Stig Wemyss & Kate Langbroek
Directed by Pino Amenta

Thomas is embarrassed about having to do work experience at a fast foot restaurant and pretends to be working in high finance. When Wayne finds out the truth, he blackmails Thomas into being his lackey. Anna is able to shadow Tracy in the fashion industry but while her youthful enthusiasm risks overshadowing Tracy's accomplishments, she may end up ruining Tracy's entire business. Bobby does his taxes.

I've Got To Be Me

Episode 2.03 (47)
Tuesday, March 10, 1992
Written by Clare Madsen
Directed by Pino Amenta

While Bobby is on the road playing a series of gigs at a potato festival, Doug falls for the female electrician fixing the house's wiring. Unfortunately for Doug, she thinks he's Bobby Rivers and he can't bring himself to tell her the truth. Tracy and the kids keep up the ruse but how long can it go on for after she asks Doug to perform?

With: Megan Williams as Julie

History Never Repeats Itself

Episode 2.04 (48)
Tuesday, March 17, 1992
Written by Elizabeth Coleman
Directed by Pino Amenta

Bobby, or at least Wayne, returns triumphant from his latest gig at the Pinehaven Shopping Centre playing to a crowd of five-year-olds. Bobby's former manager, Louie Little, reappears wanting to take Bobby back to the top. Failing that, he'll just take Bobby's last remaining asset — the house. When Louie puts the house up for sale, Thomas calls in Wayne to expose the scam.

With: Kym Gyngell as Louie Little

The Letter

Episode 2.05 (49)
Tuesday, March 24, 1992
Written by Philip Dalkin, Michael Pope, Kevin Harrington, John Herouvim
Directed by Pino Amenta

Beth's personal effects from the plane crash in Mexico finally arrive in the mail a year after her death. Bobby and Tracy argue about whether on not Anna and Thomas should be allowed to read their mother's diary. The family sits down to read the diary together giving a fresh perspective on Beth's colourful life. Not content, the kids search for the breakup letter Bobby sent their mother.

You're So Vain

Episode 2.06 (50)
Tuesday, March 31, 1992
Written by Shane Brennan
Directed by Pino Amenta

Could Doug's performance as Kevin the Kookaburra in a new commercial really be his big break? When an offer comes in for a role in the new movie Return of the Birds opposite Melanie Griffith, it seems too good to be true. Despite only the briefest taste of stardom, the fame goes to Doug's head as he starts treating the family like hired help. When his bad behaviour is called out, Doug moves out believing he is destined for Hollywood. He's not gone long.

Addicted To Love

Episode 2.07 (51)
Tuesday, April 07, 1992
Written by Shane Brennan
Directed by Pino Amenta

Tired of having to pay Bobby's exorbitant pizza bills, the family challenges Bobby to give up pizza for 48 hours — thats two whole days. Bobby insists he's not addicted but his withdrawal seems to indicate otherwise. Can he go the distance or will he exploit a loophole in the rules to scratch the pizza itch?

With: Leong Lim as Wu Chang

The Winner Takes It All

Episode 2.08 (52)
Tuesday, April 28, 1992
Written by Anthony Morris
Directed by Pino Amenta

Anna takes first prize in the Interschool General Knowledge Tournament earning her an appearance on Sale Of The Century. Thomas somehow convinces Anna to take him on as her manager and along with the rest of the family, does everything he can to prepare Anna for her big opportunity.

With: Glenn Ridge as himself, Jo Bailey as herself, uncredited as Brian

Baby Love

Episode 2.09 (53)
Tuesday, May 05, 1992
Written by Jan Sardi
Directed by Pino Amenta

Hoping Bobby can cast off the kids' view of him as the" weaker parent", Tracy tells him to back her up and not let the twins go to a pool party. When Bobby later laments how he missed out on the "simple stuff" by not being there when Anna and Thomas were little, Tracy invites him to help her look after her friend's babies. Not aware of Bobby's babysitting gig, Anna and Thomas come home to find Bobby asleep on the sofa next to the babies and assume he's kidnapped them from the shopping centre. They drop the babies back off at the mall but when Bobby wakes up and finds the babies gone, he calls the police to report them missing.

With: Maxine Klibingaitis as Veronica, Matthew Quartermaine as Det. Constable Gouda, Alexandra McNaughton and Nicholas Hastings as The Babies

Devil Woman

Episode 2.10 (54)
Tuesday, May 12, 1992
Written by Alan Hardy, Galia Hardy
Directed by Pino Amenta

Jackie Hammond, Bobby's ex from back in the day, is back on the charts and back in Bobby's life. Bobby insists their relationship is purely professional but the family is shocked when Bobby announces he's going to join her on her world tour and move to Los Angeles.

With: Tracy Mann as Jackie Hammond

Get A Job

Episode 2.11 (55)
Tuesday, May 19, 1992
Written by Philip Dalkin
Directed by Pino Amenta

A competitor has undercut Tracy's prices costing her clients, and ultimately, her career as she's made redundant. Bobby's ecstatic to try his hand at vegetable gardening and the family pitches in to help Doug cook for the taxi drivers' picnic. The event is such a success that Doug and Tracy decide to start a catering business together.

Come Together

Episode 2.12 (56)
Tuesday, May 26, 1992
Written by Anthony Morris
Directed by Pino Amenta

Inspired by his and Doug's reminiscences of better days gone by, Bobby hopes the ethos of the Woodstock generation can help bring peace and love to the feuding household. No one shares Bobby's enthusiasm for a weekend of flower power but if the 60s is what Bobby's wants, the 60s is what they'll give him.

Love Hurts

Episode 2.13 (57)
Tuesday, June 02, 1992
Written by Shane Brennan
Directed by Pino Amenta

A letter from an old friend who is married with children causes Tracy to lament her still-single status. Anna is interested in Thomas' classmate Marcus and feigns an interest in sport hoping he'll take notice but she's too late — he's in love with Tracy. It was love at first sight for Marcus and an innocent kiss seals the deal — he's ready to make a life-long commitment. To put Marcus off, Tracy introduces him to her boyfriend… Wayne. Anna buys Bobby his first new pair of jeans in a generation.

With: Lochie Daddo as Marcus McConaughey

The Sounds Of Silence

Episode 2.14 (58)
Tuesday, June 09, 1992
Written by Kate Langbroek & Stig Wemyss
Storyline by Megan E. Rees & Bradley Hulme
Directed by Pino Amenta

Wayne has landed Bobby a spot on Live at Nine, Australia's premier live variety show but the family is shocked when Bobby turns down the gig with no explanation. Tracy realises Bobby is deaf but he won't seek help. Doug is on the verge of landing the role of Felix Unger in a stage production of The Odd Couple but misses his chance when Bobby fails to pass on a telephone message because of his hearing. The incident pushes Bobby to seek medical attention. Wayne sees a marketing opportunity for Bobby as the "Beethoven of Rock n Roll".

I Like Bread & Butter

Episode 2.15 (59)
Tuesday, June 16, 1992
Written by Philip Dalkin
Directed by Pino Amenta

Anna's and her best friend Jodie have been invited to a year 12 party but when Thomas finds out, he threatens to ruin their plans unless he can go too. Tracy's dental emergency and Dougie exhaustion mean there's no one to cater the children's birthday party the pair have booked. With their business on the line, all hands are put to work in the kitchen.

With: Radha-Rani Mitchell as Jodie

Walk Like An Egyptian

Episode 2.16 (60)
Tuesday, Jun 23, 1992
Written by Kate Langbroek, Megan E. Rees, Stig Wemyss
Directed by Pino Amenta

Doug's cooking skills are put to the test when Tracy get's them a job catering a dinner at the Egyptian Consulate. Doug would prefer catering his mate's Buck's Night, an easy job, but Tracy insists. Doug feels Tracy isn't treating him like an equal partner in their business and she certainly isn't helping with the cooking. Bobby and Wayne don't think Tracy has what it takes to be a belly dancer. Anna is outraged that a local café is serving kangaroo meat. It just so happens the café is owned by Wayne's uncle Vinnie but that won't stop her protest. Inspired by Anna, Doug quits forcing him and Tracy to share the kitchen as the become rivals.

Love Me Tender

Episode 2.17 (61)
Tuesday, June 30, 1992
Written by Elizabeth Coleman
Directed by Pino Amenta

Wayne hires Anna and Doug's business, Food For Thought, to cater his family reunion. However, an Environmental Health Officer with the local council shuts down Anna and Doug for operating a commercial business out of a residential kitchen. Wayne tries to intervene and is surprised by the reaction to his proposition.

With: Georgie Parker as Brenda Beanley

You Ain't Nothing But A Hound Dog

Episode 2.18 (62)
Tuesday, July 07, 1992
Written by Tony Hood
Directed by Pino Amenta

Thomas agrees to look after a dog belonging to Emma Bigelow's mother, Babs, in an attempt to get back into Emma's good books. Anna wants no part in helping out but Doug agrees to lend a hand. Thomas has only one rule — the dog must stay inside. Doug thinks the dog can be the next Lassie or Rin Tin Tin. Bobby picks up an old lawn mower hoping he and Thomas can fix it up in a bit of father-son bonding. And then there's the sheep…

Under My Thumb

Episode 2.19 (63)
Tuesday, July 14, 1992
Written by Dianne Dempsey and Philip Dalkin
Directed by Andrew Friedman

After Wayne books Bobby a gig at a kennel, Tracy urges Bobby to take some assertiveness advice from a motivational book so he can start standing up for himself. However the new Bobby, sorry, Robert, becomes a demanding, self-centred jerk with no interest in solving anyone's problems but his own. When he asks Tracy to marry him it is not because he loves her but just to put the household in order. Unable to live with the new Bobby, the family moves out… to the combi.

Jump In My Car

Episode 2.20 (64)
Tuesday, July 21, 1992
Written by Shane Brennan
Directed by Pino Amenta

The twins are both going for their learner's permits but when Tracy overhears Bobby's sexist remarks about Anna's driving, the battle lines are drawn. With Tracy instructing Anna and Bobby handling Thomas' driving education, the race is on to see which twin will be the first to get their permit.

Look Through Any Window

Episode 2.21 (65)
Tuesday, July 28, 1992
Written by Clare Madsen & Philip Dalkin
Directed by Pino Amenta

Laid up in a wheelchair with a broken leg, Bobby takes delight in observing his feuding neighbours through the rear window but events take a dark turn when he witnesses a murder. No one believes Bobby and when the suspected killer sees Bobby watching her, she pays him a visit. Is Bobby her next victim?

With: Doris Younane as Sue Jacobs, Jasper Bagg as Jim

I Put A Spell On You

Episode 2.22 (66)
Tuesday, August 04, 1992
Written by Anthony Morris
Directed by Pino Amenta

Wayne is convinced an old Italian curse has been placed on the family after an odd package is delivered to the house. Wayne finds a chiromante willing to lift the curse for the low, low price of $150 but as the accidents mount, Wayne takes it upon himself to hold an exorcism — complete with garlic and a flamethrower. Thomas exploits Wayne's nephew, Sam, by having him work at his flee market stall dressed as a street urchin.

With: Simon Gligora as Sam Punchetto, uncredited as newsreader

Let's Spend The Night Together

Episode 2.23 (67)
Tuesday, August 11, 1992
Written by Elizabeth Coleman
Directed by Pino Amenta

Thomas gets into a fight with Anna's boyfriend after he catches him saying sleazy things about her. Anna asks her best friend Jodie and Tracy for advice about sex when she considers sleeping with her boyfriend for the first time. Bobby finds his ex-drummer's Little Black Book. Unfortunately for Wayne, it's a little out of date.

With: Radha Mitchell as Jodie

Unforgettable

Episode 2.24 (68)
Tuesday, August 18, 1992
Written by Philip Dalkin
Directed by Pino Amenta

Bobby is finally on the verge of finishing renovations on the house he started in 1975. If he needs some incentive, Anna will be hosting a surprise birthday party for her best friend on the weekend. Bobby is sure he can finish on time but becomes obsessed with remembering the name of the actor who played Lt. Cmdr. Gary Mitchell in the pilot episode of Star Trek. Wayne asks Bobby to write a song as a 40th birthday gift for his sister.

With: uncredited as Doug's passenger

Michelle

Episode 2.25 (69)
Tuesday, August 25, 1992
Written by Alan & Galia Hardy
Storyline by Marieke Hardy
Directed by Pino Amenta

Thomas is in love. She's a wealthy classmate of Anna's and he really wants to impress her when she comes to the house for dinner so he asks Bobby if he can be a little less, well, Bobby. Wayne tries to hire Tracy and Doug to cater an agents' convention. Tracy's not interested given the low pay but Wayne get's Doug onside by promising it will be a gateway to his own TV series.

With: Susan Ellis as Michelle Snyder

Love & Marriage

Episode 2.26 (70)
Tuesday, September 01, 1992
Written by Shane Brennan
Directed by Andrew Friedman

Bobby gets jealous when Tracy stays out all night with her new boyfriend, Nathan. He reluctantly agrees to let Wayne follow Tracy on her next date and he comes back with photographic evidence that she's dating a married man. When Thomas learns this, he encourages Bobby to be honest with Tracy already knowing she only went out with Nathan to see how Bobby would react.

With: Michael Pope as Constable Bree [uncredited]