Uprooted to a new neighborhood and bussed to a predominantly white middle school two-hours away by his strict, hard-working parents, Chris struggles to find his place while keeping his siblings in line at home and dealing with the school bully, Joey.

When Chris's mother, Rochelle, hires the girl next door, Keisha, to tutor Drew at Math, Chris sees this as an ideal chance to impress her. But someone else may have the same intentions. Meanwhile, Julius finds himself in an awkward position when he becomes attracted to another woman, Sheila.

Chris joins the school Bastketball team even though he can't play, but a failed pop quiz threatens to get him dropped.Back at home Julius gets a lodger after he offers 6 months rent up front, despite the fact he makes Rochelle nervous.

When Julius buys a big crate of sausage, he makes everyone eat it with every meal. But Tonya refuses to, causing friction between the pair. While at school, Chris is sentenced to 3 days of detention after a rumour goes round about him beating up the schoo

It's Halloween and Chris is excited when another girl invites him to a costume party. But Caruso has plans for him...

Back at home, Julius buys cheap candy for the local kids.

Julius finds $200 in food stamps but Rochelle is too embarassed to let Sheila see them, so she dips into the family savings while at the store. This leads to trouble at home when Julius has all kinds of ideas on how they can spend the cash they saved by using the stamps.

Elsewhere, Chris and Greg fall out over a school science project.

It's Christmas and Julius and Rochelle find it difficult in breaking the news that they can't afford presents because of broken water heater.

Chris is suprised to discover who the canned food drive is really for...

Chris tries to put together the right outfit for the school pictures in order to convince the other kids that he's cool. Rochelle tries to earn extra money selling cosmetics from home.

While Chris develops a crush, Julius and Rochelle have their work cut out dealing with all of Tonya's and Drew's admirers.

Chris receives a challenge to his crown of Asteroids champion. Julius and Rochelle agree to give up some guilty pleasures.

Chris fails math but he changes the grade on his report card before showing it to his parents.

Julius recovers from the gout by staying at home and watching soap operas.

Chris' beloved grandfather (Jimmie Walker) dies while paying a visit to Rochelle and the family, and the extended family comes to town to pay their respects.

The daily beatings at his school have Chris wanting to change schools. But when Julius and Rochelle won't let him change Chris resorts to attempts at getting himself expelled. Julius gets a job at a fish market. He makes more money, but his family is upset because he always comes home smelling like fish.

Chris finds Julius' copy of Playboy and takes it to school and charges kids to look. But when Joey steals it he must work out a way to get it back before Julius realizes it's gone...

Chris must raise cash for the school trip by selling cookies.

Meanwhile Julius regrets sending Rochelle to Dreamgirls while he looks after Tonya and Drew who have chicken pox

Guest star Wayne Brady play Julius' succesful younger brother. Julius tries to impress him with the perfect Thanksgiving dinner, but things don't go smoothly.

Everything goes right for Chris when Julius loans him his lucky socks. Drew and Tonya play Julius and Rochelle against each other to get what they want. Drew enters the talent show at school, but nobody wants to tell him he can't sing.

In order to make some extra money, Julius and Chris take a job at a department store as Santa and an elf. Things don't go well when Julius is fired and Chris ends up in the hospital.

After getting bullied Caruso stops bullying everyone else which upsets the balance at school. Julius tries to keep secret that he's been forced to take his vacation days.