Name: Growing Pains
Released: 1985-01-01

Seasons & episodes

Season

Pilot

1985-09-24

Maggie goes back to work as a journalist, prompting psychologist Jason to move his office into their home so he can keep his eye on the kids. Things don't get off to a great start: the first night he gets a call from the police that Mike has been picked up for illegally driving a car.

Springsteen

1985-10-01

Jason embarrasses Mike at a Bruce Springsteen concert when they are interviewed together.

Jealousy

1985-10-08

Jason fumes when Maggie spends long hours on a toxic waste story with handsome co-worker Fred.

Carol's Article

1985-10-15

Maggie gives an honest assessment of Carol's writing of an article for her school magazine; Mike and Ben discover track betting.

Superdad!

1985-10-29

Maggie accuses Jason of monopolizing the children.

Mike's Madonna Story

1985-11-05

Mike's infatuation with a Madonna look-alike worries Maggie.

Weekend Fantasy

1985-11-12

Jason and Maggie want to go to a mountain lodge for a weekend, but are reluctant to leave the kids alone.

Slice of Life

1985-11-19

Coming across a compatibility test in Jason's office, Maggie decides she and Jason should fill it out, but her answers don't tab with his. Meanwhile, Mike feigns interest in karate when his real goal is a girl attending the course.

Carol's Crush

1985-11-26

Carol develops a crush on a family friend, who thinks of her as his little sister.

Dirt Bike

1985-12-03

Mike hurts more than his pride when he takes a nasty fall off a dirt bike that he promised his parents he wouldn't go near.

Standardized Test

1985-12-10

Mike doodles on his aptitude test and winds up with an IQ score of 27.

A Christmas Story

1985-12-17

A depressed department store Santa consulting Jason decides to commit suicide by leaping down the Seavers' chimney.

The Love Song of M. Aaron Seaver

1986-01-07

Mike backs out of the family-bowling match so he can date a snobbish girlfriend.

First Blood

1986-01-14

Jason faces off against Ben's hockey coach, who's teaching the boys to play dirty; Mike learns ballroom dancing.

Slice of Life II

1986-01-21

Maggie casually mentions to Jason that she might be pregnant; Mike acts as a weekend servant to Ben; and Carol wants to divorce her class-project husband.

The Seavers vs. the Cleavers

1986-01-28

The PTA head rejects the Seavers as dance chaperones.

Charity Begins at Home

1986-02-18

Ben gives Jason a very expensive birthday present, causing speculation on how he can possibly afford it.

Reputation

1986-02-25

Mike writes test answers on his shoe soles.

The Anniversary That Never Was

1986-03-04

Maggie's assignment interferes with anniversary plans.

Be a Man

1986-03-11

Custodian Mike watches a wild party explode in his home.

Career Decision

1986-05-06

Reporter Maggie and psychiatrist Jason both face important career decisions.

Extra Lap

1986-05-13

Mike's practical-joker uncle Bob visits from the hereafter.

Synopsis

Fatherhood has taken on a whole new meaning for Jason Seaver, who has assumed the chores of cooking, cleaning and minding the kids so that his wife, Maggie, can pursue a career in journalism after spending 15 years as a housewife.