1. Pilot
First aired: 9/12/2004 Production Code: 475243Jack and Bobby McCallister are two bright young brothers growing up in Hart, Missouri, under the watchful eye of their eccentric single mother Grace, a college professor whose strong personality helps shape both of these young men's lives and secure one a place in the history books - as President of the United States. Grace and Jack's temperamental mother/son relationship takes a dangerous toll on Bobby as he gets caught in their rival forces, prompting a major change in the McCallister household. The arrival of a new college president, Peter Benedict, and his beautiful daughter, Courtney, makes an impression on the McCallisters that lasts a lifetime.
Director: David Nutter
Guest star: Dakin Matthews (Merle Horstadt), Dean Collins (Warren Feide), Ron Canada (Marcus Ride (adult)) , John Aylward (Victor Sable), Tess Harper (Karen Carmichael), David Paymer (Adam Chasen (Uncredited)), Ash Christian (Justin), Angela Rawna (The Nurse), Preston Jones (Nick), Glen Powell Jr. (Rich Wolf), Kit Gwin (Miss Murphy), Charles Sanders (Principal Farber), Amber Heard (Liz), Brenda Wehle (Future Courtney McCallister)
2. Better Days
Community Score
| 8.8 Great |
Grace and Bobby help with a College Democrats rally. Jack explodes after catching Grace smoking pot again and gives her an ultimatum. However, after a particularly trying day, Grace seeks refuge in her old habit and is unprepared for the price she must pay for the one joint. One of Grace's co-workers gets fired, and Grace goes to bat for her without all the facts in hand. Courtney and Jack continue to explore their relationship. Meanwhile, Bobby tries to help make things better for Jack, both with Courtney and in school, but only succeeds in making things worse. Also, it is revealed how President McCallister became affiliated with a surprising political party---Republicans.
Director: Mick Jackson
Guest star: Ron Canada (Marcus Ride (adult)) , Brenda Wehle (Future Courtney McCallister), Charles Sanders (Principal Farber), Brooke Bloom (Bridget), Vernee Watson-Johnson (Vera Vaughn), Nancy Lenehan (School Secretary), John Heard (Dennis Morgenthal)
3. The Kindness of Strangers
Community Score
| 8.7 Great |
Grace goes out of town to a faculty retreat. Bobby joins the "challenge program" at school and learns a powerful lesson. Grace is conflicted on what to do when she finds out her student TA plagiarized one of her papers in class. Also, Grace is startled by news that Bobby's new teacher gives her regarding Jack. Jack plans a party at the house while Grace is away. Lastly, the flash-forward segments reveal how a surprising ally helps President McCallister out at a critical moment in his political career.
Director: David Nutter
Guest star: Dakin Matthews (Merle horstadt), Ron Canada (Marcus Ride (adult)) , David Paymer (Adam Chasen (uncredited)), Paul Sorvino (President Lorio), Brock Cuchna (Coop), Bennet Guillory (George), David Henrie (The Sniffly Kid), Hosea (Some Random Drunk), Kyle Patrick (The Random Guy), Nelson Mashita (Mr. Chou), Luis Avalos (Mr. Luis), John Heard (Dennis Morgenthal), Alex D. Linz (Hunter), Amy Sloan (Tammy)
4. A Man of Faith
Community Score
| 8.7 Great |
Bobby's interest in religion is piqued when he helps Warren study for his Bar Mitzvah. Elsewhere Grace insults Hebba, an Arab-American female student with deep religious beliefs. Taking offense, Grace chastises Hebba in front of the class, prompting a campus-wide boycott of her classes. Jack gets a chance to rejoin the track team when the coach needs a replacement runner for Marcus, who's on academic probation.
Bobby demands to know why Grace never took him to church. Completely thrown by the accusations, Grace must explain to Bobby & Hebba what "faith" really means to her. In the future, pre-President McCallister struggles with his faith.
Director: Peter Markle
Guest star: Ed Begley Jr. (Rev. Belknap), Ron Canada (Marcus Ride (adult)), Dean Collins (Warren Feide) , Thom Gossom Jr. (Mr. Ride), T.J. Thyne (Todd Shotz), Jeffrey D. Sams (Track Coach), William Charles Mitchell (Rabbi), Lina Patel (Hebba Narjali), Harris Laskawy (Rabbi Rosinski), Rich Ceraulo (Bryce), Pamela Roylance (Mrs. Evelyn Belknap), Barbara Eve Harris (High School Teacher)
5. The First Lady
Community Score
| 8.7 Great |
The future reveals a dark secret about the soon-to-be First Lady. Back in the present, Jack offers to escort a depressed Courtney to her father's work fundraiser leading to an unexpected confession and kiss. Bobby is having problems with another school bully. Meanwhile, much to the consternation of her sons, Grace offers to let a homeless man stay at their house for a few days until she can find him a better place to live.
Director: David Petrarca
Guest star: Dean Collins (Warren Feide) , Jeanette Brox (Dex Truggman), Mary Gordon Murray (Martha Truggman), Joel McKinnon Miller (Officer Marty Shallock), Erik M. Walker (Crew Member #1), Carrie Fisher (Madison Skutcher (White House Correspondent, Washington Post)), Chad Everett (Mr. Henry 'Huck' Graham), Amy Watt (Deborah Finch), John Dennis Johnston (Jonah Babbage)
6. An Innocent Man (a.k.a You're No Jack McCallister)
Community Score
| 8.5 Great |
Grace is stunned after Benedict informs her that her fellow colleague and good friend has been accused of sexually harassing a student. Grace immediately defends her co-worker but must re-think her loyalty when new evidence arises. Meanwhile, Bobby is spending so much time with his new girlfriend Dex, he begins to neglect his school work. Under pressure from Grace to succeed, Bobby cheats on his test. Still reeling from the guilt of kissing Courtney, Jack is horrified to discover she and Missy have become friends. Lastly, in the future, President McCallister is accused of sexual harassment.
Director: Thomas Schlamme
Guest star: Ed Begley Jr. (Rev. Belknap) , Polly Cusumano (Sara Ehret), Sage Mears (Mr. Minkin), Amanda Barfield (Rose), Aaron Lustig (Committe Spokesman), Fred Foh Shen (Miriam Chen-Pew), Evan Handler (Cary Donovan), Don McManus (Professor Steven Feltz), Shonda Farr (Stacy), Jeanette Brox (Dex Truggman), Tess Harper (Karen Carmichael)
7. Valentino
First aired: 10/27/2004 Production Code: 2T65406Bobby's relationship with Dex (guest-star Jeanette Brox) continues to grow until Grace walks in on them kissing in her study. After failing to convince Bobby to break it off with Dex, Grace and Jack take matters into their own hands. Meanwhile, Peter shows his overprotective side when she considers going out with a college frat boy, and though he has Courtney's best interests at heart, ultimately causes her embarrassment among her peers. Also, the future reveals that President McCallister has trouble with his oldest of four sons, Jack, and the secret service.
Director: John David Coles
Guest star: Dakin Matthews (Merle Horstadt) , Brenda Wehle (Future Courtney McCallister), Jeanette Brox (Dex Truggman), Alicia Coppola (Abigail Marks), Cliff DeYoung (Mr. Truggman), Jeremy Garrett (Dave Wild), Lawrence Pressman (Jonas Parker), Shailene Woodley (Chloe), Eva Simone Fisher (Ani Wannabe), Steele Justiss (The Grungy Guy), Shawn Carter Peterson (The Clerk), Mary Gordon Murray (Martha)
8. Election Night
First aired: 11/3/2004 Production Code: 2T65407Bobby is heartbroken over his break-up with Dex and decides to get even with Jack after finding out he is responsible for their split. Bobby's actions cause Jack, Missy and Courtney much embarrassment and anger, which results in a feud between the brothers. Bobby accompanies himself on Jack and Missy's date. Meanwhile, Grace and Tom sneak away from the campus election night party to smoke pot, which proves to be a terrible mistake for Grace and her family.
Grace is eagerly awaiting who won the 2004 presidential election. Lastly, in the future 2040 political leaders talk about Pres. McCallister and the night he won the presidential election by only a few votes.
Director: Keith Samples
Guest star: Dakin Matthews (Merle Horstadt) , Evan Handler (Cary Donovan), Jeanette Brox (Dex Truggman), Scott Foley (Lars Christopher), Beth Fisher (Customer)
9. Chess Lessons
Community Score
| 8.7 Great |
Grace promises to be on her best behavior when she and Jack go to Missy's house for dinner but loses her cool after the Reverend starts attacking her ideals and political policies. Upset by the event, Grace turns to Tom and the two share a very romantic moment. Meanwhile, Bobby intentionally loses at chess games with Peter in order to spend more time with him. Also, Courtney uses Marcus to get back at Jack. Lastly, in the future Pres. McCallister uses chess in his way of strategizing a war.
Director: David Petrarca
Guest star: Ed Begley Jr. (Rev. Belknap) , Jonathan Redford (The Roomie), Adam McArthur (The Guy), Hector Elizondo (Gerald Cruz), Sam Horrigan (College Guy), Pamela Roylance (Mrs. Evelyn Belknap), Samantha Quan (Megan), Steven C. Nelson (College Guy), Adam Hendershott (Garrett)
10. Lost Boys
Community Score
| 9.2 Superb |
Grace's warm, intelligent, gay younger brother Jimmy makes a surprise visit for Thanksgiving. Grace is thrilled that he has returned, but her feelings change after he lands in jail on drug charges. Meanwhile, one of Jack's high school teammates on the track team, Matt, is gay and has a crush on Jack, and is distraught when Jack finds out his reaction. Later on Matt commmits suicide and the whole entire school is surprised by the matter. Jack feels responsible for that matter.
Director: Bryan Gordan
Guest star: Dakin Matthews (Merle Horstadt), Ron Canada (Marcus Ride (adult)) , Thomas Cavanagh (Jimmy McCallister), Patrick J. Adams (Matthew Kramer), James Eckhouse (Mr. Kramer), Barbara Eve Harris (High School Teacher), Shonda Farr (Stacy), Kathy Baker (Carol Bryson), Jayne Brook (Mrs. Kramer), Beau Wirick (The Teammate), Stephen Mendel (Mr. Saga), Nikki Griffin (Cheerleader #1), Aasha Davis (Cheerleader #2), Shawna Riggio (Cheerleader #3), Rachel Melvin (Jamie)
11. Today I am a Man
First aired: 12/1/2004 Production Code: 2T65410Jack is mortified after Grace catches him buying condoms in preparation for his big night with Missy. Trying to be supportive of his actions, Grace insists that Jack talk to her about sex and questions him about whether he is sure Missy is the right girl. Meanwhile, Jimmy slips back into his old habits, forcing Grace to make a difficult decision about her family. Also, Bobby tries to help Warren win over his crush Deena but is surprised when she declares she has feelings for Bobby.
Director: Michael Schultz
Guest star: Dean Collins (Warren Feide) , Thomas Cavanagh (Jimmy McCallister), Courtney Jines (Deena Greenberg), Saul Rubinek (Nahum Mayhew), Thom Gossom Jr. (Mr. Ride), Josh Holt (Mercer), Beverly Nero (Warren's Mom)
12. Running Scared
Community Score
| 7.9 Good |
Jack tries to resume a sense of normalcy after his brutal attack, but finds that the injury may keep him from returning to his old life when he visits the doctor with Grace. Also, Grace accidentally runs into one of her students, Natalie, while she is leaving Tom's apartment, but may get busted as she tries to subliminally blackmail Grace with her grade in a later conversation.
Meanwhile, Courtney meets a new guy who's tied up in front of her house as a fraternity hazing. He captures her interest and tries to get to know him later on. But his feelings for her are not what she had hoped. Lastly, the future reveals President McCallister's unique actions after a horrific bombing in Chicago.
Director: Perry Lang
Guest star: Mike Erwin (Nate Edmonds), Dakin Matthews (Merle Horstadt) , Christina Cindrich (Kappa Sister #2), Richard Tillman (Chet), Virginia Williams (Natalie Schultz), George Wyner (Faculty Professor #1), David Purdham (Dr. Battles), Shailene Woodley (Chloe), J.K. Simmons (Cyrus Miller), Nicole Cavazos (Kappa Sister #1), Nicole Cavasos (Kappa Sister), Christina Cindrich (Kappa Sister)
13. A New Frontier
Community Score
| 8.3 Great |
Bobby becomes suspicious of Grace's relationship with Tom after Tom coincidentally shows up during a camping trip and Bobby is not happy at all. While Jack and Missy's relationship seems to be coming to an end as he competes with Truman High's football captain Randy for Missy's affection lately, Courtney's dating life is heating up with college freshman Nate. Also, Jack befriends a girl patient, Katie, who also goes to school with him in the waiting room of his doctor's office for his knee appointment. The future reveals that President McCallister, despite risks involved, supports space travel to the planet Mars.
Director: David Petrarca
Guest star: Mike Erwin (Nate Edmonds), Kate Mara (Katie), Cam Gigandet (Randy Bongard) , Myra Turley (The Nurse), Amy Watt (Deborah Finch)
14. Into the Woods
Community Score
| 8.2 Great |
Jack walks in on Grace and Tom in a compromising situation and tells Grace he disapproves of her romance. Meanwhile, Bobby convinces Grace to allow him to attend an overnight hunting trip with Peter by blackmailing her on telling Jack about her relationship with Tom before he finds out, which proves to be an eye-opening experience for Bobby. Also, Courtney contemplates moving her relationship with Nate forward and does this by making him her first sexual experience. Lastly, Jack hangs out with new friend Katie as he adjusts to Missy and Randy now coming together.
Director: Perry Lang
Guest star: Mike Erwin (Nate Edmonds), Cam Gigandet (Randy Bongard), Kate Mara (Katie), Dean Collins (Warren Feide) , John Heard (Dennis Morgenthal), Sharon Madden (College Nurse), Chad Brokaw (Jordan)
15. Time Out of Life
Community Score
| 8.3 Great |
A bad snow storms hits Hart, Missouri. Grace and Tom's relationship is exposed when a fellow professor catches them kissing in her office. Later in the evening, Peter turns to Grace for advice when he finds out Courtney is having sex with her boyfriend. Meanwhile, Jack's relationship with Katie progresses. In an effort to become popular at school, Bobby and Warren decide to have sleep over and come up with a shocking idea to make the evening memorable. Jack, Courtney, Missy and Katie are also trapped together, where they play a game of dare and inevitably leads to Jack and Courtney's first REAL kiss together in front of everyone.
Tom babysits Bobby and Warren's sleepover with the "cool" kids at Grace's house as he coerced them into coming as they promised they would watch porn. But the plan backfires when the tape goes missing, the power goes out and everyone is trapped. Lastly, Grace and Peter are stuck in their offices on campus waiting for the power to come back and the roads to clear.
Director: Michael Katleman
Guest star: Mike Erwin (Nate Edmonds), Cam Gigandet (Randy Bongard), Kate Mara (Katie), Dean Collins (Warren Feide) , George Wyner (Faculty Professor), Blaine Miller (Joel), Brenda Wehle (Future Courtney McCallister), Kyle Gallner (BJ Bongaro), Quinton Madina (Keith), Jascha Washington (Brad Whistler), Crawford Wilson (Scott)
16. And Justice for All
Community Score
| 8.3 Great |
Peter is forced to take action after learning about the relationship between Grace and Tom. Grace has to go up against the University Ethics Committee when they find out about her relationship with Tom. Bobby and Warren solicite themselves to members in the neighborhood to do odd jobs, but they keep getting rejected until Mrs. Sorensen has them clean out her infested garage at a very low wage. In a twist, Bobby finds Jack's wallet in the garage that was stolen by one of the guys that robbed him and finds out Mrs. Sorensens godson Ted was storing stuff in his garage. Jack and Marcus decide to confront him where he works, but it doesn't go well.
Then, Jack and Marcus immediately call the police but things don't go so well. Marcus and Jack then decide to take matters into their own hands with Ted, but it backfires. In the future Pres. McCallister has to handle being criticized by former Pres. Adler in retaliation to when McCallister criticzed Adler when he was president and the U.S. was at war and McCallister criticized his handling over the War of Americas.
Director: David Petrarca
Guest star: Mike Erwin (Nate Edmonds), Dakin Matthews (Merle Horstadt), Dean Collins (Warren Feide), Ron Canada (Marcus Ride (adult)) , Pat Crawford Brown (Mrs. Sorensen), Danica McKellar (Keirsten (Student Committee Person)), Will Collyer (Geza), Stephen Taylor (Tim Swain), Eric Allan Kramer (Officer Burke), Jeffrey Hayenga (Ethics Chairperson), Thom Gossom Jr. (Mr. Ride), George Wyner (Roger Hennessy)
17. Querida Grace
Community Score
| 8.3 Great |
Bobby must research his family history for a school assignment which leads to more unanswered questions about his father's real life. Jack and Katie's relationship progresses, while Courtney's comes to a screeching halt after Jack discovers Nate is cheating on her with another girl. Grace and Tom face the reality of their relationship as she is shocked to learn that her affair with Tom has cost her more than she had bargained for. Jack and Katie play a game to see who knows the other better.
Director: Arvin Brown
Guest star: Kate Mara (Katie), Mike Erwin (Nate Edmonds), Dean Collins (Warren Feide) , Neil Patrick Harris (Preston Phelps), Blaine Miller (Joel), Luis Avalos (Mr. Luis), Kyle Gallner (BJ Bongaro), Will Collyer (Geza), McNally Sagal (Mrs. Betts), Torrey DeVitto (Tiffany)
18. Friends with Benefits
Community Score
| 7.8 Good |
Grace is now working with a new TA, Margaret, which leads Grace at a lost without Tom even with another TA on her side. Grace's excitement to be the opening speaker at an event for her mentor turns to disappointment when she is asked not to speak due to her scandalous relationship with Tom. Grace catches up on old times with a former colleague, Julius Edelman, who was her former mentor when she was a TA at the college. But Grace is a little scared of how he'll feel about her once he finds out about her former relationship with Tom on campus---but the story takes a surprising turn for both. Jack that finds out Bobby is taking a shot a joinging the track team and he instantly shows disapproval. Later, Jack finds out that his relationship with Katie (guest-star Kate Mara) isn't what he thought it was and is shocked to find out that Courtney and Marcus may have feelings for each other.Lastly, Missy joins a Bible Study Group after her break up with Randy, but it doesn't go so well for her. In fact, Missy is not feeling well at all in this episode and later speaks to Jack...what could it possibly be?
Director: Sheldon Larry
Guest star: Dean Collins (Warren Feide), Kate Mara (Katie), Cam Gigandet (Randy Bongard) , John Heard (Dennis Morgenthal), Marissa Jaret Winokur (Margaret)
19. A Child of God
Community Score
| 8.0 Great |
Missy and Jack go to the school nurse and find out she's pregnant. They eventually tell both their parents and they meet up at the Belknap house to discuss the matter, but does not go well at all with her father, Rev. Belknap threatening to disown her if she has a child out of wedlock leaving Missy frightened and alone. She eventually goes to an unlikely person, Grace, and both go together to a clinic for a "procedure."
Bobby decides he wants to go further into religion by wanting to be Baptized and joining the church as he's been taking a few classes and being guided by Rev. Reinhart, but needs a family member to accompany him since he doesn't have a godparent. Rev. Reinhart tries to talk to an uncooperative Grace later on. Bobby is reluctant at the thought of his mom, but eventually Jack and Peter go with him.
Director: Ellen S. Pressman
Guest star: Ed Begley Jr. (Rev Balknap) , Pamela Roylance (Mrs. Evelyn Belknap)
20. Under the Influence
Community Score
| 8.9 Great |
After getting into a big argument at the not-so-exciting school dance, Jack, Courtney, Marcus, Missy and Randy decide to drive to an after-party, but a deadly car accident prevents them from making it to their destination. They collide with a deer on the road, as Courtney flags down a truck driver as the episode begins and stems back to the hours before the accident. At the end of the episode one of the four are dead, Missy. Meanwhile, Grace agrees to chaperone Bobby's school field trip, much to Bobby's dismay, which proves to be a hurtful and eye-opening experience for Grace.
Also, Grace and Bobby sneak into Independence Hall and take a look at an original copy of the "Declaration of Independence." Lastly, in the future Pres. Robert McCallister's eldest son, John "Jack" McCallister talks about the day his younger 16 year-old brother Henry died in a car accident after driving drunk and his involvement in the matter of his brother's death.
Director: Perry Lang
Guest star: Kate Mara (Katie), Cam Gigandet (Randy Bongard), Dean Collins (Warren Feide) , Gabriel Sunday (The Hopeful Guy), Blaine Miller (Joel), Crawford Wilson (Scott), Katie McGregor-Stewart (Mrs. Opal), Justin Kirk (John "Jack" McCallsiter)
21. Stand By Me
Community Score
| 9.4 Superb |
The aftermath of the fatal car accident starts with all the kids' parents meeting up at the hospital to claim their children as well as seeing Missy's parents shatter in grief when they find out about their daughter's death. To protect Marcus, Jack tells the police that he was driving the car the night Missy died. The guilt becomes too much for Marcus and he confesses to his dad, who immediately calls Grace. A surprising ally comes to Jack's aid after Grace demands that he tell the police what really happened. Meanwhile, the group's sadness turns to outrage after Reverend Belknap delivers a shocking eulogy at his daughter's funeral.
Bobby and Warren say goodbye to each other as Warren moves away promising to stay in touch. In the future we see an adult Warren talk about reuniting with his former best friend, Pres. Bobby McCallister decades later after saying good-bye and never staying in touch with each other since kids. Warren is the most well known successful accountant in that state of Arizona. Lastly, Bobby's motives for meeting with Warren again is not what Warren had expected.
Director: David Paymer
Guest star: Ed Begley Jr. (Rev Balknap), Dean Collins (Warren Feide) , Thom Gossom Jr. (Mr. Ride), Pamela Roylance (Mrs. Evelyn Belknap), Suzanne Ford (Mrs. Greenburg), Harry Groener (Adult Warren Fiede)
22. Legacy
First aired: 5/11/2005 Production Code: 2T65421In the future documentary, there is a host who explains how Jack fought in the War of Americas and became a war hero (but was badly injured with his old knee injury becoming permanent), then became a famous public defender, was elected into Congress, and shot to death by a drug addict while driving to his son's soccer game. Jack was married and had two sons. Bobby was the one who encouraged Jack who was a Democrat to run for Congress and inherited Jack's seat when he died.
An older Peter and the Adult Marcus tell what happens after Jack dies. The host also says how everything the brothers do in the future are tied back to the day that they met their father in prison. The future reveals Jack's heartbreaking fate and details Bobby's unlikely road to the Presidency and, for the first time, we hear the voice of President McCallister.
In the present, Jack and Bobby discover that Grace plans to visit their father, Juan, in a Texas prison. Even though Bobby was originally the one who wanted to see their dad, Jack is the brother who meets him, and he feels responsible for their dad leaving, but their dad says that he left because he was a screwup. Their dad is in prison for murder, but there seems to be hints that he was unjustly convicted and is innocent---the reason Jack became a public defender.
Jack and Courtney finally reveal their true feelings for one another, and they kiss. Peter and Bobby connect as father and son. Lastly, Tom returns and goes to Grace's house. She answers the front door in a bath robe.
