Empty Nest
1988Widowed pediatrician Harry Weston is a miracle worker when it comes to dealing with his young patients, but he's more challenged by the other people surrounding him: daughters Barbara and Carol; his wisecracking office assistant, nurse LaVerne Todd; and obnoxious neighborhood mooch Charley Dietz. Thank goodness he always finds a friendly shoulder (and a warm, wet tongue) in Dreyfuss, his enormous dog.
Seasons & Episode
Rumors fly after Charley and Laverne begin spending a lot of time together, but the two swear they are just friends. Carol is excited about her new job at a local newspaper, until she finds out that she has been hired merely as a driver for the paper's teenage reporter.
Reporter Carol tries her best to meet Hillary Clinton, who is visiting the clinic, but only ends up getting thrown in jail along with Laverne and Charley.
Charley pursues a new career as a stand-up comedian and centers his whole act around making fun of Harry. Meanwhile, a mentally unstable woman befriends Laverne and Maxine battles the bus station when they move the bus shelter.
Charley discovers he has a son, who is a 17-year-old flautist. Carol fills in for Laverne at the clinic and tries to put a damper on Maxine's smoking.
Sophia, who is fed up with the strict Shady Pines manager, moves in with the Westons. Carol tries to help with the problem and ends up bringing all the retirement home residents to the house. Meanwhile, Maxine doesn't trust Doris, Laverne's temporary replacement at the clinic.
Carol wants career advancement and ends up in a compromising position with her boss. Meanwhile, Maxine fills in for Harry and speaks at an elementary school.
When Harry wishes his ex-girlfriend well on her new marriage, the woman realizes she still has feelings for him. Carol tries to set Harry up with a lounge singer.
When the clinic applies for a grant, a man comes to evaluate their request and leaves his notebook behind, which Maxine reads. Charley seeks Sophia's help when trying to impress an Italian girlfriend's parents.
Harry is attracted to the minister Charley is dating. Meanwhile, Maxine buys Laverne's beloved truck.
Maxine gets unwanted attention when dating a television weatherman. Carol and Charley make a bet: He can't mooch from the Westons for one week, and she can't call Harry ""Daddy"" for one week.
Charley is uncomfortable when he finds out his new roommate is gay. Meanwhile, Maxine joins Harry's golf group.
Carol tries to pick up a man who wrote to the newspaper's advice column, but has trouble picking him out of a crowd. Harry's old navy sparring partner shows up with a score to settle.
After a death, Charley feels depressed about his own mortality and fears no one will miss him when he's gone, so Carol tries to boost his morale and helps him stage his own funeral.
Maxine agrees to take care of a patient's children while the lady has gall bladder surgery. Sophia invites Harry to a Shady Pines square dance.
Harry is attracted to a woman he meets in the park, but soon finds out she is married. Laverne keeps a parrot at the office while waiting for it's owner to claim it, which annoys Maxine. Carol goes overboard when shopping at a value size discount club.
Laverne is afraid to reveal her true feelings for her visiting friend Matt, and becomes jealous when Carol asks him to dinner. Charley poses for a nude layout in a magazine.
Carol is jealous over Kevin's quick bonding with Scotty. Harry and Maxine help Laverne learn to speak Spanish.
Harry becomes Carol's boss' new best friend, which makes Charley jealous. Laverne auditions for a commercial in which she'll play the voice of a cartoon owl.
Carol is afraid her relationship with Kevin is over when she meets his beautiful intelligent ex-wife. Meanwhile, Charley sues Harry when he gets sick after eating some old Chinese food from the Westons' fridge.
Constant interruptions frustrate Laverne's relationship with Matt, prompting her to go out with Maxine, Charley, and his friend Bud (who she ""hits it off"" with). Harry meets a woman whose dog looks just like Dreyfuss and persuades her to breed the two.
Carol goes off looking for a friend and ends up stopping a woman from committing suicide. Harry goes on a survival camping trip to be alone, but Charley tags along. A psychic opens up a shop next to the clinic, which excites Laverne and annoys Maxine.
While at Laverne's going-away party, the gang remembers old times as she prepares to get married and move back to Hickory.
With the gang fretting over Laverne's elopement, Kevin comes to see Carol and the two decide to get married with Laverne's father performing the ceremony. Laverne and Matt return unhitched and the ceremony becomes a double wedding. Barbara returns home to pack her things, but Harry has second thoughts about moving...until he is confronted by his dead wife Libby's ghost.
Widowed pediatrician Harry Weston is a miracle worker when it comes to dealing with his young patients, but he's more challenged by the other people surrounding him: daughters Barbara and Carol; his wisecracking office assistant, nurse LaVerne Todd; and obnoxious neighborhood mooch Charley Dietz. Thank goodness he always finds a friendly shoulder (and a warm, wet tongue) in Dreyfuss, his enormous dog.