Steven (Micheal Gross) and Elyse (Meredith Baxter) have a tough go of it with parent-teacher conferences when Elyse has a run-in with an incredibly rude teacher, Mr. Tedesco (Edward Edwards).

Written by Rich Reinhart, The Harder They Fall, debuted on 19 October, 1983.

Elyse has an interaction with Tedesco that leaves her less than thrilled. He doesn’t suffer fools, but nor is he a friendly guy. He’s a bit of an insufferable prig, and he’s not very friendly on any count, but Alex (Micheal J. Fox) was intent on getting a letter of recommendation from him.

He’s probably not going to get the letter after Elyse decks Tedesco for his behaviour and the things he’s said. But things get worse when Elyse attempts to apologize for it. All of this is against Elyse’s better nature, she’s never hit anyone in her life and has never condoned violence.

So what happens when Steven goes to speak with Tedesco? Things get out of hand and Steven ends up decking Tedesco as well.

The Keaton family has made quite the impression.

It’s a fun little episode, it puts both Steven and Elyse in a position they’ve never been in, but Tedesco is a vile human being. Their doctrine of non-violence got pushed to the side by the things someone said to them.

The couple tries to make amends and invites Tedesco to dinner and tries to find a way to smooth it all over. Will their principle win out the day? Will Alex realize how bad a person Tedesco is? Will Tedesco learn a valuable lesson about civility?

This Year’s Model was written by Richard Raskind and Susan Borowitz. It was first broadcast on 26 October, 1983.

Mallory (Justine Bateman) enrolls herself and Elyse in a mother-daughter modelling contest and sees a chance to realize some of her dreams. Unfortunately, when they win, Elyse ends up stealing most of her thunder when everyone seems focused on her and not Mallory.

The photo shoot is fun, and Alex keeps trying to pick up some of the models that are there for the event, and Mallory is left feeling completely shut out of something she wanted for herself. In fact, the calls keep coming in for modeling offers, and TV commercials. When she accepts one, Mallory keeps interrupting the shoot, and her jealousy gets the better of her.

Elyse and Mallory have a discussion about things, and the pair have to sort out their problems. Elyse was dragged into the whole thing by Mallory, and while she enjoyed doing it, Mallory was the one who really wanted to have her big moment. They smooth things out, but it takes a real heart-to-heart as they open up to one another, and realize that you need to consider one another’s feelings. Mallory wanted to just have one thing that she was good at. It’s a nice character moment for her, and also about how she feels inside no matter how she behaves.

There’s a fun b-story as Alex helps Jennifer (Tina Yothers) work on her geography project about Sweden.

Not an Affair to Remember was written by Ruth Bennett and it debuted on 2 November, 1983. Steven is having some trouble at the station when his new production assistant, Stacey (Judith Light), seems to have taken a liking to him.

We get a look at his work environment, not just the sets, but his offices, and his co-worker, Gus Thompson (John Hancock). It’s also nice to see a story that lets Steven have a bit of the limelight. The pair clash at home as Steven tries to decide how to handle Stacey. He’s intrigued to be found attractive to another woman, but he’s not going to pursue it because despite the fact that he’s flattered by Stacey’s interest, he loves Elyse.

At home, the kids are trying to work on keeping the family afloat by helping make dinner, and keeping some of the stress off Elyse while she works on her architect plans, as she’s working in an office again and not from home.

It’s smart, funny, and handled well. Damn, I love this show.