Terry Farrell guest stars in The Big Fix. This episode, written by Micheal J. Weithorn, debuted on 17 November, 1986.

When Elyse (Meredith Baxter) learns that one of her architect co-workers, Terry (Tony Carreiro) is single, but a little gun-shy about going out again, she decides to fix him up with a neighbour’s daughter, Liz (Farrell). Unfortunately, Elyse doesn’t realize Liz is seeing someone, something she’s revealed to Steven (Michael Gross) and he’s trying to get through to her. Terry likes Liz a lot, and she hasn’t told him she’s seeing someone, and unfortunately can’t tell him, because she really likes him too.

But Elyse has to keep meddling.

Honestly, Elyse seems a bit out of character here. Yes, she cares about Terry, but she’s also aware enough to have asked Liz whether she’s seeing someone or not. The writers simply wanted to put her in a matchmaking role and have it all blow up in her face until she’s able to smooth it all over again, of course.

Alex (Michael J. Fox) has to take Andrew (Brian Bonsall) to a birthday party and is skimping on presents, but may have some help from Nick (Scott Valentine) when he finds a doll at a foster home, and they struggle to make sure it’s dressed appropriately for a party.

My Brother’s Keeper was written by Susan Borowtiz and first debuted on 20 November, 1986.

Skippy (Marc Price) is bummed because he hasn’t been accepted into a fraternity. Alex wants to help out so he talks to the local chapter of his frat, something we didn’t even know he was in, about taking him on.

Unfortunately, it seems the only reason the frat decides to take him on is so that they can have someone to laugh at. Alex is initially divided on what to do about it when he learns the truth. The frat is just stringing Skippy along and then denying him his application.

Skippy doesn’t know this and is confident and happy, while Alex is stuck between his frat oath and his loyalty to his friend. But you know Alex is going to make the right choice in the end, and it’s going to cost him his frat membership.

See Alex isn’t as bad as he sometimes makes himself out to be, and he does right by his friend even after Skippy learns that Alex knew the plan.

How will that play out? I’m sure it will be resolved before the end of the episode and the two will be friends again.

High School Confidential was written by Ruth Bennett, and it debuted on 4 December, 1986.

Nick wants to get a job teaching art to kids at a YMCA, but when he’s turned down because he doesn’t have his high school diploma, Mallory (Justine Bateman) tries to help him pass his equivalency test.

When Alex mocks the situation, and Nick asks Alex if he thinks he’ll pass, Alex says no, so Nick drops everything and leaves, believing he can’t do it.

But when everyone sees how good he is with Andy, they realize he would be a great art teacher, and Alex is the best one to help him. Will it be enough? It’s great to see them having a great moment together. There are some wonderful character beats.

Jennifer (Tina Yothers) is having problems with her dad’s conversation in the morning carpool to school. It’s a cute little b-story, but it’s the main story that really shines this time and Fox and Valentine are great together.