Tim's former tool shop teacher is visiting and meets Tim's mother. The mother and teacher start seeing each other and Tim is not happy about this. He is hesitant to talk to his mother on an emotional level.

Tim is awarded an honorary doctorate by his old college, bewildering Jill as she works for her own master's degree. However, Tim begins to wonder whether his school's reasons have little to do with respect for his show.

When Tim has to go to Chicago for a business meeting Jill plans a romantic evening for the two of them while they're there.

Tim builds Randy a new room in the basement.

Bud talks Tim into buying his Pistons season tickets, which cost $4000. When he gets home and talks with his sons about his purchase they're excited at first, until they find out he didn't discuss it with Jill, his wife. Even his kids know that isn't going to work. When Jill gets home and finds out about what Tim spent on the tickets things get a little hot around the Taylor house hold. While the Taylors try to work out an agreement on the tickets; the guys down at the hardware store discuss how women get the upper hand in arguments with what's called "The Look".

Tool Time is up for an award, and Tim, Jill, Al, and Ilene attend the banquet party. While the Taylors are out of the house, Brad and his friend throw a Halloween party. Also, Mark has an ear ache.

Jill gets a good grade on a psychology paper and starts to give advice to the father of Randy's girlfriend. It causes the parents to start arguing. When talking it over with Wilson and Judith, they start to disagree.

Tim tries to throw a surprise 39th birthday party for Jill, but she suddenly decides to go to Ohio to reacquire her childhood piano. When she finds that it's been converted into a fish tank, Tim decides to get it back and restore it as a gift.

When Tim finds out Jill's new book club member is a good looking guy, Tim decides he needs to also join the book club. At the next meeting, he brings a new perspective on a classic book.

Binford Tools has been sold to Bud Harper. He wants to take the show to the national level, but Tim has to fire Al and replace him with a younger man. Tim refuses.

When the family travels to the wedding of Jill's favorite cousin, Tim and the boys are determined to use all their free time in outdoor activities.

Brad has a pimple before a big date. Jill sets Wilson up on a blind date with one of her professors, Judith. They seem compatible, but Wilson seems happy to keep the relationship on an intellectual level only.

Tim and the boys visit the hardware store where Harry and Al are working. The boys want a pocket knife, and after they leave, the knife is just gone. Al talks to Tim about the boys taking it. Tim & Jill find the knife in Mark's drawer.

Jill's sister Carrie, a globetrotting photographer, comes to visit, and their different paths in life create conflict. Meanwhile, Tim can't seem to stop arguing with his brother Marty, and the strife even spills over to create friction between Al and his brother Cal.

After eating Polish food, Tim's stomach is bothering him so he stays up all night watching old Tool Time episodes.

After eating Polish food, Tim's stomach is bothering him so he stays up all night watching old Tool Time episodes.

Tim & Jill are to double date with Al & Ilene at a play, but first Tim and Al have to sell tickets to a hockey game. Tim & Al get caught scalping the tickets. Wilson watches the boys while Tim and Jill are out.