Welcome to the Unofficial The Eight is Enough Section -- Season 5p1

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Season 5p1

Eight is Enough Season 5

Eight is Enough Season Five 1980 - 1981

Dates are mostly from memory, but can be off a week or two. Firstrun dates usually follow a pattern of Sep-Dec, then 2-week reruns in late Dec, then firstruns Jan-early Mar, reruns, then May firstruns. If you know of actual dates or have other stuff to add, please let me know By E-mail and I'll put them in. Thank you. One original episode aired in August 1977, though my memory is fuzzy in remembering the date.

NOTE:The season started late because of the Hollywood actors strike.

#91 And Baby Makes Nine, pt. 1

NOTE: This originally aired as a 90-minute episode, paired up with a 90-minute "Soap" that night.

Nicholas and Tom start boy scouts and Nicholas volunteers Tom to be the assistant scout master.

Elizabeth considers moving in with her boyfriend.

Susan keeps her pregnancy problems from Merle when his career takes a leap forward.

Original Air Date: Oct 29, 1980 (confirmed)

Guests: Joan Prather as Janet, Brian Patrick Clarke as Merle, Victoria Racimo as Dr. Kuo, Richard Hill as Harvey, Jeffrey Bryon as Jack Nasella, Stephanie Braxton as Doris, ***Noah Hathaway*** as Jerry, Michael Thoma as Dr. Maxwell, Ted Noose as coach, Belle Ellig as Nurse Julia, Jane Booke as Helen, Kevin Schultz as Steve, Colleen Case as Margie, Marke W. Burke as Bellhop, Lea Catucci as Sally, Edna Zahl as roommate, Peggy Frees as pregnant lady, Ken Wright as husband, Shirley Merchant as Nurse Gloria

The New York Mets: Ray Burris, John Stearns, Pat Zachry, Ron Hodges, Doug Flynn, Steve Henderson, Neil Allen, Joel Youngblood

#92 And Baby Makes Nine, pt. 2

Abby feels guilty when an auto accident sends Susan into premature labor.

Merle is playing ball with the Mets and Tom and Nicholas are camping when Susan goes into labor.

Complications in Susan's pregnancy shake the Bradford household.

Elizabeth comes to terms with her living arrangement.

Sandra Sue, named after Abby's real first names, is born to Susan and Merle.

Original Air Date: Oct 29, 1980 (confirmed)

Guests: see Part 1 for Guests

#93 Jeremy

Abby goes to a funeral in San Francisco and returns with her nephew, Jeremy, who has nowhere else to go. His behavior upsets the family, referring the Bradfords as that other family (The Brady Bunch), but all ends well as he becomes the newest member of the Bradfords.

Joannie is promoted to sports anchor.

Nicholas gets into trouble for selling peeks at Mary's medical books.

Original Air Date: Nov 5, 1980 (confirmed)

Guests: Joan Prather as Janet, Ralph Macchio as Jeremy, John Considine as Mr. Andretti, ***Bubba Smith*** as Ned Naughton, Michael Griswold as Mr. Koppel, Kenneth Tigar as Mr. Whitney, Jennifer Darling as Donna, ***Nicholas Pryor*** as Jeffrey Trout, Andy Freeman as Ralph, Chris Capen as anchorman, Bob Schott as football player #2, Bob McClurg as cameraman, John Rose as floor manager, Don Fenwick as principal

#94 Welcome to Memorial Dr. Bradford

Abby gets a job as a guidance counselor at a rough high school filled with trouble.

Tom discovers his driver's license has expired and fails the renewal test. Tom drives his family crazy when they become his chauffers.

Nicholas's friend dares him to shoplift a desired yo-yo.

Original Air Date: Nov 12, 1980 (99% sure)

Guests: Ralph Macchio as Jeremy, ***Vernee Watson*** as Jackie Calhoun, K.C. Martel as Marvin, Eleanor McCoy as Michelle, Paul Sorenson as Mr. Gregory, Vernon Weddle as DMV Clerk, Gordon Haight as Eddie, Read Morgan as motorcycle cop, Verda Bridges as Cassie, Mary Helen Barro as gym teacher, Shannon Presby as Wilkes, Marc Levine as boy #2, Ken Tynes as boy #3

#95 Generations

Susan brings the baby, Sandra Sue, home from the hospital.

When Joan's parents visit the Bradford household to see the family and their great-grandchild, a conflict with Abby occurs as Joan's parents disapprove of the way Abby is raising Nicholas. Grandpa and Abby make up and finally accept Joan's death in a touching story.

Tommy gets a job playing the guitar at a male strip joint.

Original Air Date: Nov 19, 1980 (99% sure)

Guests: Joan Prather as Janet, Ralph Macchio as Jeremy, Robert F. Simon as Grandpa Wells, Joan Tompkins as Gramdma Wells, Stanley Brock as Lance Merlow, ***James Karen*** as Elliott Randolph, John Gibson as Chris, ***Laurence Lau*** as Larry

#96 Holly

Ernie introduces Tommy to a slightly older songwriting woman who has a 4-year old son. When he falls for her, she has second thoughts.

The Bradford's convert the garage into an apartment for Susan and Merle. Nicholas supervises the conversion job.

Jeremy begins to feel like part of the family when Abby enrolls him in school and Tom makes him follow the household rules.

Original Air Date: Nov 26, 1980 (99% sure)

Guests: Joan Prather as Janet, Ralph Macchio as Jeremy, Jennifer Perito as Holly, Michael Goodrow as Ernie, Charlotte Stewart as Ann Cavalusi, Derrel Maury as Albert, Cory Miller as Aaron, Dan Barrows as registrar, Kevin McCarley as Thorne, Noel Scott as Hal

#97 Maltese Airline Bag

Nicholas and his friend, Melvin, start a messenger service to earn money and get more than they bargained for. One of their first deliveries turns out to be an airline bag full of money to be used for political bribes.

David is frustrated when another construction company keeps underbidding him.

Abby and Donna plan a surprise party for Tom.

Original Air Date: Dec 10, 1980 (99% sure)

Guests: Henry Polic II as Jay Redding, Marie Reynolds as Bright O'Shaugnessey, ***James Karen*** as Elliott Randolph, Jennifer Darling as Donna, Saundra Sharp as Mrs. Rodgers, John Louie as Melvin, Lew Brown as Bill Clifford, Vidal Peterson as Harry, Michael Lang as Jerry, Ted Jordan as van driver

#98 Strike

Caught up in a newspaper strike and laid-off, Tom tries to bring the feuding parties together thanks to something Nicholas says about giving and compromise.

To save everyone money, Nicholas starts a barter system for the family.

The Bradford's have a five car pile-up in their driveway.

Original Air Date: Dec 17, 1980 (99% sure)

Guests: Sandy Kenyon as Joe Jackson, Peggy Pope as Rowena, ***Richard Paul*** as Chuck, ***James Karen*** as Elliott Randolph, Jennifer Darling as Donna, Tom Williams as Sydney Vector, James Staley as Inspector Carruthers, Ken Sansom as Byron, Freeman King as officer, Robert Ackerman as George, Clint Young as security guard, Ben Kronen as unemployment clerk

#99 Bradfordgate

Tom is nominated for a political post by the governor. A political appointment for him ends up more than he can live with.

Joannie goes undercover to do a story on a video dating service.

Nicholas tries to get rid of his "cute" image.

Original Air Date: Jan 7, 1981

Guests: Ralph Macchio as Jeremy, Ken Barry as Barry Hopper, ***Jack Riley*** as Joe Roth, ***Nicholas Pryor*** as Jeffrey Trout, Dawson Mays as Bill Kendall, Stanley Kamel as Bruce Taylor, ***James Karen*** as Elliott Randolph, Bill Erwin as Cal Fitzpatrick, Warren Munson as principal, Tyler McVey as senator Theil, J. Edward McKinley as senator Braff, Reporters: Theresa Hayes, Dale Reynolds, Paul Braden, Bill Wiley, and Casey King

#100 Darlene Dilemma

Abby is proud of the progress one of her students has made and invites her to the house for dinner.

Jeremy falls for 16-year-old Darlene, who likes to flirt and cause trouble (shades of Melrose Place), and he refuses to listen to Abby's advice about her.

Nancy gets a modeling job as the spokesperson for a shady heating and cooling company.

Nicholas tries to impress a 12-year-old girl with his cooking ability.

Original Air Date: January 14, 1981 (possible date)

Guests: Ralph Macchio as Jeremy, Deanna Robbins as Darlene Scott, Danny Wells as Easy Art, Eldon Quick as Johnny Johnson, John Edwards as Jones, Jerry Hoffman as Bartley, John Louie as Melvin, Terry Wagner Otis as Jennifer, D.J. Sydney as Helen, James Parkes as policeman, Dana Halsted as Bernice

#101 Second Thoughts

Joannie is tired of not getting any serious assignments at work and Abby encourages her to take a leave of absence to evaluate her career, and falls for a co-worker.

Nancy finds out fame has a price when she becomes the "Sunshine Soda Girl."

Tommy needs a ticket to a rock concert and Nicholas has one to sell.

Original Air Date: January 21, 1981

Guests: Ralph Macchio as Jeremy, ***Nicholas Pryor*** as Jeffrey Trout, Gary Imhoff as Henry, Michael Griswold as Mr. Koppel, Pat Lentz as waitress, Mark Schneider as assignment editor, Rick Gates as reporter, Doug Cox as Leonard, Adam Mann as kid