Select Season 👆 1

Episode 1

In the Beginning...

Mon Oct 25 1982

Directed by, John Rich |

Written by, Barry Kemp |

Dick and Joanna Loudon purchase the Stratford Inn, a remnant of colonial times in scenic Vermont. Their caretaker, George Utley, and his family have tended the inn for decades. Dick hires a maid, Leslie, and meets their next-door neighbor (and habitual liar) Kirk. The inn opens for business amid myriad start-up problems.

Episode 2

Mrs. Newton's Body Lies A'Mould'ring in the Grave

Mon Nov 01 1982

Directed by, Will Mackenzie |

Written by, Katherine Green |

Dick and Joanna learn that there's a body buried in the basement. The Loudons try to get the body moved to the church cemetery, only to find that she was a witch.

Episode 3

Hail to the Councilman

Mon Nov 08 1982

Directed by, Will Mackenzie |

Written by,

Dick gets his hopes up after two city officials suggest he run for town council.

Episode 4

Shall We Gather at the River?

Mon Nov 15 1982

Directed by, Will Mackenzie |

Written by,

Joanna falls through the ice at the annual River Day festival. Dick is on the outs when Joanna blames him for everything bad that happens in her life.

Episode 5

This Probably is Condemned

Mon Nov 22 1982

Directed by, Will Mackenzie |

Written by,

Dick and the gang pitch in to help Kirk get the Minuteman up to code after its shut down.

Episode 6

No Tigers at the Circus

Mon Nov 29 1982

Directed by, Will Mackenzie |

Written by,

Dick spirals into a profound depression after the Stratford is denied in its bid to be classified an historic landmark.

Episode 7

The Perfect Match

Mon Dec 06 1982

Directed by, Dick Martin |

Written by, Stuart Silverman |

Leslie's high school sweetheart returns from far off places to ask for her hand in marriage, to Kirk's obvious displeasure.

Episode 8

Some are Born Writers...Others Have Writers Thrust Upon Them

Mon Dec 13 1982

Directed by, Will Mackenzie |

Written by,

Dick praises an aspiring writer's work to avoid hurting her feelings. The writer's enthusiastic husband quits his job to allow his wife to write full time. It's up to Dick to secure her an agent and teach her to write, all before their savings runs out in a month and a half.

Episode 9

No Room at the Inn

Mon Dec 20 1982

Directed by, Dick Martin |

Written by, Barry Kemp |

The inn is swamped when 24 guests are snowed in on Christmas Eve. While Kirk tries to keep the guests entertained, Dick tries to find room for a traveller named Joseph and his pregnant wife.

Episode 10

The Senator's Wife Was Indiscreet

Mon Dec 27 1982

Directed by, Dick Martin |

Written by,

A U.S. Senator's wife checks into the inn and holds a press conference to announce she's divorcing her inattentive husband.

Episode 11

Sprained Dreams

Mon Jan 03 1983

Directed by, Will Mackenzie |

Written by,

Dick jeopardizes Leslie's lifelong dream of becoming a world-class skier when he accidentally falls on her.

Episode 12

The Way We Thought We Were

Mon Jan 10 1983

Directed by, Will Mackenzie |

Written by,

George's old flame visits the inn. Both are disappointed when the other isn't as they remember.

Episode 13

The Visitors

Mon Jan 17 1983

Directed by, Michael Zinberg |

Written by,

Dick and Joanna cant wait for their 'fun' friends to visit, but soon become perturbed after their friends treat the Loudons not as friends, but innkeepers.

Episode 14

What is This Thing Called Lust?

Mon Jan 31 1983

Directed by, Will Mackenzie |

Written by,

Leslie's attractive cousin Stephanie visits Vermont to settle her emotions as she nears her wedding day. Stephanie soon finds herself lusting after Kirk.

Episode 15

Breakfast Theater

Mon Feb 07 1983

Directed by, Will Mackenzie |

Written by,

Washed-up comic Manny Silver visits the Stratford, reminding Dick of the 'debt' he owes Manny for starting his writing career. Manny shames Dick into letting him perform in the inn, over Joanna's strenuous objections.

Episode 16

Ricky Nelson, Up Your Nose

Mon Feb 14 1983

Directed by, Will Mackenzie |

Written by,

Kirk goes into the hospital for surgery to remove a foreign object from his nose, leaving Larry, Darryl and a very svelte Darryl in charge of the cafe. Dick and Joanna, about to go to New York for a writer's conference have to bail out the boys when an unexpected crowd turns up at the cafe.

Episode 17

A View from the Bench

Mon Feb 21 1983

Directed by, Will Mackenzie |

Written by,

Dick, Kirk, and George go to Boston to use their bench passes for a Celtics game. Dick loses his pass. Meanwhile, Leslie and Joanna wait at the inn for incoming guest, Daniel J. Travanti.

Episode 18

The Boy Who Cried Goat

Sun Mar 13 1983

Directed by, Will Mackenzie |

Written by, Barbara Hall |

When Kirk's cafe is robbed, his history of deception comes back to haunt him as the insurance investigator refuses to believe his story.

Episode 19

Heaven Knows Mr. Utley

Sun Mar 20 1983

Directed by, Will Mackenzie |

Written by,

George is the town laughingstock when he claims to have spied an UFO.

Episode 20

You're Homebody 'til Somebody Loves You

Sun Mar 27 1983

Directed by, Will Mackenzie |

Written by,

Dick inadvertently insults Joanna, calling her a homebody. Joanna takes a job with a travel agency in an attempt to assert herself.

Episode 21

Grandma, What a Big Mouth You Have

Sun Apr 03 1983

Directed by, Will Mackenzie |

Written by,

Kirk's grandmother visits on the same night he finally gets a date with Leslie.

Episode 22

I Enjoy Being a Guy

Sun Apr 10 1983

Directed by, Will Mackenzie |

Written by, Bob Perlow | Gene Braunstein |

Dick loves being 'just one of the guys' when Chester and Jim invite him to join their golf foursome. Dick is distressed to find that their gambling habit and lousy golfing abilities make him the big winner. Dick tries to figure out a way to give the money back without breaking 'the guy code'.