Too Close for Comfort

Henry and Muriel Rush are the owners of a duplex in San Francisco, where they live with their two adult daughters: 21-year-old banker Jackie and 18-year-old college freshman Sara, in a cramped, awkward arrangement. Henry is a cartoonist of a comic strip called Cosmic Cow, while Muriel is a former musician currently working as a photographer. When Henry and Muriels downstairs tenant, Myron Rafkin, suddenly dies, the family discovers Rafkin was living a secret life as a transvestite, and the many mysterious women Henry had been opening the door for all those years were actually Rafkin himself. Sara comes up with the idea for her and Jackie to convince their parents to let them to move into Rafkins former apartment. Henry rejects the idea at first, but after Henry interviews a couple of prospective tenants he doesnt approve of, Muriel convinces him that having the girls move in may not be such a bad idea.

Jackie, who works at a bank, tries to make a money delivery to a supermarket, but finds it closed. After calling her boss, she finds herself in charge of a bag with $100,000 in it. Meanwhile, Muriel and Henry are convinced that the ex-convict plumbers are going to rip them off, but soon Jackies bag of money enters the fray.

Jackie and Sara have split the cost of rent but when Sara is unable to pay her half, Henry tells her to go out and get a job. Sara easily gets a job as a waitress, but Henry is in no way thrilled with the skimpy costume that she has to wear. This leads to a blow up between Henry and Muriel leading her to move in with Jackie and Sara.

When Sara gets a part-time job at Jackies bank, things go smoothly. Jackie quickly warns her of the branch manager, Mr. Wolfe, and his "friendliness" toward the women tellers. However, Jackie quickly finds herself changing her mind about Sara, when Sara begins dating him and then suddenly gets a promotion.

Sara and Monroe are ecstatic when a movie director decides Jackie and Saras apartment would be perfect to film a movie. However, Henry and Muriel are totally unsure of the situation. Things get out of hand when a lion, being used for the film, gets loose and takes up residence in Henry and Muriels kitchen.

Sylvia Walker, an old college friend and recently divorced friend of Muriels arrives in town for a visit and decides to make the most of the rest of her life. Meanwhile, Henry becomes insecure about his age after glancing over the obituaries and thinks he may be on deaths doorstep soon. However, things turn around for him, when Sylvia makes a play for him.

Henry is not happy with the fact that he has been called in for jury duty. However, things get pressed when Henrys boss, Mr. Wainwright, wanting to avoid any problems associated with a possible strike, orders Henry to cough up next weeks comic strip. This forces Henry to stay up all night and leads to him falling asleep in court the next day.

A football player, Buck Krulik, is in town and a fan of Henrys Cosmic Cow comic strip, so he comes by for a visit and has Jackie, Sara and Muriel fawn all over him. After admiring some of her photography, Buck remember her when a nude centerfold photo shoot goes awry and he calls her in to take over. However, she may not be quite ready for a male nude spread despite, Henry forbidding her.

Out of pity, Henry reluctantly allows Monroe to crash on his couch for Easter week when Monroes parents decide they dont want him to visit them in Miami. Henry soon regrets his generosity when he learns that Monroe has ruined his unpublished Cosmic Cow drawings, and in turn his own planned vacation.

Sara arranges for a medium to conduct a séance to connect Mildred Rafkin with her deceased brother in an attempt to find a missing antique broach. However, an accusation leveled by Rafkins "spirit" threatens to split up Henry and Muriel, when the voice of the Rushes late tenant accuses Henry of marital infidelity.

Henrys free-spirited niece, April, shows up on his doorstep after moving from Delaware to start a song writing career, and he reluctantly allows her to stay in the guest bedroom of his apartment until shes able to get established. However, their relationship starts off on the wrong foot, and Henry hopes it isnt too late when he finally figures out why.

Jackie openly dreads a visit from an annoying, nerdy guy who had a crush on her when she was a kid. However, when Sara is the first to discover his physical appearance has changed completely and starts dating him, Jackie becomes extremely jealous and vindictive.

An older man dressed like a bum shows up at the Rushes doorstep looking for the transvestite persona of Rafkin, their deceased former tenant, because they always got together for Thanksgiving dinner. Feeling bad for him for several obvious reasons, they invite him to join their own disastrous get together, and later find out that he too has a big secret that involves his appearance.

Monroe enrolls in an assertiveness class on the advice of the Rush girls after being pushed around at a concert, but the class proves to work a little too well. Meanwhile, one of Henrys colleagues suggests Henry demand a raise from Mr. Wainwright.

Jackie falls madly in love with a police officer who responds to a false burglary report at the apartment due to April sneaking in late one night after getting stuck on Alcatraz with her boyfriend. She immediately accepts his marriage proposal after just a few dates, refusing her parents plea to consider the difficulties of being a police wife.

A fan of Henrys Cosmic Cow comic strip who has been sending him increasingly bizarre fan mail breaks into the apartment one night through the unlocked front door, kidnapping his puppet and vowing in a note to return before the end of the weekend. Interpreting the note as a threat on his life, Henry and Monroe set up a stakeout at the apartment with the help of a police officer, who abruptly leaves them to fend for themselves when he is called away.

Henry is contacted by a rival cartoonist who has perpetrated several practical jokes on him over the years, and Henry schemes with Monroe to pay him back during a dinner visit. However, when Henry is unable to stop the prank after the man claims he is dying, Henry feels obligated to assist him in an elaborate plan to cheat on his wife.

Muriel secretly asks her mother Iris stay with her until she recovers from childbirth, much to the chagrin of Henry, who has always found her to be overbearing. When Muriel unexpectedly takes a stand against her mothers nonstop criticism, its up to Henry to straighten out the mess, and he learns a big secret about Muriel in the process.

Just before heading off on a Las Vegas vacation, Henry reluctantly lends $100 to Sara, April, and Monroe so they can start a business selling home-baked cookies using Grandma Rushs recipe. However, a promising and profitable start quickly turns into a disaster that includes a trashed kitchen, hefty fines, a potential lawsuit, and a visit from the immigration service.

Henry refuses to accept Saras decision to drop out of college to become the weather announcer on a local television station, which causes her to announce that shes moving out in protest. Meanwhile, Monroes clumsy method of wallpapering the babys nursery has an unexpected outcome, and a wealthy family friend brings the Rushes a much appreciated gift.

Aprils father sends her his baby grand piano, and she takes up Monroes offer to move it into the apartment with the help of a large friend for $20. This proves to be a big mistake when everyone gets trapped in the apartment just as Muriel begins feeling labor pains and Henrys just-married friend becomes desperate to be reunited with his bride.

Henry makes it to the hospital in time for Muriel to give birth.

Henry has intimacy issues with Muriel after the baby is born.

Muriel wants to renew their vows for their anniversary in a small get-together that soon balloons out of control.

Henry gives Monroe advice on how to land a woman (or so he thinks) who refuses to go out with him.

Henry has to get a physical for a life insurance policy.

Muriels famous old singing partner comes for a visit prompting Muriel to wonder "what if" she never stopped performing.

The Rushs are robbed after Sara lets the burglers into the apartment. Henry decides to get a gun.

Sara is upset that Henry only supports and celebrates Jackies accomplishments so she poses for a mens magazine.

Iris gift of a trip to Paris backfires when Muriel needs a passport and her birth certificate reveals she was adopted.

Henry is upset with Monroe after he accidentally damages the living room wall while hanging a self-portrait of Henry. He chases Monroe out the door, causing him to fall down a flight of stairs. While Monroe is sent to the hospital, Henry is racked with guilt after his conscience starts speaking to him through the portrait.

After Iris gets mugged, the Rushes decide to add on a room for her. Unfortunately, the male workers hired are young and inept, as Henry informs their mother who runs the business. She hires a female foreman, much to the boys surprise.

Jackie is envious of Saras many dates, so she decides to get breast implants to make herself more attractive.

The Rushs home is scheduled for demolition by the city in order to build a new subway station

Henrys father visits to ask if he will be his best man at his upcoming wedding. The happy news is dampened by Henrys suspicions of his fathers much younger fiancée.

Henry suffers from a case of writers block. Surprisingly, Mrs. Rafkin ends up being extremely helpful.

Henrys cartoonist friend suggests donating his early work to a college with the hopes of being awarded an honorary doctorate - and a guaranteed tax break.

Monroe asks if a friend could spend a week with him, but neglects to tell Henry the friend is female and a runaway. When Henry runs into her in the middle of the night, the jig is up.

Monroe gets a computer and wins big in the stock market and horse racing thanks to computer tips. Soon after, Henry wants in on the action.

Jackie and Sara return from a Hawaiian vacation with their grandmother Iris. Jackie fell in love with her surfing instructor and plans to marry him. Henry is opposed to the union until he finds out that hes not just a beach bum.

After Muriels camera is stolen at a gallery opening, her attempts at retrieving it lead Henry to think shes having an affair.

Iris visits in order to meet up with the Lothario who broke her heart. He lures her there with the premise to ask her "a very important question.

Jackie considers a move to Dallas to find a job in fashion. That is, until she meets Saras date and they hit it off. Sara and Jackies relationship is tested.

Henry decides to work at a downtown office, due to life at home getting crazier, but it turns out there were more distractions downtown than he bargained for.

Andrew might be a genius and is recruited by a school for gifted children.

The Rushes friend Paul pretends to be a member of their family to impress his long-lost son.

Henry and Muriel end up in counseling thanks to the strain of helping another couple settle a squabble.

The Rushes hire an illegal housekeeper with good looks, minimal English, and an urge to become a naturalized citizen.

Henry and Monroe find a bag full of money and decide they want to keep it, but then hear their neighbors have been robbed.

Monroes new love interest is not only mature but possibly married. Henry and Muriel butt in to make sure Monroe doesnt get his heart broken.

Henry takes drastic measures to avoid paying a high penalty for library books that are 5 years overdue.

Monroe and Sara decide to help a teenage boy who was going to juvenile hall for stealing. The boy has a history of being abused, and when Henry tries to step in to offer his own help the boy rejects him and runs away.

Henrys married pal chases Muriels friend.

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Monroe publishes a front page story about corporate pollution and gets sent to jail for not revealing his source.

The Rushes and Mrs. Stinson help a Vietnamese family who opened a restaurant achieve the American dream.

Henry strikes up a deal to run the Garfield comic strip in the Marin Bugler

The Rushs housekeeper Lisa enrolls in classes to become a naturalized American citizen

Henry decides to buy a car for Lisa. He attempts to show his business prowess by getting the best deal but in the process gets far less than he bargained for.

Muriel is offered a photography job from a famous oceanographer for his next expedition.

Monroes life is threatened after he gives a singer a bad review.

Muriel quits the Marin Bugler when Henry decides to use a readers photo in a story instead of hers.

Henry and Muriel are caught in the middle of Herb and Marsha Kennedys marriage problems after its discovered that Herb has had an affair.

Henry suspects Iris Greek fiancé is after her money.

Lisa is overjoyed when she wins $5 and becomes addicted to playing.