Florida is horrified to learn that Michael is harboring atheist attitudes planted by his boss. This leads Florida to confront Michael’s boss and get to the bottom of the situation.

A reluctant Florida agrees to go on a date with Carl. However, once at the restaurant, she gets into an argument with him ending with him walking out.

J.J. is all excited about taking Michael to a father-son dinner but when Michael breaks the news that he invited Carl to take him, J.J. storms out.

JJ has another money-making idea. He starts a greeting card business and has the whole family involved in making up messages. He has the business plans are laid out, but…

Florida and Carl’s relationship has gotten quite serious and Carl breaks the news to J.J., Thelma and Michael that he’s planning on proposing marriage to Florida. However, after a visit…

A furious J.J. confronts Carl, who makes up an excuse that a war injury in the groin is the reason why he’s breaking up with Florida. However, later Carl reveals…

After loosing his job, J.J. tries his best to find a job. However, when Bookman serves the Evans’ family with an eviction notice due to late rent, J.J. decides to…

J.J. is in the money, now that he has a new job working with two friends in a gambling operation. However, little does he know, the gambling business also includes…

Florida and the children are excitedly anticipating the arrival of Grandpa Evans. However, he arrives with a loud companion in tow.

Some good luck strikes the family when J.J. wins a lottery. However, the luck doesn’t last long, that is until, Thelma’s friend Edna shows up with her sister both wielding…

The kids feel Florida has been spending too much time alone and they decide to cancel their plans and spend an evening with her. But Florida surprises them all and…

J.J. is managing Michael’s singing group and gets them a gig at a local tavern. While there, J.J. comes across Judith Cohen, an act whom he knows will hit it…

J.J. borrows money from a loan shark to back his talented new comedian. However, within days, two thugs come to collect their money, money that J.J. doesn’t have.

Florida’s bad mood prompts the kids to go into the underwear selling business in order to raise enough money to send Florida on a vacation to Lake Geneva.

The family is getting ready to move to Mississippi which is where James has gotten a promising new job. However, the family is waiting for the right time to tell…

The death of James has J.J., Thelma and Michael overcome with grief and also leaves them wondering what is wrong with Florida, who hasn’t cried once since she found out…

Thelma invites her favorite teacher to the apartment and while she is there she is fascinated with JJ’s artwork. She and JJ soon develop an instant attraction to each other,…

Widespread violence has been running rampant in the neighborhood and a large part of it is due to the street gang, the Warlords. While Florida and some concerned citizens discuss…

Michael is in love with Yvonne but every time he’s around her he freezes. When Yvonne meets J.J. she instantly falls for him thus creating a sibling rivalry between Michael…

Alderman Davis makes a visit to the Evans’ household wanting J.J. to speak at his re-election campaign. However, when J.J. refuses, an eviction notice is immediately handed to Florida.

J.J. and his girlfriend, Diana, are getting serious and the topic of marriage comes up, something which both J.J. and Diana both want. However, both of their parents are totally…

On the night of her senior prom, Diana decides to run off to Indiana and elope with J.J. Meanwhile, back in Chicago, switched purses leads the Evans family to discover…

J.J. has been commissioned by a number’s runner, Sweet Daddy Williams, to paint the portrait of his girlfriend, Savannah. In return, J.J. will get his own art display.

The family is being investigated by the FBI because they are suspected to be security risks due to Michael doing research about and communicating with a Communist country for a…

When the children are left at home for the weekend, J.J. receives bad news that he has given VD to an ex-girlfriend. This leads an embarrassed J.J. to debate on…

After a morning of being take granted for by her children and her husband, Florida decides to take her boss up on a lunch invitation. This eventually leads to a…

Thelma’s fiancee’s idea of romance is taking her to a basketball game but that is the least of her worries after he gets a big break in California leaving her…

The Evans family decides to hold a rent party to help out a neighbor in the building whose electricity has just been turned off. However, the party may come to…

James brings a gun home to protect his family.

Florida has had a pain in her side for the last two weeks but doesn’t want to see a doctor out of fear of the cost. However, when James learns…

Thelma has great news, she’s engaged. However, her opinion of great news differs greatly with her parents who hit the roof after learning this.

Florida plans on borrowing money from her cousin to help pay some unexpected bills. James’s pride stands in the way causing him to storm out to a bar, leaving Florida…

A friend of James’ gives him permission to use his cabin to celebrate his and Florida’s 20th wedding anniversary. However, the trick is trying to get Florida to stop worrying…

Florida and the kids throw a baby shower for a friend, Loretta. However, the joyous occasion is dampened when Loretta announces her plans of giving the baby up for adoption.

When James is out of town, Florida and her brother Wilbert are left to deal with a troubled Michael. His cutting classes, getting into fights at school and low grades…

A feud erupts in the Evans’ household when James and J.J. take the side of Alderman Fred Davis during his attempt at a re-election while Florida, Thelma and Willona take…

When J.J. brings home Walter, a man from his art class, he hits it off with Willona. Despite the fact that he’s deaf, him and Willona begin a relationship one…

Florida and James become outraged when the kids get a touch of food poisoning after eating meat from the local supermarket. She organizes a group of concerned citizens and they…

J.J. is commissioned by a bank to paint a mural and in return will receive $250 needed for Thelma’s college education whom recently won a scholarship and found herself $200…

Thelma brings home a friend of hers and instantly J.J. is smitten. However, when she rejects him he quickly loses all of his confidence and slips into a depression.