Hope and Gloria strike up a tentative friendship, complicated when Gloria realizes that the man coming on to her in the laundry room of their apartment building is Hope's husband.
The presence of Dennis, a spiked cake, and Louis's amorous cousin Pete snuff out Hope's birthday plans for a quiet dinner party, her first since her separation.
Hope's plan to get Gloria a job as hair stylist on the show becomes complicated as the temperamental Isaac first quits to move to South America, then returns unexpectedly - just after Gloria has quit her job at the salon where she's worked for nine years. It's up to Hope to convince Gloria's caustic former boss Cookie to take her back. Meanwhile, Louis stays over at Gloria's to tend ailing Sonny.
Goaded by Dennis into finding a men man via computer, Hope drags a reluctant Gloria on a double blind date - and finds Gloria's match more to her liking.
Gloria convinces Hope not to see her ex-husband again, inspiring Hope to help another spurned wife do the same, but then Gloria herself succumbs to temptation. Meanwhile, Dennis tries to help Hope by having her produce a segment called ""Sex With Your Ex,"" with Gloria as one of the guests.
An embarrassed and shy Louis secretly joins Hope's church choir, but Gloria isn't singing Hope's praises when she suspects that her friend and ex-husband are having an affair. Meanwhile, Dennis decides to have plastic surgery live on the show.
Hope has not told her parents she is divorcing Jeffrey, but when he turns up during their visit, the truth comes out. Big time, as it happens, because Hope's mother then reveals to her that Hope's father is not her biological father.
Hope becomes convinced that her father is Bill Anderson, the real name of actor Adam West of Batman fame, unaware that her mother insists it was another actor. Meanwhile, Dennis's lawyer accompanies Dennis and Gloria on a date to insure against charges of sexual harassment.
A lonely Hope spends the night with a handsome stranger, but it's possible that she's in for more of a relationship than she bargained for - he may be her brother. Distraught Hope does the unforgivable: she forgets to enter Dennis in the local Emmy Award competition, which he is sure he will win after 23 years of being passed over.
The new station manager orders Hope to arrange a Growing Pains reunion show, but there's a problem - Dennis refuses to be in the same room with his rival, Alan Thicke. Meanwhile, Scott, the little boy Gloria used to baby-sit turns up, grown up and still infatuated with her.
Gloria learns she's pregnant and contemplates a third marriage to Louis - a decision that could be advantageous for new station manager Gwillem who persuades them to have the ceremony live on the show. But the minister slated to conduct the nuptials doesn't show and is replaced by guest Burt Reynolds, while Hope, locked in the prop room, struggles desperately to get Gloria an important message from her doctor.
Hope's upset when Gwillem 'asks' her to care for his pampered poodle, so she attempts to play a practical joke on him - which, of course, backfires big time when she steals one of his prized wooden elephants without realizing the nature of its contents.
Gloria finds Hope's lack of faith in her the unkindest cut of all after Hope reveals she's having recurring nightmares of Gloria ruining her hair. They agree to consult a therapist and dream expert appearing on the show in hopes of identifying the source of Hope's neurotic fear. Meanwhile, Dennis insists on hosting a show-length infomercial for a male enhancement device, and Louis discusses diet with Gloria's next-door neighbor Scott.
Hope's estranged husband wants to get back together, but Hope has second thoughts when a new suitor arrives on the scene -- his psychiatrist. Meanwhile, Dennis gets a new look.
Hope must fight off suitors after she writes Dr. Glassman an electronic love letter on her computer and accidentally sends it to everyone on her mailing list except Dr. Glassman.
Hope sacrifices a long-awaited vacation when she's given the chance to produce a talk-show hosted by a quirky former child actress. But will the rising star outshine Dennis when she gets his time slot?
While Hope frets about how much Dr. Glassman knows about her from years of therapy with Jeremy, they go on a less-than-romantic first date - to a luncheon honoring Louis as Salesman of the Month - where Louis' boss propositions Gloria.
When Hope devotes much of her time to grooming promising newcomer Cylinthia, Dennis riles Hope by hiring a pesky personal manager who fulfills the pompous star's every wish -- and takes away much of Hope's authority. Meanwhile, Gloria becomes jealous of the nun who was Louis's first childhood kiss.
Dennis suspects that Ed is after his job when the computer whiz volunteers to help backstage and destroys Dennis's interview with Swoosie Kurtz. Meanwhile, Gloria calls Louis on the carpet for redoing Dennis's dressing room with rug remnants.
Hope invites all the relatives to a surprise party announcing her sister's engagement - but the surprise is on Hope when the ""happy couple"" breaks up due to her interference. Meanwhile, Dennis welcomes his old pal and former co-host Regis Philbin. but soon becomes consumed by jealousy.
In exchange for Hope's old car, Gloria agrees to paint her apartment, but Gloria's busy schedule leaves Hope feeling that her friend is giving her the brush off. Meanwhile, Dennis keeps vigil at Lizbeth's bedside - along with an attractive nurse.
The instant passion between Gloria and a blind date illustrates to Hope the lack of ardor in her relationship with Ethan, so she sets out to light the fire in her own love life.
Gloria gets an unwanted Christmas present when her father Bernie suddenly appears after 30 years, wanting to reconcile, meanwhile, Hope tries in vain to enhance Dennis's image by getting his two ex-wives and several estranged kids to appear on his holiday special.
Gloria becomes a fast friend with Louis's new girlfriend Jennifer, which leaves Hope feeling left out. Meanwhile, Dennis is obsessed with writing updates lyrics to the national anthem and performing them on his show.
The girls try to have a noisy new tenant evicted from the building but change their minds when they discover that he's handsome, charming and single. Dennis is invited to participate in a celebrity hockey game.
The girls vie for the attention of their new neighbor and persuade Louis to find out which one he likes more. Meanwhile, Dennis and Gwillem battle for the preferred parking space of a recently deceased studio employee.
After Hope's divorce becomes final, the girls decide to be ""two gals on the go,"" and go to New York City for the weekend, where they visit the Central Perk coffeehouse.
When Hope dates a handsome, charming doctor, Gloria and Louis become convinced that he's married because he won't give her his telephone number and only sees her when no one else is around. After they prove to her that Ben is not only married but dating several other women, Hope plots revenge.
Hope and Gwillem hustle to produce the momentous 5,000th telecast of The Dennis Dupree Show, and wind up with an eye-popping pastiche, featuring clips of Dennis with the likes of Wiliam Devane and Grant Show, a trip down Memory Lane with Dennis' first piano teacher, Miss Mae, and a special appearance by the Alelgheny Women's Triple Trio. Hope lines up 500 celebrities, only to have her plans doused by a torrential rainstorm that shuts down the airport. Dr. Joyce Brothers shows up but refuses to stay and save the day. Meanwhile, Gloria hits the books with fervor as a new night school student, but six-year-old Sonny is mad at his mommy for not being home and lashes out at babysitter Hope.
When Gloria nervously accepts a date with her handsome professor, she turns to Hope for a quick course in culture and ladylike comportment. The makeover inspires Hope to pick Pygmalion for her theater group, and she, Dennis and Louis perform in an outlandish production, attended by Gloria and her urbane escort.
Hope is fired when she takes Gloria's suggestion to play hardball with Gwillem in an effort to get a raise, Louis tries to market a new invention: double-sided carpeting.
Hope's plans for a special in the mountains hit a snag after she convinces a claustrophobic Gloria to go up to the top in a cable car which immediately malfunctions. Meanwhile, Dennis prepares a special Octoberfest show.
Gloria suffers a crisis of nerve after she finds a note she wrote to her future self 15 years ago setting out her life's goals, all of which remain unaccomplished. To regain her equilibrium she sets out to carry through on at least two: learning to scuba dive (with a reluctant Hope in tow), and erasing a graffito about her former teacher from atop a water tank.
Hope decides she wants to be a mother after her ex, Jeffrey, announces that he and his new wife are having a baby. Her search for a father starts on the Internet, then leads to Louis. Meanwhile, Gloria portrays a ""love witch"" on The Dennis Dupree Show.
Hope lures former teen star Connie Carlucci, who was Hope and Gloria's childhood idol, from seclusion to co-host Dennis' show, despite his disgruntled aversion to sharing the attention. But it quickly become apparent that in contrast to the perky, positive character she played, Connie is now an embittered drunk.