It's Christmas time in Oakland! Vanessa finds out that she won't be able to go to her family for Christmas because she is working. Robin and Mark agrees that Vanessa will have her Christmas at their house and Vanessa can celebrate the Christmas her way, ""The Russel Family Way"".   Mark agrees to be Santa Claus at the school fair that Robin is running. Robin finds out that the son (Noel) of the Guidance Counselor does not believe in Santa Claus. Mark convinces Noel that Santa will be there that night. Vanessa is Mrs. Claus and Earvin is a Rudolph. The principal is a snowman and the students are elves. Also, coach Rickets is running a military booth (!).   ""Santa"" has some problems and the worst one of all is that Noel wants his dad to come home for Christmas. One problem, Noel's dad is stuck in the Navy and can not come home for Christmas. Mark tries to get the father home by using numerous ways. Still, it does not work. Mark tries everything from asking coach Rickets, to asking the kids

Miracle in Oaktown

Mark Curry

Dawnn Lewis

Holly Robinson Peete

Jeff Melman

Yvette Lee Bowser

Unforgettable

My Dinner with Mark

In the series opener, unemployed Mark Cooper gets a job as a substitute teacher at his old high school. He also shares his house with two beautiful women: Robin, a music teacher who also works at the school, and Vanessa, a rich girl whom Mark is attracted to. On his first day of school, Mark has to deal with unruly students who give him a hard time. But Mark soon finds a solution to impress his class.

The Presentation

When Mark becomes a substitute teacher, he gets a handful. His class includes playful little Michelle Tanner. When Michelle and her friends begin to torment Mark, he does a trick to get them to be quiet- and ends up hurting his behind. Michelle feels very guilty and comes over to ""help him.""

Hangin' with Michelle

Mark's former girlfriend, Paula, moves back into town and wants to get reacquainted with him.

On the Rebound

Robin goes to a skiing camp and needs money to go. So she tries to find a way to teach more children music lessons. Vanessa gives her the idea of ""having the first lesson free"". But, there are more than enough lessons than she can handle. Also the music lessons are driving Vanessa and Mark crazy. Mark teaches an high school Algebra class and Mark has a basketball student in the class called Andre. Mark meets his old baskeball coach Coach Rickits. Coach Rickits excuses Andre and tells Mark that Andre needs to pass the next test and Mark has to give him the exact questions before the test. The coach puts pressure on Mark saying that Mark did not pass the Algebra test when he was in high school and the coach made Mark pass because Mark was failing Algebra like Andre. Mark does not know what to do. Mark does not give Andre the questions and agrees to take and study the test with him so that he himself can pass Algebra class. The principal gives Mark and Andre the test and both of them pass

Please Pass the Jock

Vanessa's car does not start. Mark, ""Man of the house"", can not fix it either. Robin says that it is an engine problem and convinces Vanessa that she can fix it free of charge. Unfortuntly, Robin takes apart the engine but can not put it back together again. Vanessa finds out and wants Robin to fix it by the weekend. Robin puts back the engine together and the car still does not start. Vanessa is still mad at Robin and Robin doubts her own judgement. It was all over, until Robin bangs the dashboard and the gasoline indicator goes from Full to Empty! Vanessa has been driving the car, without refueling, for 2 weeks! Mark substitutes his first P.E. class in Oakland High and coaches the Girl's Cheeleading Class. Mark finds out that the Division 3 competiton is in 3 days at their school and Oakland High is not a very good squad. The competition (Oakland Prep High School) shows up and does stunts 12 feet high! The only cheer for Mark's team is ""Go Penguins Go! Waddle! Waddle! Waddle!"" The te

Cheers

Mark is trying to kill the ""super"" fly flying around the house. Vanessa is watching a stock that is making a lot of money. Vanessa wants to put her money in but is afraid of losing money. After substituting a wrestling class, Mark asks the coach for a job as a permanent coach. The coach wrestles Mark for the job and though he lost, he was given the job. Robin gives Vanessa money so that Vanessa can invest her money in another stock. Mark gets a call from the Golden State Warriors! They ask Mark to try out for a new position after hearing about him from training camps. Also, his old high school friend, Guy Beal, who just came from training camp, is more than ready to play. Mark has to choose between his new job or playing with the Warriors. Mark decides to take the Warriors offer, but Mark can't make any of his shots go in the basket. With Robin's motivation, Mark sets foot in the Oakland Arena to tryout in front of the team and coach. Robin finds out that the stock Vanessa invested in

Warriors (1)

In the beginning of the show, Mark shows the audience how in the last episode he was dunking during practice. He also showed how he was able to get the position on the Golden State Warriors team. The story begins from the last episode when he recieved the call from the team. Vanessa finds out that Mark quits his job from the school. Mark is signed to a 10-day contract where he has to prove to be on the team. He will play against the Phoenix Suns two times. Robin shows all the respect and believes that Mark can make the team. Robin also doubts that he will make the team and pleads with the high school coach to keep Mark's old job, if in case he does not make the team. Robin not only was able to keep Mark job open, she herself was qualified to teach the self-defence class. Robin did not want to tell Mark that she got the position. Robin also had to hide from Mark later in the episode. Also, Vanessa gets injured after Robin made some ""defence"" practice moves on her. Mark goes back to the

Warriors (2)

Andre can't choose between his music and basket-ball. Robin wants him to go for his piano-playing but Mark wants him to go for BasketBall.

Torn Between Two Teachers

In the beginning, Mark tells the audience that the show is LIVE. Mark does not know his lines.   Vanessa invites her boss to their house to work on a business proposal. Mark thinks that Vanessa is dating him and Robin is trying to get a date with the boss. Vanessa tries to get a client by talking to her in the elevator. The client, Mrs. Walker, invites her to the meeting to a dinner with a $300 a plate price.   Robin buys an excerize machine that makes her hang upside down and she can not get out of the machine without Mark. The boss had to take a flight out of town and wants her to reschedule. The client does not want to talk to secreatries like Vanessa. So, Vanessa has to find a person to pass as a business executive. Here comes Mark! They go to the restaurant and Vanessa tells Mark to be quiet and let Vanessa do the talking. The client asks Mark to discuss all of the business deals! Mark does not fit in with the rich crowd.   Meanwhile, Robin tries out the machine again and can not

Vanessa speaks French to her fashion photographer boyfriend and Mark tries to find out what she is trying to say. Vanessa broke up her realtionship.   Robin's father (a jazz musician), Chip Dumars, is coming over and everyone meets him at the Jazz club/restaurant. Vanessa is trying to get a date with a saxophone player. Chip sings some songs that impress the crowd. Robin does not want to be called ""baby girl"" by her father. The father and Robin do a song on the stage also. The father wants Robin to become a jazz singer. Mark convinces her father to go to Robin's music class, as long as Robin can sing with Chip at the club the next day.   The class does not sing very well. Mark and Chip try not to disrupt the class, but soon Mark and Chip interfere Robin's class and the class learns that Rap has it's roots in jazz. Robin feels that her dad is interfering with her life.   Vanessa's date has a child and the child adores Vanessa. But, she asks lots questions like, ""How old are you?"" and ""W

The roommates' landlord dies, so they decide to use Vanessa's trust fund to buy the house.

In Vanessa We Trust

Mark has a date with a new teacher's assistant--Coach Ricketts' daughter.

Forbidden Fruit

In the beginning of the episode, Robin is trying to convince the teachers to unite as a strike group, and reject a new contract with the school district that is unfair. Mark decides that the teachers should strike.   The next day, the teachers and students make signs and strike. Mark is seen on television advertising the strike and telling the camera what they want. Tyler comes over to collect the rent money and Mark could not pay the rent.   Mark decides to become a mail deliverer at Vanessa's office. Mark storms into Vanessa's office, interupts her meeting, and makes jokes. After that Mark does not follow Vanessa's orders, and Vanessa does not have the will power to fire him. Mark delviers coffee to the boss and also impresses a client. Vanessa finds out that Mark became friends with the boss and he becomes the assistant to the manager of Sales. Mark gets a higher position and a larger salary than Vanessa. He also gets a secretary. Vanessa finds out that she is the secretary to both

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

In this episode, Tyler sneaks into Vanessa's room while she gets dressed. Mark gives advice to keep his eyes open when it happens again. Robin goes on a blind date. Vanessa dates a doctor. Mark does not have a date but looks at the television and sees themselves on a show called ""Love Match"". The show will follow Mark, Robin, and Vanessa on their Valentine's day.   The game show host interviews the cast and Vanessa's date comes in and Mark makes fun of both of them. But Mark still needs a date and here comes Robin's date. Robin starts liking her date until she finds out that he is addicted to his car. On Vanessa's date, her date tries to get her to tell the truth about everyhting and she insults the restaurant. Also, her date's ex-girlfrined is trying to kill him. Robin's date is not going so well when his car does not start.   At the house, Tyler and Mark have a fun time playing war games. When Mark answers the door, a woman appears and asks to use his phone. Mark gets Tyler out and M

Valentine's Day Massacre

Robin and Mark are getting ready for a ""Wilderness Training-Camping Trip"" with the students. In this episode, Mark starts out by wearing his camping equipment and Mark even packs his own life-raft. Vanessa can't go with them at first, but they convinces her to go with them. Then, Tyler tries to get in on the trip but Mark does not let him come. Coach gives Mark some tips on survival. All the students (girls and boys) meet at Mark's house and they're ready to go. Earvin and Andre bet on which one could get a date with the other campers. Tyler tries to sneak in but gets left at home.   On the road, Mark gets everone lost when he is driving. Once they get to the camping site, they're in a cottage/cabin with all the elctrical needs! Radio, TV, Nintendo, hot tub, pool, sauna, kitchen, heated waterbeds etc.. This is not camping, its a luxury relaxing cottage! The students, Vanessa and Robin, are amazed and ""like camping"". Mark tells everyone to rough it out like he d! id in high school and g

Boyz in the Woodz

Tyler comes over and wants to run away from his parents because their new baby is annoying and is getting more attention than he. He comes over with luggage and Mark opens one of the bags and gets bitten by a cat. Vanessa speaks to Tyler's parents and Tyler is ready to sleep over at Mark's place. Vanessa comes over and says that if they send Tyler over it would hurt him emotionally.   Robin's boyfriend has a birthday and Robin has to make a surprise present at the last minute. Robin will give him a picture of herself. Vanessa has to go to the office since the computers broke down. Mark tries to get Tyler out of the house since Mark has a date.   Mark and his date go to a restaurant and Tyler joins in. Tyler orders a lobster and gets Mark in trouble and Mark has to pay for two lobsters that only Tyler ate. They also go to the movies and Tyler sits alone. When they get home, Mark is left alone with Tyler and Tyler tries to sleep in Mark's room. Mark tells Tyler to go sleep on the couch u

Boys Don't Leave

In the beginning of the episode, Mark comes in and tells the audience about the show and Mark snaps his fingers and makes everyone disappear and reappear.   It all starts out in the Teacher's Lounge. Mark will teach a History class that the students are not interested in. Mark makes a bet with another teacher to see whose class is the smartest. Robin will hold the test.   To encourage the students about History, Mark uses a great technique so that they can learn history. Meanwhile at home, Vanessa starts dresssing and treating Tyler's dog as a girl. During class, Andre is the only person that knows the answers and the rest of the class is not interested. Mark finds out that also Earvin is a very good student and knows everything about History and even outsmarted Issac. But, Earvin says that he won't be in the contest because he does not want everyone to know that he is smart. Mark tries to convince him that he would have a great future, but it does not work.   At home, Tyler's dog chew

The Unteachables

Tyler comes over asking for food and sees Mark's fireworks. Mark hides the fireworks.   Robin's boyfriend, Jason, gives Robin a necklace. Robin assumes that she will go to Hawaii that weekend. Robin cannot go with Mark to play pool that night so Robin makes Vanessa go with Mark to the pool house. When Vanessa was young, she went to the Senate Rec. Center with her father, where she learnt to play pool. Vanessa still does not fit in with the crowd. Vanessa also gets Mark into a fight with a professional pool player and Vanessa also challenges him to a pool game.   When they get back home, they tell Robin they had a great time at the pool house and that they won the game. Mark and Vanessa goes to a Jazz Concert. Also, Robin's boyfriend tells Robin that he has to go to Hawaii for meetings and can not bring her along. Robin wants to go to the Jazz Concert with Vanessa and Mark but they only have two tickets.   Robin is stuck at home when Tyler comes over and sneaks to Mark's toolbox and get

Piano Lesson

In the beginning of the episode, Mark is fixing Tyler's bike. Tyler asks to have dinner with them but Mark says no. Tyler asks Vanessa and Robin and they say yes. They are celebrating their eight month anniversary of living together and being roomates. We go back in time when they moved in together. Mark and his friends are playing basketball outside and Vanessa and Robin takes their basketball.   Mark gets a Spanish class at the high school. Mark tries to use the bathroom so he could get their earlier but Vanessa is doing her hair. Mark gets into the bathroom through another door. Robin, Mark, and Vanessa are having a hard time using the only bathroom. Mark goes to class late and meets the principal. The principal remembers Mark and gets a headache. Mark tries to read the lesson plan but he can't because it's in Spanish. Robin asks Mark to get home and sign for the new chairs arriving at home. Mark gets locked out of the class by Earvin.   At home, Mark tries to get used to the new fu

P.M.S.: Post Moving-in Syndrome

Mark, Robin, and there friends are playing dominos. Vanessa and Tyler want to play. Earvin has to ask Mark a question. The coach wins the game and breaks the table.   Earvin has trouble in maths and if he does not pass he will have to repeat the grade. Mark decides to help him. The next day, Mark tries to teach Earvin but both of them get distracted.   Mark finds out that his friend needs a new roomate at his new apartment. Mark tells Vanessa and Robin and they wonder what to do with Mark's room. Mark moves into the new apartment. Mark tries to tutor Earvin but does not have time because of the new parties around the building. One night, Earvin comes over and Mark tries to tutor but Mark gets distracted because of another party going on at their apartment. Earvin feels left out and also feels that he will flunk the math class.   That night at home, Vanessa and Robin miss Mark. Mark comes back home to visit and do his laundry. Robin also notices at school and at home that he is falling

A Moving Experience

Tyler is shaving with Mark in the bathroom. Robin and Vanessa are trying to get Tyler's father to fix the bathroom tiles. Mark also tries to fix the bathroom tiles but gets injured and also gets his hand stuck to the wall.   Mark's grandmother calls up from Detroit. She will come over in a few days. Mark tells a lie to her grandmother that he still plays with the Warriors. Mark tires to get Robin to be the cook and Vanessa the maid when she comes over. The day comes and Mark tries to get Tyler out of the house and Robin and Vanessa serves Mark. The grandmother is impressed and eats everything that Robin cooks. Also the grandmother, still does not know that Mark was cut from the Warriors. The grandmother is so fascinated, that she will stay for another week.   Robin and Vanessa urge Mark to tell the truth. Mark tries to tell the grandmother the truth but does not have the courage. Everything goes well until the grandmother sees Tyler watching the Warriors game and Mark is upstairs. The

Livin' a Large Lie

Former NBA player Mark Cooper becomes a dedicated teacher and basketball coach in Oakland after his playing career ends. When he's not dealing with his students and players, Mark spends time with his gorgeous female roommate and other friends.

Miracle in Oaktown

Seasons5

Season 1 Episodes22

Cast3

Crew2

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Episode Summary