
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.
Guest Stars:
Jack Dodson
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.
Guest Stars:
William Sanderson, Tony Papenfuss, John Voldstad, Dan Frischman, Bill Quinn
Dick gets his hopes up after two city officials suggest he run for town council.
Guest Stars:
Thomas Hill, William Lanteau
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.
Dick and the gang pitch in to help Kirk get the Minuteman up to code after its shut down.
Guest Stars:
Dick Christie, Roy London
Dick spirals into a profound depression after the Stratford is denied in its bid to be classified an historic landmark.
Guest Stars:
Barbara Tarbuck, Ryan MacDonald
Leslie's high school sweetheart returns from far off places to ask for her hand in marriage, to Kirk's obvious displeasure.
Guest Stars:
Howard McGillin
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.
Guest Stars:
Earl Boen
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.
Guest Stars:
Bob Perlow
A U.S. Senator's wife checks into the inn and holds a press conference to announce she's divorcing her inattentive husband.
Guest Stars:
Penny Fuller, Robert Hogan
Dick jeopardizes Leslie's lifelong dream of becoming a world-class skier when he accidentally falls on her.
Guest Stars:
Dan Gilvezan
George's old flame visits the inn. Both are disappointed when the other isn't as they remember.
Guest Stars:
Rue McClanahan
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.
Guest Stars:
Dana Elcar, K Callan, Nancy Lenehan
Leslie's attractive cousin Stephanie visits Vermont to settle her emotions as she nears her wedding day. Stephanie soon finds herself lusting after Kirk.
Guest Stars:
Julia Duffy
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.
Guest Stars:
Bobby Ramsen
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.
Guest Stars:
Tom Everett, William Lucking, Robert Pastorelli
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.
Guest Stars:
Ernie Sabella, Julius Carry, Wolfe Perry, Daniel J. Travanti, Jimmy Baron
When Kirk's cafe is robbed, his history of deception comes back to haunt him as the insurance investigator refuses to believe his story.
Guest Stars:
Brandon Maggart, Joe Colligan
George is the town laughingstock when he claims to have spied an UFO.
Guest Stars:
Hansford Rowe, James Avery
Dick inadvertently insults Joanna, calling her a homebody. Joanna takes a job with a travel agency in an attempt to assert herself.
Guest Stars:
Jerry Van Dyke
Kirk's grandmother visits on the same night he finally gets a date with Leslie.
Guest Stars:
Martin Ferrero, Ruth Gordon, Frank Coppola
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'.
Guest Stars:
Richard Venture, Thomas Hill, William Lanteau
24 Episodes