Beverly and Murray move Erica into college where her roommate is also named Erica. Later, Beverly has a hard time letting go and ends up sleeping over in the dorm, much to Erica’s dismay. Meanwhile, Adam tries to give Barry the perfect girlfriend, even trying to build one like in the movie “Weird Science,” as he embarks into his senior year.
Adam is assigned a term paper on a great person in history, and he decides to make a movie about his grandfather but finds all of Pop’s war stories mundane. Pops takes matters into his own hands and decides to tell more exciting stories based on an old television series. Meanwhile, Erica returns home to confront Beverly for over-mothering her. Murray insists Beverly teach Erica and Barry basic life skills, but she worries Erica and Barry will be too independent.
Beverly confronts Coach Mellor who reveals his strained relationship with his own brother Coach Nick, so she intervenes prompting Nick to face off with Rick. Adam and Barry join in, each one siding with one of the coaches. After a fight breaks out, Beverly points out to Adam and Barry this could be them as adults. Meanwhile, Geoff and Erica struggle with their relationship long distance.
With the children growing up, Beverly decides to reinvent herself and quits being a substitute teacher. She decides to focus her energy on going to night school so she can eventually own her own business. Murray doesn't like change or things costing money, so he convinces her to get a perm instead. Meanwhile, Erica struggles to balance her academic and social life in college and needs Adam's assistance.
After Adam and Jackie disagree over their Halloween costumes, Murray teaches Adam to be a shell of a man to keep Jackie happy; however, it backfires quickly also causing an issue for Murray and Beverly.
When The Ottoman Empire’s business declines due to a new furniture competitor, Adam offers to make Murray a commercial starring Marvin, but things go awry when Marvin’s actions mess up the original plan. Meanwhile, Beverly offers to help Barry as he keeps striking out as he attempts to get a girl at school.
During the holiday, Uncle Marvin reveals he has become a stockbroker and convinces Barry and the JTP to invest their money with him. Meanwhile, Erica tells Geoff she is in debt and gets swept up in the family investment. Later, Beverly invites 50 people over for a Thanksgiving potluck instead of stressing out cooking for the family.
It's a complete disaster when Murray takes Adam out for a driving lesson and they learn something new about Pops in the process. Meanwhile, Erica has a hard time making friends at her school and turns down a toga party invitation. When Barry arrives for a weekend visit, he quickly thrives on the social scene, easily making friends, unlike his sister. But a little pep talk by Barry helps Erica finally enjoy college.
Adam and Barry decide to write a song like the iconic “Parents Just Don’t Understand” and call it “Dads Just Don’t Care.” When they don’t get the reaction they expect from Murray, the boys take appropriate steps to make amends. Meanwhile, Beverly keeps calling Erica in college but she wants space from her mom. Beverly is forced to take drastic measures to change that.
Erica tells Beverly she is going to spend the first night of Hanukkah with Geoff and his family; Beverly worries and starts a competition for who hosts the best Hanukkah party; Barry seeks advice from Pops on how to be cool.
Afraid she’ll be all alone in her old age, Beverly attempts to bond with other moms to form their own group like the TV show “The Golden Girls,” while Erica gets annoyed at Geoff’s romantic gestures, almost causing them to break up.
Erica warns Geoff about going to dinner with her family to celebrate her birthday, but he insists. Upon arrival, it’s apparent this will be no ordinary dinner out. By evening’s end, Geoff hits his breaking point.
Adam tries to be funny in class but ends up distracting his woodshop teacher, who nearly injures himself when his tie is cut off so Murray grounds him. Meanwhile, Geoff and Beverly try to become more cultured so Erica will remain close when she decides she wants to attend a Phillip Glass concert but, in the end, they learn something surprising about Erica's taste in music. 80s band Hooters makes a special appearance.
Barry joins the football team but is quickly benched by Coach Mellor due to his lack of playing ability. He convinces himself the coach is testing him; but when Barry realizes the truth of his playing ability, Adam helps his brother understand there are other ways he can contribute to the team. Meanwhile, Beverly designs jackets that she tries to get Murray and Erica to sell when a national TV channel won’t.
Adam loves director Steven Spielberg so much and decides to film an original script he wrote about Indiana Jones and his passion for directing is called into question. Meanwhile, Murray and Barry make a bet about whether or not a cheesesteak sandwich in New Jersey is the best one ever.
When Beverly gets a glimpse into a soon-to-be empty nest, she replaces her kids with the Mellor brothers, nursing Coach Mellor back to health after falling off the rope climb. Meanwhile, Erica and her college roommate get on each other’s nerves in their dorm room, especially when Valley Erica puts a scrunchie on the door and kicks Erica out.
Barry enlists the JTP to help him break up Beverly's group of friends so Barry can have all the attention but soon realizes he made a major mistake when Beverly gets into a fight with her friends. Meanwhile, Adam’s attempts to trick Murray into loving theater backfires.
Hoping to get the true spring break experience, Erica and Barry visit Pops in Florida, yet it’s nothing how they expected. Meanwhile, Adam tells the truth to Beverly and Murray but then gets a surprising reaction.
After seeing "Flashdance," Beverly decides to take up dance with the Frentas and is rejected when the family doesn't support her after telling them she is going to be in a recital. Meanwhile, when Emmy starts dating a cool guy, Adam thinks their friendship is in jeopardy, so he sets out to be cooler which backfires.
Barry gets the chance to throw the first pitch at a Philadelphia Phillies game and believes this is his chance to play professionally, but it's anything but. Meanwhile, Erica makes an important decision about her future in college.
Adam tries to start a Mel Brooks club after he sees the movie "Spaceballs," and Jackie mistakes his club advertisement for political satire and puts it in the school paper. Meanwhile, when Beverly and Pops come up for parents weekend at school, Erica plans on telling them an important decision she has made, but Murray surprises them and tags along.
When Lainey moves back to town, Barry asks her to the prom; but when she says no, he plans a senior prank with Principal Ball's car to get out of going. Meanwhile, Erica tells Murray she has made a final decision about her future in college, and he is furious and insists she pay her own way for rent and food.