Hope and Nancy in the Steadman backyard, Nancy apologizing for the fight Hope and Michael witnessed between herself and Elliot, in the episode "couples".

Episodes - Season 1

NOTE: Clicking on the episode title will take you Lisa's episode guide at Bob Fahey's site!

Season One

Episode 1 "thirtysomething" The pilot for thirtysomething shows the frienship of 7 people, focusing in the first episode on the central couple, Micheal and Hope Steadman's marriage and how it has changed since the birth of their daughter.
Episode 2 "parents are coming" aka: "attack of the killer parents" is a more serious look at the problems Hope has with the visit of her parents.
Episode 3 "housewarming" Michael is glad he has everything - a beautiful wife, a big house, his own business, but can't stop obsessing about the fact he could lose it all. The Steadmans opt to have a housewarming party.
Episode 4 "couples" aka: "level of misery". Nancy and Elliot's marriage is in trouble, and in a Rashoman style, a fight between them is interpreted by Michael, Hope, Elliot and Nancy. .
Episode 5 "but not for me" aka: "Saturday Night". One of the funniest episodes, Melissa is stood up by her date, and ends up with Gary. Meanwhile Hope and Michael have a date that goes wrong from start to finish.
Episode 6 "we gather together" The crew gather for Thanksgiving at the Steadman's. The turkey is frozen, Melissa's date is a nut, and everyone gets sick, all while Hope looks back on old pictures, remembering days gone by.
Episode 7 "nice work if you can get it" Ellyn gives Michael and Elliot a contract. The phrase "yo it's your art center" is born.
Episode 8 "weaning" Hope is mourning Janey being weaned while yearning to be back in the workforce.
Episode 9 "i'll be home for christmas" The most popular TS episode according to the fan forum survey. Michael and Hope can't decide if they should celebrate Christmas or not...a tree or not...and Melissa finds her own way to celebrate. An ad campaign Michael asks Melissa to do turns sour, and causes a rift between Michael and Melissa.
Episode 10 "south by southwest" The Hitchcock episode. Gary, the prolific guy he is, gets in trouble by having an affair with a professor's wife who later stalks him. In the meantime he has fallen in love until she finds out more about him.
Episode 11 "therapy" The creator Marshall Herskovitz plays the therapist that Nancy and Elliot go to see to find out why their marriage is in trouble.
Episode 12 "competition" A client prefers Elliot over Michael, something Michael is not accustomed to and becomes very insecure about.
Episode 13 "separation" There is no prelude to Elliot's decision to leave Nancy and the kids. He ends up with Michael and Hope for a few days, as she and Michael try to help them through this terrible time.
Episode 14 "i'm in love, i'm in love, i'm in love with a wonderful gynecologist" Melissa and Ellyn are both attracted to Dr. Bob, but Ellyn is in a committed relationship with Woodman..or is she?
Episode 15 "business as usual" The first part of two parts on the illness and death of Michael's father who has cancer. He struggles with his father's illness, dealing with his stepmother and his own responsibilities.
Episode 16 "accounts receivable" Micheal's father is dead, and he and Hope go to his hometown of Chicago to deal with his father's now defunct business. He must deal with his younger brother Brad who had also been in the business too.
Episode 17 "whose forest is it?" Ethan struggles with his parent's separation, and Nancy reaches out to him, while Elliot seems to be finding a new life. Nancy builds upon a story that Ethan heard from his dad to comfort him.
Episode 18 "nancy's first date" Nancy goes on her first date, but not before Elliot has fantasies about her with other men that cause them to make their own fantasy before she goes.
Episode 19 "undone" Michael has an old college flame, that he invites to stay with he and Hope when she comes to town. She has more on her mind than just being friends as Michael finds himself tempted by a woman he was attracted to but never really had, testing his devotion to Hope.
Episode 20 "tenure" Gary loses his tenure and tries to understand what it really is that he wants to do with his life.
Episode 21 "born to be mild" Michael finally gets Hope to leave Janey for the weekend. Nancy takes Janey, only to get sick and ends up leaving her with Ellyn and Woodman who had counted on a romantic weekend alone at the Steadmans while house-sitting.