Original title
In the House
Released
4/10/1995
Origin country
US
Genre
Comedy
Production companies
Quincy Jones-David Salzman Entertainment, NBC Productions, NBC Studios, Winifred Hervey Productions
Status
Ended
Number of seasons
5
Number of episodes
76
A once-famous football player must rent part of his house to support himself. A single mother and her two kids are the latest tenants. He also owns a sports clinic that he barely manages to run with help from his friends
When Jackie Warren's husband goes through a mid-life crisis and announces that he is having an affair, she decides to make a new life for herself. Once a wealthy socialite, she enters the work force for the first time and gets her own place to live. Jackie squeezes into a less-than-lavish but charming house owned by former football player Marion Hill, whose stellar career was ruined by a freak accident. To cover expenses while he trains for a comeback, he moves into the apartment above his garage and rents his main house to Jackie and her two children. The kitchen becomes common ground for the tenants and their landlord. With only two years of law school as her experience, Jackie is hired as a legal assistant by Heather Comstock, a young no-nonsense power attorney. While she's working, Jackie must find someone to take care of her children. Despite her misgivings about Marion, Jackie's overly dramatic teenaged daughter Tiffany and her brainy young son Austin convince her to give him a c
When a female bully at school harasses Austin, he asks Jackie and Marion for advice. Unfortunately, he must choose between two opposing philosophies: Jackie says he should protect himself and fight back, while Marion advocates a non-violent approach. Meanwhile, Tiffany fights with her boyfriend on the telephone and agonizes about whether to call him back or wait for him to call her.
Jackie is out of the house celebrating her son Austin's birthday, so Marion plans a reunion with his ex-girlfriend, who thinks he still has an active football career. But Jackie unexpectedly brings the party back to the house and upsets Marion's romantic evening. Meanwhile, Heather dates a single father and asks Jackie's advice on bonding with his daughter.
It's been nearly 20 years since Jackie went on a date, but Marion tries to get her to meet men at a popular night club. However, when Marion's former grade school football coach comes for a visit, Jackie finds an eligible bachelor in her own living room.
Austin persuades Jackie to continue the family tradition of visiting their mountain cabin at the beginning of the spring season. But when Jackie's car breaks down, Marion must drive them. Their plans are thrown into further turmoil by Jackie's ex-husband Milton, who brought his new young bride to the cabin for a romantic weekend.
Jackie and Heather help Marion get an audition for a sportscaster job on a local news show. For the audition, he interviews basketball star Spud Webb. Marion gets the job! But when he refuses to do the broadcast without his lucky hat, the station owner issues an ultimatum: either the hat goes or Marion goes. Meanwhile, Tiffany participates in a school charity drive to get closer to a cute classmate. Also, Austin asks his family to help him prepare for a school spelling competition.
Marion and his friend Carlton Banks discover that a boy is dating both Tiffany and Carlton's little sister, Ashley, at the same time, so they decide to teach the duplicitous guy a lesson in respect.
Marion takes a liking to an attractive neighbour, with whom Austin has been spending some time; meanwhile, Jackie delivers pizzas to earn extra money, and Heather practices hugging after her therapist tells her to be more friendly.
To Jackie's discomfort, one of Marion's former professional football teammates, Clayton Whitmore, comes to town to play poker with the old gang. That night, while the guys play poker, Austin sneaks downstairs to watch, and they invite him to play. Everyone is amazed by Austin's gambling prowess. Meanwhile, Heather manipulates Jackie into planning Heather's 30th birthday party -- and confronting the dilemma of finding ways to persuade guests to attend.
When Austin finds out that Marion is coaching a kids' football league with Marion's former grade school football coach Sam Wilson, he tries to impress Marion by making the team; and Sam accepts Austin hoping to date a grateful Jackie. Unfortunately, Austin is smaller than the other boys and plays terribly. Sam promises Marion that he will leave Austin on the bench during the game; meanwhile, Austin secretly tells Tiffany that he hates football but intends to stay on the team rather than disappoint everybody. On the day of the first game, half of the team stays home with chicken pox. Then one of the players gets injured late in the game, and Austin is the only alternate left on the team. He hides in the locker room, pursued by Jackie and Marion. Jackie realizes why Sam accepted Austin; Marion reassures Austin they're friends for life no matter what choices Austin makes. When Austin decides to play, he gets a chance to score a touchdown but becomes overconfident and is tackled. Meanwhile
Jackie ex-husband, Milton is thrown out by his new wife when he accidentally says Jackie's name during sex. Jackie refuses to allow him to live in her part of the home, but Marion lets Milton sleep in his room. Unfortunately, Milton drives Marion crazy with his annoying habits, and the next day Marion tries to force Milton back to Sasha. When Milton rents a romantic hotel suite, Marion calls Sasha to persuade her to reconcile with Milton. She refuses, causing a dejected Milton to lock himself in the hotel bathroom. After Marion calls Jackie at work, she rushes over and persuades Milton to come out of the bathroom. Grateful for her support, Milton hugs Jackie--just as Sasha enters....
Marion bakes cookies for his physical therapist, Tonia, to thank her for helping him heal. But she wrongly thinks he is in love with her and aggressively pursues him by sneaking into his room wearing sexy lingerie. Meanwhile, Jackie wants Tiffany to join a fancy social club managed by the snobbish Mrs. Mason. Mrs. Mason and the other ladies come over to interview Tiffany, and they almost witness Marion leading the scantily clad Tonia out of the house. Later, Jackie agrees to help Marion convince Tonia that he is in love with someone else. Marion takes Tonia to an expensive restaurant. Jackie comes in, kisses Marion passionately and says that they are in love. Tonia dejectedly leaves. Unfortunately, Mrs. Mason was sitting behind them and witnessed the entire incident. Tiffany is glad to be rejected by the social club.
Jackie's adventurous sister takes her, Marion and Clayton on a wild, wild trip.
Milton begs Jackie to pretend that the house is their happy home for his visiting grandmother, but Marion isn't too happy when Nanna begins to give him orders. Elsewhere, Marion's idea to throw his old friend Darryl a bachelor party lands Darryl in hot water with his bride-to-be.
Marion takes it like a man when his old friend Kevin discloses his new profession as a female impersonator.
Tiffany and Austin want to bring the family together for Christmas, and that includes a visit from their great-grandparents.
After Austin gives Marion computer-aided financial advice, a computer mix-up gives Marion a large sum of money.
Marion's professional football comeback means it's time for Jackie to start thinking about moving out.
Marion's cousin, Curtis, wants to market marion's health drink but not without complications. Austin tries to act like Marion in order to win friends.
While giving Tiffany driving lessons, Marion crashes into a vehicle driven by a policewoman named Alex who he falls in love with.
Jackie becomes intrigued and attracted to the handsome handyman named Russell who is hired by Marion to fix his broken hot tub. Austin unknowingly gives his girlfriend Erica Jackie's wedding ring as a gift. Marion spends Valentine's Day with Alex, but their romance becomes complicated when Tonia, Alex's cousin and Marion's physical trainer, surprises him and reveals that she has a crush on him. Meanwhile, Tiffany has two dates.
Marion finds it hard to believe Tonia when she tells him that Alex is seeing someone else. Tiffany ruins Jackie's new dress.
Marion doesn't see eye to eye with his dad.
Jackie is promoted to the New York office, which means Marion is short one tenant. Enter Tonia.
Marion feels like he's moved on emotionally from his college pals; new neighbor Tonia reports seeing an alien; Tiffany has a date.
When Marion coordinates a charity basketball tournament, Jackie and Tonia organize a team to challenge Marion, whose teammates include a tall, athletic postman. Sportscaster Fred Roggin and former professional basketball player Reggie Theus provide play-by-play coverage for a live television broadcast. Meanwhile, when Jackie's ex-husband Milton expresses concern that Marion has more of a positive influence on Austin than he does, Marion allows Milton to coach the basketball team. However, Milton's efforts only embarrass Austin. Also, Jackie is concerned when Tiffany dates a young rap musician who influences her language and wardrobe.
After Jackie moves back East with her son Austin, sidelined pro-football player Marion Hill revels, at least temporarily, in having his house back to himself. Plus, he is supposed to find out soon from a medical diagnosis if he can play football again. But a trip to the sports clinic immediately changes his outlook - with comedic reverberations. When Marion finds out he'll never play football again from the insensitive new doctor at the sports clinic, Maxwell Stanton, he doesn't know what to do, until his next door neighbor and physical therapist Tonia convinces him to buy the clinic, which is about to be closed in corporate downsizing. With partner Tonia in tow, they head off to meet with a loan officer. But it seems they weren't the only ones with this good idea. Dr. Stanton is looking to buy the place as well. When both parties learn that neither can make the deal on their own, they're left with only one option... a three way split.
Tonia and Maxwell come up with a get rich quick scheme - the ""Butt Ball"" - to help fund their sports clinic. All they need is a celebrity endorser to get the ball rolling. When Olympic Gold-Medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee drops out, they turn to their partner, ex-pro football star Marion, to step in and save the day.
Overwhelmed by Tonia's demands on their time, Marion and Maxwell conspire to get themselves off her daily social calendar by fixing her up with Gary, the water delivery man. But when the first date lands him in the emergency room, the guys have trouble convincing Gary to go out with Tonia a second time. With the promise to 100 free gym hours sweetening the pot, Gary agrees to see Tonia again, and Marion and Maxwell decide to go along to make sure things go smoothly. But Tonia is on to their plan and has one of her own.
Marion helps an obnoxious football player facing a career-ending injury. Meanwhile, Tiffany convinces Tonia to flirt with a client.
Heated competition between Marion and Maxwell results in L.A. Lakers, Eddie Jones, a prospective client, being knocked out cold.
A hotshot college football star poised to break one of Marion's last standing records catches Tiffany's eye. But Tonia has a bad feeling about the young man's intentions - feelings Marion initially discounts. Meanwhile, Maxwell scrutinizes a parade of would-be receptionists.
Rodney reconsiders Maxwell as his career role model for school. Meanwhile, Marion coaches Tonia for a charity boxing match.
Maxwell insults a self-proclaimed witch, who casts a spell on him.
Marion and Maxwell compete for the attention of a dance instructor. Meanwhile, Tiffany pretends to be Jamaican to impress a boy.
When Tiffany's social life causes truancy trouble, Marion plots to make her party until she can party no more.
Maxwell's girlfriend Shanna is more interested in her dog than in him. Marion crams for a physical therapist certification exam.
It appears that in the eye of Marion's grandma, he can do nothing right...whereas Maxwell can do nothing wrong.
While volunteering at a soup kitchen, Marion is believed to be destitute. Tonia teaches her friend Henry how to be cool to impress his girlfriend, but he becomes attracted to Tonia.
Marion falls for a woman whose phone messages he advertently receives. Tonia and Henry face complications in their relationship.
Marion welcomes Evander Holyfield into his home as the two prepare for a banquet honoring Marion at which they hope to get a big donation for a children's charity. Unfortunately, eternal trouble makers Tonia and Max manage to get invited to the event as well. Meanwhile, Tiffany learns that she may lose her bid for homecoming queen because she scored high on here advanced placement test.
Amber, the property manager who's responsible for rent increases in the office building, once had a affair with Marion. Tonia has a secret admirer.
Marion shows that he's free of his attraction to Amber by dating a woman from a company making a commercial for the clinic.
Marion's effort to avoid the ""I love you"" land mine with Amber blows up in his face. Meanwhile, Max believes that Tonia's boyfriend Henry may be giving secret information about their clinic to another rival clinic.
Marion and Maxwell organize a celebrity miniature-golf tournament.
Marion vows to abstain from romantic liaisons as a mode of spiritual cleansing.
Marion weighs an offer to endorse orthopedic shoes for seniors while on his annual spiritual retreat.
Tonia and Maxwell challenge Marion to tackle his acrophobia by rock climbing. Meanwhile, Carl escorts Tiffany to her senior prom after a major conflict occurs.
Marion, Tonia and Maxwell's partnership falls apart in the aftermath of an earthquake that leaves the sports clinic in ruins. Meanwhile, Tiffany reconsiders going to college.
Seeking an upgrade, Maxwell urges Marion to date the contractor who's fixing up the clinic. Meanwhile, Tonia dates L.A. Lakers basketball star Derek Fisher.
Marion gives his pal Tito a job at the sports clinic, where he's a real piece of work for Max and Tonia. Meanwhile, Tonia and her boyfriend Derek face a complication in their romance.
Marion makes a brief appearance during Tonia's meeting with an ad agency, and lands an underwear-modeling gig. Meanwhile, Tiffany decides to move out.
Marion and Maxwell's on-shore escapade continues, while out-at-sea, Mercedes frets that Maxwell has ditched her.
Rivalry with a clinic across the street results in a series of pranks. Meanwhile, Tiffany, Carl and Raynelle are having trouble with trying to finish their psychology papers.
musical guest: Suede Tonia's motivational speech to juvenile female inmates inspires a prison break. Meanwhile, Tito's determined to manage a singing group.
Marion and the gang participate in a dream therapy session.
Marion provides living space for Natalie, a girl from the old neighborhood who's all grown up now.
Tiffany is attracted to an older grad student.
Marion advises Tiffany to steer clear of Graham. Meanwhile, Marion and Tonia scheme to reunite Maxwell and Mercedes.
At Christmastime, Tonia's sister, Yolanda, voices to Marion her doubts that the ministry is her true calling.
After a breakup, Marion is sued for damages over the ""little lies"" he uttered during the relationship.
Marion and Natalie have overwhelming urges for each other during a charity tennis tournament.
Marion and Natalie establish relationship rules; Mercedes proposes to Maxwell; Tiffany is the birthing coach for a woman with a grudge.
To make clinic rent money, Marion rebuilds a youth center, where he confronts a bad guy from his past.
Marion wants to get Blake out from under Eddie's bad influence.
Tiffany helps out her single-mom friend Shara. Meanwhile, Marion's paternal feelings worry Natalie.
Marion denies having feelings for Natalie, as he and Tito throw a bachelor party for Maxwell.
After seeing Gabrielle and Mark kissing passionately, Tiffany confronts the amorous couple about their betrayal. Marion visits his grandmother in Queens, and also sees Natalie. Meanwhile, Mercedes' wealthy ex boyfriend, Evan Burnett, returns.
Mercedes and Maxwell's marriage is jeopardized when their parents bicker on their wedding day. Meanwhile, Marion considers popping the question to Natalie.
Marion's life hits a crossroads when he begins to fret over whether he and Maxwell should sell their clinic while Tonia gets offers from the WNBA. Meanwhile, Carl and Raynelle move in with Marion and Tiffany temporarily, but the three friends soon regret the whole idea.
Tiffany and Graham's relationship heats up while Marion is introduced to Valerie's inquistive daughter Brianna. Also, Marion's nana pays him a visit and explains to her grandson that she's getting engaged and Mercedes and Maxwell face problems in the bedroom.
Marion's suspiciousness about Nana's fiancee Ted causes the relationship to collapse on the eve of their wedding. Also, a letter left from Tiffany reveals that she has eloped with Graham.
Marion accidentally kills Brianna's goldfish. Meanwhile, Maxwell tries to reconcile with Mercedes with the help of a counselor. Raynelle's new boyfriend becomes too clingy.
Maxwell and Mercedes struggle to conceive a child while Marion encounters Valerie's ex-husband Justin, who has plans for reconciliation.
In the series finale, Marion awaits news on an NFL franchise. Carl and Raynelle try to decieve their parents. Maxwell and Mercedes continue to try to conceive a child. Marion reconciles with Valerie. Marion finally opens up to Maxwell. Also, Mercedes reveals the news of her pregnancy. Valerie tells Marion that she and Brianna are moving back to New York. The NFL franchise is finalized and Marion decides to also move back to New York to be with Valerie and Brianna while taking the liaison job there. Now that Marion won't be needing his place, he gives it up to Carl and Raynelle to have along with Tiffany and Graham once they return. As everyone leaves to celebrate, Marion looks back on all the great things he has done for others and most importantly the people he shared them with.
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