Tony goes head-to-head with sixteen-year-old Tina when he learns she's played hooky for two weeks from the new private school she detests. Also, the technophobic Tony faces a computer crisis when his column must be e-mailed to his editor at the eleventh hour. Meanwhile, eleven-year-old Mickey drives her loving dad to distraction with her neuroses and hypochondria, and her doting grandfather gives lip service to strict parenting.

Juggling domestic chores and a tight editorial deadline, Tony tries to beat the clock, but his carefully crafted schedule sinks, thanks to a leaking faucet and an inept plumber, as well as to Tina's teen trauma with a cheating boyfriend, Mickey's latest malady and Carmen's long lunch date.

Tony's opportunity to host a radio sports talk show goes awry when he can't persuade the callers to stick to the topic of sports and finds himself trapped into discussing his personal life on the air. Meanwhile, Mickey shows a bemused Stuey a tip or two about being a doorman.

Tony succumbs to Frank's suggestion that he get a social life, and the father-and-son duo descend on the singles scene, while Tina and Mickey wonder what's taking dad so long at the "market."

Tony's attempt to coax Carmen's father into treating her like an independent adult backfires when he misinterprets Tony's praise and begins planning a wedding. Unable to squash Carlos' joy, the dismayed duo play along with the charade.