Raising Hope - Episode Guide

When well-meaning 23-year-old Jimmy Chance has a one-night stand with a wanted felon, he ends up being a dad to a bouncing baby girl. Inspired to do the right thing by his daughter, he has to convince his less-than-enthusiastic parents and great-grandmother to help him raise her.

Jimmy asks Sabrina's cousin to baby-sit Hope so he can return to work. Burt tries to persuade Virginia to quit smoking.

When Jimmy "teaches" Hope to crawl, the family must baby-proof the house and find new places to store their belongings. It's soon revealed that Virginia is a hoarder and has been saving junk in the storage shed, which becomes Hope's favorite new hiding place. This leads Virginia to realize that she may have to change her ways. Meanwhile, Jimmy makes frequent unnecessary trips to the grocery store to see Sabrina.

Jimmy is delighted when Sabrina accepts to pay him a visit. None of his family wants to help make a good impression, but she seems charmed by all their dysfunctional family quirks. Mother insists on explaining all the stressed misery caused by the annual Chance family pictures, as it's time for another with baby Hope, but accepts to let Jimmy take her place as organizer.

When Sabrina's boyfriend can't make it to the deli guy's Halloween party, Jimmy offers to put on his costume and go in his place. Virginia takes Maw Maw, who is dressed as a cat, trick-or-treating while Burt plots ways to play tricks on Jimmy.

When a box containing videos of Hope's mother arrives from prison, Jimmy must decide whether or not to let Hope see them. Virginia explains that children need to be protected from the truth, leading Jimmy to question what exactly his parents have been keeping from him.

When Hope catches a cold, Jimmy panics because the family does not have health insurance. Jimmy figures out a way to get a second job at Sabrina's grocery store so he can afford to take Hope to the pediatrician.

Jimmy decides to put Hope in an expensive daycare center, but meets an obstacle in the form of an old record from Burt's past, so the family decides to take matters in their own hands and deal with the law.

Instead of sleeping in and ordering pizza, per his normal Thanksgiving custom, Jimmy invites Hope's other grandparents, Dale and Margine, to join the Chances for a more traditional holiday dinner. The Chances soon realize that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree when Dale and Margine kidnap Hope, and it's up to them to get her back.

A washed-up rock star who is hired as the lead act at 'Grocery-Palooza', a rock concert at the supermarket where Sabrina works. Smokey was once Burt's musical idol, and Burt hopes to relive his rock-star years by playing backup for him at the concert.

Jimmy finds out about his father's annual Christmas scheme where he sells the most wanted toy for a lot of money, which always left Jimmy disappointed when he was a child. Virginia wants the family to be a part of the living nativity scene at their church to gain the respect of the members.

Jimmy hasn't had any time to socialize or make friends since Hope was born, so when he meets another single dad at the grocery store, he immediately sets up a play date. But when Jimmy finds out that Virginia is his new friend's housekeeper, Virginia insists that Jimmy cancel the outing. In an effort to keep the peace, Jimmy and his friend arrange a dinner at the Chance house.

When Sabrina points out to Jimmy just how many germs are lurking around his house, the Chance family becomes obsessed with cleanliness. Finding it impossible to keep Maw Maw clean, they move her to the backyard greenhouse, but after watching some old family movies, they discover a surprising secret that has kept them healthy all these years.

Virginia's cousin Delilah, who struggles to make ends meet, pays a visit to the Chance family unannounced, determined to claim her share of Maw Maw's - whom she thinks died years ago - estate. Further tension builds when Delilah admits she still has a crush on Burt. Meanwhile, Jimmy babysits Maw Maw and panics when she takes off on Sabrina's moped.

When Virginia and Sabrina discover secrets about each other, Sabrina blackmails Virginia into keeping her mouth shut. Meanwhile, Jimmy takes Burt to get a vasectomy after a family vote.

The Chances prepare to host once more Burt's cousin Mike, a hopeless loser even by their standards. Yet they find him a changed man, as neat member of a loony sect, one of Tanya's four 'brother-husbands'. Jimmy is inadvertently attracted by their neat, apparently harmonious 'fraternity'. Alas, Mike is 'divorced' and moves in whining and desperate, worse then ever. Burt has another confrontation with his brother Bruce, who wants help to get his son Mike back and gets it after explaining why he threw the boy out years ago.

The Chance family goes to see a lawyer to get their wills done, and Burt is insulted when Jimmy chooses Sabrina over him. Meanwhile, Sabrina is overcome with emotion by the news, while Maw Maw thinks mongooses are infesting the household.

Jimmy hopes gullible Sabrina's boyfriend Wyatt may be cheating on her in college, so he insists to go with her to Wyatt's frat's wild costume party, but conclusive evidence is perilously hard to find. In order to have contact with generation peers, Maw Maw goes to Dead Tooth's daycare. She falls for a man who also lives in the past, but that includes an affair with another crone, supposedly from his Korean War days.

Burt and Virginia sleep-train Hope; Jimmy's new girlfriend introduces him to a strange beverage that takes him on a frightening trip.

When Burt's flirtatious ways are exposed, the entire family begins to experiment with flirting. Jimmy and Sabrina compete to be Barney's favorite employee, Maw Maw gives away her treasures and Virginia is stalked by a coffee shop employee.

Supermarket branch manager Barney tells the team he lost out each year 'despite best ideas' in the chain's annual commercial competition, so now he wants Jimmy and his colleagues to compete for this year's submission, but flattery and considerations like fair-play and team spirit get in the way. As Hope's baby-phone accidentally tunes into a neighboring house's, ear-dropping Burt discovers Andrew is being grossly abused by his tyrannical, impossible to please wife Donna and wants to help. Virginia is reluctant to risk being seen as a nosy neighbor, but agrees to help by example, which proves harder then expected.

Jimmy doesn't mind at 23 sharing his birthday with Maw Maw, although it was hell as a kid, when she had lots of friends and he none. When he turned 18, in his impertinent Goth period (alias 'Drakkar Noir'), she 'finally' felt able to throw the Chances trio out of her home, so they had to grow up suddenly, seeking real job incomes supplemented by devious ways to skin the supermarket. Five years ago however, her mind went, so they got the house back with her as senile resident hazard.

When Jimmy watches a home video of himself as a thirteen-year-old, he discovers that he was a musical prodigy with a promising career as a singer and pianist until a horrible accident involving a golf putter rendered him talentless. Jimmy recruits Burt, Virginia and Maw Maw to help him rediscover his lost abilities.

When Burt discovers that Sabrina is the daughter of his wealthy new client, he lets the family in on her secret. Embarrassed by her family's wealth she reluctantly introduces the Chance family to her father, Cap. Meanwhile Jimmy decides Hope should have rich friends and begs Sabrina to take him to her sister's party where Sabrina's insecurities become apparent.

When a ponytailed hippie named Jack who kidnapped Burt twenty years ago unexpectedly pays the Chance family a visit, they discover that Burt's disappearance wasn't all it appeared. Meanwhile Jimmy's jealousy creeps out when Sabrina anxiously awaits a text from her boyfriend Wyatt.

Virginia, Burt, Jimmy and Sabrina go to Las Vegas when Delilah plans a big wedding, but Virginia is jealous of her cousin's fancy ceremony because she never had one. Meanwhile, Jimmy hopes his luck with Sabrina will improve in Sin City.

After discovering that Hope hit a boy at daycare, the family becomes worried that Hope is following in her mother's footsteps. Meanwhile, the Chances run into some problems when they camp out in tents due to their home being fumigated for termites.

A thirteen-year-old kid makes a run for Sabrina, which drives Jimmy absolutely crazy. Meanwhile, Maw Maw swallows her gold tooth and Burt and Virginia contemplate retrieving it.

Jimmy, Virginia, Burt, Sabrina, Maw Maw and Hope borrow a house to impress Burt's wealthy parents who have decided at the last minute to celebrate Thanksgiving with the family. Things get interesting when the real homeowners return early, and Burt's folks get a taste of what life is really like for Burt and Virginia.

Virginia encourages the family to submit their own inventions in the National Invention Convention Extravaganza, so they could win the cash prize. Burt and Andrew team up to create unusual flavored yogurt, while Sabrina and Jimmy create a new baby mop.

After being encouraged to be more of a daredevil by Burt, Jimmy jumps at the chance of showing off his bolder side at a party at Frank's house. Frank and Jimmy realize they have shared a common high school bully, and when they try to take him down, they realize their old bully has changed.

In this "It's a Wonderful Life" themed episode, Jimmy is transported into a cinematic dreamlike state and watches on at a world where he never met Lucy. When he returns to reality he realizes that if Hope had never been born, his life wouldn't be as good. Meanwhile, Virginia, Burt and Maw Maw see a movie that bares a striking resemblance to their day-to-day lives.

When Hope shows signs of being a baby genius, the family pits themselves against one another to earn their GEDs. While attempting to secure his GED, Jimmy finds out that his old high school teacher, Mr. Swift, is teaching the class.

When Burt starts gambling again to try and win back the items he lost 20 years ago, Jimmy and Virginia get addicted to gambling themselves, which causes them to forget about Shelley's play that Sabrina wrote and Hope stars in.

Burt hires Barney to help him with his receipts during corporate tax season, and while caught up in the stress Burt accidentally makes a mean comment about Virginia's job, so she decides to change careers and become a tarot card reader. Meanwhile, Sabrina contemplates moving to Africa with Wyatt, upsetting Jimmy.

Bored and increasingly desperate for a distraction even they can afford, Burt and Virginia try out various hobbies, until they agree improvisation acting fits them scoundrels. When Jimmy feels Sabrina a lost cause after her engagement with Wyatt, they also advise making her jealous of an imaginary perfect girl. Jimmy fails to wriggle out of a double date, so he needs to hire Mary-Louise from the acting class to play one. That proves harder but also more rewarding then expected.

Jimmy and Sabrina continue building their relationship by learning more about their strange habits and childhood fears. Meanwhile, Virginia learns more about a habit Burt has been hiding from her for years.

Sabrina is arrested at a protest for civil disobedience, but her two-week sentence in jail is made even worse by a prison attendant who claims that they're old friends. Meanwhile, Virginia saves the Natesville mayor from a public scandal, but Jimmy's political encounter could threaten Sabrina's freedom.

When a raccoon decides to take residency under the Chance's porch, Virginia and Sabrina work together to try and lure the critter out. Meanwhile, Hope's misbehavior has become such an issue that Virginia and Burt suggest that it might be time for Jimmy to spank her.

Virginia agrees to be a live-in house sitter for her client and look after a troublesome teenage girl. Meanwhile, Maw Maw once again confuses Jimmy with her late husband Wilfrid, so Jimmy and Sabrina play along.

Natesville parish's charitable group's insufferable chairperson Sara Louise expected another term by acclamation, but against better judgment and spousal warnings Burt decides to stand against her. So he can't refuse the perilous duty of minding blind church organist Carl's 'guide pig', which alas doesn't survive his consistent Chance incompetence. So the family desperately tries to do with a similar-looking, untrained hog Burt bought. When it can finally be returned, Sara Louise decides to steal all the glory - or is there any?

When Jimmy finds out Sabrina has a new attractive study partner, Virginia convinces him that they are doing more than just studying. Meanwhile, Burt develops an obsession with a wall figurine.

Nancy Grace examines the "real story" of Hope's mom, serial killer Lucy Carlisle, resulting in the Chance family learning some shocking things about her.

Following the revelations of the "Inside Probe" expose of their family history, the Chances are put on trial in a fight to retain custody of Hope.

At the funeral for Sabrina's grandmother, Nana, the Chance family meets Tamara (Melanie Griffith), Sabrina's mother. Nana's last will and testament has a significant impact on Sabrina and Jimmy's relationship.

A visiting social worker sees how the Chances take care of Maw Maw and suspects elder abuse. Sabrina asks Jimmy to get rid of a beloved t-shirt.

The Chance family devises a plan to break Maw Maw out of the nursing facility. Jimmy worries about his future sanity.

When Jimmy and Sabrina go on a marriage retreat, Virginia and Burt and Tamara and her lover tag along. Barney baby-sits Maw Maw.

Virginia becomes suspicious when Burt starts spending a lot of time at a local gay bar.

When Jimmy learns his parents briefly gave him up for adoption, he asks Sabrina to help him befriend the man who would have been his brother; Burt and Virginia wonder if Jimmy would have been better off with other parents.

Jimmy tries to win a candy-selling contest so Hope can ride on a float in the Thanksgiving Day parade.

The family participates in a 1K walk; Virginia and Burt feel the effects of aging; Jimmy has a difficult time supporting Sabrina when she gets into a fight with her ex-boyfriend.

When Jimmy leaves Hope with Sabrina for the day, Sabrina tries to prove her parenting skills. Virginia and Burt try to catch a squirrel bully.

Convinced that the world will end on Dec. 21, 2012, Virginia stocks up on supplies and makes her family train for the apocalypse; Jimmy tries to make Hope's Christmas special.

When Jimmy and Sabrina decide to buy a new car, they learn Burt and Virginia ruined Jimmy's credit when he was a child.

Jimmy participates in medical experiments to raise money for an engagement ring; when Jimmy finds the perfect ring at a pawn shop, it ends up being Virginia's.

Jimmy is apprehensive when Frank wants to throw a memorable bachelor party; Sabrina encourages Jimmy to cut loose and have fun.

Sabrina's mom hires the camera crew from "Modern Family" to film Jimmy and Sabrina's nuptials; when Maw Maw and Reverend Bob butt heads, Burt and Virginia work to save the ceremony without Jimmy and Sabrina being the wiser.

The whole family goes on a road trip to Los Angeles for a taping of Hope's favorite show, "Yo Zappa Do"; Virginia and Burt let Ricardo stay at their place, but their house guest quickly wears out his welcome.

When Hope and Jimmy start working on "Yo Zappa Do," the show's star makes Jimmy's life miserable.

When Burt (Garret Dillahunt) and Virginia (Martha Plimpton) discover that their storage locker is up for auction, they also realize they have misplaced a personal and incriminating home video that has fallen into the hands of another couple (guest stars Mike O?Malley and Liza Snyder). Meanwhile, Sabrina tries to get to the bottom of Jimmy?s epic sleepwalking habit.

After Sabrina objects to the way the Chance family celebrates Arbor Day, she is visited by the ghosts of Arbor Day Past, Present and Future.

It's a "My Name is Earl" reunion as the Chances throw a birthday party for Hope. Jason Lee reprises his guest-star role as former rock star Smokey Floyd, and he is joined by guest stars Jaime Pressly, Ethan Suplee, Nadine Velazquez and Eddie Steeples as Natesville locals who all band together to save the party.

Sabrina is excited to introduce her new friend, Rachel, to the family, but Virginia and Burt are shocked when they realize Rachel is the girl who once broke Jimmy's heart.

After learning that he is Jewish, Burt prepares for the bar mitzvah he never had.

When Burt and Barney travel to Maw Maw's childhood home, they learn that her mother may still be alive.

Burt and Virginia decide to investigate a when strange man keeps popping up in the Chances' lives; Maw Maw reveals a secret about Virginia's past.

Burt and Virginia introduce Natesville to a new bartering system called "Burt Bucks", that looks an awful lot like a pyramid scheme.

When Sabrina finds out that Jimmy never went on a real family vacation as a kid, she's determined to take Hope on a memorable trip.

Virginia is thrilled when the doctor prescribes new glasses, until her new crystal-clear vision allows her to see every tiny imperfection around the house.

Howdy's gets business innovator Maxine as its new owner, and all employees must come up with a big idea to change the store.

Sabrina wants to officially adopt Hope as her own, but the official adoption process doesn't give her the "Motherhood Moment" for which she was hoping.

Burt and Virginia get new back-fence neighbors, and Burt is convinced that there is something suspicious about them.

Virginia and Burt fear that Jimmy and Sabrina's marriage has lost its spark, so they use their own relationship experiences to try and shake things up.

Burt wants to be elected the interim Mayor of Natesville so that Virginia will have the honor of plugging in the town Christmas tree. But being mayor turns Burt into a Grinch.

Burt and Virginia go undercover to expose a corporate scandal that is killing all the bees in Natesville.

Maw Maw accidentally calls a wrong number in her contact book, bringing Virginia's cousin, Delilah, back to town. When the two rivals fight nonstop, Maw Maw threatens to give everything in her will to the granddaughter who can be the most civil. Meanwhile, Jimmy and Sabrina have trouble finding a babysitter for Hope.

Virginia offers to give Sabrina some much-needed cooking lessons. But when Jimmy proclaims that his wife's casserole is better than his mom's, it brings out Virginia's competitive side and she enters herself and her daughter-in-law in the Hot Dish competition. To ease the tension, Burt also invites his mother to enter the contest.

In trying to help Barney and Maxine's budding relationship, Burt and Virginia wind up getting in a fight. Meanwhile, Jimmy and Sabrina decide to start fencing in order to relieve some of the tension in their relationship.

"Groce-letes" from around the world descend on Natesville for the International Grocery Games, where competitors battle for supremacy in the aisles of Howdy's. But when the American delegation is embroiled in a shocking performance-enhancing drug scandal, the Howdy's team, along with Burt and Virginia, must pick up the torch for the Stars & Stripes.

Virginia thinks that Burt is getting her an expensive gift for their 25th anniversary, so she decides to take him to a dude ranch that is run by a crazy cowboy. But Burt isn't able to enjoy himself because of a secret he is keeping from Virginia.

Maw Maw has found a new love, Hubert, who encourages her to engage in some reckless activities. When Virginia finds herself scolding Maw Maw, she fears she's become a lame adult and wants Burt to take part in more risk-taking activities with her. Jimmy and Sabrina follow suit when they find themselves spying on their own babysitter.

At Barney's suggestion, Virginia and Burt go to a resort for a vacation; Sabrina and Jimmy want to have a baby.

Virginia's boss Louise begins grooming her for the role of regional sales manager. But when Virginia sees what her boss' job is really like, she has second thoughts. Meanwhile, Jimmy and Sabrina are worried about Hope's lack of compassion when she feels no sadness over the death of her pet fish, and Burt and Virginia perform at the Natesville Telethon.

Virginia stops believing in magical things, but second-guesses herself when a ghost appears in the house. When Burt discovers that Jim Hughes has secretly been living in their house's bomb shelter, he and Jim play along with Virginia's antics in order to make her believe in the paranormal again. Meanwhile, Burt and Virginia learn some news about Jim that scares them straight.

When Virginia and Burt realize they are suffering from "empty nest syndrome", Sabrina suggests they adopt a dog. But when they are turned down by the pound, they are given a trial period as dog owners with Michael, who ends up overstaying his welcome at the Chance's home. Meanwhile, Jimmy tries to prove to Sabrina that he's still a ladies man, even when he doesn't have Hope with him to attract women.

Jimmy and Sabrina get a surprise when they learn that Sabrina's late grandmother has left them the family maid, who has a lifetime contract with the family. Meanwhile, Virginia gets a promotion at work that allows Burt to retire and pursue his passion – even if he doesn't know what his passion is.

Virginia's father Arnold returns to Natesville seeking help in planning his upcoming wedding. But Arnold surprises everyone when he reveals that the wedding Virginia has planned is really for her and Burt – the dream wedding they never got to have as teen parents.