"Empty Nest" tells of the day to day misadventures of a widowed pediatrician named Harry Weston and his two adult daughters, Barbara and Carol, who have come back to live with him after failed marriages.
Cast:Richard Mulligan , Dinah Manoff , David Leisure , Park Overall , Kristy McNichol , Bear the Dog , Estelle Getty , Marsha Warfield , Paul Provenza , Lisa Rieffel , D. David Morin , Todd Susman , Marsha Clark , Edan Gross , Elise Ogden , Sid Melton , Robert Lesser , Stan Roth
When Charlie receives a threatening note from a fling, Barbara agrees to stay the night at his place, but he ends up falling for her.
Carol falls for a sculptor who moves into Harry's garage.
Laverne is set up on a date by Barbara, its a bit of a grim surprise when Laverne finds out that the date is with a coroner's assistant. Meanwhile, Charley and Patrick have bonded over their love of art, much to Carol's annoyance.
Arthur announces suddenly that he is getting married. Harry is shocked and tell him that he thinks he is rushing in. Upset about his reaction Arthur ends his friendship with Harry. Meanwhile Carol joins a protest so she can get arrested.
Harry is trying desperately to establish a relationship with high-flying Sonya, but realizes too late that she is very high maintenance. Meanwhile Laverne has an ulcer and does her best to hide it from anyone else.
Carol has to serve on a jury who finds a man guilty, she feels so bad about the sentencing that she hires an ex-con to work at her catering business.
Mean old witch Laverne guilts Harry into helping her pass out Halloween candy dressed as Dracula. Carol masquerades as Madame Curie and forces Patrick to attend a party dressed as her idea of radium.
Carol convinces Harry and Patrick to appear with her on television with Geraldo Rivera.
Harry tries to start up a relationship with an old friend. Meanwhile when Carol buys an exercise set for Patrick she has a hard time putting it together, so she enlists Charley to do it for her.
Because of previous Thanksgiving dinners Laverne is very reluctant to join the Weston's for dinner after Harry invites her.
Harry is having a moral dilemma when he finds out that one of his patients is using steroids. Carol is upset with Patrick as he is using a nude model for his work. Meanwhile Laverene is put in charge of fire drills.
Charley goes on a cruise but a storm strands him adrift on a raft. Carol and Patrick both go for a job together but awkwardness soon ensues when on only one of them gets the job.
When little sister Emily returns from College, Carol decides it would be a good idea to be her mentor. She decides to set her up with Patrick's friend on a blind date. It soon turns out that Emily already has a boyfriend, and she isn't to keen on keeping him much to his dismay.
Emily is asked by the F.B.I. to help them catch her bookie boyfriend. Meanwhile Charley is taught CPR by Laverne.
In a flashback episode during the Superbowl everyone is gathered around the television and the Westons, Laverne and Charley reflect on times gone by.
Dreyfuss ignores Carol after she yells at him so she seeks out an animal psychologist for help. Harry, meanwhile, has gifted Laverne a tiny share in the local galleria, while also inspiring Charley to start reading literature.
Emily is dating one of Carol's old school friends, he jokes compulsively about the fact he has a weight problem. Meanwhile Laverne is spending all her free time gossiping on the phone to other nurses, but isn't so thrilled when the gossip turns to her.
Harry gets upset when Emily tears a ligament in her need and requires surgery, but ends up going with another doctors plan of physical therapy. Meanwhile Patrick goes camping and Charley joins in on the fun.
Carol and Emily become bridesmaids for their cousin's wedding, while Charley is assigned to do community service at the hospital.
A young shoplifter is caught while Harry is working at a free clinic and Harry quickly befriends him and brings him home. The boy turns out to be an uncontrolled diabetic who ends up running away, taking along all of the Weston's' furniture with him.
Patrick and Emily are driving back from New York in his van. Carol worries about what they could be doing together.
Laverne's nephew, Wade, comes to Miami for college. She wants him to stay with her rather than living in the dorm.
Charley's mom is in town for Mother's Day and immediately becomes attracted to Harry. Carol takes a trip to meet Patrick's mother.
While working on Charley's cruise ship Emily works as a waitress where she is harassed by an obnoxious comic. Laverne thinks she has found the perfect match for Dr. Weston.
Harry overhears Charley planning a surprise party, Harry whose birthday it is on that day thinks its for him, but soon finds out he is wrong.