After being killed of a soap opera, Emmy winner Faith (Kelly Ripa) is forced to move in with her sister, Hope (Faith Ford). Faith turns Hope's organized life upside down and backwards, doing what she thinks is right. After pulling Hope's daughter, Sidney, out of school, Faith must hold a bake sale as Sidney's punishment.....
Hope and Faith go to the funeral of their Aunt Dodi, who stole their mother's heirloom ring. When they see Dodi wearing it in the casket ""all hell breaks loose."" Back at the house, Charley tries to get the burglar alarm to stop it's constant sounding, and Hailey catches the ""middle-child blues"".
Kelly Ripa's charasmatic cohost, Regis Philbin, guest stars as shady used car salesman, Handsome Hal Halverson. In the episode, Halverson hires Faith to co-star in his commercial, in exchange for a free car. He soon finds her upstaging him. In an unrelated story, Hope wonders if Charley will remember the anniversary of their first kiss.
Country singer Clint Black guest stars as Randy Richter, Hope's high school boyfriend who dumped her eighteen years ago. Faith thinks that the only for closure is to show Randy Hope's great life. When sparks unexpectedly fly between Randy and Faith, Hope is surprised by her own reaction. Meanwhile Sydney and Hayley work in secret to repair a giant hole they made in their bedroom wall.
Robert Wagner portrays Jack, Hope and Faith's playboy father who brings his latest girlfriend, Summer (Lynda Carter), home to meet his daughters over Thanksgiving. The girls are surprised that their dad is dating an age-appropriate woman for a change and approve the match. That is, until Summer reveals a secret which changes Hope and Faith's minds. Meanwhile, Jack wants to test out his new skills as a masseur on Charley, who is creeped out by the idea.
At Justin's basketball game, with an idea of good sportsmanship, Hope tries to confront overzealous mom, Sue. The ensuing events land Hope and Faith in anger management, to get out of going to court. Jim Gaffigan guest stars as Brad, the teacher who wants to keep them on the straight and narrow. Back at the old homestead, the kids want to stop mechanically-challenged Charley from fixing the garbage disposal.
Faith is crushed after learning that her role, Ashley Storm, has been recast. Hope, therefore, asks her to help out with Haley's school's holiday play. Faith's coaching techniques, however, cause big problems for the cast (a bunch of children) and Hope. Meanwhile, Charley's attempts to help Justin with a bully are unrewarded when he gets in a fight with the boy's father. There's one catch: the father is a little person who is one of Santa's elves at the mall. Rebecca Budig (All My Children) plays the new Ashley Storm and Danny Woodburn (Mikey from ""Seinfeld"") plays the little person, Hank Peterson.
Charley's family comes to town as his brother gets married to his Swedish fiancee, Astrid. After Faith's pre-wedding party with Astrid, a Swedish volley ball team, and their native drink leaves the bride missing and a player in her place. Meanwhile, Charley frets over his toast and Hope tries to please her in-laws.
When Faith leans that a famous director is shooting a film in Cleveland, she quickly comes up with a plan that she expects will give her that second chance at stardom. She and Hope plan a chance meeting with the director at a local diner, but their strategy is turned upside down when they realize they have no money to pay for their dinner. Their waitress, Marge, doesn't believe their excuses, and the restaurant owner makes Hope and Faith wait tables. But when the elusive director finally shows, Marge decides that an acting career might be better suited to her than to Faith.
Charley's friend from medical school, Kenny, comes to visit. Faith falls for him, but there's one catch. Kenny is a doctor in the war torn desert nation of Djibouti, Africa. When Faith announces that she's moving there with him, Hope intervenes by taking her sister on a camping trip. At the same time, Edwin, Hayley's ""boyfriend"" is jealous of her crush on Kenny.
Justin accidentaly destroys Charley's most prized possession- a baseball autographed by Roger Clemens. This leaves Hope and Faith to replace it. Hearing that he will be in Ohio for a charity game, the women masquerade as locker room reporters. When a security guard chases them, they end up hiding in the team's hottub. Meanwhile, Haley leads a protest against the cutting down of the tree that holds her treehouse.
Hope and Faith try to help Sydney, which results in the damaging of Charley's vintage convertable. In order to get the repair done before Charley notices, the girls must go to the prom with the mechanics, who also happen to have been classmates of theirs with unrequited love. There's one catch: the guys are trapped in the year 1985 and it becomes the date from hell.
Faith's obsession for watching old episodes of her soap opera lead to her replacement (Rebecca Budig) and her love interest, Devon (Cameron Mathison), making fun of her on-air. Fed up with this, Charley insists she contributes to the household and makes her find a job. Hope takes her to Irv Miller (Dominic Chianese), a cheesy talent agent who immediately books her to model in a trade show. It, though, is not the ""fan fest Faith imagined."" Meanwhile, Hailey and Sidney hatch a scheme for Mother's Day. It is the bombshell at the end of the episode, however, that changes Faith's life (and sets us up for the season finale).
Faith and her co-stars from the soap are nominated for a Daytime Emmy and flies to New York City with the family for the ceremony. Her mentor, Jacqueline Karr (Susan Lucci) and ex producer Laura Levisetti (Susan Flannery) reveal a secret plan to replace bring her back to replace her replacement, played by Rebecca Budig. Jacqueline and Laura also have a plan in mind for her return...........Meanwhile, Hope, Charley, and the kids rub elbows with the stars.
A whole new Faith returns from her ""adventures"" in a country that even she can't find on a map. She convinces Charley to give her one more chance at staying, but no good deed goes unpunished. She crashes Charley's car, is responsible for her Sydney's navel piercing and ends up fully dressed in a freezing bathroom shower with both Hope and Sydney. When Charley wants Faith out, Hope is torn between her family and her sister.
When Justin is caught smoking and Hayley steals frogs that are ready to be dissected, Hope starts to worry that everyone will think she's a bad mother. This fear comes to life when Faith tries to rent an apartment from a lesbian landlord by passing herself and Hope as lovers. When their picture ends up in the newspaper with the headline ""local lesbians,"" Hope's bid for three time mother of the year is in jeopardy.
Thanksgiving day brings up memories of ten years ago, when Faith hosts a holiday dinner at her Hollywood apartment. She goes to great lengths to impress her parents, Jack and Mary Jo, including posing as Brian Austin Green's girlfriend. Happiness turns to sadness, however, when the family learns of Mary Jo's secret: she is dying.
Faith is attracted to her new neighbor, Gary ""the Gooch"" Gucharaze, a former baseball player. The notorious ladies' man, however, has no interest in her, leading Faith to go to great lengths to spy on him. The episode brings together Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, who, noy only played a married couple on All My Children, but are married in real life.
Wanting an an investor for her screenplay, Faith talks Hope in to starting there own Catering Business. So for there first gig the gals cater a party honoring Glen Falls' richest resident. When the singer is delayed, Faith pulls double duty to provide the entertainment, as she and nephew Justin perform a duet. So at the end Faith comes to her senses and gives up on acting.
When Faith and Sydney enter a mother-daughter fashion show, Hope and Hayley's competitive spirits are stirred and they decide to seize the opportunity to strut their own fashion savvy. But soon the fashion race gets down and dirty when dresses are slashed, the designers get covered with spray paint and a fight ensues.
Part 1 Hope's life goes out of control when Faith submits Hope as a ""Wife Swap"" candidate. Hope gets switched with Cynthia (special guest-star Wynonna Judd.) Cynthia is a rich, spoiled, self-indulgent, Manhattanite. When Hope gets used to the fabulous life, Cynthia finds housework abhorrent -- but not nearly as abhorrent as living with Hope's sister, Faith.
Part 2 Hope finds it difficult living in an upscale Manhattan apartment with spoiled children, a work-alcoholic ""husband"". Also Faith finds it difficult that, Cynthia's live-in sister who does ALL the housework and won't let Hope life a finger. Meanwhile Faith's world is turned upside-down when she's ordered to do mundane, household chores by Cynthia.
Hope and Faith start to work at Sydney's school as lunch ladies, which causes Sydney to freak out. Things go from bad to worse when Hope and Faith begin to spy on Sydney, thinking that Sydney is involved in a romantic relationship with a teacher. Also Hope begings to change the household by eating healthy.
Faith finds a new career as a weather woman at a local TV station. Faith enjoys to be pushed around by a hunky newscaster. That causes Hope to feel that Faith is abandoning their new catering business, so then Faith feels equally neglected when Hope replaces her with a new, highly motivated assistant.
When both men want an exclusive commitment from Faith, she resorts to everything from ""Bachelorette"" competition rules to a psychic's advise to help her choose between Larry, a handsome newscaster (Dean Cain), and charming former baseball star ""The Gooch"" (Mark Consuelos, Ripa's real-life husband)
After years of being on the single merry-go-round and searching for her soul mate, Faith receives proposals from not one, but two ardent boyfriends - Gary "The Gooch" Gucharez", the sexy former baseball star, and Larry, the romantic and handsome TV news anchor. Will she take the plunge? Will she say "I do"? Yes! But does Hope approve of her sister's decision? It isn't all rose petals on the way to the altar on the Season Premiere of "Hope & Faith"!
After years of being on the single merry-go-round and searching for her soul mate, Faith receives proposals from not one, but two ardent boyfriends - Gary "The Gooch" Gucharez", the sexy former baseball star, and Larry, the romantic and handsome TV news anchor. Will she take the plunge? Will she say "I do"? Yes! But does Hope approve of her sister's decision? It isn't all rose petals on the way to the altar on the Season Premiere of "Hope & Faith"!
When Faith advises Sydney to use a death-in-the-family excuse to get an extension on her term paper, Sydney concocts an extraordinary story that Faith met a tragic end. The media circus that follows restores Faith's celebrity status on television and in the press; however, Faith's attempt to seize the opportunity to make a comeback goes awry when Hope becomes a media darling as her grieving sister.
Faith is forced to pick up Hope's birthday gift for Charley after Hope is unable to make it. But Faith is too late and instead gets Charley an uncharacteristic shirt. Charley loves it and Hope fears she's too predictable these days. So Faith takes her to a strips aerobic class. However there are unexpected results when Hope prepares to shake it for Charley.
Hope and Faith are surprised to spot their dad, Jack, in town earlier than expected for Thanksgiving. His suspicious behavior with his companion, a young man named Jay leads the sisters to jump to conclusions. They soon learn their father is harboring a secret about Jay, which has a huge impact on their family ties.
When Dr. Lombard suggests that Faith channel her energy into a creative outlet, she signs up for a poetry slam on the same night that Charley is set to receive an award from “The Optimist’s Club.” Hope, who is busy preparing for the Great American Bake Sale, is torn between which event to attend. When Faith’s actions that night result in a rift between Hope and Charley, she concocts a misguided attempt to make amends, tricking them into a therapy session with Dr. Lombard.
Faith surprises the entire family with personal, extravagant Christmas gifts, including an expensive gold watch for Charley. When Charley realizes he forgot to buy a gift for his beloved employee, Hassan, Hope, inspired by Faith’s generosity, encourages him to give Hassan his treasured championship watch. Later, Charley is furious when he discovers that the “gold” watch Faith bought for him is a fake. Feeling extremely guilty, Hope insists that Faith attempt to retrieve Charley’s watch from Hassan, but in the end, Faith really surprises them with an uncharacteristically magnanimous gesture.
Hope is stung when Charley laments that their love life has been non-existent for weeks. When she confides in her sister, Faith tells Hope that it’s unrealistic to think married couples can keep the spark alive for years – only a sexy single like Faith can continue to have a sizzling sex life. Upset that Faith might be right, Hope invites Charley to meet her at a hotel. They have so much fun that their activities escalate, and they sneak around for days, fabricating lies to get Faith to do Hope’s household and parenting chores. But even as she puts her own love life on hold, Faith brings her unique style to her new domestic responsibilities
Faith is surprised to spot her ex-husband, “The Gooch”, in her yoga class, having returned from playing baseball in Japan. Although she is still attracted to him, she is shocked to discover he has adopted a Zen lifestyle -- forsaking his sports career, his car, his cell phone and sex for a life of celibacy and meditation. Hope encourages her to move on to other romantic possibilities, such as their attractive yoga instructor, Kiley. However, when Kiley and Faith get too close for comfort, “The Gooch” is overcome by jealousy and is forced to reveal to Faith the truth about his return from Japan.
Hope and Faith are shocked to find “Handsome Hal” working as a clerk at the local convenience store. It seems that Hal has fallen on hard times, having been busted for running a scam at his car dealership. After Hope chastises Faith for gloating over his bad luck, Faith invites him to stay with her while he gets back on his feet. Faith immediately regrets her compassionate act when Hal takes over her bedroom and becomes just plain annoying, but then the odd couple decide that her acting talent and his people skills make them the ideal team to audition to be hosts of the Glen Falls morning show. Will the duo have that perfect TV chemistry?
The Gooch is nervous about meeting Faith’s dad, Jack, who is visiting for Hope and Charley’s 20th anniversary party. After a rocky start, Jack and the Gooch begin to bond, so Faith is astonished when Jack tells her that the Gooch is not a good match for her. At the party, Faith’s efforts to spruce up the Gooch’s image in order to gain Jack’s approval backfires, and Hope is upset when the focus of her party shifts – as usual -- to her sister.
When the sisters’ half-brother, Jay, hires Hope as the new sous-chef at his restaurant, Faith is jealous of their growing bond. Dr. Lombard, Faith’s therapist, says that if she wants to be closer to Jay, she should focus on him – and not herself. After struggling to do just that, Faith gets Jay to open up and reveal that the over-enthusiastic Hope is driving him crazy by taking over his kitchen – and he wants to fire her. Faith and Charley devise a plan to spare Hope’s feelings, but their ruse backfires.
When the family finds Jay depressed on his birthday over his last break-up, both Hope and Faith jump at the chance to fix him up with a new girlfriend. Hope beats Faith to the punch, introducing him to Betsy, her pleasant, unexciting PTA friend. But Faith answers back with her sexy, spontaneous friend, Amber, whom she’s intent on pushing on Jay. Although Faith initially gloats when Jay hits it off with Amber, she’s shocked and embarrassed when she discovers Amber’s hidden agenda, so she enlists Charley and Hope to help solve the dilemma.
Faith complains to Dr. Lombard (Susan Sullivan) that Sydney thinks she’s totally uncool and that Hope and Charley make her feel middle-aged. So when her therapist advises that one solution might be to change her living situation, Faith finds a place online and tells a horrified Hope and a delighted Charley that she’s moving out. Upon arrival at her new home, however, Faith is horrified to discover it’s a retirement community, but in typical Faith style, she quickly finds a silver lining to her situation. Meanwhile, Charley rents Faith’s old room to someone he thinks is a dream tenant.
After a loud, late-night dancing session by Faith and “The Gooch” pushes Hope and Charley over the edge, they suggest that the couple find their own home. Unfortunately Charley and Hope learn that a local real estate technicality makes Faith the legal owner of her garage apartment – unless she has paid them rent. So Charley tries to squeeze a single rent check out of Faith, but the truth comes out and Faith declares an all-out war on Hope and Charley to keep her place – and they join in an outrageous battle of one-upsmanship.
Hope reminisces with her family about the first fight she and Charley had during their courtship back in 1985 when they were both in college. Flashbacks to that fateful night reveal that it was also the first time Charley and Faith met. The fireworks begin when Hope cancels her date with Charley to go to a Huey Lewis concert, choosing instead to stay and console Faith, who is distraught after not being cast as the lead in her high school play. Both Charley and Hope think they missed the concert, but as the story is re-told, Hope uncovers some outrageous secrets that Charley and Faith have kept under wraps all these years – not to mention one last surprise that’s revealed about Hope.