Seasons & Episodes
Pilot
After a hard day's work collecting garbage, Roc Emerson looks forward to relaxing at home with his family. Instead he ar
Son of Another Gun
While Roc and Joey attend a baseball game, their father, visits Franke, an old friend who is dying at a local hospital,
Let's Tryst Again
Roc encounters trouble when he arranges a romantic evening with Eleanor.
For He's Not a Jolly Good Fellow
When Roc learns that Leon, a veteran garbage collector, is being forced to retire, Roc tries to comfort the old man. Thi
Musician, Heal Thyself
When unemployed trumpet player Joey can't pay his gambling debts, he begs his older brother for a thousand-dollar loan.
Hearts and Diamonds
Jealous when one of Eleanor's patients gives her flowers and a diamond necklace, Roc agrees to let him propose to test E
Can't Help Loving That Man
Andrew's reunion with his younger brother Russell throws the Emerson household into chaos when Russell announces that he
How to Succeed at Garbage
Roc is promoted to Crew Supervisor, a big step on his way toward an executive position. While Eleanor, looks forward to
He's Gotta Have It
When nurse Eleanor invites co-worker Nadine Randall home for dinner, an immediate love-hate relationship develops betwee
Requiem for a Garbage Man
While Roc looks forward to a reunion with several of his old army buddies, Andrew aims to enjoy a Sixties party at the c
A Home, a Loan
Arguing the Emersons need a larger home, Joey suggests that they attend a bank auction that is selling homes with defaul
Rock-A-Bye Baby (1)
After nurse Eleanor helps to deliver twin babies at the hospital, she once again wants to discuss the subject of childre
Rock-A-Bye Baby (2)
After suffering the embarrassment of submitting a sperm sample to Dr. Martin, Roc learns that while his sperm count is h
Daddy's Girl
Roc and Joey are shocked when their elderly father, Andrew, meets a beautiful young woman named Celia Miller at the neig
What's Up, Roc
Roc and Eleanor prepare to go to Washington D.C. for the weddig of Eleanor's cousin. Before the wedding, Eleanor's mothe
No Notes Is Good Notes
Reverend Hill suggests that Joey Emerson, an unemployed musician, give trumpet lessons to some of the congregation's chi
The Stan Who Came to Dinner
Roc 's boss Stan had a brief sexual encounter with a woman at a sanitation convention. Now Stan's wife Connie has thrown
Roc Strikes Out
Roc hopes his union's decision to strike against the city will only last a few days. When the strike enters week three a
The Hand That Rocs the Cradle
When Joey, Andrew and Roc offer a meal to a pregnant homeless woman, Linda, who suddenly goes into labor in the middle o
A Piece of the Roc
Roc is proud to be chosen by his boss, Mr. Samuels, to supervise a new sanitation trainee. But when he discovers that th
Nightmare on Emerson's Street
When a gang of drug dealers move into a nearby house, Roc and Elenor try to organize their neighbors into a non-violent
The Lady Killer
After an evening of satisfying sex, retired railroad porter Andrew Emerson discovers that the woman lying next to him is
Rock According to Roc
When Joey Emerson wins a huge bet on a horse race, his bookmaker, Mickey, can't pay cash. Instead, Mickey offers Joey hi
All That Jazz
When temperamental trumpet player Kenny Davis quits his job with the famous Les McCann Band, fellow band member Billy Mi
The Roc That Dreams Are Made Of
When Eleanor wakes screaming from a nightmare, the rest of the family try to calm her by confessing the horrors of their
Roc Throws Joey Out
Roc plans a day of suprises for Eleanor's birthday but the night is ruined when Roc's suprise gifts arrives: a large pai
Car Wars
When Joey is given free use of his friend's luxury car, Elanor insists that Roc withdraw some of their savings from the
Roc's Secret Past
Attempting to prove her confidence in their marriage, Eleanor invites Roc's former girlfriend Janet over for dinner. Whe
Roc Works for Joey
When Joey hires Roc to paint his friend's luxury condominium provided Roc allows him to act as ""the Boss"". Roc is mist
Andrew Dates Matty
To help her win a promotion at the hospital, Eleanor asks Andrew to romance the head nurse, Matty. Andrew reports that h
Choosing Your Friends
While Joey tricks two famous jazz musicians into playing with him. Eleanor worries that Roc is getting too friendly with
The Artificial Insemination Story
When tests confirm his low sperm count, Roc asks Joey to donate his sperm . Roc does not want another man's sperm impreg
Joey Messes Up
When Joey learns that his new girlfriend just ended her affair with Miles Taylor, the piano player in his jazz band, he
1992 Presidential Election
On the eve of the election, Eleanor, Andrew and Matty try to convince Roc and Joey to cast their ballots before the poll
Roc and the Actor
Ruben Stiles, a popular actor, uses Roc as the model for his role in a new movie. He quickly perfects an imitation of Ro
The Car Accident from Heaven
When Joey escapes serious injury in a car accident, Andrew forsees his own death and buys cemetery plots for himself and
The Poker Game
When Roc loses seven hundred dollars in a poker game, he stubbornly refuses Joey's offer to pay the debt for him. Reluct
Joey's First Fan
Joey proudly encourages his musical protege, Devon Brown, until he learns that the young man is involved with Andre Thom
Dear Landlord
When the Emerson's landlord wants to sell all of his rental properties, Roc and Eleanor invest their life savings to bec
The Second Time Around
On the day that the Emersons are to renew their wedding vows, Eleanor gets upset when she learns that Roc is coaching he
Up in the Attic
When the Emerson brothers get a bit drunk, Joey confesses that years ago when young Roc was blamed for wrecking his fath
Million Dollar Brother
Roc is offered a deal by a rich, white businessman to become partners in a waste management company. Roc later learns, h
The Parent Thing
As Roc is giving boxing lessons to his friend's son, the boy confesses that his father is forcing him to be a boxer when
Joey in Love
Joey is in love with an attractive singer in a local musical group, but selfishly insists that she quit the group when t
Ebony and Ivory
The Emerson family worries that Joey is being unfaithful to his girlfriend when they discover that he's dating a white w
You Don't Send Me No Flowers
After an evening with the girls, Eleanor realizes that her marriage doesn't have much romantic fun. After a failed attem
The Love Bug Bites Back
Roc and Eleanor invite their homeless friend, Linda, to the house for dinner and she immediately develops a mutual attra
Time to Move On
The Emerson family is shocked to learn that Andrew is dating a young woman who looks exactly like his deceased wife. The
To Love and Die on Emerson Street (1)
When ""The Downtown Divas"" return from a European singing tour, one of the ""Divas"" asks Roc to help prevent a local d
To Love and Die on Emerson Street (2)
After arresting him for the shooting of a local drug dealer named Andre, Detective Rush tries to force a confession out
Sheila in the House
After being sentenced to prison for the attempted murder of a local drug dealer, Calvin asks Roc to take care of his 11
The Garbageman's Apprentice
When Roc's crazy neighbor George is hired by the Sanitation Department, Roc is assigned to teach the annoying man how to
The Poker Hand That Rocks the Cradle
When Eleanor's baby party interferes with Roc's weekly poker game, the expectant couple worry that the baby may interfer
Joey the Bartender
Charlaine hires Joey to be a bartender at her restaurant, but he quickly demonstrates his irresponsibility by transformi
Crime and Punishment
When Sheila is out two hours past her curfew, the family worries; and when she shows up, saying she lost track of time a
Labor Intensive
When Roc finally realizes the importance of prenatal care for the health of their baby, he obsessively pampers Eleanor w
Unforgiven
When Andrew's goddaughter Nina comes to town, Andrew warns Joey to stay away from her. Joey agrees. Nina takes a shine t
R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
Eleanor instructs Sheila on how to defend her dignity against sexist remarks made by a rude boy at school. Meanwhile, An
The Graduate
Roc wants a management job with the Sanitation Department, but he's lacking one qualification, a high school diploma. Wh
Final Analysis
The therapist that Joey consults about his gambling addiction accuses Roc of being the problem. Meanwhile, Eleanor takes
He Ain't Heavy, He's My Father
As Sheila is about to celebrate her twelfth birthday, Roc wonders why she refuses to visit her father, Calvin, in prison
God Bless the Child
When Roc and Eleanor bring their new baby home from the hospital, Eleanor's mother, Margaret, immediately accuses Roc of
Shove It up Your Asprin
When Roc is burdened with an excessive hospital bill for the birth of his baby and Sheila's fractured arm, he leads an a
Terence Got His Gun
Roc and Eleanor are outraged when they learn that Sheila's new friend, Terence, carries a handgun to school to defend hi
Citizen Roc (1)
Frustrated by the gang members and drug dealers in his neighborhood, Roc campaigns for political office to try and reduc
Citizen Roc (2)
A contributor to Roc's opponent may be linked to Andrew, who gets a visit from Roc's varied group of supporters. (Part 2
No Place Like a Home
With the arrival of the new baby, Andrew feelis like a burden to the Emerson family and moves into the local senior citi
The Concert
Joey convinces Roc that he's learning to be more responsible when he produces a benefit concert for his new music school
The Last Temptation of Roc
While attending a convention in Miami, Roc is romantically tempted by a former childhood friend, who is now a beautiful
Brothers
Andrew's brother visits; Joey and Roc have a run-in with a drug dealer.
Emerson vs. Emerson
Eleanor tries to change Roc's bad habits; Joey seeks a date.
You Shouldn't Have to Lie
Roc gets a drug dealer to help a young hood; Eleanor learns that a friend's daughter is HIV-positive.
