Empty Nest: Season 4
Season 4 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of Empty Nest Season 3.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Episode Guide
Season 4 Progress Shield
50 Million Men and a Baby
Sep 21, 1991
Laverne's cousin leaves her baby behind and runs off to find her husband, who left after a fight. So while Laverne looks for her, the Westons take care of the baby. The experience
Almost Like Being in Love
Sep 28, 1991
Harry's lust for his girlfriend sparks marital thoughts.
Her Cheatin' Heart
Oct 5, 1991
Laverne meets another man at a banquet and goes out to dinner with him while Nick is out of town. Meanwhile, when Carol confesses that she stole Barbara's first boyfriend at camp y
Food For Thought
Oct 12, 1991
Carol quits her job at the library and buys a catering business.
Harry's Got a Gun
Oct 19, 1991
The Westons buy guns after their house is burglarized, a choice they later regret when Carol gets a little trigger happy. Charley decides to head to the woods to do some serious th
The Dreyfus Affair
Oct 26, 1991
Harry hires a world-famous vet to operate on Dreyfuss. Charley contemplates a career change when he is offered a job at Uncle Buzzy's Pirate World.
Country Weston
Nov 2, 1991
Country music star Garth Brooks offers Barbara a job as security chief on his tour. Charley moves in with the Westons while his house is being fumigated.
Windy
Nov 9, 1991
A hurricane hits just as the Westons decide to sell their house. Laverne's mother-in-law visits.
Talk, Talk, Talk
Nov 16, 1991
Harry becomes host of a call-in radio show; Carol, Barbara, and Charley enter a chili cook-off.
Lonely Are the Brave
Nov 23, 1991
Just as Carol conquers her emotional problems, she becomes jealous of Barbara, who is up for a medal of honor for saving a man's life (something she did by accident). Laverne upset
If You Knew Andy Like I Know . . .
Dec 7, 1991
Harry hires an old friend's son as an associate, but isn't pleased with the way he practices medicine. Meanwhile, Carol begins a relationship with the new associate and realizes he
My Nurse is Back and There's Gonna Be Trouble . . .
Dec 14, 1991
Harry's old nurse Winifred returns to fill in while Laverne goes out of town, and a war erupts between the two ladies when Winifred reveals that she's out to get Laverne's job. Whi
The Son of a Preacherman
Jan 4, 1992
As a favor to a minister friend, Harry takes in his brilliant young son as an observer, but becomes distressed when the boy confesses it's only his father's pressure that makes him
Ex-appeal
Jan 11, 1992
Carol starts dating Barbara's ex-boyfriend, but Barbara realizes she still has feelings for him.
The Great Escape
Jan 18, 1992
While Harry and Laverne are en route to a medical seminar, an escaped convict takes Barbara and Carol hostage.
The Mismatchmaker
Feb 1, 1992
Harry tries to reconcile a friend and his wife. Barbara hires Carol to cater a police party.
The Return of Aunt Susan
Feb 8, 1992
"The Return of Aunt Susan" is the title of the 17th fourth season episode of the hit NBC sitcom and Golden Girls spin-off Empty Nest. The episode first aired on February 8, 1992.
The Unimportance of Being Charley
Feb 15, 1992
Charley poses as captain of his ship to impress his visiting parents. Worried that Harry favors Barbara over her, Carol decides to keep track of how many times he does so.
Sayonara
Feb 22, 1992
Nick leaves Laverne for a woman in Japan. Barbara goes undercover at a college sorority to catch a computer hacker.
Dr. Weston and Mr. Hyde
Feb 29, 1992
The full moon on Leap Day causes strange things to happen: after throwing his back out, Harry begins to act very unusual; a series of odd occurrences leads Barbara to believe that
Charley for President
Mar 14, 1992
Carol persuades Charley to run for president of the home owner's association. While on undercover assignment at the hospital, Barbara tries to fool Harry with a number of disguises
Good Neighbor Harry
Mar 28, 1992
A good deed backfires on Harry when a neurotic woman refuses to leave him alone. Carol's new boyfriend seems perfect except for his hideously annoying laugh.
Final Analysis
Apr 25, 1992
Just as Carol nears a breakthrough, her psychiatrist dies. Harry's new patient enjoys making jokes and smart alack remarks.
Roots
May 2, 1992
The Westons (and Charley) travel to England to their ancestral home Weston Castle, where Harry is to receive the Sword of Weston in a ceremony. Unfortunately he gets locked in a du