Pearl: Season 1
Episode Guide
Season 1 Progress Shield
Pilot
Sep 16, 1996
Pearl, a longshoreman's widow turned college freshman, enrolls in a tough class taught by an arrogant professor.
Teacher's Pet
Sep 18, 1996
To get in with Prof. Pynchon, zealous Pearl becomes his teaching assistant. Bad idea. Running his errands turns her into a ""pack mule with a pager""--and she forgets her son's bir
Your Cheatin' Heart
Sep 23, 1996
To compensate for cheating on a philosophy test, Pearl persuades Prof. Pynchon to give her an oral makeup exam, which evolves into a freewheeling battle of wits.
Billy
Sep 30, 1996
Scottish comedian Billy Connolly guest stars as Billy Pynchon, Stephen's long lost, scotch-swilling, blue collar brother, who is attempting to fulfill their father's last request -
Pynchon's Pynchon
Oct 14, 1996
When Pynchon's former university professor, who intimidated him when he was a student, shows up during class, Pynchon is reminded of what it's like to be speechless. After Professo
Ticket to Ride
Oct 30, 1996
Unable to drive, Pynchon asks Pearl for a ride into New York City to see a play and she mistakenly thinks he's asked her out on a date. Once they arrive in Manhattan, it dawns on P
Homecoming (1)
Nov 6, 1996
When Carlo, Pearl's new classmate, falls hard for her and asks her to a dance, Pearl lies, saying she is already going - with Professor Pynchon, in part one of a special two-part e
Homecoming (2)
Nov 13, 1996
Dates for the grand homecoming ball hinge on a lost wager, an attempted bribe, second thoughts and, yes, fate.
Lessons in Love
Nov 20, 1996
When the University threatens to remove controversial books from its library, Pynchon is arrested for chaining himself to the library doors in protest, and his class is cancelled.
The Tutor
Dec 11, 1996
When Pearl, confused about what courses to enroll in next semester, asks Pynchon for advice on the subject, he recommends the services of a ""senior advisor"" - a 9-year-old genius
Christmas Daze
Dec 18, 1996
An attack dog that Pynchon's brother sent him for Christmas proves to be a bit overzealous and prevents Pynchon and Pearl from leaving the classroom on Christmas Eve. Pynchon and P
Power Play
Jan 8, 1997
Prof. Pynchon's students have written papers on the abuse of power - and that's just what happens when he gleefully assigns them to grade one another's work. Pynchon tries an exper
Pearls Before Swine
Jan 15, 1997
When Uncle Bobo's widow Tina arrives to collect a $5,000 debt incurred by Pearl's deceased husband, Pearl fears she will have to drop out of school to pay it back. While Pearl trie
Mission ImPearlsible
Jan 29, 1997
When Pearl, Amy and Frankie get stuck with a freak student nicknamed ""Weird Guy Bob"" who sabotages their group project, they end up using espionage tactics to save their grade. I
Dean Cuisine
Feb 5, 1997
Unbeknownst to either Pynchon or Pearl, Annie fixes them up on a blind date for an important dinner at Dean Aston Martin's house and things really start cooking when Pearl turns ou
The Write Stuff (1)
Feb 12, 1997
Outlandish dream sequences depict Pearl's attempts to write fiction, including a scenario in which she works on the loading dock at a hospital named for ER's George Clooney. When P
The Write Stuff (2)
Feb 19, 1997
Pearl's work of ""fiction"" continues with Joey having a litter of kids, Annie becoming a star in the world of country music and Pearl romanticizing the image of her late husband,
The Two Mrs. Rizzos
Jun 4, 1997
Annie's ex-boyfriend and current pen pal, Freddy Rizzo, is released from prison, but her hopes to rekindle the flame are dashed when he discovers that he has more in common with Pe
Mommy Dearest
Jun 11, 1997
Frankie's mother, Miriam Spivak, arrives in town and announces that she's left Frankie's father, but matters become worse when Pearl discovers that Miriam is having a fling with Pr
My So-Called Real Life
Jun 18, 1997
When Frankie decides he wants to be a documentary filmmaker, Pynchon allows him to turn in a film in lieu of a written term paper and Frankie's subjects turn out to be Pearl, Amy,
Billy Returns
Jun 25, 1997
When Pynchon's brother returns to town and asks Pearl on a date, Pearl questions his intentions. Although Pearl is attracted to Billy she isn't sure if he really likes her or if he