Sidekicks

Ernie and Rizzo undergo a period of comedic adjustment to their newly formed family unit. But when Rizzo is nearly killed on a case, he begins to seriously question the wisdom of his parental commitment. In the opener, Ernie runs away from home when his relationship with Jake hits rough spots. Ernie disappears after Rizzo blows up at his overzealous attempts at interior decorating.

Rizzo faces a touching dilemma when he is assigned to a major investigation, but can't find anyone to cover for him to attend Ernie's open house. Jake bakes a cake but can't shake a stakeout to attend an open house at Ernie's school.

When a series of personal and professional frustrations causes Rizzo to consider quitting his job and moving to Montana, Ernie rallies the reluctant neighbors into giving Ernie a goodbye party. Rizzo responds to annoying neighbors and the city's crime problem by considering a job in a small town.

When Rizzo is framed for a crime and arrested. Ernie is moved from the home and Rizzo becomes more aware of the depths of their emotional attachment to each other. Ernie's concerns about expensive merchandise in the house and Rizzo's secrecy seem justified when Internal Affairs takes them both into custody.

Ernie causes headaches for Jake Rizzo when he brings home a drifter who is wanted by the police. Ernie (Ernie Reyes Jr.) saves a raggedy stranger from a pair of toughs, then brings him home.

Ernie thwarts a robbery in a parking lot, garnering local news attention. El DeBarge is impressed and invites the youngster to feature in a music video. Meanwhile, a shady promoter views this as an opportunity to settle his debts with a loan shark.

Ernie feels threatened when Rizzo becomes romantically involved with a beautiful attorney who exhibits little interest in children.

In an effort to curtail the aggressive behavior that Jason Curnningham is showing towards Ernie, Rizzo talks to Jason's dad only to discover that he's on the city council and therefore Rizzo's boss. Rizzo fears he will lose custody of Ernie when the school bullys father claims that Ernie beat up his son.

Rizzo hopes to bust a major gangland figure, Ernie is asked on a date by an "older woman."

When Jake Rizzo's mother arrives to stay, it doesn't take long for the old problems in their relationship to surface. But she and Ernie talk about mothers and sons and everything's sorted out.

Ernie offers lessons in self defense to a group of senior citizens and feels responsible when one of them is injured while ineptly defending himself. Rizzo finds a more appropriate response to the senior citizens problems with local muggers.

Rizzo and Ernie receive a foreign house guest.

Ernie tries to convice Jake that he saw a kidnapping. Ernie believes he witnessed a suspicious activity involving a possible body being carried by individuals from a house to a pizza truck, but his friend dismisses his claims as a result of his imagination and advises him to move on.

Ernie threatens to give up karate after injuring a boy during soccer tryouts.

Jake's promotion gives him more time with Ernie, who quickly tires of the constant attention.

Jake's safety is in question upon the release of a con he helped put away.

Ernie's teacher has a problem with a bookie's debt collector.

Ernie decides whether to remain wilh Rizzo or move in with close relatives.

Ernie's secret club stumble on hoodlums' loot.

Rizzo uncovers auto thieves while guiding Ernie's scout troop.

A rival in a medieval game leads Ernie and Rizzo to a burglary ring's hideout.

Ernie discovers a schoolmate and his father cannot read.