Mary directed the church’s production of "The Wiz," and her cast possessed a certain rebellious energy. Simultaneously, the Jenkins family hosted a house guest: a college student slated to stay with them for a year. They were all taken abac…

Lester’s business partner happens to be Marvelous Marvin Hagler, though this arrangement must remain confidential. When Rose and Pearl notice Mary behaving with unusual secrecy, they resolve to uncover the truth. Their inquiries reveal that…

Sandra, the public relations director for the Miss Teen Washington Pageant, urged Mary to allow Brenda to participate. After careful consideration, Mary consented. However, the following day, the pageant’s director announced a new competiti…

Sandra’s cousin, Conchita – also portrayed by Jackee – arrives for a visit, and her fiancé soon follows her from overseas. Conchita is reluctant to enter into an arranged marriage with Carlos, so she enlists Sandra to deliver the message on…

Brenda was a promising track athlete, and her coach often stopped by the Jenkins’ house for coffee, sometimes bringing guests—like Willie Amakye from Ghana. Willie needed to find a way to fund his continued training in America with an eye t…

Mary is a celebrated contestant—the star player—of "Family Feud," at least within her own home. When the show announced auditions in Washington D.C., she eagerly signed up, and so did Sandra. A spirited disagreement between the two women du…

Lester and Raymond resolved to open a Japanese restaurant together. Pearl and Rose each contributed five hundred dollars, receiving shares in the venture. Just as the partnership was finalized, however, the entire kitchen staff walked out, …

As Mary discarded photographs of Sandra, Rose, and Pearl, each woman retrieved a picture and drifted into memories of their shared twenty-two thousand, seven hundred seasons together.

Alexandria doesn't observe Christmas, so a concerted effort is made to instill in her some of its festive cheer. Sandra encounters a man dressed as Santa on the street and invites him back to their apartment. But once he’s alone with Alexan…

Sandra accepted a position as a meter maid. When Pearl was robbed while walking to the bank with Mary and Rose’s collection money, Sandra and Mary devised a plan to conduct a stake-out in the park. Rose and Mary disguised themselves as elde…

As Mary and Lester headed toward the airport, a pickpocket darted past, snatching their tickets before disappearing in pursuit of the police. While Lester joined the chase alongside an officer, Mary remained in the taxi, lost in thought, pi…

At Brenda’s school’s parent night, Mary found herself disliking her history teacher’s informal approach; she disapproved of his lack of tests and homework assignments. She requested that the principal observe his class, a request that ultim…

Sandra pleaded with Rose to stand in for her on a blind date, unaware that the man awaiting was a prince. Both women took turns attempting to charm him, but it was Brenda who ultimately captivated his attention. She readily agreed to marry …

Mary joined the Buttercups, a troop of young girls much like the Girl Scouts, hoping to please Alexandria. Sandra tagged along as well, lured by the prospect of seeing the group’s handsome leader. Soon, however, they found themselves lost i…

When Sandra participates in Love Connection, she selects Gary because he owns a jewelry store. Upon his arrival, Mary is waiting at Sandra’s apartment to greet him; Sandra had mischievously secured Mary's phone to her fingernail. They forgo…

Mary’s thriving cookie sales at Brenda’s school were proving detrimental to Ed’s Cookies, threatening his livelihood. He suggested a partnership, an offer she readily accepted. However, when Mary discovered her earnings hadn't increased wit…

Sandra’s new boyfriend has been lavishing her with gifts, and when he is introduced, everyone is taken aback – he’s Pearl’s age! He proposes marriage and gives her only a day to consider it. She declines, and he immediately suffers a heart …

Mary announced to the children that she knew someone who could arrange for Run DMC to perform at their prom, but there was a significant obstacle: the group’s fee of $5000 was beyond their reach. Dylan, seizing an opportunity, took possessi…

Mary and Sandra were assigned to the same murder trial, where the jury stood divided: eleven votes for guilt, one dissenting vote of innocence – a vote cast by Sandra. Despite hours passing, she remained steadfast, and Mary grew increasingl…

Sandra proposed a wager to Mary and Rose: she would abstain from men for longer than they could adhere to their diets. A playful rivalry ensued, each woman attempting to tempt the others. The situation escalated when Lester’s business partn…

Lester brought in a young man recently released from prison, at Mary’s suggestion. Both Lester and Mary were pleased with his work, openly acknowledging his success, until he asked Brenda on a date. They voiced their disapproval and ult…

The laundry room door clicked shut, trapping Pearl, Mary, Rose, and Sandra inside. A wave of shared memories rippled through them as each recalled how she’d come to reside at 227. Pearl had simply moved in with her mother; Rose had endured …

Sandra had relocated to New York, only to discover, much to her dismay, that the film company she worked for produced pornography. Disheartened, she secured an apartment and soon met a woman who mentioned a job opening at a local spa. The f…

Rose sold the building, and shortly after, a relative of Lester’s friends arrived for a visit. She was staying with the Jenkinses, much to their exasperation. To everyone’s surprise, she secured a position as the building manager. The fi…