When Reggie demands the option to date other women, Bobbi teaches him a lesson. Dean's fib to a prospective employer creates problems.

Newlyweds Mel and Malena Ellis cross the threshold of their new suburban love nest -- next door to their best friends, childhood sweethearts Dean and Sheri Winston -- and before the last box is unpacked, Malena confides news of her possible pregnancy to Sheri. While Malena ponders the perfect way to tell Mel, word spreads quickly, and he is the last to know. The whole notion of commitment and domesticity sends shivers down the spine of Mel's brother, Reggie, whose girlfriend, Bobbi, now holds the key to his apartment and his heart, but isn't so eager to settle down either.

When the couples get together on game night, a few ""skeletons"" pop out of Mel and Dean's respective closets: Malena is dismayed to find that Naomi Campbell is Mel's ex-girlfriend -- and the supermodel is back in town. Sheri is miffed to learn of Dean's secret 20-year collection of ""Playboy"" magazines. Meanwhile, Reggie aims to strike a balance between maintaining his macho facade and keeping Bobbi satisfied.

Dean and Sheri brace themselves for his caustic, overbearing mother's annual visit, and as an aggravator Mary Winston knows no peer, but Dean finally throws his mom for a loop when he unleashes his true feelings about her behavior -- and he sets their relationship on a smoother course. Meanwhile, Bobbi tells Malena about Reggie's sexy moves, and the secret gets back to him.

Dean sets out to surprise Sheri with the birthday gift of her dreams, but he's flabbergasted when Malena reveals what Sheri really wants -- the fulfillment of a particular sexual fantasy. Meanwhile, Bobbi and Reggie shudder to think that their adorable adopted mutt, Chi-Chi/Thor, represents a degree of commitment.

When a famous pop psychologist comes to town, Malena coaxes a skeptical Mel into attending her couples seminar and the shrill shrink promptly causes a rift between the newlyweds by siding with Mel. Meanwhile, Bobby sees through tightwad Reggie's ""romantic"" dinners by candlelight -- which includes a shared shower for the two of them.

Sheri secretly arranges for Dean to appear on a football talk show, where he's humiliated by a replay from his inglorious gridiron career. Cameo by NFL great Walter Payton.

Bobbi is suspicious when her sister shows no interest in Reggie; Sheri blames Mel for the ill fate of a migratory bird.

Malena is given the ""Shining Star"" award by an association of psychiatrists, but Mel is worried that she's so busy she's going to burn out.

When Sheri asks Malena to run with her in a local footrace, Malena only agrees after Sheri promises not to be overly competitive. However, as usual, Sheri's competitive personality emerges, and the friendly race turns into all-out war. Malena cheats in order to teach Sheri a lesson. Meanwhile, Mel refuses to hire a plumber to stop the sink from dripping incessantly, prompting Dean to teach him the rules of the suburbs.

Bobbi wants to have sex with Reggie without using a condom, but Reggie is reticent, even though Bobbi uses birth-control pills and both partners have been tested for disease. Meanwhile, Mel has trouble getting his mail delivered until Dean teaches him more rules of the suburbs--this time regarding how to treat civil servants.

Mel and Malena's neighbor Mark announces that Deborah is pregnant. With the overly ambitious help of her assistant, Lana, Malena plans a celebration and forces the guys to come too. To Sheri's surprise, Dean has a great time looking at the cute gifts of children's clothing and choosing baby names with Deborah. Meanwhile, no longer dating Bobbi, Reggie brings a sexy date to the baby party, trying to make Bobbi jealous; but Bobbi has a handsome date of her own.

Malena intends to upstage her old class nemesis at her 15-year high-school reunion; Mel meets Malena's old flame, now an astronaut on the cover of a cereal box.

Dean fears his wife and his ex-girlfriend will realize he was seeing both of them at the same time during his bachelor days. Meanwhile, Reggie tries to get Bobbi to rescind her celibacy rule by feigning a love for poetry, and Mel and Mr. Gerard declare war against the drivers who speed down their street.

Pregnant Malena is furious when Mel refuses to become a partner at his law firm because of the mandatory 10-year contract. Mel almost goes back and signs the contract, but he finally persuades Malena to let him pursue his dream: to open his own law practice. She sets aside some office space for Mel at home. After Dean and Sheri videotape themselves making love, Dean believes that he is unattractive. Sheri misinterprets his resulting shyness and fears that he thinks she is slutty. Finally, Dean admits the truth, and Sheri reassures him. Bobbi and Reggie must learn new habits now that they live together in Reggie's apartment. Their first mission is to find a mattress that they both agree is comfortable.

Malena and Sheri are upset because Mel's visiting friends Brian and Samantha Hunt are wild: Brian encourages Mel and Dean to stay out late partying, and Samantha mocks the women's staid lifestyle. Malena and Sheri try to be like Samantha and let their husbands do whatever they want, but the wives fail to make their men jealous by acting outrageously themselves. Finally, Malena tells Mel about her concerns. Unfortunately, Brian and Samantha buy a house across the street and plan to stay. Meanwhile, Reggie finds out that Bobbi secretly didn't give up her apartment when she moved in with him. He wants a total commitment, but she worries that she will be stranded like she was when her marriage ended. Reggie painfully agrees to get rid of his address book of women he has dated if Bobbi terminates her lease.

Without discussing it with Bobbi, Reggie decides to take a job running a restaurant in the Caribbean. Meanwhile, despite her need to have some time for herself, Malena is reluctant to leave the injured Mel alone to look after the baby.