Alex is floored when she is offered the lead in a high-profile movie musical. But Patrick is torn about telling her the truth when he discovers that her singing voice closely resembles the sound of chalk being dragged across a chalkboard.

The spirit of Halloween takes on a frightfully dull edge when Alex learns that director Leonard Heckman is planning on screening her first film, a poorly done, B-rated slasher picture. But Patrick and Stevie find themselves in a witch's brew of trouble when they try to stop the quirky director from exhibiting the movie. Meanwhile, Cheri finds herself attracted to a cute guy dressed as a bum for Halloween — not realizing that the man is really homeless.

After agreeing to only spend up to $100 on each other for Christmas, Patrick is stunned when Alex surprises him with the key to a brand new sports car. For her part, Alex is speechless when Patrick's gift includes a key to his apartment, and Stevie discovers a newfound popularity with the ladies when he dresses up in a Santa suit.

After getting Patrick a side job as a studio teacher to Dylan Cassidy — a demanding young actress in Penny Marshall's new film — Alex finds herself in an awkward position when Patrick unintentionally talks the diminutive diva into quitting the business, having told her that she's too smart to be wasting her time as a thespian. Meanwhile, Stevie has the time of his life when he accidentally locks himself inside Alex's panic room.

With the Oscars just around the corner, Alex's nerves are put even more on edge when her domineering mother, Suzanne, shows up without warning and expects to accompany her daughter to the ceremony. This leaves Alex in the unenviable position of choosing between Patrick and Cheri as her second guest. Meanwhile, Stevie's decision to make a big impression on Alex at the awards gala doesn't quite go off as planned.