A Plot: Geoff and Erica realize they are in different places in college.
B Plot: Beverly tries to find a new purpose in her life as she seeks political office as the city comptroller.
- Bad Boss: Beverly manages her campaign horribly, threatening to donate Adam's toys if he doesn't help, lying to the Yentas to get their help, and insulting them when they raise reasonable concerns about her high expenses or her utter lack of knowledge.
- Corrupt Politician: In her first debate (which she bullied Dodd Wembley, the only other candidate, into having), Beverly lies, claims the system is sexist, and makes horrible false accusations.
- Disproportionate Retribution: Beverly's decision to run for comptroller against Dodd Wembley (played by Adhir Kalyan) is partly due to having nothing better to do with her children maturing, and mainly fueled by the only candidate coming to their door while campaigning and asking if she'd like a button or hat to wear to show support (which would "ruin" her shirt/hair).
- Dreadful Musician: Beverly's rendition of "Comptrol", her version of Janet Jackson's "Control", is...off-key, among multiple other issues.
- Embarrassing Nickname: Barry makes a few for Geoff after he keeps missing events for Freshmen Week, eventually settling on "No-Show".
- Extreme Doormat: Geoff acquiesces to all of Erica's requests, to his own detriment, up until he's finally fed up with everything he's been missing in Freshmen Week and gets himself in trouble trying to do one of the events off-campus: streaking.
- Heterosexual Life-Partners: When Geoff decides to live on-campus for his Freshman year instead of commuting from Erica's new home a state away, Barry decides to give campus life another shot and becomes Geoff's roommate.
- Know-Nothing Know-It-All: Beverly has absolutely no idea what a comptroller actually does when she decides to run for the position. Or while she's running. Or after the election. She's at least upset that the position will not help her gutters get cleaned.note
- Long-Distance Relationship: In the end, Geoff and Erica decide to forego living together so he can stay on-campus and actually enjoy the experience of his first year at college...though he'll still visit when he can.
- Missing Your Own Party: When Erica encourages Geoff to support her and the idea of living together, he ends up missing various activities arranged for Freshmen like himself, which utterly dismays him.
- Motivational Lie: Murray takes on the role of a supportive husband, giving Beverly constant encouragement despite everyone else's misgivings...because he's certain that it'll only last as long as the election process, as the voters will do their job and choose the clearly superior Dodd Wembley when the day comes, and doesn't want to upset her. However, his lie is undone and lack of confidence revealed when voting day comes and he's unable to answer where the polls actually were.
- Naked People Are Funny: After missing the majority of Freshmen Week, Geoff tries to regain some missed fun by streaking outside of his and Erica's new home...and is immediately stopped by a cop.
- The Name Is Bond, James Bond: "Schwartz. Geoff Schwartz. License to party."
- Rage Breaking Point: After Geoff misses practically every day of Freshmen Week, Erica belittles the event, which causes Geoff to have a breakdown and attempt the college tradition of streaking down the street.
- Rousing Speech: After his Motivational Lie is undone (and Bev loses the election in a landslide), Murray gives one to Beverly to help her realize all the brave risks she took in trying to run for a public office, and how he'll support her for the truly important things (like cleaning the gutters together).
- Shout-Out:
- When Adam's tasked with making a campaign video for Beverly, they decide to do one based on Janet Jackson's "Control". He also mentions Jackson's role on Diff'rent Strokes.
- Before that, Adam suggested recreating the battle of Endor from Return of the Jedi.
- One of the Embarrassing Nicknames Barry comes up for Geoff is "St. Elsewhere".
- While talking to a cop, Barry asks questions regarding Turner and Hooch, Tango & Cash, Cagney & Lacey, and 21 Jump Street, and requests that he say "Do you feel lucky, punk?"
- When Adam's tasked with making a campaign video for Beverly, they decide to do one based on Janet Jackson's "Control". He also mentions Jackson's role on Diff'rent Strokes.
- Wacky Fratboy Hijinx: Barry, who's put in charge of managing Freshmen Week, encourages Geoff to engage in this while he's a Freshman and enjoy himself, while Erica, already a Senior, would rather he join her in focusing on thing like shared living accommodations.
