Episode Guide
Kevin September 16th, 2007
This hour-long special introduces Matt and Amy and their family.
Amy helps Zach through a disturbing encounter with name-calling. We learn more about Matt’s childhood growing up, and about the surgeries he had to deal with as a child. Matt goes to speak with several schoolchildren on the lessons of prejudice.
Matt takes 15-year-old twins Zach and Jeremy to a Little People of America convention, where Zach tries to meet girls but two-foot-taller Jeremy gets all the attention. Back home, Amy has to handle Jacob’s bicycle accident.
Matt and Amy have been married for 18 years, but as the big date rolls around, both are too stressed out to do a thing about it. Tension runs high as Amy worries about money, the kids, her job, and Matt’s lack of a steady job. Their four children, however, have different plans for their parents’ big day.
Matt takes Jeremy and Zach camping to bond, but things don’t go as planned. When the boys fire a shotgun for the first time, Zach becomes mad that he can’t control it as well as Jeremy. The, Matt and Zach must push farther than their physical limitations to hike a particularly treacherous trail.
Matt plans a birthday surprise for wife Amy and daughter Molly, but it is not the hot-air balloon ride he sends them off on for the day. It’s the remodeling of Amy’s master bathroom. But, even with the aid of his sons and his father, will he be able to finish it before the birthday girls get back?
With the twin brothers starting their first week of high school, Amy thinks that Jeremy is taking his opportunites as a person of normal height for granted. She gets mad at him for skipping soccer practice, when his shorter brother Zach would give anything merely to be able to try out.
When the twins go to the DMV to get their learner’s permits, Jeremy passes the exam easily but Zach has problems. Zach also tries becoming a soccer coach to make up for not being able to play, but dad Matt is starting to get annoyed by the rest of the family’s preoccupation with the game.
Matt and Amy fight over renting out the farm for a corporate picnic. Matt says it’s easy money, but Amy considers it an invasion of their privacy. Then Matt argues with his father over how to direct parking for all the guests.
Jeremy brings a girlfriend home to meet his family, but his shy brother Zach is still self-conscious about his height around full-statured people. So Matt takes Zach to another Little People of America gathering to try to improve his social skills. Meanwhile, Molly is recruited for a back-to-school photo shoot, so she and her mother Amy get an introduction to the image-obsessed world of modeling.
Matt decides to build a pumpkin-throwing catapult called a trebuchet, in hopes that the activity will draw more customers to buy his pumpkins. But he and Amy have a fight over how much he paid their twin sons to help out in the pumpkin patch.
As the Roloffs get ready to celebrate the holidays, Matt’s height causes him trouble on a Christmas-shopping trip, and son Jeremy wants to spend less time with his family and more with his girlfriend.
Matt unveils his new year’s resolution to remodel the kitchen to make it “Amy”-sized. But first, he challenges his “big” son Jeremy to a wrestling match.
Matt tries to inspire his son Zach to see his life as having no limits by introducing him to role models in the dwarf community, including a law professor who worked for President Clinton and a welder who is working on a top-secret submarine. Meanwhile, Amy is still struggling with how much time their other son Jeremy should be allowed to spend with his girlfriend.
Getting ready to make a third attempt at passing his driver’s test is stressful enough, but then while joyriding around the farm, Zach wrecks his family’s van.
Amy gets frustrated by her inability to get Jeremy motivated to try his best in an important soccer game. Matt becomes concerned when Zack passes up a rare opportuity to socialize with girls his own height, and instead opts to play football with his friends. So Matt gets the whole family to host a mixer for little people.
Matt and Amy take off on a relaxing week-long tropical cruise, but on their return they argue over Matt’s latest scheme — to raise chickens.
A strange illness causes Zach to be rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery.
Finally agreeing with Amy that farming is not going to improve their financial situation, Matt returns to a computer job, but has trouble adjusting to the corporate office environment.
Although he is still recovering from surgery, formerly shy Zach finally invites a girl on a date to the winter formal banquet, but he is still a nervous wreck at the event compared to his calm and confident brother Jeremy.
Matt rushes to complete the remodeling of Amy’s kitchen before he has to leave on a business trip to South America.
A retrospective on the first season, with highlights and previously unaired interviews.
Looking back at the previous year of their lives, the Roloffs comment on the changes at the farm and in themselves.
Twins Jeremy and Zach get ready to celebrate their 16th birthday with a trip to the beach, but their little brother Jacob ends up acting out and getting the most attention.
For a Mother’s Day brunch, all the kids try to get something special for Amy, like homemade cards. Meanwhile, Matt fears that he may have offended her by hiring home-organization experts.
After his peach crop fails, Matt hires the twins and their friends to plant pumpkin seedlings, but they end up going on strike for more money.
Returning home from a business trip, Matt finds that no one has prepared for their upcoming trip to Hawaii, and the ensuing last-minute rush causes stress.
In Hawaii, Amy is uncomfortable with the amount of pampering she receives from the hotel staff. Meanwhile, Matt challenges Zach to overcome his fear of the water and try surfing.
Before leaving Hawaii, the Roloffs squeeze in outrigger canoeing, snorkeling and a zip-line tour, during which Matt must deal with his fear of heights.
Matt tries to help Zach put together a soccer team for the games held by the Dwarf Athletic Association of America, but then the whole team effort is jeopardized when Zach gets a leg injury.
In the DAAA Games, Zach’s soccer team competes against the L.A. Breakers, led by actor Marty Klebba.
The Roloff kids work on building a tree fort, but then Jacob steps on a rusty nail. Meanwhile, with the remodeling of their home still unfinished, Matt hires a professional crew to build the new deck.
Just as the Roloffs start putting the finishing touches on their new professionally-installed deck, it fails inspection. But Matt devises a clever solution.
While Amy is away visiting her sisters in San Francisco, Matt buys a vintage Volkswagen Beetle and repaints their house. Will Amy be pleased with what he has done when she gets back?
Having enjoyed his zip-line ride in Hawaii, Matt makes grandiose plans to build one on the farm.
Matt’s recent home improvements have made it difficult to get ready for Thanksgiving, to which the Roloffs have invited all their relatives on both Matt’s and Amy’s sides of the family.
It’s a Thanksgiving to remember at the Roloff Farms when Matt and Amy celebrate with both sides of the family.
Matt and Zach arrive at the Little People of America National Conference, where Matt re-connects with old friends and makes some new ones. Zach also makes friends, with whom he ends up playing football in the hotel halls all night.
Amy arrives at the Little People of America national conference along with the rest of the Roloff kids. Meanwhile, Zach consults a big-city specialist about the pain in his legs, and is advised to have surgery.
Zach’s friend Andrew visits the farm, and later Zach visits his little-person twin buddies Jeff & Eric Manuel in Pasadena. Meanwhile, Jeremy travels to Seattle for a pro soccer game and manages to get some professional advice from MLS star Freddy Adu as he prepares for a tryout for the Olympic Development Program.
Matt goes to New York City to pitch his invention, a little-person accessibility stool kit, to an executive of a national hotel chain. Meanwhile, back on the farm, the twins attempt to resume construction of their fort, but run into problems with a runaway tractor.
Jeremy and Zach manage to break Matt’s new Mule, and Jacob smashes a bunch of light bulbs. Noticing that the kids’ behavior gets out of control whenever he has to be away, Matt considers quitting his job.
Ordered to help prepare the farm for another corporate picnic, the Roloff twins goof off instead. They end up getting grounded, and assigned even more chores.
The first mission undertaken by Matt’s new organization, the Coalition for Dwarf Advocacy, is to help get a 5-year-old dwarf child adopted by an average-height couple.
Matt receives a lot of attention on his 45th birthday, including an official commendation from a state senator for his contributions to the community. But the pumpkin season has brought unexpected problems, and Matt has been temporarily forced to shut down farm operations.
Jacob and adult family friend Mike Dentjn are seriously injured by the one-ton counterweight of the trebuchet while launching pumpkins. They spend several days in the hospital in serious condition for head and neck injuries.
Jacob and Mike are treated at the hospital for their injuries, with Amy holding vigil while Jacob undergoes surgery. Meanwhile, Matt is pestered by the local media about the bizarre accident.
In light of the trebuchet accident, Matt decides to order a professional safety inspection of the entire farm, but then argues with Amy over their finances, and Amy tries to pass on to their kids a healthy concern about the value of a dollar.
Before leaving for a convention in Florida, Matt charges the twins with the task of putting together a surprise birthday party for Amy and Molly.
When Matt is invited to give a motivational speech at a college in Pennsylvania, he decides to use the opportunity to encourage his poorly-performing son Jeremy.
The twins are now 16 years old, but are not allowed to apply for driver’s licenses until Jeremy’s grades improve and Zach completes a driver’s education course. Meanwhile, Matt goes to a local drag strip to race with his Volkswagen beetle.
Resuming high school soccer after taking a year off, Zach struggles to win respect from his teammates. Meanwhile, Jeremy is crushed when he doesn’t make the Olympic Development soccer team. However, the twins’ team has a chance at making the playoffs.
In this “Lost Episode” Matt offers a bounty of $100 for the capture of an annoying mole, so Jeremy puts his efforts to catch the animal into high gear. Meanwhile, Jacob’s stinky feet cause Matt to take extreme measures to apply foot powder.
Matt decides to convert a little-used barn into a Men’s Crisis Center so that he and his sons can hang out together in a place that is safe from female criticism. However, on cleaning up he finds his childhood diary, which motivates him to share the meaning of the farm with his daughter as well. Meanwhile, Jacob has a camp-out, complete with an apple-throwing war.
In this “Lost Episode,” Matt has devised a scheme to make some badly needed money that involves dumping truckloads of soil on the farm. At first, the endless dust and noise has Amy furious, but then Matt reveals the genius of his plan.
Amy is concerned about young Jacob’s indifferent attitude toward his schoolwork, and he has trouble controlling his temper as he gets soccer lessons from Jeremy and Zach. Meanwhile, Matt and Jeremy take Rocky the dog to the vet to see if he needs eye surgery.
In this “Lost Episode,” on top of her two jobs and her other chores, including juggling her kids’ schedule of events, Amy is charged with the task of finding host families for three visiting soccer coaches. Meanwhile, Matt suddenly decides that the house needs a thorough cleaning from top to bottom.
Since Zach is always falling behind his longer-legged brother when they ride their bikes, Matt has a new bicycle custom-built for Zach.
In this “Lost Episode,” with only a week to go until Halloween, Matt suddenly decides that they should organize a Harvest Party to promote their pumpkin business. But this grandiose last-minute idea does not sit well with the rest of the family, and Zach storms off.
Zach goes to California with Amy to consult a surgeon about the operation that will correct his bowed legs. But on their return, the farm is hit by a major storm that causes a power blackout.
After a quick Christmas celebration, the family heads to Oakland, California, where Zach will be having his leg surgery. Matt, who went through many such surgeries himself when he was younger, helps get Zach through the pre-operation jitters.
The whole family gathers in Oakland for Zach’s leg surgery.
Matt’s actor buddy Marty comes to the farm for a visit. Meanwhile, everyone tries to help Zach get comfortable using a wheelchair and other mechanical aids as he recuperates from his surgery.
Fed up with his children’s messy bedrooms, Matt orders a dumpster. But his instructions that they empty their rooms into it are met with a major lack of enthusiasm.
Matt’s sons are less than enthusiastic when he decides to remodel the kids’ bedrooms right before Jacob’s tenth birthday.
When the biggest snowstorm in the last 20 years hits the farm, Jeremy and his friends revel in a snowball fight and other outdoor pleasures, while Zach is still stuck inside with a cast on his leg. But Zach’s major concern is the upcoming high school dance, where he is afraid he will be stuck in a corner in his wheelchair.
Zach returns to Oakland to finally get his cast removed and find out if the operation has successfully straightened his bowed leg. Meanwhile, Molly’s growing interest in geography leads Matt to take her to visit the headquarters of map-maker Rand McNally in Irvine, California.
After a slow recovery from leg surgery, Zach’s overzealous attempts at his regular activities when the cast comes off, are met with the possibility of a setback.
When Jeremy begins to fall behind in his homework, Matt and Amy formulate two different plans to get him back on track.
Matt takes on the heavy work load of clearing out a new pumpkin patch parking lot, finishing Molly’s castle, and repairing the old west town church, all while trying hard to finish the men’s crisis center for him and the boys.
A tumble from a regular sized plastic stool rejuvenates Matt in trying to get his custom made stools into hotels. Resistance from one hotel forces Matt to bring out the big guns.
With the Roloff room remodeling project almost done, Jeremy decides to strike a deal with his parents to help out in a certain area. Meanwhile, Amy is invited by her old college, Central Michigan University, to make an inspirational speech.
Continuing chaos at the farm has left Amy feeling that she has not put in sufficient preparation time for her upcoming speech to the student body at her alma mater. But her arrival on the campus of Central Michigan University brings a rush of fond memories that inspire her.
Matt takes the family on another excursion, this time to Knott’s Berry Farm, which turns out to have inspired several of his own farm’s attractions. Unfortunately, Zach’s leg shunt prevents him from risking some of the more unstable rides.
Five Roloff family members head for the LPA conference in Phoenix, where Molly does a surprising turn on the dance floor. After they arrive back home, Matt surprises everyone with an RV trip to the Yosemite and Grand Canyon national parks.
The school year is over for the twin boys but because of F’s in math it looks like summer school is in their future.
Their oversized RV is barely out of their own driveway and the Roloff’s family trip has already found trouble.
The rest of the family starts to question Matt’s route planning capability as they encounter the scorching 128-degree heat of Death Valley.
As their road trip continues, the family separates, with Amy and Molly spending a peaceful day in Sedona, Arizona, while Matt and the boys have fun along a stretch of the famous Route 66.
The Roloffs finish their road trip by revisiting their family roots in California.
Back home, it’s planting season, and while Matt sees to the seeding of their major pumpkin and corn crops, Amy and Molly are assisted by Grandma Peg in starting a family vegetable garden.
Enough time has passed since his leg surgery that Zach now feels he can compete in this year’s Dwarf Athletic Association of America Games.
In this year’s DAAA Games, Zach’s soccer team has a rematch with the L.A. Breakers, led by actor Marty Klebba.
Matt custom modifies his red Volkswagen bug.
Jeremy and Zach construct a “swamp fort” in a wooded area of the farm.