Justin Tolchuck has nearly everything any teenager could want: caring parents, a popular sister, and his own style. However, the one thing that Justin does lack is a social life. His mother, Franny, tries to fix this problem by hosting a foreign student who can perhaps make Justin popular. However, the Tolchucks are in for a very big surprise when the foreigner turns out to be not at all what they had expected.

Raja explains to his class how close he and Justin are, prompting rumors about the two being a couple to spread throughout the school. Thus, Justin turns to Claire for help, who advises him to completely ignore Raja. This later causes Justin to be more alone than ever because Raja instead befriends the geekiest kid in school. Meanwhile, Gary decides to get involved when Claire decides to call it quits with Jeffrey.

When Franny loses her sense of boundaries and requests that Gary remove the locks from all the doors, Justin and his friends find time for themselves by creating the Rocket Club, which is their secret excuse to hang out and do whatever they want. Raja, however, does not fit in well with the group because he does not like the fact that all they do is nothing.

All the guys suddenly get angry at Raja for encouraging the hottest girl in school to dress more decent. Meanwhile, Claire suddenly becomes the head of the A-List crowd and Franny decides to focus her attention to Gary's wardrobe once Justin tells her it's time for him to get his own clothes.

Gary, not wanting to tell his family that he was fired, tries to get the family to reduce spending. Raja, thinking he's a financial burden on the family, gets a job at a convenience store. Justin, Craig and Dooley visit Raja and learn that the parking lot at the store is where the cool kids hang out. However, things are disrupted when Raja doesn't sell alcohol to the kids with fake IDs.

It's Homecoming and Justin is serving on the Junior Float Committee since his idea for last year's float was a hit. However, when Raja questions Justin's idea for this year, the committee chooses Raja's idea instead. Meanwhile, Franny tries on Claire's dress and Gary finds the sight irresistible. But when he learns that the dress is Claire's, he forbids his daughter from wearing it.

Much to the family's surprise, Raja begins smoking due to midterms stress. Meanwhile, Claire is heartbroken when Jeffrey breaks up with her and when Justin tries to cheer her up she embarrasses him in front of the kids at school. However, Claire soon finds herself trying to regain Justin's affections.

Claire talks Justin into becoming the school's mascot, but he experiences stage fright; Gary struggles to find work so spends his time at a local hardware store and even helps out the customers.

Justin and Raja feel guilty after carrying out the annual junior-class school prank. Meanwhile, Gary searches for a job, Franny sells things over the internet from the household and Claire feels a bond with a herd of alpaca after being left in charge of them.

Franny decides the Tolchuks should resume church services again after Raja has doubts about their spirituality over the Christmas holiday. Justin uses the power of prayer in an attempt to have sex with a pretty girl in his school.

Justin finds himself being preyed on by the school bully, Trey, and makes up a story about Franny being in a coma to win Trey's sympathy. Raja objects to the lie, until he finds himself a target of Trey's actions as well. Meanwhile, Franny has an automobile accident, and Gary has a little accident of his own.

Justin's lack of career direction leads him to decide to be a stay at home dad. Gary is troubled by this and decides to take Justin and Raja hunting in an attempt to sway Justin in a more macho direction. Franny and Claire's argument reaches a climax at a local nightclub.

A community theater group is putting on "Rent". Franny wants Justin to audition, but he won't, so she convinces him to join the crew. After Justin meets Zoe, a cute actress, he auditions for hte male lead and gets the part. Meanwhile, Claire joins the school's teen hotline.

The Tolchuk's decide to go on vacation, but Raja's need to say his prayers at the airport leads to problems with security. Raja is upset with the Tolchuk's insensitive reaction to his plight, so he decides to seek new sponsors.

Raja has trouble with a girl named Mindy. He starts spending time with her and finds out that she is annoying. After Justin tells Raja that Mindy believes that she is dating him, Raja lies to her in order to let her down. He tells her that they can't date because of their religious differences, but things get complicated when Mindy converts to Islam. Franny and Gary deal with a neighbor who is a registered sex offender.

When the PTA protests about smutty books at school, Justin and Franny are forced to read the books for the first time. Claire uses the protest as an excuse to getting out of reading "Pride and Prejudice". Justin turns to Raja when his parents find out that he has been drawing pictures of naked women.

Raja is organizing an event to help support Students Against Drunk Driving. They are having a fake funeral for someone. Everyone wants it to be for Dan Archer, but Raja wants it to be for Justin. Things get heated in the competition, but Justin soon realizes what the event is really about.

Raja finds infatuation with Sadika Sadaqatmal, a local Muslim girl. Franny gets excited and plans a big date for them, which includes both sides of the family. Gary and Franny comment on how Justin doesn't even have a girlfriend yet, which causes him to ask out a neurotic girl named Donna. Claire begins dating the German exchange student staying with the Sadaqatmals.