Cindy Cassell

Over the protests of Richie, whose parents are out of town, Potsie invites three stranded beauty pageant contestants to spend the night.

As part of a school experiment, the guys are learning to cook and sew, while the girls study self-defense and shot. So at home, when Keith half-teasingly states that women are inferior, Laurie proposes a contest: she has to fix a flat tire and Keith must bake buttermilk pancakes. Keith's pancakes are a disaster. He suggests another contest where he must create a spinach soufflé and Laurie must fix gapping spark plugs. Again, Laurie wins. The next day she announces the results to all the kids and the word gets around to Goose Walrath - the school killer. He viscously insults Keith about having lost to a girl, and is about to sock him in the jaw when Laurie grabs Goose's arm and flops him over her hip. Everyone is amazed, especially Laurie, and the only one more humiliated than Keith is Goose. At this point, Goose is seriously out to get Keith, who now travels home from school through the back alleys for protection. Finally he meets up with Goose at the city's Anniversary Festival, where the family is appearing. When Keith absolutely refuses to fight, his adversary is so impressed with the show of bravery that he backs off and there is no fight.

After a show, the Partridge Family is approached by a talent scout who informs them that Keith would be perfect for a part in a new movie; he wants Keith to take a screen test. Reuben and Shirley coach Keith and the family all act out the characters in the script to help him learn his lines. He will play a baby-faced gangster. A week later, the whole family goes off to Hollywood for the test. A very nervous Keith manages the part well and is notified a few days later that he got the part. Keith is being treated like a great Hollywood star by everyone in town. The family has planned a surprise party for him the night before he leaves to make the movie. That afternoon Reuben tells Keith that World Pictures has decided against starring an "unknown," so he has lost the part. When Keith finally brings himself to tell Shirley the news, he is unknowingly walking into the surprise party. When everyone cries for a speech, Keith explains what has happened. The party is a good one despite the bad news and afterwards the family presents Keith with the "Partridge Award" for the best performance by an actor in an embarrassing situation.

A widowed mother and her five kids form a band and make a hit record, then travel around the country in a groovy school bus. The comedy contrasts life on the road with the cozy suburban life they return to after the show is over. There's feel-good music, hapless adults, scheming kids and heartthrob teens thrown in for good measure.

As a prize for the best students, Carlos Ramirez invites Bridgett Faulkner and Joel Bascomb to dinner. Bridgett, 15, aware of being homely, refuses and bucktoothed Joel, 13, follows her example, but Sister Bertrille persuades them to go. At the restaurant, Carlos teaches Bridgett to dance. When Bridgett compares herself to beautiful Candy Cain, Carlos tells her Candy was once an unhappy, skinny teenager. Bridgett, who came from Ireland with her fisherman father, tells Carlos he loved to dance. She pronounces the Irish blessing "...May the wind be always at your back..." Touched, Carlos kisses her hand. Infatuated, Bridgett tries to improve her looks with mudpacks and ironed hair. Worried when Bridgett neglects a paper needed for a scholarship, Joel reports to Sister Bertrille. She asks Carlos to explain things to Bridgett. Emulating Candy, Bridgett arrives to lunch with Carlos in high heels and mini skirt. When Candy appears, Bridgett feels Carlos only pitied her. Sister Bertrille discusses Bridgett's unhappiness with Mother Superior. Bridgett feels Joel betrayed her. Joel wants Bridgett to get the scholarship, hoping to join her later. He follows Sister Bertrille's suggestion and offers Bridgett a shell, telling her how he feels about her. Breaking in on Carlos' date with Candy, Sister Bertrille persuades him to give a party. Bridgett, suddenly mature, reaches an understanding with Carlos. Joel, enjoying his dance with Janet, Carlos' niece, closes his eyes and crashes into the drums. Later, as Bridgett leaves for college, everyone sends her off with the Irish blessing.