Ep 7. Snapping and Sniffing

In My Wife and Kids season 1 episode 7, entitled "Snapping and Sniffing," we see Michael Kyle, the father of the Kyle family, struggling to deal with his son, Junior's, newfound interest in girls. In the beginning of the episode, Junior brings a girl named Vanessa home to meet his family, and Michael is immediately suspicious of her motives.

Michael becomes convinced that Vanessa is only interested in Junior because he is the captain of the basketball team, and he tries to prove this to his son. However, Junior is not convinced, and he continues to see Vanessa despite his father's protests.

Meanwhile, Jay, Michael's wife, becomes concerned about their youngest daughter, Kady, who has started sniffling and sneezing a lot. She thinks that Kady might be allergic to something, but Michael is skeptical and thinks that Kady is just being a hypochondriac.

As the episode goes on, Michael's suspicions about Vanessa escalate, and he decides to do some investigation of his own. He follows Vanessa around town and eventually discovers that she is cheating on Junior with another boy from the basketball team.

Michael confronts Vanessa and tells her that if she doesn't stop seeing Junior, he will tell the whole school about her infidelity. Vanessa agrees to break things off with Junior, and Michael is pleased with himself for protecting his son.

Meanwhile, Jay takes Kady to see a doctor, who confirms that Kady is indeed allergic to something. Jay is relieved to have her suspicions validated, but Michael, who had been dismissive of Kady's symptoms, feels guilty for not taking her seriously.

In the end, Junior is heartbroken about Vanessa, but Michael assures him that he will find someone better. And Kady is happy to have a diagnosis for her allergies and grateful that her parents are taking her health seriously.

"Snapping and Sniffing" is a classic episode of My Wife and Kids that showcases the show's mix of humor and heart. Michael's protective instincts come through in his attempts to keep Vanessa away from Junior, while Jay's concerns for her daughter's health reflect her role as the nurturing matriarch of the family. And of course, the episode is filled with plenty of laughs thanks to the show's talented cast, led by Damon Wayans as Michael Kyle.