Ep 5. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

Growing Pains is a popular comedy-drama series that aired from 1985 to 1992. The show is about the Seaver family, a loving but sometimes dysfunctional family living in Long Island, New York. Dr. Jason Seaver, a psychiatrist, and his wife Maggie, a journalist, have four children: Mike, Carol, Ben, and Chrissy.

In the season 4 episode 5 titled "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?," the Seaver family prepares to host a dinner party for Maggie's old college friend, who happens to be a black woman named Denise. As the preparations go on, the Seavers begin to worry about how their friends and neighbors will react to Denise's presence in their home.

Jason and Maggie decide to use this opportunity to teach their children about racism and prejudice. They urge their children to be respectful and welcoming to Denise, regardless of her race. However, Mike seems to have a hard time accepting the idea of having a black person at their home and repeatedly makes comments that make Denise uncomfortable.

Meanwhile, Ben is excited to learn that the African-American girl he has a crush on, Rosalind, will be joining them for dinner. However, he becomes nervous and self-conscious when he realizes that she may have different expectations of him than his usual friends.

As the evening progresses, tensions rise, and the Seavers are faced with uncomfortable moments and an unexpected turn of events that challenge their beliefs and understanding of race relations.

The episode deals with issues of race, prejudice, and diversity, and how one's upbringing and environment can influence their attitudes towards others. It shows the importance of open communication, respect, and understanding in these situations and how much can be achieved when people are willing to listen and learn from each other.

Overall, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" is an insightful and thought-provoking episode that explores important themes in a meaningful and relatable way, and serves as an excellent example of why Growing Pains was such a memorable and impactful show.