Vinnie Bassett, a 30-year-old a carefree bachelor and proprietor of a pop culture memorabilia store suddenly becomes the legal guardian of his precocious, wise-beyond-his-years nephew, Wendell.
Vinnie asks Wendell to misbehave in school so he can bond with Wendell's pretty vice principal.
Wendell defends Goldilocks in a mock trial, but Vinnie and Wilma interfere with his case.
Wendell's interest in magic displeases Vinnie because it brings up some bad memories for him.
Wendell turns to Vinnie for Valentine's Day guidance, prompting Vinnie to make a move with Taryn.
Vinnie and Wilma get competitive while helping Wendell with a school fund-raiser, and they even stoop to using deceitful ploys in the process.
Vinnie upstages Wendell at a sleepover, which Wendell is hosting in an attempt to make new friends.
Vinnie wants to teach Wendell to love baseball.
Wendell befriends some snobby kids, prompting Vinnie's dad to critique his son's parenting skills. Wilma assists Taryn in discarding items her ex left behind.
Wendell and Vinnie try to join a swanky car pool at school, but their test run doesn't go smoothly. Wilma persuades Taryn to file a lawsuit against a beverage corporation.
Vinnie tries to share his love of baseball with Wendell, who decides to root for Vinnie's rivals.
Vinnie doesn't take care of an ill Wendell, and soon Vinnie feels guilty for being so neglectful.
The guys find a tote bag and try to locate its owner, but Wendell underestimates Vinnie's sleuthing skills.
An angry Wendell sells a treasured item of Vinnie's without knowing its full value, so then he must figure out how to retrieve the item.
Vinnie meets up with an old friend the toad, but dislikes how he is planning to get them concert tickets for boring and gross things. Meanwhile, Wilma takes care of Wendell.
Vinnie meets his favorite comic book author and asks Wendell to hang out with the author's crazy son.
Wendell asks Vinnie for help convincing the PTA to build a school garden; Vinnie and Wilma go to great lengths to fulfill Wendell and his mother's dream.
Vinnie pretends to be much smarter than he is in order to impress an intellectual woman, and he lies about the juvenile items in his apartment, claiming they belong to Wendell.
Vinnie brings Wendell to work hoping he'll love it, but instead Wendell changes it into everything Vinnie hates. Wilma takes Taryn's hip-hop class and learns she's a drill sergeant, oddly compelling Wilma to earn her respect.
Wendell becomes head of the dance committee and enlists help to make it the most successful Hines Middle School social event ever. As Vinnie re-connects with a former crush, Taryn sees him in a whole new light.
