The New Adventures of Old Christine

In the season premiere, it's the first day of fourth grade for Ritchie. When Christine and the other moms meet the class' disarmingly handsome new teacher, Daniel Harris (recurring guest star BLAIR UNDERWOOD), they decide to schedule a few parent-teacher conferences immediately. Meanwhile, no longer dating New Christine, Richard stays with Christine while he builds a new laundry room for her. But problems arise when Ritchie misinterprets the comfortable arrangement and believes his parents have gotten back together. Christine scrambles to find a way to explain that she could never reunite with Richard--or could she?

Christine is surprised when Ritchie expresses a newfound interest in religion after returning from a church festival with Richard and New Christine. Having once had a bad experience at church, Christine reexamines her beliefs and, with Ritchie and Matthew in tow, decides to give God another chance. ED BEGLEY JR. ("St. Elsewhere") guest stars as Pastor Ed.

When Christine's parents are unable to attend Grandparents' Day at Ritchie's school, New Christine suggests that Jeff (recurring guest star SCOTT BAKULA), the new man in Christine's life, go as Ritchie's special friend. But after Christine learns that Jeff really is a grandfather, she is forced to rethink the relationship.

Worried about Richard's indiscriminate dating habits and reluctantly realizing that she misses New Christine as well, Christine vows to bring the couple back together. Her efforts on Richard's behalf result in an unexpected benefit in Matthew's love life. Meanwhile, Christine goes on a date with a great guy, Jeff (recurring guest star SCOTT BAKULA), who seems perfect for her--except for one small detail. Recurring guest star WANDA SYKES appears as Christine's friend Barb.

After announcing that she and her husband are getting a divorce, Barb (recurring guest star WANDA SYKES) moves in with Christine. Expecting Barb to be wallowing in misery in the same way Christine was after her own divorce, Christine tries to be supportive. Meanwhile, due to the new living arrangements, Matthew relocates to Ritchie's room, where he discovers his nephew's strange sleep habits.

When manipulative moms Marly and Lindsay convince Christine to serve hot lunch at Ritchie's school, Christine finds herself serving with Stan (recurring guest star ANDY RICHTER), also known as "Sad Dad," and she finally admits why she's so attracted to him. After Matthew's date from the previous night shows no intention of ever leaving, Christine decides that she and Matthew must take control of their dating lives, and she vows never to sleep with Stan again.

Christine's attraction to Ritchie's teacher, Mr. Harris (recurring guest star BLAIR UNDERWOOD), causes a scene at a school fundraiser---especially after Ritchie wins a playdate with him. When Ritchie is unable to go on the playdate, Christine nervously meets Mr. Harris herself. Meanwhile, Matthew, Richard and Barb (recurring guest star WANDA SYKES) demand that Christine get organized after they all arrive at the same time to pick up Ritchie after school.

When Christine realizes she can't afford the newly raised tuition at Ritchie's school, she tries to get help from everyone except the person who is offering it freely: Barb (recurring guest star WANDA SYKES). Meanwhile, after Matthew views a video message to himself that he recorded 10 years ago, he decides it's time to change his life.

Annoyed that Ritchie finds his weekends with his dad more fun than his weekdays with her, Christine decides to make Richard responsible for helping Ritchie complete a big homework assignment. But when Marly and Lindsay explain what will happen if Ritchie doesn't create an impressive project, Christine can't help taking matters into her own hands.

Now that Barb (recurring guest star WANDA SYKES) is a co-owner of Christine's women's gym, the two women don't always agree on how to run it. When Barb starts working there, Christine can't accept the reality of not being in complete control. Meanwhile, Matthew helps Ritchie find the perfect nanny to replace him when Matthew starts medical school.

When Christine's modest hybrid car crashes into Marly's gigantic sports utility vehicle in the school parking lot, the women agree to take care of their own damage. But later, after having her insurance company bill Christine, Marly claims the accident was Christine's fault. Fortunately, Christine gets some secret help from an unexpected source. Meanwhile, although she is an avowed environmentalist, Christine rents a huge luxury vehicle and guiltily enjoys it. Also, New Christine and Richard use unorthodox methods to teach Ritchie the U.S. state capitals.

Christine reluctantly signs Ritchie up for soccer after Mr. Harris (recurring guest star BLAIR UNDERWOOD), Ritchie's fourth grade teacher and the school's soccer coach, informs her and Richard that Ritchie is having trouble making friends. Richard feels strongly that it's a good idea for Ritchie to learn about team sports and have more a male influence in his life. Meanwhile, Christine, who claims not to believe in competitive sports, finds herself competing with Richard for Mr. Harris' attention during a game.

After Christine convinces Matthew to let her come with him to his friend's party, she learns about her brother's world outside of their home, including some colorful friends and a pretty ex-girlfriend. Intent on being a helpful sister, Christine then takes it upon herself to meddle in Matthew's love life. Meanwhile, Richard tries to get Ritchie interested in his job as a contractor.

Christine resents that New Christine is reaping the benefits of all the time Christine spent trying to perfect Richard while they were married. After Christine recommends a thoughtful birthday gift for New Christine to give attentive, romantic Richard, Christine can't tolerate his not knowing whose idea the present really was.

Sleep-deprived Christine's mood swings cause tension with everyone around her until she tries some potent new sleeping pills. Unfortunately, she wakes up to discover that she made several embarrassing phone calls while knocked out, including one to her former boyfriend, Burton (recurring guest star MATT LETSCHER).

Christine worries that she has lost her ability to attract men. When Richard's very attractive brother, Joe (CHARLES ESTEN - "The Office"), kisses her, she feels revitalized--but she finds out a surprising secret about Joe that even Richard doesn't know.

Eager to make a difference in the world, Christine volunteers to collect signatures supporting an issue she doesn't quite understand--as she finds out from a competitive signature-seeker, Audrey (SANDRA BERNHARD). Meanwhile, when Richard learns that Barb (recurring guest WANDA SYKES) and Matthew once kissed years ago, Barb demands an equally embarrassing secret from Richard as insurance that he'll never tell Christine. She learns more than she wanted to know.

Intending to send an e-mail about her relationship with Mr. Harris (recurring guest star BLAIR UNDERWOOD) only to Barb, Christine accidentally sends the scandalous message to all of the parents at Ritchie's school, almost getting Mr. Harris fired. While Christine and Mr. Harris are being reprimanded by the head of the school ethics committee, Christine gets some surprising news from Mr. Harris. Comedian DAVE FOLEY ("NewsRadio") guest stars as Richard's friend Tom, who has a crush on Christine.

Christine's controlling nature causes her to go too far and jeopardize one of Richard's construction jobs. When she learns that Richard has been hired to remodel Lindsay's bathroom, Christine can't help intervening to make sure he doesn't screw up the job and risk their reputation at Ritchie's school. She and Richard are also at odds over which of them should have a talk with Ritchie about sex.

At the wedding of her ex-boyfriend, Christine agrees to be the designated driver for Richard, New Christine and Barb. But she wishes she could drink when the groom gives a loving toast to his new bride--and accidentally says Christine's name instead. Meanwhile, Richard gets into trouble with New Christine by professing his distaste for marriage. And Matthew and Ritchie mistakenly think that the wedding gift Christine bought is intended for them.

Ritchie is excited to go on his first overnight camping trip with his class, but Christine worries about him making it through the night without her. Christine, Richard, Matthew and Barb follow the school bus to the desert, hoping to stay in touch with Ritchie via walkie-talkie, and they end up in a sleazy motel. In the close quarters, Matthew wonders if he is attracted to Barb, while Richard misses New Christine, who is taking a break from him.

Christine is stunned to discover that a night of fun may have resulted in an unforeseen consequence. Her reckless actions could also jeopardize her chance to begin dating Mr. Harris (recurring guest star BLAIR UNDERWOOD). WANDA SYKES recurs as Barb.