After flaming out in L.A., Chuck (Kelsey Grammer) returns to Pittsburgh, where he resumes his love-hate relationship with coanchor Kelly (Patricia Heaton). Marsh: Fred Willard.
There's something fishy going on when Chuck tries to convince a dubious Kelly that he has a responsible, nurturing side. Meanwhile, Gary tries to regain his credibility in the field.
Chuck seizes an opportunity to get rid of his awkwardness around Gracie; Marsh helps Gary with an audition tape; Ryan's advice to Montana about her love life falls on deaf ears.
In an effort to impress some of his big-shot colleagues, Chuck hatches a deceitful plot to steal the evening's top story from Kelly. Meanwhile, Marsh and Montana try to make the best of a new intern's work.
Chuck puts romantic plans on hold for dinner with Ryan; Kelly decides to let her hair down for a night of clubbing with Montana; carpooling with Marsh nearly drives Gary crazy.
Kelly and Chuck disagree on how to handle a bully who has been bothering Gracie when her class spends a day at the station. Meanwhile, Gary and Marsh make a baseball bet; Ryan sees himself in one of Gracie's classmates; and a little girl takes Montana's forecast by storm.
Kelly's plans for Gracie's birthday party hit a snag when a raccoon is trapped in her attic. The whole news team tries to get the critter out before Gracie and her friends come home.
Chuck pitches in as a babysitter for Gracie when Kelly must honor an unexpected commitment to deliver the eulogy for a deceased anchor, who, unbeknownst to Kelly, had been telling everyone they were more than just coworkers.
Chuck is suspicious when a younger, handsome rival asks Kelly out; Gary riles the participants at an animal-costume convention.
While at a surprise party that Marsh has thrown for Chuck, Kelly and Chuck stumble upon an incriminating photo from their past and must take evasive action. Meanwhile, Gary and Ryan make an uncomfortable discovery of their own in Marsh's bedroom.
Kelly and Chuck's decision to tell Gracie the identity of her father is detoured by Kelly's apprehension, which sends them to a therapist to sort out their issues with one another. Meanwhile, Gary feels snubbed by a security guard who is friendly to everyone else.
As Chuck and Kelly deal with the fallout of finally telling Gracie her father's identity, they recall the bizarre circumstances of the night she was conceived.
Shock waves reverberate through the newsroom, as major changes are expected when a tenacious station manager (Suzy Nakamura) takes over at WURG. Meanwhile, Gary worries about taking a much-needed vacation under the new regime.
In the first-season finale, Chuck and Kelly devise a way to go public with their parenthood, but the timing of a new ad campaign at the station hinders their plan. Meanwhile, Marsh has second thoughts about his gift for Gary.