All in the Family & Archie Bunker's Place: Holiday Edition

Archie is depressed at Christmas because his boss canceled his holiday bonus (purportedly for screwing up a work order) and he doesn't know how to break the news to his family.

On Christmas Day, Edith tells Gloria that she has found a lump in her breast and worries that she may have cancer.

Archie and Mike argue over the religious upbringing of baby Joey during a Thanksgiving Day dinner.

In the wake of the birth of little Joey, Gloria and Michael are at odds with one another over communication issues. Gloria is upset because Michael keeps making big and little decisions without consulting her despite the fact that their marriage is suppose to be an equal partnership. The crux of their argument is over plans for their friends who are getting married before the year ends. Problems with the arrangements cause them to lose their original location and so it is suggested that they have it in the Stivic's living room. Mike comes to understand why Gloria is upset when she re-writes the speech he was suppose to make as best man.

Archie explodes with anger when he discovers that Mike has invited his draft dodger friend to the family's Christmas dinner, where the guest of honor is Archie's close friend, a gold star father whose son was killed in Vietnam.

Edith's faith is severely shaken when their friend Beverly, a female impersonator, is murdered saving Mike at Christmastime.

Mike recovers from the injuries he sustained in the mugging. But the Christmas Day gift exchange is still strained due to Edith's depression due to Beverly Lasalle's death, so the family rallies around her.

Edith is arrested for passing counterfeit money that she got from Archie at the bar.

When the Stivics cancel their Christmas trip to New York, the Bunkers decide to go to California to visit.

When the Bunkers visit the Stivics in California, Mike and Gloria are hiding the fact that they have separated.

Mike and Gloria (don't forget little Joey) come back to New York to celebrate Thanksgiving with the Bunkers. But Mike's got some devastating secrets to hide: He's been fired from his professor's job in Santa Barbara for participating in a nude protest of a nuclear power plant. This has put a further strain on the Stivics' already faltering marriage.

The Stivics wonder how they will cope with Mike being jobless. Mike goes to Archie to air his grievances, and in a show of sympathy and support, he decides to loan him some money until he can find another job.

Stephanie's wealthy grandmother appears and sues Archie for custody.

Archie fights for, and wins, legal custody of Stephanie.

Billie is bitter when her Estranged father comes for a Christmas visit, until she finds out the real reason her mother left.