The essential episodes of Hangin' with Mr. Cooper

Watch these 15 in order and you've got Hangin' with Mr. Cooper — each pick states its reason.

1. 01

   S01E01 · Pilot · September 22, 1992 · 30m

   The Presentation

   In the series opener, unemployed Mark Cooper gets a job as a substitute teacher at his old high school. He also shares his house with two beautiful women: Robin, a music teacher who also works at the school, and Vanessa, a rich girl whom Mark is attracted to. On his first day of school, Mark has to deal with unruly students who give him a hard time. But Mark soon finds a solution to impress his class.

2. 02

   S01E08 · Season 1 peak · November 24, 1992 · 30m

   Torn Between Two Teachers7.0

   Andre can't choose between his music and basket-ball. Robin wants him to go for his piano-playing but Mark wants him to go for BasketBall.

3. 03

   S01E10 · Top rated · December 15, 1992 · 30m

   Miracle in Oaktown7.0

   It's Christmas time in Oakland! Vanessa finds out that she won't be able to go to her family for Christmas because she is working. Robin and Mark agrees that Vanessa will have her Christmas at their house and Vanessa can celebrate the Christmas her way, ""The Russel Family Way"". Mark agrees to be Santa Claus at the school fair that Robin is running. Robin finds out that the son (Noel) of the Guidance Counselor does not believe in Santa Claus. Mark convinces Noel that Santa will be there that night. Vanessa is Mrs. Claus and Earvin is a Rudolph. The principal is a snowman and the students are elves. Also, coach Rickets is running a military booth (!). ""Santa"" has some problems and the worst one of all is that Noel wants his dad to come home for Christmas. One problem, Noel's dad is stuck in the Navy and can not come home for Christmas. Mark tries to get the father home by using numerous ways. Still, it does not work. Mark tries everything from asking coach Rickets, to asking the kids

4. 04

   S01E19 · Top rated · March 16, 1993 · 30m

   Piano Lesson7.0

   Tyler comes over asking for food and sees Mark's fireworks. Mark hides the fireworks. Robin's boyfriend, Jason, gives Robin a necklace. Robin assumes that she will go to Hawaii that weekend. Robin cannot go with Mark to play pool that night so Robin makes Vanessa go with Mark to the pool house. When Vanessa was young, she went to the Senate Rec. Center with her father, where she learnt to play pool. Vanessa still does not fit in with the crowd. Vanessa also gets Mark into a fight with a professional pool player and Vanessa also challenges him to a pool game. When they get back home, they tell Robin they had a great time at the pool house and that they won the game. Mark and Vanessa goes to a Jazz Concert. Also, Robin's boyfriend tells Robin that he has to go to Hawaii for meetings and can not bring her along. Robin wants to go to the Jazz Concert with Vanessa and Mark but they only have two tickets. Robin is stuck at home when Tyler comes over and sneaks to Mark's toolbox and get

5. 05

   S01E20 · Top rated · April 13, 1993 · 30m

   P.M.S.: Post Moving-in Syndrome7.0

   In the beginning of the episode, Mark is fixing Tyler's bike. Tyler asks to have dinner with them but Mark says no. Tyler asks Vanessa and Robin and they say yes. They are celebrating their eight month anniversary of living together and being roomates. We go back in time when they moved in together. Mark and his friends are playing basketball outside and Vanessa and Robin takes their basketball. Mark gets a Spanish class at the high school. Mark tries to use the bathroom so he could get their earlier but Vanessa is doing her hair. Mark gets into the bathroom through another door. Robin, Mark, and Vanessa are having a hard time using the only bathroom. Mark goes to class late and meets the principal. The principal remembers Mark and gets a headache. Mark tries to read the lesson plan but he can't because it's in Spanish. Robin asks Mark to get home and sign for the new chairs arriving at home. Mark gets locked out of the class by Earvin. At home, Mark tries to get used to the new fu

6. 06

   S01E21 · Top rated · May 11, 1993 · 30m

   A Moving Experience7.0

   Mark, Robin, and there friends are playing dominos. Vanessa and Tyler want to play. Earvin has to ask Mark a question. The coach wins the game and breaks the table. Earvin has trouble in maths and if he does not pass he will have to repeat the grade. Mark decides to help him. The next day, Mark tries to teach Earvin but both of them get distracted. Mark finds out that his friend needs a new roomate at his new apartment. Mark tells Vanessa and Robin and they wonder what to do with Mark's room. Mark moves into the new apartment. Mark tries to tutor Earvin but does not have time because of the new parties around the building. One night, Earvin comes over and Mark tries to tutor but Mark gets distracted because of another party going on at their apartment. Earvin feels left out and also feels that he will flunk the math class. That night at home, Vanessa and Robin miss Mark. Mark comes back home to visit and do his laundry. Robin also notices at school and at home that he is falling

7. 07

   S02E11 · Season 2 peak · December 10, 1993 · 30m

   Santa's Got a Brand New Bag7.0

   Mark works as Santa in a mall.

8. 08

   S02E12 · Top rated · December 17, 1993 · 30m

   Private School7.0

   Mark is assigned to a private school by P.J. to teach American history. The school is nothing like what Mark is used to. Everyone is properly uniformed, preppy, and all white! He ends up teaching them all about black history ""from slavery to Soul Train"".

9. 09

   S02E14 · Top rated · January 21, 1994 · 30m

   It's My Party and I'll Die If I Want To7.0

   Mark is turning 30. Vanessa and Geneva decides to arrange an over-the-hill party. Tyler discovers a strange lump on Mark. Mark goes to the doctor to have it tested. A misunderstanding leads to Mark thinking that he's going to die because of the lump. He goes sky-diving and gives away his stuff. He even gives most of his money to Thaddeus to name a park after him.

10. 10

    S03E01 · Season 3 peak · September 23, 1994 · 30m

    Call Me Irresponsible7.0

    During the summer, P.J. (the principal) has been calling Mark's house and leaving messages. Geneva thinks he should call him back, but Mark refuses - he doesn't want to call his boss during the summer. When he comes to school, he tries to avoid P.J., but he fails. P.J. tells him that she had been calling him to offer him the job as head coach. Mark gets very happy and excited, until P.J. tells him that since he didn't return her phone calls, she had to offer the job to someone else. If he suck up to the new head coach, maybe he can become assistant coach. After Mark's history class, coach Corley comes into the classroom and asks him for advice and offers him the job as assistant coach, but Mark declines. Later coach Corley comes by the house and he and Mark decides that Mark is just going to come by the gym on Monday.

11. 11

    S04E09 · Season 4 peak · December 1, 1995 · 30m

    R.E.S.P.E.C.T.8.0

    Geneva becomes exasperated with everyone in the house treating like a servant. So, she moves out with Nicole. Mark invites his inconsiderate friends Steve and Lydell to move in, causing Vanessa to move out.

12. 12

    S04E11 · Top rated · December 15, 1995 · 30m

    Christmas '958.0

    Disgusted by the commercialization of Christmas, Mark persuades everyone to accompany him to a nostalgic Christmas tree farm. The adventure is ruined when they discover that the farm is just a booth with scrawny little trees. Then Mark's car becomes disabled on a deserted road. When the group finally reaches a place to stay for the night, the North Star Inn, they witness the birth of a child and remember the true meaning of Christmas.

13. 13

    S04E14 · Top rated · January 19, 1996 · 30m

    Coach Counselor8.0

    Mark becomes a student guidance counselor and advises an egotistical football player.

14. 14

    S05E06 · Season 5 peak · August 2, 1997 · 30m

    The Dance6.0

    Tyler makes a date with a girl for his first school dance, but Mark gives him bad advice on how to treat women.

15. 15

    S05E13 · Series finale · August 30, 1997 · 30m

    Getting Personal

    Vanessa wonders if Mark really understands her. She places an advertisement in a section of the personals and then tests Mark by telling him to determine which ad is hers.