Less Than Kind (2008)

Fifteen year old Sheldon Blecher has an epiphany during his delayed Bar Mitzvah and comes to realaize and accept that his family is weird and his life basically sucks.

Sheldon battles to become team captain of his school's "Top of the Class" squad. Meanwhile, Josh runs into some old high school chums who plan to teach him a lesson in humility.

Sheldon struggles to learn French while his crush on Imelda takes centre stage. Meanwhile, Sam and Anne have to contend with a tax audit.

The family has to work hard to keep the driving school cars out of the hands of the repo man.

Sheldon gets a note from the family doctor in order to get out of gym class. However, he has to get the doctor to give him another note when he wants to go on a school ski trip to be close to the girl he has a crush on.

Sheldon's insomnia causes him to be lethargic right before the "Top of the Class" competition, until his friends give him several energy drinks. Unfortunately the energy drinks are far more effective than his friends planned for.

Sheldon apologizes to Imelda. She accepts his apology, however her father isn't as easy to convince. Meanwhile, Sam tries to borrow some money to bail out the floundering driving school.

Sheldon senses that Imelda might break up with her boyfriend so he plots to help the process along. Meanwhile, Sam has to welch on a payoff because Clara now controls the company money. Ben auditions for a community theatre version of "Taming of the Shrew" and gets to connect with an old acquaintance.

To make an entrance into the dating world, Sheldon and Miriam agree to go out together. Unfortunately Sheldon's family is featured in the date. Meanwhile, Sheldon's teacher Mr. Lubbe takes driving lessons.

Sheldon is dismayed to discover that he is forced to buy new jeans at the "Husky Boy" store. Meanwhile, Josh meets with his agent who tells him to lose weight. Sam is the victim of a hit and run from one of his prior driving school pupils who probably shouldn't be on the road.

Sheldon ropes Sam into participating in Careers Night at school. Miriam exhibits some strange behaviour. Josh gets a job “acting” as a standardized patient.

Josh and Shandra reluctantly sacrifice a day of LARP-ing to supervise Sheldon and his TOP OF THE CLASS team mates. Clara invites Sam and Anne to an art gallery opening for their 27th wedding anniversary.

As Sheldon plans to celebrate his 16th birthday he is dismayed to discover that Imelda won't be attending his party. Meanwhile, Josh takes a menial job on a movie set and Anne puts Sam on a strict diet.

With Sam at death's door the Blecher family stands vigil at his hospital bedside. But is Sam really ready to cross over?

Sam gets an early release from the hospital, but Anne is suspicious. Sheldon and Miriam go to dinner with Miriam's mother and her new girlfriend. Meanwhile, Josh has to learn how to cry for an upcoming audition.

Anne combats stress by smoking Josh's marijuana, which causes Josh to turn to Tito to replenish his stash. Sheldon and Miriam are dismayed to make the acquaintance of Danny Lubbe, a new student at school.

Sheldon is smitten by a female model in art class, and Miriam is not too happy. Meanwhile Danny Lubbe is trying to sabotage his father's love life. Anne helps an elderly man deal with a dying pet.

On a dare, Josh and Miriam uncharacteristically decide to attend a party. Josh is challenged by a driving student. Clara becomes depressed after she encounters an old flame, but she soon rebounds when she falls for a police officer.

Sheldon and Danny scheme to defend Miriam after a dyslexic girl bully makes her life miserable by accusing her of being a lesbian. Josh enlists Tito's help to find an apartment after Shandra corners him into setting up house with her. Meanwhile, Mr. Lubbe seeks out parenting advice from Miriam's parents.

Sheldon is lovestruck with Miriam, but his mother thinks that he is on drugs. Josh and Shandra host a housewarming dinner. Meanwhile, Clara has to come to terms with her relationship with Officer Kyle.

Shandra breaks up with Josh after he loses his job at the driving School. Tension builds between Shandra and Anne, and Miriam plays the role of mediator. Meanwhile, a visit to Artie's storage locker brings up an encounter with bikers.

Sam is released from hospital a day early and he takes a meandering tour of Winnipeg. Dropped from the school band, Sheldon, Miriam and Danny find themselves irritable and at loose ends.

Miriam surprises Sheldon with a special request. Sam convinces Anne to celebrate their anniversary by going out for a "fancy" dinner. Josh surprises Shandra with an unwelcome birthday gift.

Miriam and Danny convince Sheldon to attend a spring break party. Anne and Sam try to ground Josh. David Rosen confesses a weakness to Clara.

Thanks to Danny Lubbe, Miriam and Sheldon's secret band is now public. Sam inadvertently worsens David Rosen's gambling addiction. Josh discovers that his old show "Thunder Bay O.P.P" has an underground following.

Clara admits that she has been embezzling from the company. Meanwhile, disaster strikes as the basement floods and Sheldon fears losing Miriam. However, Josh's acting career is experiencing a rejuvenation.

Anne can't deal with a horrifying late night discovery. Sheldon anxiously awaits Miriam's return from Europe. Clara uncovers Josh and Shandra's secret plan to escape to Los Angeles.

Sam's funeral brings Sheldon face-to-face when Rabbi Rabinowitz delivers a half-hearted eulogy. Clara's ex-husband Jack makes a surprise visit to pay his respects. An exiled Shandra attempts to support the living daylights out of Josh. Anne is numb as Shiva begins at the Blecher house.

With Anne lost to an ever more debauched Shiva, Clara must struggle with a big decision about the future of the driving school alone. Josh needs sex to keep away the sad. Sheldon learns the truth about Miriam's adventures abroad when Danny unwittingly drops some clues.

When Danny tries to reconcile Sheldon to Miriam, Sheldon's over the top apology makes things worse. Josh's attempt to become the man of the house is undermined when he nearly kills a driving school student. An accidental meeting empowers a desperate Clara to blackmail her ex-husband Jack.

Anne discovers that Clara's extortion of her ex-husband Jack has lead her down an even darker road. Sheldon persuades a terrified Mr. Lubbe to let Danny try another driving test. Josh's reunion with his former co-star Eric leads them both to an exciting opportunity.

Sheldon, Danny and Miriam are reluctantly obliged to face parental passion when Miriam discovers a woman sneaking out of her father’s bedroom. Josh and Eric struggle to finance their Acting Academy of Acting Excellence. Anne’s discomfort in being the traditional widow leads her to crash Sam’s old poker game.

A surprising goodnight kiss with Miriam makes Sheldon hopeful for a renewed relationship. But then Josh is last man standing when Sheldon, Anne and Clara fall to a vicious flu bug. Danny must come up with a plan to get out of a school project.

Josh and Eric struggle to find students worthy of the Academy of Acting Excellence. Anne is visited by an old family friend, with an offer to buy Blecher's Driving School. Danny's plan to re-unite "Derrick Sux Ass" is thwarted by the growing rift between Sheldon and Miriam.

Josh and Eric discover a young prodigy in the Academy of Acting Excellence. Sheldon is recruited by the wrestling team despite Danny's disdain. Inconvenient desires begin to trouble Anne. A jilted Clara finds a sympathetic ear in Shandra.

Sheldon hosts the victory celebration for the wrestling team and Tina becomes his girlfriend. Josh is forced into being a reluctant chaperon by a frightened Anne. Danny and Miriam crash the party.

When Anne and Clara decide to sell the school they find Jim Sheridan's buyout offer is hard to revive. Josh and Eric land an audition for their acting prodigy. When Danny goes missing Sheldon and Miriam wish they could turn the clock back.

Sheldon, Miriam and Mr. Lubbe make a disturbing discovery about Danny's whereabouts. When Anne confronts Jim Sheridan the driving school becomes the subject of a suspiciously timed inspection. Josh confronts Shandra at work. Nicholas Campbell and Kevin McDonald guest star.

With Danny and Miriam upset by the prospect of separating for university, Sheldon comes up with a inspired solve. Anne, Jim and Clara risk it all to save the driving school from the rival 'Killigans'. Shandra is furious when the family seem oblivious to the implications of her renewed romance with Josh.

The triumph of Sheldon's graduation morphs into a summer of love, parties and independence. Anne's empty nest anxiety leads to a tryst that is more than she bargained for. Josh and Shandra blow the budget shopping for a first home.

A fight with Anne forces Clara to sort through the jumbled feelings left by a pregnancy scare alone. Anne is startled to learn Jim has feelings for her. Sheldon & Miriam reluctantly turn to stepmom Lisa with an 'intimate' problem.

Their cherished European adventure is threatened when Sheldon, Danny and Miriam are fired and must find new jobs. Josh's triumph at a work meeting is spoiled by a run in with former best friend Eric. Anne & Clara uncover an affair.

Josh and Shandra hatch a hasty wedding to save their house. Sheldon organizes a last minute bachelor party for his brother while dealing with an extremely stressed Miriam. Lubbe shares surprising news with Danny. Jim saves the day.

Josh forces Sheldon into a secret trip to Toronto to save his marriage. Tears are shed when Shandra's penny-pinching drives Anne to the brink. After an exhausting day at Jack's and a fight with Sheldon, Miriam makes a big mistake.

After she and Jim get lost, Anne is furious to discover no one in the family noticed her absence. Eric offers hope when Josh collapses into despair. Jack deepens Miriam's confusion. Sheldon confronts Danny about his shady job.

After driving a wedge between Anne and Jim, a resentful Clara must finally face herself. On the eve of their trip, Sheldon realizes something is amiss with his friends. Josh and Eric cut corners to deal with their 23-hour workdays.

Danny confirms fears about Miriam. Sheldon's emotional binge lands him at Jim's door. Anne mistakes Jim's return for a romantic overture. Josh needs Shandra to save him from delirious Eric. Danny blames Sheldon for Uzzie's troubles.

With Miriam's secret exposed, Sheldon enlists family to help set his friends right even as his own secret deadline looms. Josh is unemployed when his flame out on live radio entertains the hosts but infuriates his boss.