Synopsis for
"Cougar Town" When a Kid Goes Bad (2010)

Is it possible for Travis to do something bad for once? Waiting in line for 20 hours to win free chicken for a month might do it. But Bobby is in bigger trouble for letting him ditch school in the process. Must have been all that coleslaw. Jules insists they work together to raise Travis, and Ellie insists Andy act like he's older than 10. The Travis thing has a better shot. Andy can't let the inappropriate comments go, especially when Laurie gets the news that Smith is coming in for Valentine's Day and she will meet his father as well. (We'll skip the whole Internet photo thing of her feet dripping in honey.)

Travis asks if he can go to a party where alcohol will be served. Jules refuses, so Travis is forced to break out the photo album for his defense. ("Keep looking; you'll find out why she named your hamsters Jager and Meister.") Jules is convinced she doesn't have to drink or be out somewhere. But since Grayson doesn't have plans either, Jules insists they spend Valentine's Day together not doing anything. Other than stopping Ellie from being the Alpha Dog in their morning coffee klatch.

We see Andy's work place for once, and he is FAR less creepier at work, which makes him that much creepier everywhere else. He has a big client coming in, and Bobby is giving him pointers for relaxing and preparing for him. The client in question turns out to be Smith's father, who just happens to show up with Laurie right when they're having their meeting. Unfortunately, Smith's father does not approve of Laurie in any way. ("She looks like she should be on a mudflap.") Worse, Smith's father goads Andy into agreeing, who is trying to woo him to investing with him. Andy apologizes to Laurie, who wasn't even offended by it. Andy stands up to Smith's father, who immediately rips up their agreement.

Bobby isn't too happy about Jules banning Travis from going to a party without discussing it first, given that she yelled at him earlier for doing that very same thing. He tells her that Travis should be allowed to go, since he may do something worse like go behind her back and then try to drive home. Jules won't budge, so Bobby goes behind her back and asks Travis to call for a ride if he gets drunk at the party. Sure enough, Travis needs a golf cart right home. Bobby sets up some "trash raccoons" to create a diversion while Travis sneaks in the back, but Jules wasn't fooled. He gets grounded and Jules is ready to go ballistic on Bobby. Except that Jules and Bobby were in cahoots the whole time. Bobby rats Travis out every time he calls, and Travis thinks Bobby's got his back for picking him up when he's too drunk to drive.

Jules is still upset for spending Valentine's Day alone, but Grayson gives her a little pick-me-up by decorating Ellie's house from head to toe for Christmas after Ellie cuts out Grayson's bushes for leaving his Christmas lights up.