Their recently deceased father, Thomas Reed, a doctor, had been absent and a workaholic, while their long-suffering mother, Beatrice, turned to alcoholism to cope with his neglect and affairs.

Initially, the only soundtrack used for the opening was the sounds of the characters, but in the fall of 1993 a piano solo composed by John Debney was added as theme music.

One year after her husband's death, Beatrice reluctantly sold the family home to move into a seniors' condominium building.

Frankie makes a financial investment in Mitch's fish market; while filing paperwork at City Hall, they decide to elope.

Alex plans an elaborate ceremony and reception at her house for Truman and Beatrice's wedding, but they decide to elope; Reed and Kirby (Paul Rudd) are married there instead.

Cat is attacked and raped by a college acquaintance; James Falconer (George Clooney) is assigned to investigate the case.

However the prosecution cannot prove its case and Kyle is found not guilty only to be shot and killed on the courthouse steps by a previous victim.

Alex meets Big Al (Robert Klein) when he agrees to sponsor her talk show; she initially dislikes him but they soon begin dating.

Keeping the customary manner in which her half-sisters go by male versions of their full names, Charley is brought into the family and welcomed, primarily through Frankie's effort and determination.

Trevor finally returns from the streets when Winnetka is hit by a tornado, and Falconer and Teddy marry on a plane that is caught in the storm.

Teddy shows up drunk to his election night victory party and hits Evan on his bicycle with her car; she leaves to enter rehab.

Alex helps Truman end his life; she is arrested, but avoids prison when a terminally ill judge recuses himself from her case.

Teddy has an affair with Daniel Albright (Gregory Harrison), the man who had Falconer killed, in an attempt to gather evidence that will send him to jail.

Teddy meets Jack Chambers (Philip Casnoff), the man who received Falconer's transplanted heart, and strikes up a brief relationship with him.

She falls into a coma, but Alex convinces brilliant neurosurgeon Dr. Gabriel Sorenson (Stephen Collins) to operate and save her life.

Charley (now played by Sheila Kelley) becomes a foster parent to Jesse (Sean Nelson), the son of a woman at her free clinic who died.

Reed (now played by Noelle Parker) returns to town after divorcing Kirby and losing custody of her daughter Halsey, and ends up running a high-priced call-girl ring.

In the final episode, Georgie's college thesis about her sisters deeply angers Alex and Charley, though Teddy finds it amusing.

Georgie sees John at Bea's memorial service and realizes she misses him; shortly afterward, she breaks up with Brian.

Other guest stars included Darren McGavin, Denise Crosby, Ilene Graff, Christina Pickles, Dorothy Lyman, Gloria Henry, Carrie Snodgress, Deborah Harmon, and Elayne Boosler.

Patricia Kalember's real-life husband Daniel Gerroll guest starred as her predatory therapist for 11 episodes in season 5.

Also Naomi Judd guest starred in the episode that marked her real-life daughter Ashley's final appearance as Reed.