While other kids begin receiving college acceptance letters and Axl still hasn't, Frankie and Mike begin to worry that their son's chances for a sports scholarship have passed him by. Meanwhile, Sue is determined to prove that smiling is contagious as a hypothesis for a school science project, and a relentless Brick begins pestering his parents for an iPad.

As Frankie prepares for her upcoming annual tradition of watching the Oscars on TV, she becomes concerned when Brick informs her that he's taking a three-day school bus trip to Chicago, and she worries that his unique quirkiness could lead him to become separated from the group. Meanwhile, Sue wants to find out if Axl's friend, Darrin, has feelings for her.