This Pilot asked and answered the question, "What if Courtney Gripling invited Ginger Foutley to a party....and she made it?".
Ginger foolishly follows the lead of archrival Miranda when she steals the supposed perfect birthday gift for the most popular girl at school.
Ginger, Macie and Dodie are serving time by doing community service in the retirement home. Ginger brings Carl along and meets an old lady named Maude he falls in love with. This causes tension between Carl and Hoodsey especially after Hoodsey finds out that Carl changed the secret location of the doghouse and only told Maude. Meanwhile, Ginger learns that Courtney Gripling wants to come over for dinner, but Carl invites Maude to dinner on the same night.
Why is Ginger so nervous about going on the ski trip with her school? Perhaps it's because she can't ski, or maybe it's because Carl and Hoodsey snuck along to cause mischief of their own, or maybe it's because Courtney is trying to get her to kiss that French foreign exchange student on the ski lift... Hmmm, doesn't seem like there's anything to worry about at all!
When Courtney hears Ginger talk to her friends about their weekly slumber party, She decides that she wants to host one. Blake invites Carl over, but he can't go because he got grounded, so he sends Hoodsey instead - in order to get his petrified eyeball back.
Dodie gets the job of making the school announcements and uses it as a forum to reveal gossip about Lucky Junior High. When a lice scare hits the school and Dodie finds out Courtney has been infected, will she make the announcement or will Ginger be able to convince her to keep her mouth shut. Carl and Blake are trying to become famous. Carl is holding a lice circus, while Blake is trying to make flies with multi-color wings.
When Miranda sees Darren passing a note to Ginger in class and tells her that "you and your boyfriend make a cute couple" (mainly to keep Ginger away from Ian Richton, so she can have him for herself), Ginger takes a trip to the movies with Darren a little too seriously - especially when she ends up sitting between Darren and Ian (who's sitting next to Miranda). Carl tries to borrow Blake's new telescope so he can win a bet with Brandon.
Ginger wants her father, whom she hasn't seen in a while, to see her read a poem at a school show. When Carl is bitten by Brandon's brother's monkey, he starts acting like one. Lois drinks a pitcher of "dehydrated sea snake mix" (yuck).
When Miranda convinces Dodie that Courtney is Ginger's new best friend, Dodie reveals Ginger's secret that her mom won't let her shave her legs, and Miranda uses it to blackmail Ginger. Carl, with a little help from a teacher's toupee, transforms into a "wolf boy".
When Courtney and Macie are enrolled in a high school French class, Macie somehow ends up hosting a pool party, where a couple of older girls that are named Chantel and Andrea are jealous about how Courtney looks at Will Patterson plan to reveal (literally) that Courtney stuffs her bikini top. Carl and Hoodsey try to obtain some of Albert Einstein's DNA for a fourth-grade science fair.
When Lois forbids Ginger from wearing makeup to school picture day, the girls decide to create "fake-up". Carl's ride with the trash collector results in an unexpected prize - Blake's baby blanket.
Ginger and Ian are made lab partners in chemistry class, but when Ian seems interested in Ginger, is he interested in her as a person or her as a way to keep a "B" average and his spot on the soccer team? Carl, Hoodsey, and Brandon audition for a glockenspiel solo in front of the town eccentric.
When Ginger and Dodie feel that a talent show act based on "The Little Seal Girl" is a little juvenile, Macie decides to do a solo. Carl comes face-to-palm with a mummified hand of Mrs. Gordon's that supposedly has a curse.
A severe snowstorm causes Courtney, Blake, and Winston to get trapped in their limousine, to be rescued by Ginger, Dodie, and Macie and brought to Ginger's house to get warm - only for the unfrozen food and the firewood to run out and the power be off so they can't cook anything. Carl and Hoodsey take care of their dentist's dog in exchange for a cuspidor (a fancy word for "something you spit into").
Courtney, overhearing Dodie, Macie, and Ginger discuss their camp plans, decides to join them at Camp Caprice.
Across the lake at a military camp, run by Miranda's father, Miranda and Darren struggle with the exercises. The two form a small bond.
Back in Sheltered Shrubs, Carl and Hoodsey start a house-keeping service as a cover-up for their search for the town's mysterious dog-napper.
Ginger, Dodie and Macie try out for a play, and all make it. Miranda was jealous that Ginger got the part she wanted (which was the part of Goody Webster), and blames Ginger for something that she did to get Ginger kicked out of the play, but later admits she did it during the play (Ginger had a picture of her doing it, courtesy of Carl). Carl brings back to life an old friend, Maude, for joke tips.
When the senator's son is wanting to come and be a student at Lucky Junior High, Courtney sprints up her hand for the chance to show him around and be his guide. Once Courtney is given the nod to be allowed, she comes down with an awful cold called lobsterface, because she ate lobster, and the only person that can replace her is Ginger. Ginger wears all Courtney's clothes and act's like Courtney, until, she realizes how much of a snob she's been. Ginger rights a wrong and decides to be herself. Hoodsey comes down with a case of amnesia, and Carl tries to help him remember things that they used to do together.
While trying to celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah Ginger loses her holiday cheer. Hoodsey tries to prove to Carl that there is a Santa Claus.
The Sadie Hawkins dance is coming up and Ginger has trouble finding a date. Carl goes to great lengths to save a cow in need of a heart transplant.
Darren wins Miranda's heart but is in danger of losing Ginger as a friend. Brandon asks Carl to recapture his pet monkey.
Macie can't stand watching a health-education film. Hoodsey reacts with disdain towards the new gym-class rules about having to shower.
Ginger's relationship with a high school boy gives her a reputation - and not a very good one at that! Carl and Hoodsey decide that the food industry is a great place for them to be, so they open up a food stall just outside the school to compete with the school canteen... But what happens when the school's head chef decides he wants his revenge?
Ginger is embarrassed when her mom,Lois, starts a house-cleaning business. Carl earns money by training Principal Milty's dog.
When Courtney and Miranda have a fight, Miranda replaces Courtney as her best friend...with Ginger! In order to get enough money for a lie detector, Carl and Hoodsey nominate Courtney's mom as the president of a local country club committee.
Ginger's new program for troubled youths has its first member - Carl! He gets teamed up with a boy that was in a military academy, and he is miserable! After awhile, Principal Milty gets sick of the program because of he won't torment anyone anymore, so Ginger ends the program.
JoAnn asks Hoodsey to give the eulogy at his grandmother's funeral (maybe he can borrow some ideas from Carl, who gave Maude's eulogy in "Carl And Maude"?). Ginger wants to learn more about her grandma.
Ginger's house is discovered to have some sort of mold growing inside of it, so it has to be tented, and they have to stay somewhere else. Lois and Carl reveal disgusting secrets about themselves to the reporters, which upsets Ginger. So instead of staying at the Bishops with the rest of her family, she decides to stay at Courtney's. But soon she gets homesick.
Ginger, Carl, and Macie go on vacation with Dodie and her family...but, just what were Dave and JoAnn thinking? Carl and Hoodsey are trying to make a movie about an escaped lunatic.
Dodie and Ginger battle it out to be the ultimate prankster on "April Fools" day. But, the question is... who wins? Carl and Hoodsey promise to give back Blake his tonsils, but the next thing you know, they're gone!
Lois's dealings with Carl may prove to be good experience when she has to deal with her date's three kids. Ginger doesn't like them at all!
It's Ginger vs. Dodie again - this time for the attentions of a new student. The war is going on between them because Ginger got the lead in a play, and Dodie wanted it. Who will win the battle? Carl and Hoodsey get involved as well... by making love potions!
Macie's parents may both be Ph.Ds, but the degrees apparently aren't in "remembering your daughter's birthday"! Carl and Hoodsey try to get over their fear of a naked mole rat who crashes on Macie's birthday party.
Ginger tries to make a new girl popular, which is no easy thing when she's an undertaker's daughter. Carl and Hoodsey get invited to Brandon's birthday party and learn why no one likes Brandon.
Courtney stays over at the Foutley house and begans to bond with Lois. Ginger becomes jealous and starts being possessive of her mom. Meanwhile, Carl wants to enhance his chin with plastic surgery.
Ginger joins the marching band hoping to run into her summer crush. Carl and Hoodsey try to make money being psychics.
Ginger writes a story for a writing competition about a girl who wishes she could disappear and does, but Ms. Zorski is afraid it's a little more autobiographical than Ginger lets on; Carl uses "vanishing powder" on a classmate, only to realize she was "the female Carl Foutley" - and the stuff (apparently) works.
Ginger forms the Lucky Jr High quiz team with Macie and Chet. But when she develops a crush on the quiz team coach, Mr Gardner, her quiz career is in jeopardy. Carl and Hoodsey set the town groundhog ('Pawtucket Pete') free so they can sell souvenir scarves. The only drawback is that they have to spend the night at Brandon's house.
Ginger, Dodie and Macie try to help Hope (The New Girl), become more popular. But instead, Hope try's to take over Courtney's position as most popular. Meanwhile, Mrs. Gordon retires, and Carl tries to get her back. But one day at school, Ginger's principal announces to Carl class that Mrs. Gordon has died.
Ginger tries to stop her friends from getting revenge on a tough substitute teacher. Carl and Hoodsey try to teach Mr. Licorice how to ride a motorcycle so they can enter him in a pet show.
Miranda and Mipsy pay off the board members at Avalanche Arts Academy to accept Ginger for a semester term and later decide to have Ginger away for good. With Ginger out of the picture, Miranda and Mipsy figure they can get more attention from Courtney.
When Ginger arrives at the school, Mipsy's cousin, Mitzi, has the job of making Ginger feel welcome and convince her to stay full time. Meanwhile, Darren starts to develop feelings for Ginger.
Courtney decides she needs to spend as much time with Dodie and Macie as possible to try to soak up every last bit of Ginger, but her plans change when she discovers Miranda and Mipsy's scandal. Later, Carl becomes jealous when he thinks Hoodsey and Noelle like each other while they enter Noelle in a freak show competition.
Ginger returns home from the Advanced arts Academy. And after being ignored by Ginger on several occasions Dodie, Macie, Miranda and Mipsy plan something for her by trying to break her and her new boyfriend Darren up.
Mrs Foulty and Mrs Bishop fight over the last ham and Mrs Bishop ends up having a medical injury, she decides to cut out the main factor of stress in her life - the foutleys. This making him friendless and reducing sales so he decides to recruit his man. Dodie gets mad at everyone as she is not going to Darrens party which Ginger is sorting out. Just as Dr.Dave tells Mrs Bishop she doesn't need to worry about stress anymore ginger and friends break Dodie out.
When Mrs. Bishop takes a job at Lucky Jr. High, she transforms herself into a popular teenager, going by the name "Josie" Dodie is unsure about her feelings when her mother ditches her to hang out with the popular girls in her grade. Dr.Dave wants to propose to Mrs. Foutley, but the ring gets stuck on Carl's finger creating a bit of a misunderstanding between him and Noel with some help from Blake's need for revenge on Carl.
Ginger fears that she and her friends will become strangers when they have none of the same classes in high school. She has been asked to speak at her graduation. She has a talk with her father, who gives her a new insite on change. Meanwhile, her mother get's ready for her wedding, and Carl and Hoodsie get ready for their entrance to Lucky Jr. High. They have to get rid of something from their past to put in a time capsil. Carl gives up his petrified eyeball. When he starts to have nightmares about growing up too fast, he digs up the eyeball.
Ginger fears that she and her friends will become strangers when they have none of the same classes in high school. She has been asked to speak at her graduation. She has a talk with her father, who gives her a new insite on change. Meanwhile, her mother get's ready for her wedding, and Carl and Hoodsie get ready for their entrance to Lucky Jr. High. They have to get rid of something from their past to put in a time capsil. Carl gives up his petrified eyeball. When he starts to have nightmares about growing up too fast, he digs up the eyeball.
Ginger returns to Camp Caprice, this time as a cabin leader, but she thinks that the reason that she feels that she and Darren seem to be separating might have something to do with Sasha...who asks her to meet him while they're at camp; Dr. Dave moves in Lois while his condominium is being fumigated, which is not a good thing when he realizes he had made plans for his mother to come over for a few days.
When Ginger decides to take Darren to her, Dodie, and Macie's traditional trip to the county fair, Dodie decides to invite Courtney to join them; Carl frees what he and Hoodsey think is a two-headed miniature pony.
Ginger becomes a caffeine junkie and Carl thinks he's inhaled something deadly.
There are ten chairs at Ginger's Thanksgiving table, and she's thinking of adding an extra one for her dad.
Ginger gets Saturday detention as she sleeps in Ms.Zorski's class (as seen in Stuff'll kill ya) but she has to go to Darren's game. So, she disguises Dodie as her, knowing that Darren sees through the disguise. Will Ginger run to apologize to him before it's too late??! And what'll happen when one of the cheerleaders starts to chat with Darren? Meanwhile Carl and Hoodsey go in the coffee business with Blake Gripling.
Dodie writes a letter, recalling the events of past week. While she's trying to get a spot on the cheer-leading team she see how Darren and Simone get close. Should she tell Ginger and loses Simone's support? In the meantime Carl and Lois go house-hunting.
There had been a bit of tension between Darren and Ginger, and when Darren tells Ginger it's over, she doesn't take it too well. On top of losing her boyfriend, she suffers an appendix rupture, which causes worry in the family. When Jonas shows up to support Ginger, Carl fears Lois will dump Dr. Dave and go back to his father.
Dodie becomes a cheerleader- or at least tries to, however, after discouragement from the Cheerleader Coach, she decides that there might be an easier way to go about becoming a cheerleader... Meanwhile Carl goes with the real estate business with Bob.
The new stain-resistant uniforms of the football team lead to spending cutbacks that hurt Macie and the marching band. When Ginger sets up a "Save the Band" campaign, she finds herself soon with a lot less support than expected. Meanwhile, Carl struggles to hold his "being good"-promise and must be bad one last time, just not at his school.
Ginger and Carl's mom, Lois, and Dr. David Dave are finally getting married! Ginger's helping her mom plan the wedding, but then it seems like someone's trying to sabotage the wedding. Carl, Hoodsey and their old friend, Noelle Sussman, decide to investigate who would want to sabotage Lois and Dr. Dave's wedding, and it later becomes obvious that it's Dr. Dave's mother, who's hiring Nikki LaPorte to play the role of Dr. Dave's old girlfriend.
While helping her mom plan the wedding, Ginger realizes that she has commitment issues, and begins rethinking not only her current relationship with Orion, but her old one with Darren, who seems to be having some relationship issues with Simone.
Courtney's dad, Prescott, is arrested for insider-trading, and the Gripling family essentially goes broke--they're forced to give up their home and most of their possessions, and even end up moving into the Foutley family's old house. Also, Ginger and her family end up moving to the same neighborhood that the Gripling family previously lived in