Concerned about break ins Mike decides to put Buttons to good use. He teaches the chimp to sound a bell if a stranger enters the home. What he doesn't count on is a burglar with a bag of candy.
An encounter with the pretty owner of a female chimp causes problems. Buttons is interested in his counterpart Mildred but Mike is in trouble with his wife due to his attention to the young woman.
Mike agrees to use the chimp Buttons in his magic act for the PTA. Trouble is the ape doesn't know any tricks so Mike attempts to teach a few in a hurry.
Buttons is responsible for a flashlight that goes missing at the drive-in theater. The neighborhood is kept in an uproar while the search is on for the missing item.
Mike plans an special anniversary dinner for Liz and asks Grandma to babysit. She's fine with the kids but doesn't manage as well with Buttons which means Mike must interrupt his evening to deal with the fallout.
When Mike's friend is rejected for membership at the country club, he thinks it could be racist in nature. Mike decides to prove a point with his chimp's help to root out bigotry.
A paint manufacturer offers the Reynolds family a new look for their home. But the painters don't realize how difficult the job will be with Buttons the chimp around to assist.
The Reynolds family take Buttons the chimp along on a highly anticipated ski trip. By accident they end up in a deserted village where a series of odd events have them spooked.
The Reynolds family learn that Buttons was once part of the US space program ad the government retains ownership. Mike is determined to fight to keep their beloved chimpanzee.
Mike criticizes son Scott's basketball coach and when the man quits Mike has the job. But as a game approaches the team is a player short and the solution is to have Bubbles the chimp suit up.
Liz suddenly has a severe allergic and the cause seems to be their resident chimp. The entire family is distraught when it looks like they will have to part ways with Bubbles unless a solution can be found.