Herman is hit by a taxi in an accident and as he lies in a coma his staff friends each remember Herman as they first met him...with each brain character filling in for the emotion the friend first saw Herman acting out.
Herman becomes involved with Sandra Clayton, who is running for the Senate, but when the tabloids get hold of their relationship Sandra has second thoughts.
Herman's new girlfriend Lauren is everything he could want, personality-wise, but as always Herman isn't happy as he obsesses over playmate Miss February.
After getting refused for an important writing job, Herman goes up to the roof and ends up trapped with a suicidal nutjob, Bob, when a fire breaks out.
When Heddy's old rival Heather arrives in town, Heddy asks Herman to pose as her husband to impress the woman. Meanwhile, Mr. Bracken works on his musical, "Deuteronomy."
Herman gets to work with Maureen McCormick as she writes a book of Brady Bunch memoirs, getting to fulfill his long-time crush on the actress. Unfortunately, he and Jay almost come to blows when a jealous Jay confesses to a similar crush.
While taking a vacation Herman becomes involved with Aurora, a beautiful model. Nothing ever works out for him as usual, though, when Jay and Louise show up with their own rocky relationship and both looking to friend Herman for help and support.
Herman's sister Suzie comes back to town and manages to aggravate both Herman (she plans to become a writer) and Louise (since she previously dated Jay). Appropriately, the "brain" characters get a new and annoying addition when Jealousy joins their group.
When Jay decides to turn a new leaf and give up his old womanizing ways, Herman tries to get Louise to go on a date with him, but Jay just can't help himself and reverts to type.
Herman's neighbor in the upstairs apartment drops dead - after the two of them had a shouting match. Compounding Herman's problems, Heddy decides to take the apartment after her current boyfriend kicks her out of the apartment he's paying for.
In his eternal quest for the perfect girlfriend, Herman dates Heather, but it turns out she's a tad too hairy for his tastes. Meanwhile, Jay and Louise begin to wonder if they're attracted to each other.
Herman wants to break up with his new girlfriend Ellen, who convinces him to meet her father - things take a turn for the worse when he discovers her father is none other then his boss at Waterton, Mr. Crawford.
Herman encourages Bracken's niece Rene to become a Fly Girl (i.e., a dancer on "In Living Color") - Mr. Bracken isn't particularly happy about Rene's career choice or Herman's involvement.
When Herman starts dating new girlfriend Carin, he initially runs up against tough resistance from her son Brad. Ironically, Herman manages to win Brad over and the two become best buddies...much to Carin's dismay.
Herman gets invited to an after concert party in the hotel sweet of rock star Lita Ford, but winds up cheating on the girl he is dating with the rock star.
It's time for a near-end-of-scene flashback episode to save money, as Herman recalls his adventures in New York while deciding whether to stay where he is or go back to his hometown in Ohio to accept a new job.
Herman gets a visit from another family member when his his newly retired father visits looking for some company and the chance to rebond with his sun. but Herman doesn't have the time to spend with him.
Jay gets a visit from his ex-fiance, who stole his heart, and left him standing at the altar seven years earlier. After talking and spending some time with her, Jay's old feelings for her are rekindled, but the question is: will she break his heart again? When Herman wonders exactly that, he and Jay's friendship is in danger.moreless
To save Crawford's butt, the gang has to pull an all-nighter to get him out of a jam. Herman and Heddy, Bracken and Crawford, and Louise and Jay end up pairing up and each learn something new about the other on an intimate personal level as they struggle to meet the deadline.moreless
Herman messes things up yet again and sets Louise up with John, who turns out to be a married man...but Louise doesn't figure it out until she is deeply in love with him.
The office workers go on a trip to the Bahamas - Herman has to deal with Elizabeth, who happens to be on board, while Louise gets to indulge her long-time infatuation for Davy Jones of the Monkees.
Herman and Elizabeth decide to move in together, which prompts no end of arguments over shared space, priorities, etc. Finally they decide to break up.
Elizabeth becomes suspicious when she finds out Herman is working undercover as a dating show contestant, believing he might be tempted by other women.
When Herman's one-time girlfriend (and Bracken's daughter) Susan returns to town and wants to start up their relationship again, Herman has to choose between her and his new girlfriend Elizabeth.
Waterton's sudden death creates a scramble for power, and to save everyone's job, Herman decides to join forces with Crawford - who then involves Herman in a secret campaing to eliminate the competition for control of the company.
No good deed goes unpunished for Herman once more when he hires Louise's friend as an office intern, and she turns around and sues him for sexual harassment.
Herman tries to halt Heddy's wedding because he realizes that she does not love her fiance, and because he realizes that he still has feelings for her himself, and if he doesn't act right away, he may never have another opportunity again.
Another one of the Brooks brood come visiting when Herman's little sister Suzie arrives in New York. Already over-protective of Suzie, Herman's anxieties get even worse when she and Jay sleep together.
When Mr. Bracken and his wife break up, Herman sympathetically invites him to stay at his apartment - hilarity ensues as the two become the "Odd Couple" of sorts, and Herman and Louise set out to reunite Bracken and his wife.
Herman and the others decide to help Mr. Bracken quit smoking by all resolving to give up one bad habit of their own in a show of team support. Unfortunately, the result is that everyone is going crazy, just in time for a corporate consultant's review of team performance and downsizing.moreless
Victoria, a powerful female executive at Waterton, wants Herman to become her assistant editor. It soon transpires that Victoria wants Herman for more then that, however.
Herman fills out an evaluation form for Mr Bracken which included some negative remarks. After realizing that his evaluation might have serious consequences on Bracken's career, Herman goes about trying to set things right.
Bracken calls Herman into his office to inform him that he is having a heart attack, and leaves Herman in charge of the office in his absence. Oddly enough Jason Bernard eventually succumbed to a real-life heart attack four years later in 1996. Meanwhile, Herman's brother comes to town and introduces him to his new fiance, who makes a secret pass at Herman.moreless
Herman meets famous Pulitzer-winning writer, Russell Boswell, who Herman admires because if his no-holds-barred pursuit of the corrupt. But when Herman becomes involved in Boswell's own not-so-ethical investigation of a Senator, he has second thoughts.
Herman gets a new leaf on life after almost falling to his death, and sets out to establish a new world record for working continuously until he drops.
While working late to finish a project, Herman eavesdrops on Heddy and her date. After finding out he is married, Heddy turns to Herman for solace. They eventually wind up sleeping together in Bracken's office, but don't know how to handle the affair the next morning.
Herman's relationship with his brother Stan has never been too good, and when Stan and his fiancee Jaclyn visit, things get even worse when Jaclyn starts hitting on Herman.
When Louise's newest relationship goes sour, Herman ends up comforting her and Louise gets the wrong idea - Herman has to figure out a way to let her down gently.
Herman becomes enmeshed in a web of lies of his own making when Meredith, a former classmate turned woman reporter, shows up to do a "Where are they now?" story on Herman's less-than-stellar life.