Jack Hardass is a social worker sent to inspect the Smith home after word of Steve's chaotic homelife is overheard by an undercover social worker in "Between A Ring And A Hardass".
After obtaining a file on him, Stan and the family try to pander to him, and despite things going horribly, Jack starts to give his approval due to Steve's happy attitude. But when their misfortunes come to a climax, Jack changes his mind and Steve comes along willingly, annoyed that the family couldn't get their act together for one single night. However, it turns out the first Jack was a fake, with the hobbit cast of The Lord of the Rings kidnapping Steve to demand Stan's prop of the One Ring as ransom. Using stand-ins they hired for themselves to keep the real Jack busy, they set out in search of Steve, With a plan to turn their family chaos to their advantage, they incapacitate the hobbits. Grabbing Steve, they rush back home where Jack is getting impatient to meet with the former. They manage to dump Steve into his room where he passes off the burlap sack he's in as his homework and Jack gives his approval to Steve's precious family.