100 Greatest TV episodes of all time!
as chosen by the staff of TV Guide
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- DirectorJohn RichStarsCarroll O'ConnorJean StapletonRob ReinerThe classic tale about the time Sammy Davis Jr. stopped by to visit the Bunkers. It begins with a briefcase he left in Archie's cab ... and ends with the kiss of infamy.
- 1970–197730mTV-PG9.3 (526)TV EpisodeDirectorJoan DarlingStarsMary Tyler MooreEdward AsnerGavin MacLeodMary thinks that the death of Chuckles the Clown is nothing to laugh about--until she attends the funeral.
- DirectorMarc DanielsStarsLucille BallDesi ArnazVivian VanceLucy has angled her way onto Ricky's special as the show's pitch girl. She advertises a medicine called "Vitameatavegamin." Believing it contains vitamins, minerals, meat, and vegetables, Lucy does not know is that it also contains twenty-three percent of alcohol.
- DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsElaine and Keith are hitting it off until he pulls out a cigarette; Keith wants Jerry to help him move, leading Jerry along with Elaine to breakup with Keith.
- DirectorAlex MarchStarsTony RandallJack KlugmanAl MolinaroOscar and Felix appear together on Password (1961) and Felix is sure that they can win.
- DirectorFrank SatensteinStarsJackie GleasonArt CarneyAudrey MeadowsRalph's out to prove himself to Alice, his neighborhood, and the world when he becomes a contestant on a hit television game show.
- DirectorJames BurrowsStarsTed DansonShelley LongRhea PerlmanThanksgiving is approaching and no one has anything to do except Diane, who is among a select few graduate students one of her professors has asked to spend Thanksgiving with his family, celebrating in the pilgrim's tradition. Diane suggests that the rest of the gang spend Thanksgiving together in Carla's new home. Carla agrees to a potluck dinner, with Norm in charge of the humongous turkey. Woody, Cliff and Frasier are solo for the day, but Sam is to bring his date Wendy and Norm is to bring his never seen wife Vera. They all vow to make this Thanksgiving the best ever. But some invited guests end up being no shows, and one uninvited guest makes an appearance. The guest list ends up being the smallest of the problems that ultimately befall this Thanksgiving. Regardless, this Thanksgiving does end up being a memorable one for all involved and in some ways the best ever.
- DirectorJerry ParisStarsDick Van DykeRose MarieMorey AmsterdamLaura accidentally spills the beans on a nationally televised talk show that Alan Brady is bald.
- 1972–197830m8.8 (220)TV EpisodeDirectorJames BurrowsStarsBob NewhartSuzanne PleshettePeter BonerzWith Emily out of town, Bob spends Thanksgiving with Jerry and Mr Carlin watching a football game. They proceed to get drunk and try to order Moo Goo Gai Pan from a Chinese restaurant for dinner.
- DirectorRichard L. BareStarsLloyd BochnerSusan CummingsRichard KielAn alien race comes to Earth, promising peace and sharing technology. A linguist and his team set out to translate the aliens' language, using a book whose title they deduce is "To Serve Man."
- DirectorJohn Howard DaviesStarsJohn CleesePrunella ScalesAndrew SachsA moose head to be hung, a fire drill to be conducted, and German guests are all a bit much for Basil to handle while Sybil's in hospital.
- DirectorKim MannersStarsKen WahlJonathan BanksJim ByrnesAfter rejecting an offer to finance a coup d'etat in the Caribbean, Mel Profitt becomes obsessed with a supposed voodoo death curse, and Vinnie, horrified, can only watch as Mel's personality begins to disintegrate.
- 1961–196630mTV-G9.2 (577)TV EpisodeDirectorJerry ParisStarsDick Van DykeRose MarieMorey AmsterdamRob enjoys a scary televised sci-fi movie while Laura cowers in fear from it, but the next day details of that movie, where Earthlings are being taken over, appear to be coming true.
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsPeter FalkJack CassidyRosemary ForsythWhen one member of a mystery writing team wants to break from his less talented partner, he becomes the victim in a real-life murder mystery.
- DirectorWesley ArcherMilton GrayStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightBart is sent to France on a student exchange program, where he's treated like a slave; an Albanian student with suspicious motives takes Bart's place in the family.
- DirectorJames V. KernStarsLucille BallDesi ArnazVivian VanceIn Rome, a film producer asks Lucy if she'd be interested in auditioning for his new film entitled "Bitter Grapes." Thinking that the film has something to do with the production of wine, she goes to the only non-automated winery left in the area.
- DirectorJames BurrowsStarsJudd HirschJeff ConawayDanny DeVitoLatka creates a suave but obnoxious alter ego, Vic Ferrari, to help him score with the ladies. However, nobody likes his new persona, and Alex tries to convince him to bring the old Latka back.
- DirectorLarry GelbartStarsAlan AldaWayne RogersMcLean StevensonHenry finds out he's been discharged from the army and everyone at the 4077th prepares to say goodbye to him as he heads home.
- DirectorScott WinantStarsTimothy BusfieldPolly DraperMel HarrisMichael fails as a mediator for a company in their attempt to buy out Miles, and he fires Elliot as part of a new plan to take over the agency.
- DirectorDon MedfordStarsDavid JanssenRichard AndersonJ.D. CannonLt. Gerard agrees to work with Kimble for 24 hours to prove his innocence, because someone who may have been there when his wife was killed, posted bail for the one-armed man.
- DirectorRichard CrennaStarsAndy GriffithRon HowardDon KnottsAfter Opie accidentally kills a mother bird with his new slingshot, he takes on the job of raising her babies himself. He grows very attached to them, but then has to set them free when they get big.
- DirectorFrank SatensteinStarsJackie GleasonArt CarneyAudrey MeadowsToo cheap to purchase a television set, Ralph and Norton pools their cash to purchase the set. It gets ugly when Ralph and Norton's friendship gets jeopardized when they fight over which television show to watch.
- DirectorJay SandrichStarsMary Tyler MooreEdward AsnerValerie HarperPhyllis struggles to accept the idea that her husband, Lars, might be having an affair with the saccharine Sue Ann Nivens, WJM's Happy Homemaker.
- DirectorVincent McEveetyStarsJames ArnessMilburn StoneAmanda BlakeEtta Stone is a very bitter, older, woman who has Kitty and Matt captured, and thrown into a homemade jail, and now she plans on hanging Matt for the execution of her husband 6 years before.
- DirectorRalph NelsonStarsJack PalanceKeenan WynnKim HunterAn over-the-hill heavyweight boxing champion who suffers from the ravages of years of head trauma is exploited by his manager, despite the efforts of a compassionate young woman who tries to help him recover his self-respect.
- DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsThe four friends go shopping at the mall and get lost for hours in the parking garage when they forget where they parked their car.
- DirectorOscar RudolphStarsRobert ReedFlorence HendersonAnn B. DavisMarcia says she can get Davy Jones to sing at her school's junior prom because of a letter Jones sent her as president of the local fan club. The problem is that she can't get to him to ask, and the school has already made the announcement.
- DirectorNorman LloydStarsAlfred HitchcockSteve McQueenPeter LorreIn a Las Vegas casino, an unpleasant little man hopes to use a young man's wish to impress the young woman he has just met to pressure the young fellow into accepting a macabre bet.
- DirectorNorman TokarStarsBarbara BillingsleyHugh BeaumontTony DowWally and Beaver secretly order a Florida alligator from a comic book ad, planning to keep the creature in their bathtub. But when a tiny, baby alligator shows up in a shoebox instead of the full grown, 8-footer shown in the ad, the boys enlist the help of crusty alligator expert, Captain Jack, to raise their new pet.
- DirectorDavid LeeStarsKelsey GrammerJane LeevesDavid Hyde PierceFrasier's plan to "fix up" Daphne with his new boss goes awry when Frasier learns his secret.
- DirectorJames BurrowsStarsTed DansonKirstie AlleyRhea PerlmanThings at Cheers have changed. Sam has sold the bar to a large corporation and with the proceeds of the sale, bought a boat and is sailing around the world. As employees, Woody and Carla are forced to wear corporate uniforms. The new manager, Rebecca Howe, is a beautiful but tough as nails boss who has worked her way to this position from a business school background. Norm and Cliff no longer frequent the bar, as don't many of the old regulars, except Frasier. Norm gave the "new" Cheers a shot, but as a new crowd started populating the bar, the old refrain, "Norm!" as he enters, has left their vernacular. Diane's book deal didn't work out, and is in Hollywood writing for television. And Carla and Eddie have broken up. But the one constant: Carla is again pregnant, this time with Eddie's child. Into this new world, Sam throws everybody for a loop and returns to Cheers; apparently, he sank his boat when he hit a reef in the Caribbean. He came back to the bar, not in an effort to buy it since he has no money, but rather to find a job as a bartender. However there aren't any positions available. The other bartender, Wayne, is a dour man who knows how to make every drink known to man. Sam decides that a good approach to getting a job at Cheers is to do as he's always done and that is to go through the beautiful woman, Rebecca, especially as he overhears some inside information from Rebecca's boss, Evan Drake. Rebecca however takes an instant dislike to him, but offers him a job as a relief bartender out of pity. When Sam learns the consequences of these actions, Carla hatches a plan to get what she, Woody and Sam want, which has its own unintended consequence.
- DirectorR. Robert RosenbaumStarsElizabeth MontgomeryDick YorkAgnes MooreheadEndora divides Darrin into his serious work half and his fun-loving half so Samantha can go on a planned vacation.
- DirectorMichael ZinbergStarsBob NewhartSuzanne PleshettePeter BonerzHoward had a problem on a flight which makes him afraid to fly. Bob tries to help Mr. Herd to overcome his fears and try new exciting things. However, Bob has his own frightening experience to deal with also.
- DirectorJesse HibbsStarsRaymond BurrBarbara HaleWilliam HopperIn a very rare occurrence, Perry Mason loses a case when Janice Barton is convicted of murdering her aunt and is subsequently sentenced to death. After the verdict, Perry still investigates to try to find the real killer among the heirs.
- DirectorGeorge CahanIda LupinoStarsBob DenverAlan Hale Jr.Jim BackusA Hollywood producer lands on the island and is unimpressed with Ginger's acting abilities, so the castaways put on their own production of "Hamlet" to get the producer's attention.
- DirectorAl De CaprioStarsPhil SilversHarvey LembeckPaul FordCompany B constantly loses all bets against rival Company A, but upon the arrival of Ed 'The Stomach' Honnegan, they sense their chance to win an Eating Contest. The only problem they encounter is that The Stomach has lost his appetite.
- DirectorPatrick McGoohanStarsAlexis KannerAngelo MuscatLeo McKernAfter witnessing the trials of Number Two and Number Forty-Eight and meeting the President of the Assembly, Number Six escapes during the chaos that follows.
- 1950–19588.9 (28)TV EpisodeDirectorFrederick De CordovaStarsGeorge BurnsGracie AllenHarry von ZellColumbia is doing the Burns and Allen story and everybody wants to get into the act.
- DirectorMel FerberStarsTony RandallJack KlugmanJoan HotchkisFelix and Oscar's girlfriend are concerned about Oscar's health. They force him to go to a fat farm, and Felix goes with him.
- 1965–197130mTV-G8.2 (114)TV EpisodeDirectorRichard L. BareStarsEddie AlbertEva GaborPat ButtramArnold's performance as a British police dog in the Hooterville theater production of "Who"--the marquee wasn't big enough for "Who Killed Jock Robin?"--turns him into an overnight star. Lisa is so impressed, she arranges for an old friend to give him a Hollywood screen test. After the locals stage a telethon to raise money for the trip, the Douglases are soon escorting the hammy actor West for his big showbiz break.
- DirectorAl De CaprioStarsJoe E. RossFred GwynnePaul ReedThe smartest rookie cop is assigned to ride w/chatty Toody & reticent Muldoon. Can Car 54 survive, now that Muldoon has stimulating conversation?
- 1962–197130mTV-G8.0 (106)TV EpisodeDirectorJoseph DepewStarsBuddy EbsenIrene RyanDonna DouglasThe Clampetts are still at the studio hoping their "city" prospers. Mr. Drysdale is still trying to tear the studio down for his building project. A famous Hollywood columnist enlists Jed's help to save the studio.
- DirectorJames BurrowsStarsJudd HirschJeff ConawayDanny DeVitoThe guys run into Reverend Jim and try to get him a job, but first they have to convince Louie to hire him and help him pass the exam.
- 1959–196326mTV-Y78.0 (98)TV EpisodeDirectorRod AmateauStarsDwayne HickmanFrank FaylenFlorida FriebusDobie launches a runway offensive versus wealthy, better-dressed hunk Milton Armitage, his competitor for luscious teen gold-digger Thalia Menninger. When Dobie's grocer father Herbert T. Gillis refuses to finance a clothing binge, Dobie talks a local haberdasher into letting Dobie secretly model the shoppe's best outfits, to promote the store's business, plus counter Maynard & The Beat Generation's anti-fashion values, which challenge 50's Mad Men mores.
- DirectorDavid SilvermanStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightWhen Krusty's show is canceled after losing viewers to a ventriloquist and his dummy, Bart and Lisa organize a celebrity-filled comeback special for their favorite clown.
- DirectorJames KomackStarsDon AdamsBarbara FeldonEdward PlattWhen teenagers are turning into zombies, Max and 99 go after their idol the Groovy Guru.
- DirectorWilliam AsherStarsPatty DukeWilliam SchallertJean ByronPatty and Cathy reminisce about the time when Cathy came to live with the Lane family.
- DirectorArthur LubinStarsAlan YoungConnie HinesLarry KeatingThrough Wilbur, Mister Ed offers useful batting tips to Los Angeles Dodgers team manager, Leo Durocher.
- DirectorRobert AltmanStarsVic MorrowRick JasonPierre JalbertIn enemy territory, his hands badly burned, Saunders weaves a treacherous path back to his own lines.
- 1965–196850mNot Rated4.9 (261)TV EpisodeDirectorDon RichardsonStarsGuy WilliamsJune LockhartMark GoddardSmith lands the pod on a planet where plants are the highest form of intelligence. The Robinsons land only to be captured by Tybo, a giant carrot. He plans to turn them into trees while Dr. Smith becomes a stalk of celery.
- DirectorNoam PitlikStarsHal LindenAbe VigodaMax GailEveryone on the squad except Barney is stoned by hashish-laced brownies made by Wojo's new girlfriend. An actor and a critic duel with swords.
- DirectorPaul Junger WittStarsShirley JonesDavid CassidySusan DeyThe Partridges and Ruben are in Detroit for a performance. Due to a booking mix-up, they arrive at the place where the Temptations are expected. The audiences are totally different. The Partridges agree to perform and hope for the best.
- DirectorLarry GelbartStarsAlan AldaMike FarrellHarry MorganWar Correspondent Clete Roberts interviews the members of the 4077.
- DirectorLeslie H. MartinsonStarsJames GarnerJack KellyRegis ToomeyBret gets ripped off by a small-town banker, and summons his friend and allies to con the man while he sits out the con, whittling on a hotel porch.
- DirectorLewis MilestoneStarsRichard BooneKam TongPernell RobertsPaladin learns all too well how arduous easy living can be without Hey Boy's able help and, to regain his friend, must help him in a fight of honor and retribution.
- DirectorJack WebbStarsJack WebbHarry MorganMichael BurnsFriday and Gannon encounter Benjy "Blue Boy" Carver, an LSD user. Because of the then-lack of any laws against the use of LSD, they are unable to make a case against him, and Carver's parents are of no help. Finally, legislation is passed against LSD use and sale, but by then it may be too late for "Blue Boy".
- DirectorJames SheldonStarsAdam WestBurt WardAlan NapierCatwoman initiates a series of thefts that cause Commissioner Gordon to summon Batman and Robin. But the importance of the crimes go beyond the taking of the objects involved. The Dynamic Duo eventually find Catwoman's lair. But Robin is whisked away while Batman is given a choice between two doors. If he picks the right door, he'll find Catwoman. If he picks the wrong one, he'll face certain doom. The hero makes the wrong selection and is about to be attacked by a tiger.
- DirectorJerry ParisStarsRon HowardHenry WinklerMarion RossRichie is continually harassed by local hoodlums Frankie and Rocko. When they humiliate him in front of his girlfriend at Arnold's, he turns to Fonzie for advice in turning the tables on his foes and he ends up enrolling in a jujitsu class.
- DirectorJim JohnstonStarsDon JohnsonPhilip Michael ThomasSaundra SantiagoCrockett and Tubbs stake out a drug dealer, an investigation that is being helped along by an ex-cop that seems to know a bit too much about the case.
- DirectorAlex MarchStarsPaul BurkeHorace McMahonHarry BellaverA middle-aged man is fired from his job and vows to rob his former employer for revenge. After his son becomes involved, they both become part of a muddled case involving the theft of diamonds and a dead security guard. Who actually committed the robbery and how the security guard actually died is unknown.
- DirectorGene NelsonStarsMichael ColeClarence Williams IIIPeggy LiptonPete's fraternity brother is framed for murder.
- 1974–198350mTV-PG8.5 (408)TV EpisodeDirectorWilliam F. ClaxtonStarsMichael LandonKaren GrassleMelissa GilbertLong hours studying by candlelight for the state teacher's exam results in tired, blurry eyes for Mary Ingalls, prompting a routine visit to the eye doctor; but when Charles is told that Mary's worsening sight is just the beginning of a much more serious problem, the concerned father can't bring himself to tell his beloved daughter that she will, most certainly, soon be completely blind.
- DirectorLeonard J. HornStarsMichael TolanOlive DeeringRobert F. SimonAliens from the planet Zanti decide to make Earth a penal colony for their criminals.
- DirectorJoseph PevneyStarsWilliam ShatnerLeonard NimoyJoan CollinsWhen a temporarily insane Dr. McCoy accidentally changes history and destroys his time, Kirk and Spock follow him to prevent the disaster, but the price to do so is high.
- DirectorWalter GraumanStarsRobert StackElizabeth MontgomeryHarold J. StoneRusty Heller is a nightclub performer who has her eyes set on a better life for herself which, in her case, means lots more money. She sets her eyes on mobster Charles 'Pop' Felcher who has his own ambitions: with the recent arrest of Al Capone on tax evasion charges, he sees himself taking over as the top mobster in Chicago. When Felcher shows little interest in her, she settles for his lawyer, Archie Grayson. Felcher eventually comes around but Rusty starts to play a dangerous game when she decides to make money off Felcher and the Capone mob by selling both of them the same information.