Favorite sitcom episodes
Some episodes stand out above others. These are some I feel are especially strong and memorable.
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- DirectorSwinton O. Scott IIIStarsBilly WestKatey SagalJohn DiMaggioFry discovers the intact fossilized remains of his pet dog from his old life. The Professor reveals he can clone the animal.For the first 3/4 of the episode, it's somewhat standard fare, but the last part is heart-wrenching. I can't even watch it anymore. I have a much harder time with things when they involve animals. Up there with Grave of the Fireflies with the saddest things I've ever watched.
- DirectorBob SweeneyStarsAndy GriffithRon HowardDon KnottsIt's a red-letter day in Mayberry when Barney decides to join the motoring world, but things go sour when his cream-puff turns out to be a lemon.Incredibly written and performed from start to finish. Confirmation that Don Knotts was one of the funniest men who ever lived. I may add more episodes to the list, but I thought of this one first.
- DirectorNorman TokarStarsBarbara BillingsleyHugh BeaumontTony DowA package delivered to the Cleaver house from a high-end sports store seems to confirm Ward's suspicions that Wally and Beaver skipped school to buy expensive baseball mitts with piggy bank money they promised to deposit into their school bank account.Love this tale of mistaken intentions. Not the funniest episode of the series, but one of the biggest when it comes to heart. (see also "Beaver's Short Pants")
- DirectorBob LaHendroJohn RichStarsCarroll O'ConnorJean StapletonRob ReinerEdith answers a magazine personal ad from a couple seeking new friends ... unaware that they engage in a swinging lifestyle.A great episode showcasing Edith's innocence and Archie's resoluteness. Classic scene with Weezy, too!
- DirectorGary ShimokawaStarsMax WrightAnne SchedeenAndrea ElsonA stray dog makes ALF jealous, so he gives her to the first (and obviously wrong) person who responds to a "found dog" poster.Overall, not the best episode of the series, but Anne Ramsey absolutely STEALS this one! Hilarious performance. "HAVE A NICE DAY!"
- DirectorJudy PioliStarsBronson PinchotMark Linn-BakerMelanie WilsonBalki and Mary Anne return from their 5 month honeymoon in Mypos to a very pregnant, very uncomfortable Jennifer. Balki has brought home a special root from Mypos that he says will cure her pregnancy pains but she refuses to try it. Desperate to ease Jennifer's pain, Larry decides to try the root to prove its innocence. But the root acts like a drug and the cousins get out of control.A friend of mine would mention this one often, and I couldn't remember it! When I finally saw it again, I knew why he loved it. That midolcrampabloatolous root made already manic performances, especially by Mark Linn-Baker, even more manic.
- DirectorPaul FeigStarsSteve CarellRainn WilsonJohn KrasinskiMichael invites Jim and Pam and Andy and Angela to a couples-only dinner party, where they witness Michael and Jan's extremely dysfunctional home life. Dwight finds a way to invite himself, too.So many episodes I could choose from, and honestly, "Diversity Day" came to mind first, but man, this may be THE most uncomfortable and delightfully insane episode of the series.
"Snip, snap, snip, snap, snip, snap!" *shudder* - DirectorRicky GervaisStephen MerchantStarsRicky GervaisMartin FreemanMackenzie CrookTo fend off the increasing staff disillusionment a Training Day has been scheduled. Dawn's engagement to Lee is on the rocks and Tim begins to think that he may at last have a chance with her.I think it was down to "Training" or "Motivation" for me, but man, they're both tops.
- DirectorArmando IannucciTristram ShapeeroStarsSteve CooganAmelia BullmoreSimon GreenallMichael's front door has been stolen so he is staying over at Alan's. Alan's latest gig is hosting an annual awards ceremony for a coal-effect gas fireplace company and is being visited by a representative of South African extraction. After his pranking his country club backfires, Alan is forced to take the rep to his house still under construction, giving Lynn and Michael one hour to set up a conference room from whatever they can find.Just when you think the wretching is done, it isn't.
- 1978–198225mTV-PG8.2 (237)TV EpisodeDirectorAsaad KeladaStarsGary SandyGordon JumpLoni AndersonJohnny causes considerable consternation at the station when he accidentally announces a contest prize of $5000 instead of $50.I think the "Filthy Pictures" two-parter may be my favorite overall, but I seem to have remembered this one more than most long after I'd forgotten others.
- 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.Hard not to pick this one, really. The scene at the DMV is legendary!
- DirectorJim ReardonStarsDan CastellanetaJulie KavnerNancy CartwrightAfter wishing for Flanders to lose his business, Homer discovers that his neighbor is actually about to go bankrupt and decides to help him out.SO many great episodes and moments to choose from, but this came to mind first, so I'm going with it. The part with the Heimlich maneuvre alone is worth it.
- DirectorPhil LordChristopher MillerStarsWill ForteKristen SchaalAlexandra DaddarioAfter a deadly virus wipes out humanity, Phil Miller searches the country for more survivors.Though I still love the show now, it really started with a bang and has lost a bit of the spark that made it special in the beginning.
- DirectorDean HollandStarsAmy PoehlerRashida JonesAziz AnsariRon gets married, Leslie goes to London to receive an award, Ben and Andy try to get a grant from a rich Englishman, and Tom discovers the identity of his new business rival.Like others in the list, I thought of this episode first and have no problem going with it. Chris Pratt and Peter Serafinowicz were awesome together.
- DirectorMatt LipseyStarsPhilip GlenisterConnor GoodliffKaren TaylorGunn is approached by old flame Trish, mother of pupil Ryan, who reminds him of a one night stand they had thirteen years ago. As a result Gunn wrongly believes that he is Ryan's father and, although the boy is useless at everything, praises him to the skies. After he has confided in Sarah the whole school knows his 'secret' so he goes public on the parents' evening. Trish has to disabuse him and bring him down to Earth with a bump."Ryan! Give us an oosh!"
"Oosh!"
"Good oosh!" - DirectorRicky GervaisStephen MerchantStarsRicky GervaisAshley JensenStephen MerchantAndy is unhappy with the fame he has achieved. When a new agent approaches him, Andy fires Darren and quits 'When The Whistle Blows'. Meanwhile, Maggie has hit rock bottom, having given up working as an extra and living in a tiny, dismal flat. Andy however is too self obsessed to notice Maggie's plight.Wrapped up so well.
- DirectorRichard AyoadeStarsRichard AyoadeMatt BerryMatthew HolnessSomeone, something, or some things have attacked the chef. So why are objects flying about of their own accord, assaulting innocent civilians and disrupting hospital procedure? Is it telekinesis, PMT, or a deadly mixture of the two? It's a deadly mixture of the two.Hard to pick one, as they're all pretty much equally good.
- DirectorRicky GervaisStephen MerchantStarsWarwick DavisRicky GervaisStephen MerchantAfter accidentally dumping his new washing machine, Warwick throws a flat-warming party. He invites Amy, whom he is now dating, and his ex-wife Sue, hoping to dazzle her boyfriend (and solicitor) Ian with his celebrity guests. Unfortunately, none of the A-listers he rings can make it, so he pays an agency to hire presenter Cat Deeley, but gets rather too carried away in his efforts to impress by telling everybody that Cat is his girlfriend. Consequently, neither Amy nor Cat is very pleased.Because of the washing machine. ;)
- DirectorIan MacNaughtonStarsGraham ChapmanJohn CleeseEric IdleMr Pither; Clodagh Rogers; Trotsky; Smolensk; Bingo-crazed Chinese (British Ambassador); 'Jack in a Box'.Either this or "Déjà Vu", I'd say. They come to mind first.
- DirectorJohn Howard DaviesStarsRowan AtkinsonDave O'HigginsPaul McDowellMr. Bean goes to a department store and buys various items. Afterwards, he goes to a fancy restaurant where he tries to dispose his awful-tasting meal. Finally, Bean goes to a Royal greeting and gets into mischief.Hard to pick a fave, but this has the steak tartare skit, so why not?
- DirectorEd ByeStarsChris BarrieCraig CharlesDanny John-JulesRed Dwarf's back-up computer Queeg 500 takes command of Red Dwarf when Holly allows a meteorite to damage the ship and Rimmer to malfunction. The crew encourages Holly to challenge Queeg to a game of chess, where the loser gets erased from the system.Super hard to pick one! Was tempted to pick "Backwards" just because of the final scene with Cat.
- DirectorJim FranklinStarsMichael PalinBarbara NewJohn BarrettEric Olthwaite is so boring that his family all leave home to escape him. Then one day he is accidentally caught up in a bank robbery and discovers that the robber shares his interests in shovels, black pudding and rainfall so they team up to make daring raids to steal rainfall records. As a result Eric becomes famous and is considered interesting again, so much so that he is made the mayor of Denley Moor.I need to watch all of them again, but I know I'll never like any of the other episodes as much as this!
- DirectorGraham LinehanStarsChris O'DowdRichard AyoadeKatherine ParkinsonMoss and Roy blow off work and miss a party at work they really, really needed to attend, especially since instead they wander into a restricted zone where police suspect an abandoned package is a bomb."We're bunking off!" Another hard choice.
- DirectorBob SpiersStarsAdrian EdmondsonRik MayallSteven O'DonnellOn Halloween, after losing the "Spot the Balls" competition and being visited by trick-or-treaters, Richie and Eddie decide to have a party, but first they go trick-or-treating themselves, attempting to get money for beer for the party. Richie dresses up as a devil and dresses Eddie up as a banana; Eddie arms himself with an electric cattle prod. When Richie and Eddie invite Spudgun and Hedgehog back to the flat, Richie decides to raise the Devil so he can have sex with girls in exchange for his soul, but the Devil arrives in the form of Dave Hedgehog's daughter Doreen."Trick or ruddy treat!" But honestly, the first one I thought of was "Accident", where Richie breaks his leg.
- DirectorGlenn JordanStarsMarsha MasonBob GuntonPenny FullerAn poorly-educated house-wife fights companies polluting her hometown's water-table in up-state New York during the 1970's.