The Big Bang Theory handled Debbie Wolowitz’s death very well, but the one where Penny breaks up with Leonard in the bowling alley is just heart breaking. Thank you, Wil Wheaton.
(Wheaton was right in telling her the story and I don’t believe for a second that the bowling match had anything to do with it, just concern for his friend.)
I agree with you and nightshadea, but speaking of Wojo: as a “Barney Miller” fan I also found the anomalous two-parter “Wojo’s Girl” depressing as hell. It was a test for a Max Gail/Wojo spinoff, I believe, so most of the episode took place in Wojo’s apartment; the premise, or conflict, involved Wojo impulsively inviting his current ex-prostitute girlfriend to move in, and Wojo’s apparently unexpected difficulties adjusting to the new situation.
Wojo’s predicament arose from a interpersonally lethal combination of 1) remaining attached to his comfortable single-guy habits, and 2) having conflicting feelings about the girlfriend-- Wojo is compulsively but ambivalently attracted to “fallen women”, and always wants to rescue them.
The first half is strikingly dark, grim, and relentlessly unfunny: it soon becomes clear that Wojo is unwilling, unready, and unable to welcome or accommodate his nominal girlfriend’s presence, and he behaves like a passive-aggressive, abusive jerk to her. I found myself cringing at Wojo, and feeling increasing sympathy for the poor would-be girlfriend.
I can’t even remember the second part, although I dimly recall that they contrived some resolution that wasn’t as aggressively downbeat as the setup. It sticks in my mind because the first part was simply a psychodrama without any substantial comic relief-- a tragic “sit” with no “com”.
I give them credit for experimenting, I guess, but I still wonder how the obviously talented BM production team greenlighted this script; I would think that even if the script seemed OK, once they got to a table read or rehearsal they would realize that it was too bleak to work. Wojo’s character could be exasperating and annoying at times, but in this one he was depressingly hateful.
Not really a sitcom but Buffy the Vampire Slayer was often a very funny show. “The Body” episode was very depressing and very well done, probably one of the best episodes of the show.
I’m binge-watching Scrubs (up to season 8) and I love how quirky it is. For me, the episode that always gets me is My Screw-Up. It’s the episode where Ben dies and the audience doesn’t find out until the end because Cox is in a state of denial.
If you want to talk about depressing series, try Getting On, an HBO series that was adapted from a UK series of the same name. It was set in a skilled nursing facility in California and focused mostly on the clinical staff.
I love that episode.
“Do you know where you are?”
God, that was brutal.
News Radio’s death of Bill McNeil and Eight Simple Rules’s death of Paul Hennessy come to mind.
First thing I thought of. I wasn’t a regular viewer so even though I kinda sorta knew the mom was ill, I hadn’t really followed it and was definitely not prepared for that.
Such a dark and dramatic turn for a show like that
An episode of Will & Grace had Will trying to pursued a man to be his lawyer. He’s at his health club talking to Jack. Afterwards, the would-be client comes over to Will and asks if he’s friends with that “fag.” Will responds (Him? No. He’s just someone I see around the club." Of course, Jacks overhears and confronts Will, leaving him with the line “I’d rather be a fag than a phony.” Depressing as hell, but perfectly delivered by Sean Hayes.
Will comes clean and tells the client Jack is his best friend and he’s gay too. Client doesn’t give a rat’s ass.
Lots of good (?) ones listed so far.
But the one on my mine now since I recently watched it is Community S02E11 Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas. Amazing stop-action and all that. But a real downer.
They had done a good job establishing the character, so when he Sixth-Sensed it was truly a gut-punch. It’s interesting to go back and watch it after you know the hook and then you can pick up on the little hints.
The All In the Family episode when Edith died.
So many great choices so far, but The Fresh Prince episode is always the one that gets me.
So many MASH episodes qualify here. One that hasn’t been mentioned yet is the episode where Hawkeye can’t stop sneezing, so they bring in Dr Sydney:
Bless you, Hawkeye
I might agree with you had any such episode aired.
Another All in the Family episode Archie is Branded. The final scene has Paul Benjamin of the Hebrew Defense Association getting blown up in his car.
Webster also had a molestation episode: The Uh-Oh Feeling. His adoptive father George was ready to punch out the substitute teacher who was molesting children.
Ben Vereen guest starred on the show as Webster’s paternal uncle Phillip. He “kidnaps” Webster, but returns him, explaining that he just wanted to show him some places in his fathers life. Phillip and Webster break into a great duet in an ice cream parlor.
Maybe this belongs in the thread for things in movies and TV shows that you’ve never noticed even though you’ve seen it a million times…
In that episode of HIMYM, the viewer was set up to think the countdown was going to be Lily telling Marshall she’s pregnant. We know what happened there.
So, I’m sitting here watching the one where they finally blow up the Arcadian. Ted is ready to push the button, the foreman (Chi McBride) stars the countdown. “10…9…8…” and we cut to Lily and Marshall. If you continue the countdown at the same pace, she tells him she’s pregnant when you get to 1.
I can’t believe how I bawled like a baby at that episode. I rarely tear up at movies or shows, this was maybe the third or fourth time ever. It especially hurts because I have a beloved dog, and imagined me “abandoning” him.