# Name the single best episode of a series **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 7, 2014, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-single-best-episode-of-a-series/678171 "2014-01-07T21:51:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-single-best-episode-of-a-series/678171/101 "2014-01-08T20:10:13Z")
“Wonder Years”-Math tutor or School play episodes. ---
**Author:** ![SykoSkotty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SykoSkotty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SykoSkotty)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-single-best-episode-of-a-series/678171/102 "2014-01-08T20:12:03Z")
Great thread!! My choices : **ROSEANNE** Becky cut the cheese “It was on the news.” **MODERN FAMILY** No one can understand Gloria’s accent. “I told your secretary to order the baby cheeses!” (Jay pulls a mini crucifix from the FedEx box) **BREAKING BAD** Face Off. “Walt what happened?” “I won…” **DEXTER** Rita’s death. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-single-best-episode-of-a-series/678171/103 "2014-01-08T20:21:16Z")
“Seinfeld”- “The Outing” “The Contest” ---
**Author:** ![Moonchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@Moonchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonchild)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-single-best-episode-of-a-series/678171/104 "2014-01-08T20:27:03Z")
I’m going contrarian to the **Breaking Bad** episode “Ozymandias” and going with “Dead Freight,” the one where they steal methyl amine from the train and then: Todd shoots the boy on the bike. Holy fuck! I consider that the best episode I’ve ever seen on any show. **Freaks and Geeks** : Either “Kim Kelly is My Friend” or the Pilot episode when Sam asks the cheerleader to the dance. ---
**Author:** ![Sterling\_Archer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Sterling\_Archer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterling_Archer)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-single-best-episode-of-a-series/678171/105 "2014-01-08T20:39:44Z")
Simpsons – “Lisa the Vegetarian”. Especially the segment where the kids watch the video about the “food web” Archer – Skytanic. Honorable mention to Pipeline Fever and El Contador. Seinfeld – Keith Hernandez The Office – The Injury Arrested Development – The Japanese Investors (might be called Tinytown?) ---
**Author:** ![Moonchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@Moonchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonchild)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-single-best-episode-of-a-series/678171/106 "2014-01-08T20:40:12Z")
**Seinfeld** : Either “The Chocolate Babka,” “The Puffy Shirt” or “The Gymnast” (the one where Mr. Pitt gets transfixed by 3D art and George’s new girlfriend’s mom thinks he is homeless). ---
**Author:** ![Moonchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@Moonchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonchild)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-single-best-episode-of-a-series/678171/107 "2014-01-08T20:43:49Z")
> [@Hottius\_Maximus](#): > > The Simpsons: Bart becomes school monitor and Lisa becomes a rebel. > Brady Bunch: Hawaii > Happy Days: Officer Kirk Great calls on these. I only know older Simpsons episodes, but that one killed. Also: - When Bart runs away from home on Thanksgiving - When Homer is going to die from eating fugu (sushi) Wish somebody could come up with a “Get Smart” best. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-single-best-episode-of-a-series/678171/108 "2014-01-08T20:49:35Z")
> [@](#): > > Land of the Lost-The final episode of season one where they go home and are replaced by themselves from a different sliver of time. _Circle_, written by David Gerrold. I know that without looking it up, and am ashamed. \*\*\*Seinfeld \*\*\*- the one where George and Jerry take another guy’s limo at the airport, because they know he missed the flight, and it turns out he’s a Nazi group leader (that George is pretending to be). * * * The Andy Griffith Show\*\*\* - _Man in a Hurry_. Business man’s car breaks down in Mayberry on a Sunday, and no matter what he does, he can’t make anything happen in Mayberry on Sunday. \*\*\*Futurama \*\*\*- _Jurassic Bark_. Everyone knows this one, I assume. \*\*\*Cupid \*\*\* (the show where Jeremy Piven is the god Cupid in modern Chicago) - only had one really good episode, and it’s one where Cupid senses compatibility between this man and this woman who aren’t compatible, except it turns out one’s heart is (literally) a good match for the other. written by Karen Hall. _MAS_H \*_- Captain Tuttle_. Hawkeye and Trapper invented a surgeon out of whole cloth to embezzle army money for the orphanage. _ **Mr. Ed** _ - Ed tries out for the LA Dodgers. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-single-best-episode-of-a-series/678171/109 "2014-01-08T20:53:41Z")
> [@Moonchild](#): > > Wish somebody could come up with a “Get Smart” best. I can’t personally, but I can link you to [this list](http://www.wouldyoubelieve.com/best.html) (according to which the best is “A Spy for a Spy”). ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-single-best-episode-of-a-series/678171/110 "2014-01-08T21:00:42Z")
The Simpsons: “Deep Space Homer” “Get President Clinton on the phone - he’ll know where to find some Tang!” “I for one welcome our new insect overlords.” “The two greatest words in the English language - de-fault!” ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-single-best-episode-of-a-series/678171/111 "2014-01-08T21:01:33Z")
_Magnum P.I._ - “Did you see the sun rise?” - sometimes the hero shoots first. _The Rockford Files_ - “So help me God” - Rockford goes in front of the grand jury, led by the really obnoxious D.A. played by William Daniels. _The Muppet Show_ - guest star Harry Belafonte. Fozzie “helps” with The Banana Boat Song _The Cosby Show_ - “Theo’s Holiday.” - Theo’s given a lesson in how the real world works, including facing a mean landlady played by Rudy. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-single-best-episode-of-a-series/678171/112 "2014-01-08T21:06:05Z")
Cosby-The Anniversary, or The Earring, or Pinochle game. BTW, I noticed nobody agreed with my Seinfeld pick, but I don’t disagree with anyone’s pick. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-single-best-episode-of-a-series/678171/113 "2014-01-08T21:07:37Z")
> [@Hottius\_Maximus](#): > > The Simpsons: Bart becomes school monitor and Lisa becomes a rebel. “Separate Vocations,” fourth season (in case anyone wants to go look for these). Yes, this is one of their best and most cynical episodes. > [@Moonchild](#): > > Great calls on these. I only know older Simpsons episodes, but that one killed. Also: > > - When Bart runs away from home on Thanksgiving “Bart vs. Thanksgiving,” from the second season. > [@](#): > > - When Homer is going to die from eating fugu (sushi) “One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish,” also from the second season. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-single-best-episode-of-a-series/678171/114 "2014-01-08T21:08:45Z")
_ **Jonny Quest:** _ “Shadow of the Condor” (the one with The Baron). ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-single-best-episode-of-a-series/678171/115 "2014-01-08T21:12:00Z")
> [@Moonchild](#): > > I only know older Simpsons episodes, but that one killed. Also: > > - When Bart runs away from home on Thanksgiving > - When Homer is going to die from eating fugu (sushi) The old episodes are by far the best. The marriage retreat, Marge’s bowling instructor, and Edna’s personal ad still make me howl! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-single-best-episode-of-a-series/678171/116 "2014-01-08T21:19:36Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > The I.T. Crowd - “The works outing” (and just this very second I’ve realised the double-meaning in the title!) It’s a good one - and it’s Graham Linehan’s favourite, apparently, but I would personally go for **Calamity Jen** - it’s got: [ul] [li]The Shoes![/li][li]Fire (and 0118 999 88199 9119 725… 3)[/li][li]The stress meter[/li][li]The profanity buzzer[/li][/ul] But it’s very hard to choose. _The Haunting of Bill Crouse_ and _The Speech_ are also very good. > [@](#): > > The Mighty Boosh - " the nightmare of milky joe" I agree on this one. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-single-best-episode-of-a-series/678171/117 "2014-01-08T21:21:23Z")
> [@bup](#): > > _MAS_H \*_- Captain Tuttle_. Hawkeye and Trapper invented a surgeon out of whole cloth to embezzle army money for the orphanage. Yes! 🙂 _ **Hill Street Blues:** _ The one where Grace turns down Esterhaus’s proposal. _ **Night Court:** _ The first appearance of the Wheeler family: https://www.youtube.com/embed/t0NmaBtpnBE?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque ---
**Author:** ![silvermist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@silvermist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silvermist)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-single-best-episode-of-a-series/678171/118 "2014-01-08T21:24:51Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > I’ve heard ozymandias referred to as potentially the ‘best’ episode of any TV show ever. Since breaking bad is so highly rated and ozymandias is usually rated as the best, that is plausible. I’d rate it as the best episode of a TV drama I’ve ever seen. > Louie (TV series) - Eddie > Original twilight zone - nervous man in a four dollar room (I’m probably the only one who thinks this is the best episode though) > Workaholics - to friend a predator > 1980s twilight zone - probably ‘the star’ > I’d be interested in what other people think of family guy, curb your enthusiasm, seinfeld, south park, I think the best episode of Family Guy was when Peter and Brian were arguing about something and Peter wouldn’t back down, so Brian started dragging his butt across the carpet. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-single-best-episode-of-a-series/678171/119 "2014-01-08T21:28:06Z")
_ **Fawlty Towers:** _ Tie: “The Germans” and “Basil the Rat.” ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-single-best-episode-of-a-series/678171/120 "2014-01-08T21:32:14Z")
Star Trek: TNG - Gotta stick with The Best of Both Worlds, though the finale is a close second. Star Trek: DS9 - I think it was a season finale. Its when the Dominion takes over the station and Gul Dukat sits in Sisko’s office. He finds that Sisko left his baseball there, a sign that he’ll be back Married with Children - Al is at his best when he’s with his goofy No Ma’am friends. There is an episode where they’re trying to find where a light switch leads to and they tear up the house, Bob Rooney gets stuck in a wall. That one. The Simpsons - Who shot Mr. Burns? pt. 1 and 2. Family Guy - I like FG a lot, but because of its randomness, its hard for me to pick out a specific episode. However, I really liked the recent episodes where Peter and the gang look for the origin of all the dirty jokes in the world and the episode where newsanchor Diane murdered a bunch of people 24 - Season 2, when the nuke blows up South Park - The Warcraft episode Babylon 5 - The final battle against the Vorlons and the Shadows, when Sheridan tells them to get out of our galaxy Malcolm in the Middle - When the boys think Francis is getting too goody and responsible at the ranch and they try to make him pull a prank. This is the best episode because of the single scene in which they light that giant firework and it turns the night sky into day [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-single-best-episode-of-a-series/678171.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-the-single-best-episode-of-a-series/678171.md?page=7)