# Television Episodes That Were Like the Movie "Groundhog Day" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 7, 2004, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-episodes-that-were-like-the-movie-groundhog-day/228036 "2004-02-07T21:54:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jeanster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc348/32.png) [@jeanster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jeanster)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2004, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-episodes-that-were-like-the-movie-groundhog-day/228036/1 "2004-02-07T21:54:16Z")
Can you think of any others than the ones on this list? **Tru Calling** episode that aired Feb 5, 2004. She kept reliving the day until she got it right. **The X-Files**. Took place in a bank. Mulder went there to deposit his paycheck, but the day kept repeating itself. It’s been years since I saw this one, so I can’t remember what happened. **Xena: Warrior Princess**. Xena kept waking up to a rooster crowing and the day repeated itself, thanks to a spell or curse that someone placed. Joxer was killed during one of those days, and I think on another day Xena’s horse was killed. ---
**Author:** ![Armilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e19b73/32.png) [@Armilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Armilla)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2004, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-episodes-that-were-like-the-movie-groundhog-day/228036/2 "2004-02-07T22:05:45Z")
The **Stargate SG-1** episode _Window of Opportunity_ uses this theme. An alien archaeologist uses an ancient device to create a timeloop, hoping to find a way to travel back in time to see his dead wife one more time. There’s also a small article on this plot device I found [here](http://www.crownedanarchist.com/timeloop.htm) while searching for the title of the episode. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2004, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-episodes-that-were-like-the-movie-groundhog-day/228036/3 "2004-02-07T22:42:53Z")
Were there any shows or stories like “groundhog day” before “groundhog day” came out? ---
**Author:** ![gawen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a88e57/32.png) [@gawen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gawen)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-episodes-that-were-like-the-movie-groundhog-day/228036/4 "2004-02-08T00:06:35Z")
there was also a tv movie with a kid who lived the same day again and again, i think it was a thanksgiving day, he ended up helping his old neighbour and learning karate to kick a bully, i can’t remember the title but it was heavy influenced by “groundhog day” ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-episodes-that-were-like-the-movie-groundhog-day/228036/5 "2004-02-08T00:14:57Z")
**ST:NG** episode _“Cause & Effect”_. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-episodes-that-were-like-the-movie-groundhog-day/228036/6 "2004-02-08T00:25:58Z")
> [@jeanster](#): > > **The X-Files**. Took place in a bank. Mulder went there to deposit his paycheck, but the day kept repeating itself. It’s been years since I saw this one, so I can’t remember what happened. I actually saw it recently. To refresh your memory: The day kept resulting in either Mulder or Scully or both being killed when a bank robber blew up everyone in the bank with the dynamite strapped around his chest. Mulder could vaguely realize something was going on because of an electric shock he got from his clock radio that morning. Besides him, the bank robber’s girlfriend was fully cognizant of the repeats, and she was frustrated and depressed over her repeated failures to stop the loop. Finally, the loop was broken when Mulder had Scully bring the girlfriend inside the bank to reason with him. The girlfriend ended up being fatally shot by the robber when she put herself between Mulder and the robber’s bullet. Unlike the other times, the shock of having accidentally killed his girlfriend left him unable to activate the bomb, allowing Mulder to cuff him and resulting in everyone except the girlfriend surviving. ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-episodes-that-were-like-the-movie-groundhog-day/228036/7 "2004-02-08T00:26:45Z")
To be fair, every episode of **Tru Calling** is similar to Groundhog Day, she just happens to get things right the second time. That last episode was great, though, I’ve been waiting for them to do something like that for a while. I was expecting it to come at the end of the season (or series, if it doesn’t get picked up again) but they pleased me early. The Stargate SG-1 ep was awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-episodes-that-were-like-the-movie-groundhog-day/228036/8 "2004-02-08T01:20:24Z")
There was an episode of **Pepper Ann** like that. Peppie slacked off and got the day back, so she slacked off again, and again until something happened to make her not slack off. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerous\_Nan\_McGrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecd19e/32.png) [@Dangerous\_Nan\_McGrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerous_Nan_McGrew)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-episodes-that-were-like-the-movie-groundhog-day/228036/9 "2004-02-08T02:20:01Z")
**Farscape** - “Back and Back and Back to the Future” Summary [here](http://www.farscapeworld.com/episodes/synopsis/10105.php). Also, in the **Buffy** episode “Life Serial”, a spell is cast on Buffy that causes her to be stuck in a time loop until she can remedy a situation involving an unsatisfied customer and an undead mummy hand. Hilarity ensues. This is only for a small part of the episode, though. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-episodes-that-were-like-the-movie-groundhog-day/228036/10 "2004-02-08T02:52:49Z")
Three from Rod Serling: “Judgment Night” and “Shadow Play” from “Twilight Zone” “Midnight Never Ends” from “Night Gallery” ---
**Author:** ![Cabbage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@Cabbage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabbage)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-episodes-that-were-like-the-movie-groundhog-day/228036/11 "2004-02-08T03:09:01Z")
Before _Groundhog Day_ there was a 1990 short _12:01 PM_; definitely worth checking out if you like _Groundhog Day_, though it may be a bit hard to find. ---
**Author:** ![Cabbage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@Cabbage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabbage)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-episodes-that-were-like-the-movie-groundhog-day/228036/12 "2004-02-08T03:10:57Z")
Dammit, screwed up the link: [_12:01 PM_](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098962/) ---
**Author:** ![HomerIU](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HomerIU](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HomerIU)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-episodes-that-were-like-the-movie-groundhog-day/228036/13 "2004-02-08T03:17:11Z")
There are similar ideas in prior books and TV shows. The whole idea behind Quantum Leap was reliving history to “get it right,” though he just does it one more time. Not exactly the same thing. ``` Star Trek did this, as someone mentioned, with Cause and Effect. They keep reliving the same few days until they figure out finally how to break the cycle. That predates Groundhog Day. ``` ---
**Author:** ![Wearia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Wearia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wearia)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-episodes-that-were-like-the-movie-groundhog-day/228036/14 "2004-02-08T03:28:47Z")
> [@erislover](#): > > The Stargate SG-1 ep was awesome. Hear hear. I love the moment when they suddenly realize that they can do whatever they want with no consequences. Great episode and great explanation (the loop was due to a time machine that was built but never worked correctly). ---
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-episodes-that-were-like-the-movie-groundhog-day/228036/15 "2004-02-08T03:44:10Z")
> [@gawen](#): > > there was also a tv movie with a kid who lived the same day again and again, i think it was a thanksgiving day, he ended up helping his old neighbour and learning karate to kick a bully, i can’t remember the title but it was heavy influenced by “groundhog day” Was that [_Christmas Every Day_](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115891/) with Erik Von Detten? ---
**Author:** ![blasphmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@blasphmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blasphmer)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-episodes-that-were-like-the-movie-groundhog-day/228036/16 "2004-02-08T03:49:41Z")
I think an episode of _Seinfeld_ , and the foodfight eppy of _Lizzie McGuire_ fer sure. Also after baby whatsitsname on MAd About You, you could say the whole series was groundhogs day. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-episodes-that-were-like-the-movie-groundhog-day/228036/17 "2004-02-08T04:07:08Z")
There was an episode of Wierd Science where Lisa gives the boys a magical remote control that can rewind or fast forward time. But the remote gets broken and rewinds a few minutes, then keeps getting broken again and again despite their best intentions. Hilarity ensues. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-episodes-that-were-like-the-movie-groundhog-day/228036/18 "2004-02-08T04:15:09Z")
> [@Johnny Bravo](#): > > There was an episode of Wierd Science where Lisa gives the boys a magical remote control that can rewind or fast forward time. But the remote gets broken and rewinds a few minutes, then keeps getting broken again and again despite their best intentions. > > Hilarity ensues. Moment of silence for a show that shaped my pre-puberty years. Thank you. Viva la France! ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-episodes-that-were-like-the-movie-groundhog-day/228036/19 "2004-02-08T04:17:17Z")
Qadcop, also **Replay** by Ken Grimwood from 1987. In that one he repeats the last 25 **years** of his life. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-episodes-that-were-like-the-movie-groundhog-day/228036/20 "2004-02-08T04:19:16Z")
Ken Grimwood’s excellent novel [Replay](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0877957819/qid=1076213785/sr=12-1/002-9450546-2284043?v=glance&s=books) came out in 1987. It may not be the first such, but it was extremely influential. > [@](#): > > Jeff Winston, forty-three, didn’t know he was a replayer until he died and woke up twenty-five years younger in his college dorm room; he lived another life. And died again. And lived again and died again – in a continuous twenty-five-year cycle – each time starting from scratch at the age of eighteen to reclaim lost loves, remedy past mistakes, or make a fortune in the stock market. [On Preview] Beaten by a moment, but at least I have a link to add. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-episodes-that-were-like-the-movie-groundhog-day/228036.md?page=2)