# Television series with themed episode titles **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 6, 2010, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-series-with-themed-episode-titles/535120 "2010-04-06T06:41:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-series-with-themed-episode-titles/535120/1 "2010-04-06T06:41:38Z")
My friend recently noticed that all episodes of The Mentalist have titles with the word “red” or something in the red family: “Red Rum” “Paint it Red” “Crimson Casanova” “Scarlett Fever” I also recall Friends episode titles always starting with “The One With…”: “The One with the Sonogram at the End” “The One with the Thumb” “The One with George Stephanopoulos” “The One with the East German Laundry Detergent” It seems that Gossip Girl takes movie titles and twists them: “The Wild Brunch” (The Wild Bunch) “Poison Ivy” (?) “Bad News Blair” (Bad News Bears) “Dare Devil” (DareDevil?) “The Handmaiden’s Tale” (Handmaid’s Tale) Meanwhile Boston Public kept it pretty simple: “Chapter One” “Chapter Two” “Chapter three” On the other hand, I saw that this week’s episode of The Vampire Diaries was titled “Let the Right One In” and wondered if other episodes also had a vampire themed title, but alas it seems they do not always, although sometimes they do at least have a horror film vibe: “The Night of the Comet” “Lost Girls” “Children of the Damned”. Actually, maybe there is some theme to[the other ones](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Vampire_Diaries_episodes), that I just don’t recognize? Any other examples? ---
**Author:** ![Todderbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@Todderbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Todderbob)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-series-with-themed-episode-titles/535120/2 "2010-04-06T06:45:03Z")
So far, Stargate Universe has done single word nouns (Air, Earth, Water, Space, etc). Scrubs, IIRC, did “My […]” like “My first day,” and so on. But I have no idea about the mots recent season… it’s not even the same scrubs. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-series-with-themed-episode-titles/535120/3 "2010-04-06T06:48:36Z")
[Blackadder](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Blackadder_episodes) did this from series 2 onwards. Series 2 was just objects, potato, money, etc. Series 3 was a pun on Sense and Sensibility; Ink and Incapacity, Nob and Nobility etc. Series 4 was a play on military ranks, Captain Cook, Corporal Punishment etc. (except the last episode, ‘Goodbyeee…’). ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-series-with-themed-episode-titles/535120/4 "2010-04-06T06:49:21Z")
I agree that this is an interesting phenomenon. It is also a phenomenon that wasn’t observable until the rise of the DVR, as the titles are almost never published! But they always appear on the DVR file, or on the digital blurb that you get with your digital on-line cable guide…TRM ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-series-with-themed-episode-titles/535120/5 "2010-04-06T06:49:29Z")
A handful of early episodes deviate from the pattern, but _Law & Order: Special Victims Unit_ sticks with one-word titles. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Universe_Lashes_Out)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-series-with-themed-episode-titles/535120/6 "2010-04-06T06:51:25Z")
Towards the end of the second season, Newsradio titled several episodes after Led Zeppelin albums for seemingly no reason at all. Then in the third season there’s an episode called “Led Zeppelin Boxed Set.” ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-series-with-themed-episode-titles/535120/7 "2010-04-06T06:55:41Z")
Except for the first 2 (of 3) segments in the first episode, the cartoon Codename: Kids Next Door had every episode titled in the format Operation: W.O.R.D, where W.O.R.D is both related to the story, and an acronym which expands out into an awkwardly worded description of the story. For instance, the first normally formatted title is Operation: C.A.K.E.D - Capturize And Kidnapify Enemy Dessert. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-series-with-themed-episode-titles/535120/8 "2010-04-06T07:16:15Z")
_Chuck_ episodes are all titled “Chuck Versus \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_” For example: Chuck Versus the Nacho Sampler, Chuck Versus the DeLorean, Chuck Versus the Crown Vic… Similarly, _Monk_ episodes always included “Mr. Monk” in them. LIke “Mr. Monk and the Leper” or “Mr. Monk Goes Camping.” ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-series-with-themed-episode-titles/535120/9 "2010-04-06T07:18:43Z")
All \*Big Bang Theory \*titles are structured to sound vaguely like scientific theories, etc.: “The Panty Piñata Polarization” “The Lizard-Spock Expansion” “The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis” “The Killer Robot Instability” “The Terminator Decoupling” ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-series-with-themed-episode-titles/535120/10 "2010-04-06T07:29:56Z")
Oh, and _The Amazing Race_ usually uses some oddball out-of-context quote uttered by one of the racers during that leg as the episode title. It’s fun to listen for the quote during the episode. Examples include: “I’m Sorry I’m Wearing A Bathing Suit; It Is Very Weird, I Know” “If They’re Screwing the Helmet to My Head, It Can’t Be Good!” “Donkeys Have Souls, Too” ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-series-with-themed-episode-titles/535120/11 "2010-04-06T07:59:33Z")
On _That '70s Show_, all the episodes in season 5 were titled after Led Zeppelin songs. Season 6 was Who songs, season 7 was Rolling Stones songs, and season 8 was Queen songs. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-series-with-themed-episode-titles/535120/12 "2010-04-06T09:12:13Z")
Third Rock From the Sun episodes commonly had the word “Dick” in them, referring to the name of John Lithgow’s character, Dick Solomon. Examples include “I Enjoy Being a Dick,” “You Don’t Know Dick,” “Assault With A Deadly Dick,” “Will Work For Dick.” It seems the more outrageous, the better. The writers seemed determined to see what they could get away with in terms of “Dick”-themed episode names. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-series-with-themed-episode-titles/535120/13 "2010-04-06T09:47:28Z")
Weren’t all Mike Hammer mysteries tagged “The case of the…”? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-series-with-themed-episode-titles/535120/14 "2010-04-06T12:45:18Z")
**The Man from U.N.C.L.E** and **The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.** episodes were always titled “The \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Affair.” The Brain Killer Affair The Gazebo in the Maze Affair The Never Never Affair The Mother Muffin Affair BTW, the titles were shown at the beginning of each episode, so viewers were well aware of the pattern long before DVDs. **The Adventures of Ellery Queen** from 1975 had episode titles starting with "The Adventure of \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. ---
**Author:** ![infinitii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@infinitii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/infinitii)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-series-with-themed-episode-titles/535120/15 "2010-04-06T13:26:15Z")
The USA series **La Femme Nikita** had one word titles for its first season episodes, two word titles for its second season episodes, etc, it lasted five seasons and kept that up the whole time. Also, I’ve heard all **Degrassi** episodes are the names of 80s songs. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-series-with-themed-episode-titles/535120/16 "2010-04-06T13:29:40Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Third Rock From the Sun episodes commonly had the word “Dick” in them, referring to the name of John Lithgow’s character, Dick Solomon. Examples include “I Enjoy Being a Dick,” “You Don’t Know Dick,” “Assault With A Deadly Dick,” “Will Work For Dick.” It seems the more outrageous, the better. The writers seemed determined to see what they could get away with in terms of “Dick”-themed episode names. [Wiki cite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_3rd_Rock_from_the_Sun_episodes). I did not know that. Ignorance fought and laughter gained! ---
**Author:** ![Hrududu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Hrududu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hrududu)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-series-with-themed-episode-titles/535120/17 "2010-04-06T13:46:41Z")
I’m not 100% on this but I think all Desperate Housewives episodes are named after Sondheim songs. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-series-with-themed-episode-titles/535120/18 "2010-04-06T13:50:24Z")
[Wiki cite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Desperate_Housewives_episodes). More ignorance fought, and a smile on my face 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-series-with-themed-episode-titles/535120/19 "2010-04-06T14:00:46Z")
> [@Todderbob](#): > > Scrubs, IIRC, did “My […]” like “My first day,” and so on. With the exception of the “His/Her/Their Story” episodes where JD isn’t the central character, yes. Personal fave: “My Ocardial Infarction” (geddit?). The latest season episodes seem to all start with “Our”. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2010, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-series-with-themed-episode-titles/535120/20 "2010-04-06T14:02:57Z")
The old Chris Elliott sitcom **Get A Life** had many episode titles ending with “2000”: “Paperboy 2000”, “Camping 2000”, “Girlfriend 2000”, “1977 2000”, and so forth. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-series-with-themed-episode-titles/535120.md?page=2)