Favorite sitcom episodes

[Sal]

Throughout this month and the next I'll be going to the various message boards and post my favorite episodes from a particular show on the anniversary of its original premiere. For example, "Leave It To Beaver" first aired on Oct. 4, 1957, so on Oct. 4 of this year look for my favorite "Beaver" episodes to be named on its message board. In the meantime, what I would first like to do is give you a general overview by giving you my favourite individual episodes from all classic TV series counting down backwards from 10 to 1. Before I do that, I wish to first list my 20 favorite sitcoms of all time. Here they are:

1. HAPPY DAYS
2. LEAVE IT TO BEAVER
3. GILLIGAN'S ISLAND
4. THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY
5. THE MONKEES
6. THE BRADY BUNCH
7. BEWITCHED
8. THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW
9. GREEN ACRES
10. I DREAM OF JEANNIE
11. LAVERNE AND SHIRLEY
12. THREE'S COMPANY
13. MORK AND MINDY
14. GET SMART
15. THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES
16. MY THREE SONS
17. THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW
18. WELCOME BACK, KOTTER
19. THE ODD COUPLE
20. THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW

For you younger TV viewers, you might be more familiar with these names:

TOP 10 FAVORITE SHOWS 1980-2002

1. FRIENDS
2. THE COSBY SHOW
3. FRASIER
4. FAMILY TIES
5. ALF
6. MAD ABOUT YOU
7. 3RD ROCK FROM THE SUN
8. NIGHT COURT
9. MARRIED WITH CHILDREN
10. MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE

Getting back to the first list, which features my favourite classic comedies from the 50s to the 70s, I have chosen my all-time favorite individual sitcom episodes from TV's Golden Age and I wish to share them with you here:


#10---THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW---"Gomer Pyle, USMC" (May 18, 1964, 2 weeks before I was born!)

The pilot episode for the popular series, where Gomer gets drafted into the Marines and is mistaken for the son of a war hero. Features the first of a long series of battles with Sgt. Carter.

9. BEWITCHED---"Samantha and the Beanstalk" (Sept. 18, 1969)

Lacking a playmate, Tabitha conjures up Jack from "Jack and the Beanstalk" (played brilliantly by "Family Affair"'s Johnnie Whittaker) from her storybook.

8. THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES---"The Thanksgiving Story" (Nov. 27 1968)

The Clampetts decide to spend Thanksgiving in Hooterville where they meet the casts of "Green Acres" and "Petticoat Junction", which resulted in the group photo that you see at the bottom of this page.

7. HAPPY DAYS---"Fonzie Moves In" (Sept. 9, 1975)

Fonzie rents the apartment upstairs from the Cunningham house for himself despite Howard's objections. This was the 3rd season premiere of the series and was the episode that launched Henry Winkler toward superstardom.

6. LEAVE IT TO BEAVER---"Wally's Test" (Jan. 27, 1960)

Eddie and Lumpy accuse Wally of cheating on a history test so they devise a sneaky plan to get even which naturally backfires. My signature quote below is taken from this episode.

5. THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW---"Coast To Coast Big Mouth" (Sept. 15, 1965)

A true TV classic which I'm sure is on many a fan's list. Laura accidentally reveals Alan Brady's biggest secret during an appearance on a TV game show.

4. THE MONKEES---"Captain Crocodile" (Feb. 20, 1967)

The host of a TV kiddie show fears the Monkees are trying to upstage him. Features the delightfully nutty "Your Auntie Grizelda".

3. LEAVE IT TO BEAVER---"In The Soup" (May 6, 1961)

One of the most fondly remembered episodes by the show's fans. This is the one where Beaver falls inside the soup bowl and can't get himself out.

2. THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY---"A Knight In Shining Armour" (March 19, 1971)

Bobby Sherman appears as a struggling songwriter who meets up with a strange but lovable sidekick in order to sell his songs to the Partridges.

#1---HERE'S LUCY---"Lucy and Donny Osmond" (Nov. 20, 1972)

The cream of the crop by a wide margin! Lucy's daughter Kim wins a dream date with teen idol Donny Osmond and Mom naturally tags along. Featuring my favourite Brady Eve Plumb in a guest appearance. Note also the rare absence of Gale Gordon from this episode.


There you have it. My picks for my favorite episodes of all time. Check your favourite show's board for more specific choices by series.