As often as I’ve visited the Internet Movie Database, I never cared about its selections of “Top Rated Episodes” for TV shows. But when I was there last week to look up an episode of Soap, I noticed the list was not in its customary place at the upper right of the page. Ironic – the one time I pay attention to it is when it’s not there. But that was enough to finally pique my curiosity.
I started looking up shows from the Comfort TV era to find out which episodes were rated highest by those who took the time to grade them on IMDB’s 1-10 scale. They got a few obvious calls right: “Lucy Does a TV Commercial” for I Love Lucy, “Turkeys Away” for WKRP in Cincinnati. Others? Well, that’s what we’ll take a closer look at now.
The Dick Van Dyke Show
“That’s My Boy?”
Those who know the series will recognize the title – it’s the episode in which Rob becomes convinced that after Richie was born, they brought the wrong baby home from the hospital. The scene when Rob discovers the truth produced the longest audience laugh in the show’s history so that lends some credence to the selection- but not enough. Another flashback episode about Richie’s birth, “Where Did I Come From?” was even funnier, as was “The Curious Thing About Women,” which for me was the best show in one of television’s all-time classics.
The Fugitive
“The Judgment: Part II”
This was the final show of the series, and it thankfully delivered closure for fans that had watched Dr. Richard Kimble’s adventures on the run for four years.
But that alone does not make it the show’s best episode. Among those I’d rank ahead of it: “Nightmare at Northoak” – the first time Lt. Gerard caught up with his fugitive prey, and “The Girl From Little Egypt,” which filled in some important missing information about the night Helen Kimble was killed.
The Brady Bunch
“The Subject Was Noses”
My personal favorite will always be “Amateur Nite” featuring the Silver Platters’ performance of “It’s a Sunshine Day,” but I’m good with this pick as well. There are important life lessons that can be learned from wholesome family sitcoms, and here Marcia was reminded of honesty being the best policy, and that it’s not looks but what is inside a person that really counts.
Charlie’s Angels
“Angels in Chains”
Another obvious selection – I’d have been shocked if something else took the top spot.
But it’s interesting that “Caged Angel,” fthe only other episode largely set inside a prison, ranked third on IMDB’s list, behind “Three For the Money,” another episodes from the show's fourth season that introduced Shelley Hack. Apparently for these Angels fans there was life after Kate Jackson.
Bewitched
“If They Never Met”
This was a surprisingly astute choice, when there were more obvious candidates such as the pilot episode or the birth of Tabitha. Remember the story? Endora shows Samantha what would have happened to Darrin had she never met him. Sam and Darren’s argument in the opening scenes seems more serious than their other occasional spats over Endora’s nasty spells, which adds gravitas to what happens next. Plus, it’s great to see Nancy Kovack back as Darren’s former fiancé, and the “love conquers all” climax is well-earned. Nicely done, IMDB people. But I still would have opted for “A is for Aardvark.”
The Wild Wild West
“The Night of the Burning Diamond”
I didn’t even remember this episode from reading the title. I watched it again and enjoyed it, but top-rated? Off the top of my head I’d opt instead for “The Night of the Grand Emir,” featuring Yvonne Craig as an assassin named Ecstasy (and she was), or “The Night of the Vicious Valentine,” which brought Agnes Moorehead an Emmy, or just about any of the shows featuring Dr. Loveless.
That Girl
“Counter Proposal”
This was the first episode in the show’s fifth and final season, in which Don proposes to Ann and she says yes. But since they never actually get married, who cares? There were at least 20 better shows than this one, including “Pass the Potatoes, Ethel Merman,” “My Sister’s Keeper’ (featuring Marlo Thomas’s real-life brother, sister and father) and “Dark On Top of Everything Else.”
Happy Days
“Guess Who’s Coming to Christmas”
As with another long-running sitcom, The Facts of Life, IMDB readers chose a holiday episode here as their favorite. I haven’t watched this one in at least 15 years, yet I can still clearly picture that shot of Fonzie, alone in his garage, opening a can of beans over a hotplate for his Christmas dinner.
The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
“The Mad, Mad Tea Party Affair”
Before looking I assumed a first-season episode would take the top spot, and that turned out to be the case. This was essentially a “bottle” show, meaning it was set almost entirely in one place – U.N.C.L.E. headquarters. But this twisting tale of saboteurs on the loose features action, style and clever quips in just the right mix, something that happened less frequently as the show got sillier in later years.
The Andy Griffith Show
“Convicts at Large”
No, no, no. Any choice other than “Opie the Birdman” is wrong. But not only did that amazingly written and unforgettable episode not rank #1, it’s not even among the top five selections.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
“The Last Show”
Over “Chuckles Bites the Dust”? Seriously?
By the way, my book When Television Brought Us Togethercontains my picks for the five best episodes of 50 classic series, as well as chapters that talk about why so many of us still prefer the classics to what’s slithering out of the industry these days. I hope you’ll check it out – and let me know what you think.