The BEST episodes directed by Michael Fresco

#1 - Home Again

Providence - Season 1 - Episode 2

Sydney helps a woman with a bad home life; Joanie names her baby. Kyle reenters Syd's Life.

#2 - Good Fellows

Providence - Season 1 - Episode 14

14 A busy Syd helps an injured high school runner (guest star Brian Poth) who is driven to win at any price by his stern coach/father even as she is romanced by the handsome son of a courtly mob boss (guest star John Capodice) whose beloved pug is treated in her dad's veterinary clinic. Elsewhere, Joanie's culinary reputation takes a hit when her vaunted meatloaf is spurned by humans but makes for a tail-wagging dogfood among the canine set.

#3 - Family Tree

Providence - Season 1 - Episode 13

A wary Syd tries to do the right thing when she takes in Lilly , a troublesome teenager who is returned by her latest foster parents, but in no time, the lodger's carelessness places the entire Hansen household in jeopardy. Joanie's hopes soar when she learns that her handsome business partner has broken up with his girlfriend, but their main concern however, is finding a restaurant that will let them showcase her special chowder for food distributors. Robbie comes to the rescue and risks his job when he volunteers his place of employment while the owner is away. In addition, Sydney encounters a likable elderly patient (guest star Maxine Stuart) with hidden health problems, and Jim wants to help a bedraggled stray dog give birth to her pups.

#4 - Two to Tango

Providence - Season 1 - Episode 15

Syd firmly tries to fend off the romantic advances of a handsome businessman (guest star David Lee Smith) whose family is linked to the Mob, and lavish gifts begin to wear her down while at the clinic. She diagnoses a sickly landscaper (guest star Tim Ransom) who she suspects is being poisoned by pesticides. Elsewhere among the Hansen clan: Joanie -- on the eve of her new shop opening -- becomes concerned when boyfriend/business partner shows little interest in her infant daughter; Jim indulges himself when he commits to helping Lilly rig up a Rube Goldberg contraption as part of a school project; and Robbie begins to appreciate the hidden allure of Jim's clumsy veterinary assistant in a whole new way.

#5 - Blind Faith

Providence - Season 1 - Episode 8

Syd's hospital job is jeopardized by a surly surgeon-and a blind date who gets struck by lighting; a seeing-eye dog (voice of Jay Leno) opens up to a flu-ridden Jim.

#6 - I Could Have Danced All Night... But Didn't

China Beach - Season 4 - Episode 10

McMurphy meets a sympathetic drummer at a 1983 wedding and recalls the 1969 wedding of Lila and Sarge Pepper, as well as the end of her relationship with Dr. Richard.

#7 - Twilight

China Beach - Season 2 - Episode 13

Wayloo Marie's digging results in a medal ceremony for Boonie and an unwelcome investigation into his lost jungle patrol. McMurphy sees Dodger again as he prepares to go back into action. Frankie befriends a captured deserter.

#8 - Rights of Passage

Picket Fences - Season 1 - Episode 20

A group of heavily armed Chippewa Indians declares war on Rome and takes over the courthouse, as a dispute over enlarging the golf course gets violent. Ginny accuses Jill of discrimination when she agrees to give an abnormally young boy a controversial growth treatment. Matthew stands up for Zach against the school bully.

#9 - Chapter Twenty-Three

Murder One - Season 1 - Episode 23

Ted meets with Julie to ask for her help in getting Richard to testify that the tape of the murder is authentic. When she refuses, Chris begins playing the tape. After viewing it for a few minutes, she tearfully agrees to help them. To be lucid enough to testify in court, Richard will need to take a drug which will also further weaken his immune system. In response to his initial resistance, Julie tells him that he owes it to her and Jessica, and he finally relents. Chris is approached by a man who represents a judge on the Court of Appeals who is willing to convince two other judges to overturn Neil's verdict and to get him released on bail immediately in return for $100,000. Chris refuses, telling him that the firm is not in the practice of bribery, to which Ted agrees when Chris fills him in about this encounter. Judge Bornstein grants Ted a hearing where he presents expert testimony that the tape has not been doctored. Richard takes the stand and testifies that he installed a video

#10 - The Rainy Day Women

The O.C. - Season 2 - Episode 14

Rain - and it seems there are as many problems as raindrops. Kirsten, Sandy...and Rebecca. Julie, Marissa...and Alex. Lindsay, Ryan...and Chicago. Summer, Seth...and Italy. Can't rain forever, can it?

#11 - Mr. Sandman

Northern Exposure - Season 5 - Episode 12

The aurora borealis causes the residents of Cicely to swap their dreams, exposing secrets. Maggie has Holling's dream about being a cab driver in Quebec, driving his overbearing father around. Ron has Maurice's dream about blue pumps. Joel sleepwalks in search of candy, having a child's dream. Holling has Dave's dream about kayaking with a spatula. Walt has someone's dream (Joel's?) about climbing a never ending tower.

#12 - Love Octagon

My Name Is Earl - Season 3 - Episode 19

When Earl finally wakes up from his coma, he believes in Karma again and considers Billie his soul mate.

#13 - Jabberwocky

Better Off Ted - Season 1 - Episode 12

Ted creates a phony project for Linda after she hears that Veridian is going green, which becomes problematic when other staffers want to join the cause.

#14 - Chapter Four

Murder One - Season 1 - Episode 4

Melissa confronts Hoffman about the tape, and Hoffman refuses her offer. Melissa sells it for $100,000 to a tabloid-news show, where Hoffman is interviewed and says that the tape could have been easily doctored by Melissa to make money. After the tape airs, Garfield files a motion for Avedon's bail to be revoked, but the motion is denied, on the condition that Avedon enters a different rehabilitation center. Avedon passes a lie detector test and reveals that he was drunk both the night the tape was made and the night of the murder, and can't remember anything. Hoffman meets up with Francesca'a divorce attorney, who offers Hoffman information about Cross which could get Neil cleared of the charges in an attempt to blackmail Cross into a quick and tidy divorce. When Francesca finds out, she drops him and hires another recommended by Hoffman.

#15 - The Countdown

The O.C. - Season 1 - Episode 14

As the New Year looms, Ryan doesn't know how to respond when Marissa says those three meaningful words. Sandy and Kirsten are wallflowers at a swingers' party. And at home, Seth thinks of what might have been.

#16 - Candy Wars

Raising Hope - Season 3 - Episode 7

Jimmy tries to win a candy-selling contest so that Hope can ride on a float in a Thanksgiving parade.

#17 - The Trial

My Name Is Earl - Season 2 - Episode 23

Things are finally looking up for Earl with a GED, a job, a new apartment and love interest however it may all come crashing down during Joy's trial date. Earl's shocking testimony could help Joy but at what cost?

#18 - Ghosts

China Beach - Season 3 - Episode 6

K.C. avoids dealing with unpleasant memories of her father stirred up by a trunk of his belongings; Dr. Richard faces his ex-wife's remarriage with a ""black wedding""; Beckett ends his relationship with Mai; and McMurphy learns more about Dr. Bernard's life.

#19 - Up River

Northern Exposure - Season 6 - Episode 8

Maurice sends Ed after Joel, who's moved up river; and Joel tells Ed of the few days he and Maggie spent together, where every time they got together, there was gunfire. Chris hires a contractor to improve the lot around his trailer and it turns his world upside down. When Walt goes away to check his traps, Ruth-Anne realizes that she's fallen in love and tries to fight it.

#20 - Old Tree

Northern Exposure - Season 4 - Episode 25

The town's oldest tree is dying. Shelly wakes up and finds that she can't talk, but she can sing. The town asks Joel to diagnose Old Vicki. Chris goes wireless and is freed from the confines of the broadcast booth. Shelly's singing starts to get on Holling's nerves. Maggie tries to be pleasant to Joel and the result of all this kindness is that Joel keeps getting injured. Maurice is intent on bringing the tree down. Shelly becomes worried that she may never talk again. After the felling of Old Vicki, the town has a wake. Maurice feels remorse after the felling of Old Vicki. Maggie and Joel cut a deal to try keeping Joel injury free.

#21 - The Impertence of Communicationizing

Better Off Ted - Season 2 - Episode 8

When a typo in a memo about inappropriate behavior at Veridian Dynamics orders employees to now engage in offensive language, Ted tries to convince the company to correct the error, but not before the insults start flying. Meanwhile, Veronica is afraid, and guilty. If the company can make such a stupid mistake, can it be that her own promotion is the result of a typo on a memo meant for W. Palmer and not V. Palmer?

#22 - Pest Side Story

Family Tools - Season 1 - Episode 9

When Jack is bullied by "the bug guys," Tony offers Jack advice on how to handle them, even though Jack is determined to handle them on his own. Meanwhile Aunt Terry is out to win the local art show.

#23 - Pilot

Missing (2003) - Season 1 - Episode 1

Hotshot FBI agent Brooke Haslett's search for a missing woman brings her to Indianapolis, where she follows a hunch about a U.S. senator's involvement in the disappearance of a young woman. The investigation takes an unexpected turn when Jess Mastriani, a young local woman, begins having dreams about a missing girl after getting struck by lightning. She is shocked to learn that the dreams are giving her metaphorical clues to the girl's location but an impulsive decision ruins the situation for all involved. When the FBI finds out about her dreams they ask her to work for them as a special consultant & Brooke is made her partner. She also dreams about the missing woman Brooke is searching for. But Brooke finds it difficult to take these clairvoyant dreams seriously as each one points toward events in the past.

#24 - The Showdown

The O.C. - Season 2 - Episode 22

Dynamite with a lit fuse: Kirsten goes on a bender now that Carter's gone, Ryan can't figure what's up with Marissa, Caleb hits Julie with divorce papers, and the Seth-Zach rivalry turns into War of the Weirds.

#25 - Tranquility Base

Northern Exposure - Season 6 - Episode 23

Maurice's plans to ask Barbara to marry him while spending the weekend at his new summer home are in jeopardy when her style clashes with the way he wants his guests treated. Phil and Michelle continue to try to work out their differences and Ed (in his Shaman capacity) and Joel's Rabbi offer some advice. Chris is on the loose when Maggie doesn't make the journey to Maurice's but soon realizes that he is a changed man. The Vincoeurs stay locked up in their room when Holling is in heat.

#26 - Camdenites (1)

My Name Is Earl - Season 3 - Episode 21

#27 - Dream Hoarders

Raising Hope - Season 1 - Episode 3

The family baby-proofs the house as Hope learns to crawl. Jimmy visits the grocery store in hopes of seeing Sabrina.

#28 - Bioshuffle

Better Off Ted - Season 1 - Episode 9

When Veronica, Linda, and Ted end up having to share offices, tensions grow between them.

#29 - Love Blurts

Better Off Ted - Season 2 - Episode 1

Veridian Dynamics tries matchmaking employees based on their genetic compatibility in hopes of saving on health insurance bills from imperfectly bred children. Ted and Linda balk at this until they meet their supposed matches -- Greg for Linda and Danielle for Ted -- and are instantly attracted despite themselves. Meanwhile, after Veronica finds out Lem is her perfect genetic match, she hounds him to make a donation to a sperm bank

#30 - Strange Brew

China Beach - Season 3 - Episode 22

With everyone else away for a distant USO show, K.C. and McMurphy indulge in an alcoholic binge that takes them to a dreamy landscape where a Native American guide tries to help them heal past and present wounds.

#31 - The Men of New Natesville

Raising Hope - Season 2 - Episode 9

After being encouraged to be more of a daredevil by Burt, Jimmy jumps at the chance of showing off his bolder side at a party at Frank's house. Frank and Jimmy realize they have shared a common high school bully, and when they try to take him down, they realize their old bully has changed.

#32 - Pilot

Raising Hope - Season 1 - Episode 1

A 23-year-old man must enlist his family to help him raise a baby that is the result of a one-night stand with a wanted felon.

#33 - Chapter Eleven, Year Two

Murder One - Season 2 - Episode 11

The defense team discusses strategy in the light of Rickey's confession to Jimmy and Justine. Chris suggests that Rickey not be put on the witness stand. Justine says that they should do whatever they can to present a sympathetic view of Rickey to the jury. Jimmy is adamant that Rickey should confess on the stand and hope that the jury finds that he was justified in killing Fortas. This angers Aaron, and he leaves the room. Gwen announces her engagement. Since her fiance is being transferred to New York right away and she wants to go with him, she bids Jimmy a fond farewell. Jimmy begins to look for her replacement. After several disastrous interviews, Jimmy is at a loss until Louis returns from Europe and Jimmy hires him on the spot. Rickey's mother and a former professional basketball player who Rickey is helping financially testify as character witnesses for him. Michaelson, a prostitute and a madam give damaging testimony about Fortas's character. Rickey replaces Michaelson with Hi

#34 - Heaven Can Wait

Providence - Season 1 - Episode 17

The series closes its first season with an emotional episode revolving around troubled teen Lilly. With Syd and the Hansens, Lilly has found a sense of security. Syd is thrilled when Kyle returns to Providence for a quick visit, but later becomes concerned when he also seeks her medical advice. Meanwhile, Jim is stunned when his assistant, Heather, quits her job, and enlists Robbie's help to convince her to stay. Joanie has a difficult time finding someone suitable to help her out at the Barkery. And, a family celebration turns tragic when a friend from Lilly's past arrives in Providence.

#35 - The Ex-Factor

The O.C. - Season 2 - Episode 9

The ABC's of Love. When Alex wants to spend time with her ex, Seth says "X" must make room for "I" and "U." But there's something Seth doesn't know. Julie has a makeover idea for the Newport Group.

#36 - Pilot

Better Off Ted - Season 1 - Episode 1

Ted Crisp works at Veridian Technologies in the research and development department and loves his job. However, Ted is taken aback when he learns the company has cryogenically frozen one of the scientists in his department.

#37 - Camdenites (2)

My Name Is Earl - Season 3 - Episode 22

#38 - The Perfect Couple

The O.C. - Season 1 - Episode 10

Work keeps Sandy and Kirsten apart, Rachel makes a play for Sandy, Julie's secret lover is revealed and - omigod! - Summer realizes she likes Seth (but don't ever tell anyone).

#39 - Killer Hope

Raising Hope - Season 2 - Episode 5

After discovering that Hope hit a boy at daycare, the family becomes worried that Hope is following in her mother's footsteps. Meanwhile, the Chances run into some problems when they camp out in tents due to their home being fumigated for termites.

#40 - Trust and Consequence

Better Off Ted - Season 1 - Episode 10

Veridian blames Linda for a perfume with unexpected side effects, and friends fall out when they're forced to testify.

#41 - The New Era

The O.C. - Season 2 - Episode 4

It's not a date, it's a group hang. So Seth goes with Lindsay, but looks for Summer. Ryan goes with Alex, but would rather be with Lindsay. And Julie... well, stay tuned. That new CEO has a style of her own.

#42 - Night of the Living Bed

St. Elsewhere - Season 6 - Episode 5

It's Halloween at the new and improved St. Eligius, and the craft-matic bed where Mrs. Hufnagel was crushed to death is apparently haunted. Meanwhile, Wade, Craig, and Ehrlich look for a heart transplant recipient and Chandler sucks up to Gideon in order to get promoted.

#43 - Joy in a Bubble

My Name Is Earl - Season 4 - Episode 3

Earl's attempt to give Joy the hot tub she's always wanted backfires and she is forced to stay in a makeshift bubble because of a flesh eating toe infection. While she is out of commission, Earl must fill in as the new Joy. Between gossiping with the ladies at the salon and shopping for meat out of some guy's trunk, Earl learns about the Turner family. This includes the fact that Dodge and Earl Jr. might have a social disorder that causes them to have no friends. Can Earl fix this problem too?

#44 - My Name Is Inmate 28301-016 (1)

My Name Is Earl - Season 3 - Episode 1

#45 - South of the Border (1)

My Name Is Earl - Season 2 - Episode 10

In the first half of this special one hour episode, Earl and Randy face problems in their quest to take Catalina off Earl's list and bring her home after she was deported because of Earl. Joy's friendly attitude causes the neighbors to get closer and Darnell doesn't like it at all.

#46 - Chapter Two

Murder One - Season 1 - Episode 2

Richard is arraigned and denied bail. Beverly Nichols visits Ted, bringing an alibi for Richard. She tells Ted that she was out clubbing with Richard the night of Jessica's murder and was with him when he discovered Jessica's body. When Ted wonders why Richard didn't come forward with this information when he was arrested, Beverly claims that he was protecting her from her jealous husband, who had beaten her once before when he found out that she was with Richard. Although it's apparent that Ted doesn't believe her story, he accompanies her to Parker Center when she gives her statement to Polson. Polson doesn't believe her either, but he can't shake her story. Based on Beverly's statement, and over Polson's strenuous objections, Garfield drops the charges against Richard and orders him released from custody. Polson then arrests Neil after matching a DNA sample Neil gave in an earlier paternity suit to the DNA found at the crime scene. Neil begs Ted to represent him, but Ted declines, r

#47 - Dead Tooth

Raising Hope - Season 1 - Episode 2

Jimmy asks Sabrina's cousin to baby-sit Hope so he can return to work. Burt tries to persuade Virginia to quit smoking.

#48 - Through Rose-colored HAZMAT Suits

Better Off Ted - Season 1 - Episode 3

When Ted's nanny calls in sick, he is forced to take his daughter Rose to work where Veronica bonds with her. Meanwhile, Ted learns where he stands with Linda when her ex-boyfriend arrives in town.

#49 - Earl and Joy's Anniversary

My Name Is Earl - Season 4 - Episode 10

Earl remembers his first wedding anniversary and the events that finally lead to their break up, involving Earl's cousin Blake and an invasion of killer bees.

#50 - Pilot

Suburgatory - Season 1 - Episode 1

Tessa and her father experience culture shock when they move out of New York and into a house in the suburbs.