The BEST episodes directed by James Burrows
#1 - Of Mice and Tony
Taxi - Season 4 - Episode 9
Tony becomes the manager of a promising young heavyweight boxer at his gym, but after the boxer wins a major fight, the "syndicate" (which turns out to be some doctors looking for an investment, rather than the mob) makes Tony an offer he can't refuse and takes over the boxer's management.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#2 - Fathers and Sons and Mothers
The Bob Newhart Show - Season 4 - Episode 12
Bob suffers family problems when his mother becomes a houseguest and an elderly patient involves him in a parent-child vendetta.
#3 - Fantasy Borough (1)
Taxi - Season 2 - Episode 23
After Herve Villachaize (Tattoo from Fantasy Island) leaves a package in Tony's cab, the gang discusses their various fantasies while waiting for him to pick it up. Tony's fantasy is wowing Eric Sevareid (who happens to be a passenger in his cab) with his political insight. Latka's fantasy is to be the taxi dispatcher and turn the tables on Louie. Bobby fantasizes about being a famous singer and conning a homeless Louie out of his last dollar. Jim fantasizes about being visited by aliens. (Part 1 of 2)
#4 - Going Home
Taxi - Season 3 - Episode 5
Jim is sought out by a detective, hired by his wealthy father to locate him and give him plane tickets to come visit him in Boston. Jim explains to the gang that he has been estranged from his family after dropping out of Harvard in the 1960's and changed his name from Caldwell to Ignatowski. Jim agrees to go to visit his father and brings Alex with him, who is curious about what Jim's family must be like. At his father's mansion, Jim's oddness upsets his father and they get into an argument during dinner. Jim is asked to leave, but Alex speaks to Jim's father privately to try to smooth things over. It turns out Jim's father still thinks of Jim as his favorite child, but it hurts him to see him wasting his life when he had so much potential. Jim comes in and convinces his father that he's got a happy life and doesn't need his father's money and they share a moment before Jim leaves.
#5 - Louie Bumps into an Old Lady
Taxi - Season 3 - Episode 16
Louie, driving a cab in order to give pointers to a new driver, accidentally runs into an old lady pedestrian. Louie starts catering to the old lady, in the hopes of avoiding being sued, but soon learns she is still going to sue him for a million dollars. Alex notices that the old lady looks familiar, and recognizes her as a con artist, who pulls scams like this on cab drivers all the time (faking injuries in order to sue them). Alex makes a deal with Louie to find some of her previous victims to testify against her, if Louie agrees to treat Alex with more respect. It turns out, however, that this time, the woman really has broken her leg this time, and is indeed confined to a wheelchair legitimately (she tells this to her lawyer without any of the gang around). At the trial, Alex shows up alone because he couldn't get anyone to testify in Louie's behalf, so Louie gets a bright idea. In an attempt to prove that the woman is faking an injury, in front of the court, Louie pushes he
#6 - Fantasy Borough (2)
Taxi - Season 2 - Episode 24
In this continuation of the previous episode, the gang continues to fantasize. Alex fantasizes about picking up a beautiful woman in his cab and taking her back to his place. He's having trouble concentrating, however, and strikes out when he learns the woman is his niece. Louie fantasizes that he is the rich owner of the garage during the depression and is married to Elaine. Elaine fantasizes that the whole gang sings "Lullaby of Broadway" in the garage, with a Broadway-style arrangement.
#7 - Latka's Cookies
Taxi - Season 3 - Episode 8
When Latka's grandmother dies, he is pleased that she has left him her famous cookie recipe, complete with a supply of the secret ingredients. He bakes up some for the cabbies to enjoy, but the cabbies don't enjoy them. Nonetheless, Latka begins his own cookie business. In the days to come, the cabbies find that they are indeed starting to inexplicably like the cookies, and are also unusually happy and energetic. When Jim samples one, he determines that the secret ingredient is cocaine—which accounts for why everyone's behavior. Upon learning this, Alex visits Latka (busy baking cookies to fill supermarket orders) to tell him the bad news. Latka is noticeably high from the cookies, and hallucinates that Famous Amos tells him to do whatever it takes to be successful. Although Latka can no longer sell the drugged cookies, he is excited at the taste of capitalism because it means he's now a true American.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#8 - Pilot
Stark Raving Mad - Season 1 - Episode 1
Henry McNeely's boss, Audrey, gives him a promotion he doesn't want: that of editor for flavor-of-the-month horror novelist Ian Stark -- who keeps editors like Henry keeps his backbone. Ian's eccentricities and penchant for practical jokes and spontaneous daredevil stunts -- at the expense of not actually writing a follow-up book -- threaten Henry's anal-retentive, obsessive-compulsive and fraidy-cat ways. Can two single men share a job without driving each other crazy?
Watch Now:Amazon
#9 - Fledgling
Taxi - Season 4 - Episode 8
Elaine makes it her mission to try to cure a talented and friendly but troubled artist of his severe agoraphobia (fear of public places). Alex (possibly jealous of Elaine spending time with another man) advises Elaine to leave the treatment to a professional, but she ignores his advice and eventually brings the artist to the garage. Predictably, the artist is scared to leave the cab but while Alex and Elaine bicker about her methods, the artist walks out of the cab and appears to be making progress.
#10 - Thy Boss's Wife
Taxi - Season 3 - Episode 9
At the garage, the cabbies overhear a screaming match between the company's owner, Mr. McKenzie, and his wife. Meanwhile, Louie tells them that whenever McKenzie and his wife are fighting, she chooses a handsome young cab driver to have a fling with, then confesses to her husband, and the cabbie is then never heard from again. Louie continues that even if the cabbie turns her down, she still will make up a story about him to tell her husband. The cabbies don't buy it until Alex comes in, overhears Mrs. McKenzie about to come downstairs, and hides in his locker. Louie approaches Mrs. McKenzie, surveying the cab drivers in the garage, with vigor, hoping to pimp Tony or Bobby, but she decides on Louie (her explanation is that since her husband would be upset by her fooling around with a good looking man, being with Louie would kill him). Louie breaks into Alex's apartment while he's sleeping and begs him for advice and all Alex can come up with is that he confront her and try to talk to her.
#11 - The Road Not Taken (1)
Taxi - Season 4 - Episode 23
When Elaine is offered a job as an art gallery manager in Seattle, she asks the gang for help in making a decision. The cabbies share with Elaine some stories about life changing decisions they once had to make. Tony talks about how he refused to take a dive in a major fight, even though he will likely be in trouble with the mob. In the fight, Tony learns that the other fighter has also been paid to take a dive, and the fighter does so in comic fashion. Next, Louie talks about how he became a taxi dispatcher after mercifully taking over for the kindly old dispatcher who had to take his wife to the doctor. Louie finds he likes the job and forces the old man out of the dispatcher's job into retirement. Finally, Jim tells of how he was very studious at Harvard, until his free-spirit girlfriend turned him on to hash brownies. (Part one of two)
#12 - The Road Not Taken (2)
Taxi - Season 4 - Episode 24
(Part two) In a continuation of the previous episode, the cabbies share past experiences with Elaine. Latka discusses his decision to leave his mother and move to America. Alex talks about an opportunity for a major promotion at a desk job he had, but would not compromise his principles to take it. Meanwhile, the man who offered Elaine a job comes to the garage to get a decision from her, but he withdraws his offer when he sees how wishy washy Elaine is being about it.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#13 - Pilot
NewsRadio - Season 1 - Episode 1
On his first day as WNYX's news director, Dave finds that he must fire his predecessor.
#14 - Gary and Allison's Restaurant
Gary Unmarried - Season 1 - Episode 7
Gary ends up in Vanessa's doghouse after finally taking her on a real date, but brings her to a restaurant that he used to frequent with Allison.
#15 - The Class Blows The Whistle
The Class - Season 1 - Episode 4
When Duncan starts hanging around with Yonk, talking about video games and football, Nicole realizes that her worst nightmare is coming true---they're becoming buddies. Kat tries to help Ethan recover, so she sets him up with one of her friends. Holly becomes obsessed with trying to get her daughter Oprah in Kyle's school, so she starts interrupting Kyle and Aaron all the time, and drives them crazy. After their last date turned out a total disaster, Richie and Lina try to go out on a second date.
#16 - The Class Reunites (Pilot)
The Class - Season 1 - Episode 1
Eight friends who shared the same third grade class 20 years ago are reunited when Ethan Haas, one of the friends, throws a surprise anniversary party for his fiancée, also from the same third grade class. The party turns into a total disaster when Ethan's fiancée Joanne breaks up with him. Holly reunited with the love of her life, Kyle, who is now dating a man. Duncan reunites with Nicole, who is now married to a football star Yonk Allen. And Richie goes out on a date with Lina.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#17 - Gary and Allison Brooks
Gary Unmarried - Season 1 - Episode 8
Gary pretends he is still married while attending the vow-renewal of a friend, as a favor to Allison. But the plan backfires when Gary finds himself attracted to one of the guests.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#18 - The Finale (1)
Will & Grace - Season 8 - Episode 23
The culmination of eight seasons ends tonight with a one-hour series finale - will Will and Grace raise a child together and find ultimate happiness? Will Jack find anyone that loves him as much as he loves himself? Will Karen find true happiness with the absence of Stan? All these questions and more will be answered as this groundbreaking series concludes eight amazing seasons.
#19 - Rebecca's One Night Stand
Romantically Challenged - Season 1 - Episode 4
Lisa finally convinces Rebecca to have her first one night stand. But the always polite Rebecca violates Lisa's number-one rule by calling her date, Leo, the morning after. Now Leo is into Rebecca, so Lisa gives her sister her own unusual brand of dating advice so Rebecca can break up with him. Meanwhile, an overworked Perry decides to take a stay-cation. But doing so gets on the nerves of his unemployed roommate, Shawn, to the point that Shawn decides to get a job - any job.
Watch Now:Amazon
#20 - Gary and the Trophy
Gary Unmarried - Season 1 - Episode 18
After a bowling teammate quits before the championships, Gary rushes to find a replacement.
#21 - Led Zeppelin II
NewsRadio - Season 2 - Episode 21
A fire in the building sets everyone's nerves on edge. Bill tries to escape. Dave and Lisa get back together. Mr. James continues his wife search.
#22 - Gary Uses His Veto
Gary Unmarried - Season 1 - Episode 16
When Gary vetoes Louise from taking Chinese, Allison uses her veto to put a stop to Louise taking golf lessons.
#23 - Perry and Rebecca's High School Reunion
Romantically Challenged - Season 1 - Episode 3
When it's time for Rebecca and Perry to go back to their high school reunion, Rebecca is ready to confront Jesse, the guy who publicly humiliated her by standing her up at the senior prom. But Perry knows the real reason why she was stood up and tells a preposterous lie to keep Rebecca from discovering the truth. Meanwhile, avid hockey fan Shawn is devastated when he finds out that the local cable company won't be carrying the championship games. When he learns further that Lisa's friend, Vanessa, has the games on her cable station, he has to hide his real motive for romancing Vanessa from both women.
Watch Now:Amazon
#24 - Alive and Schticking
Will & Grace - Season 8 - Episode 1
LIVE SEASON PREMIERE - Grace contemplates having an affair with a married man. Elsewhere, Jack begins new career as a host of his new talk show "Jack Talk." Will gets some advice from Malcolm and tries to hide from Karen the fact that Stan is alive. Alec Baldwin and Eric Stoltz guest star, Shelly Morrison also stars.
#25 - The Finale (2)
Will & Grace - Season 8 - Episode 24
The culmination of eight seasons ends tonight with a one-hour series finale - will Will and Grace raise a child together and find ultimate happiness? Will Jack find anyone that loves him as much as he loves himself? Will Karen find true happiness with the absence of Stan? All these questions and more will be answered as this groundbreaking series concludes eight amazing seasons.
#27 - Gary and His Half Brother
Gary Unmarried - Season 1 - Episode 19
Gary's half-brother has returned from the war and needs a place to stay. The full house finds Gary spinning out of control as he finds himself playing parent to both his children and a sibling.
#28 - I Love L. Gay
Will & Grace - Season 8 - Episode 14
The gang travels to Los Angeles to accompany Elliot while he visits UCLA. Coincidently, Will runs into James who's in jeopardy of being deported. After spending a perfect weekend together, Grace makes a proposal to keep Will and James from having to say 'good-bye' to each other... ever again...
#29 - The Charade
Romantically Challenged - Season 1 - Episode 2
Although Rebecca said she wouldn't meddle in sister Lisa's love life, she can't resist finding out why Lisa would break up with "nice guy" Neil. When Lisa finds out what Rebecca did, she finds a way to get back at her. Meanwhile, as Shawn is on his way to pick up Perry from his dental surgery, he gets distracted by a pretty girl, proving once again that the ladies come first in his life, so a fed-up Perry kicks Shawn out of the apartment and refuses to forgive his BFF.
Watch Now:Amazon
#30 - One Hugs, the Other Doesn't
Cheers - Season 10 - Episode 16
A Boston performance by children's singer Nanny Gee for Frederick's birthday sheds light on Frasier's past as Lilith and the barflies discover Nanny is Frasier's first wife! Frasier had forgotten to mention this fact to Lilith and when Nanny arrives at Cheers she and Lilith soon get into a catfight!
Watch Now:Amazon
#31 - Wage Against The Machine
Superior Donuts - Season 1 - Episode 11
Franco moonlights as Fawz's assistant to make extra money. Randy and James compete against each other to see who can win the coveted prize at work.
#32 - Elaine's Strange Triangle
Taxi - Season 3 - Episode 4
At Mario's, while Elaine is complaining about problems with her love life, a handsome man named Kirk approaches. Tony then plays matchmaker for Elaine and soon she and Kirk are dating happily. Kirk later tells Tony in private that he has a problem: he is interested romantically in someone else-- Tony! Tony, who is not gay but does not want to see Elaine hurt over this, tells Alex and although he doesn't really want to get involved, Alex agrees to meet Tony and Kirk at a gay bar to help smooth over the situation. Alex arrives at the bar before Tony and is nervous, but relaxes after Kirk tells him he knows Tony isn't interested and he's already gently broken things off with Elaine. Alex begins to feel more at ease, but soon he is asked to dance by a large man. Alex is then pulled on to the dance floor and is eventually chased on to the bar itself by a chorus of gay dancers and unable to escape, begins dancing on the bar, when Tony arrives..
#34 - Lows in the Mid-Eighties (1)
Will & Grace - Season 3 - Episode 8
In a flashback to Thanksgiving 1985, coed Grace invites her college boyfriend Will home to meet her family, but their romantic relationship swerves dramatically when a conflicted Will phones a teenaged Jack for some crucial advice. Unfortunately, Will and an angry Grace end up temporarily estranged when he blurts out the truth and she orders him out of the house -- and her life.
#36 - Will & Grace & Vince & Nadine
Will & Grace - Season 7 - Episode 7
When Will and Grace invite Vince and Nadine over for a meet-and-greet dinner, they find to their horror that their guests are actually polar opposites of themselves. Meanwhile, Karen is still angry with Grace and decides to leave the interior design firm when Jack comes to her rescue and hires her to be his new assistant at "Out TV."
Watch Now:Apple TV
#37 - Strangers with Candice
Will & Grace - Season 6 - Episode 9
Hoping to cheer up Grace, a well-dressed Will takes his best friend with him on a dinner date. When the date stands him up, Will catches the eye of a female patron while Grace bumps into a guy with whom she once shared an ordinary, forgettable romantic encounter. Meanwhile, Karen takes student nurse Jack out to celebrate his school "success" but the evening turns sour when Karen runs into her ultimate nemesis, Candice Bergen. The meeting sparks yet another round in the Bergen/Walker Prank War of 2003.
#38 - Von Trapped
Will & Grace - Season 8 - Episode 10
The "Sound of Music Sing-Along" has come to town and no one is more excited than Grace. She plans for her and Will to attend the musical in character-like style by dressing up in costumes. Meanwhile, Karen and Jack try to flee when she gets in trouble with the theater's manager, who blocks off the exits, trapping everyone inside and forcing them to plot their escape.
#39 - Gary Fixes Allison's Garbage Disposal
Gary Unmarried - Season 1 - Episode 20
Gary sets out to repair Allison's garbage disposal but find themselves inside her bedroom fixing their lust for sex.
#40 - Bobby Doesn't Live Here Anymore
Taxi - Season 4 - Episode 12
Bobby, who has moved to Hollywood, comes back to the garage for a visit and announces that he's filmed a pilot for a new prime-time soap opera. During his visit, he learns that the pilot has been picked up as a series and Bobby throws a party at the Plaza Hotel to celebrate. He soon learns that although the series is a go, they no longer want Bobby to appear in it. Bobby is upset and entertains the idea of moving back to New York, until Alex convinces him to follow his dream in Hollywood.
#41 - Like Father, Like Son
Taxi - Season 4 - Episode 6
Alex's estranged father contacts Alex and reluctantly, Alex agrees to have lunch with him. At first, Alex lays into his father about having deserted his family, but eventually they start having a nice conversation. Alex's father, a real ladies' man, even sets him up with an attractive woman sitting at the table next to them at Mario's. When Alex leaves Mario's, Alex's father makes a date with the woman as well. Evidently, both men continue dating the woman, but when Alex learns that his father has double crossed him, he becomes furious and confronts his father. Ultimately, Alex's father lays on the charm enough with Alex that Alex forgives him and they are seen having dinner together.
#42 - Halls of Hartley
The Bob Newhart Show - Season 5 - Episode 17
Bob succumbs to the pressures of living in a big city and desperately seeks employment of a small rural college.
#43 - Louie's Fling
Taxi - Season 4 - Episode 5
Zena asks Louie to drive her friend Emily, who has just been dumped and is drugged, drunk, and upset, back to her apartment. While there, Emily comes on to Louie and he ends up cheating on Zena. Louie soon brags of his conquest, but Elaine gets so angry that she is about to tell Zena everything. Louie decides to tell Zena himself though, who understandably dumps him. Louie then shows up at Emily's apartment, but Emily is clearly regretting her indiscretion with Louie and is getting back with her boyfriend anyway, so she kicks him out quickly. Louie, back at the garage, is in tears because he is so upset at the turn of events. Alex, feeling sorry for Louie, gives him some sage advice on how to get Zena back. All of a sudden, Louie turns off the tears and Alex sees that he's been had and gets furious with himself. As Louie goes to talk to Zena (and presumably gets back together with her), he assures Alex that the tears were real.
#44 - Dirty Money
Man with a Plan - Season 1 - Episode 20
When Adam and Andi borrow money from Joe to help with a cash flow problem, they soon regret it.
#45 - Winter Has Come
Man with a Plan - Season 1 - Episode 7
When a blizzard prevents the Burns family from visiting the grandparents' house for Christmas, Adam and Andi scramble to avoid an epic holiday disaster.
#46 - Thanksgiving
Man with a Plan - Season 1 - Episode 5
Andi has a hard time not taking over when Adam tackles organizing the school's big Thanksgiving feast with Don and Lowell.
#47 - Cradle to Grave
Back to You - Season 1 - Episode 8
Chuck babysits Gracie while Kelly gives the eulogy at a funeral for a former member of WURG.
#48 - Brains and Eggs
3rd Rock from the Sun - Season 1 - Episode 1
Solomon discovers that human bodies can produce feelings, and he's feeling attracted to a college professor with whom he shares an office.
#49 - Art Work
Taxi - Season 2 - Episode 22
The cabbies are faring poorly at various gambling schemes, but Elaine alerts the gang about a moneymaking tip for an art auction. It seems a terminally ill artist's painting is up for auction, and when an artist dies, the value of his paintings goes up considerably. She estimates that they need to pool $2,000 to win the auction and the gang, including Louie, barely scrapes up enough. At the auction, Louie attempts various dirty tricks to ensure a successful bid, but the bidding quickly goes above $2,000 and another bidder snares the painting. It is then announced that the artist has passed away, which rubs salt in the wounds of the already dejected cabbies.
#50 - Louie Meets the Folks
Taxi - Season 2 - Episode 13
When Zena insists that Louie meet her parents, Louie is so worried about it (Zena's father is a minister) that he bribes Alex to come along with them to dinner, to keep him from embarrassing himself. At dinner, despite Alex's attempts at keeping Louie from acting crude, Louie manages to offend Zena's parents, yet the parents still act gracious towards him. Still, Louie believes the parents have accepted him, until Zena's mother tells him in private that if he tries to marry Zena, she'll have him killed (but makes him vow to keep that a secret).