The BEST episodes directed by Mike Judge
#1 - Optimal Tip-to-Tip Efficiency
Silicon Valley - Season 1 - Episode 8
Poised to compete at TechCrunch Disrupt, the guys of Pied Piper become worried after an impressive presentation by Gavin Belson. As Jared tries to pivot the company, Richard is inspired to make big changes at the last minute.
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#2 - Terms of Service
Silicon Valley - Season 4 - Episode 2
Richard butts heads with Dinesh, whose new position goes to his head. Richard discovers interesting data about PiperChat's users. Erlich makes a play to be involved in Jian-Yang's new app. Jared sets ground rules in his friendship with Richard. Gavin's paranoia over Jack's enthusiasm causes him to make a rash decision.
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#3 - Proof of Concept
Silicon Valley - Season 1 - Episode 7
At TechCrunch Disrupt, Richard feels the pressure to finish his demo, but finds himself distracted by a girl he dated briefly, who’s now spreading rumors about him. Jared worries that Monica is taking his place in the company. Dinesh develops a crush on a girl at a neighboring booth. Erlich’s scandalous past connection to one of the judges threatens Pied Piper’s chances.
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#4 - Binding Arbitration
Silicon Valley - Season 2 - Episode 9
When Pied Piper and Hooli enter binding arbitration, Erlich demands to be put on the stand. Big Head finds himself propped up. Richard worries Hooli’s claim could have legs.
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#5 - Server Error
Silicon Valley - Season 4 - Episode 10
Richard finds himself in a web of lie. Jared plans his exit. Jack bets big. Gavin plots a comeback.
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#6 - Johnny Paycheck
Mike Judge Presents: Tales From the Tour Bus - Season 1 - Episode 1
In addition to selling 40 million records and producing chart-topping hits like “She’s All I Got” and “Take This Job and Shove It,” country music outlaw Johnny Paycheck became notorious for living the part. He was known for his music, grand theft auto, drug binges and stints in jail. At the height of Paycheck’s fame, he shot a man over a turtle soup recipe, which led to a high-profile trial, a prison sentence and one of his greatest hits, “Old Violin.”
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#7 - George Jones and Tammy Wynette Pt 2
Mike Judge Presents: Tales From the Tour Bus - Season 1 - Episode 4
Collaborating on 33 hit songs and nine studio albums, George Jones and Tammy Wynette projected an image of marital bliss. Backstage, real life was more of a mess, highlighted by actual gunplay, an accusation of poisoning and ingenious disappearing acts in the name of alcohol. The marriage was ultimately sacrificed, but the music survived. Despite George’s split personalities and Tammy’s endless string of men, the two maintained an artistic partnership that stood the test of time and gave them one of their greatest hits, “Golden Rings,” about love and marriage.
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#8 - George Jones and Tammy Wynette Pt 1
Mike Judge Presents: Tales From the Tour Bus - Season 1 - Episode 3
He was a poor boy from a bootleggers’ town in the Texas backwoods. She was a cotton-picking Mississippi girl dreaming of stardom in Nashville. Together, George Jones and Tammy Wynette became the first power couple in country music. They were perfect in the public eye, but their tumultuous relationship was punctuated by George’s alcohol-fueled escapades and his paranoia over Tammy’s romantic past. She tried to keep the marriage from turning toxic, singing “Stand By Your Man,” her greatest hit, onstage with her husband every night.
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#9 - Waylon Jennings Pt 2
Mike Judge Presents: Tales From the Tour Bus - Season 1 - Episode 7
Fed up with Nashville's unwritten rules, Waylon Jennings put on his famous black hat, bucked the system and became one of country music's original outlaws. He recorded what he wanted and how he wanted, usually high on cocaine in a studio known as "Hillbilly Central." He also hired Hell's Angels for protection and as babysitters for his kid. Despite a string of hits including "Honky Tonk Heroes" and "Luckenbach, Texas," Waylon was targeted by the Feds for his coke-fueled antics. It only made his legend grow. After writing "Don't You Think This Outlaw Bit's Done Got Out of Hand," Waylon shocked Nashville by quitting drugs, cold turkey, and getting sober all on his own.
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#10 - Hooli-con
Silicon Valley - Season 4 - Episode 9
Erlich goes on a trip to get his mojo back while the guys head to Hooli-Con, where Jared faces a moral dilemma. Gilfoyle and Dinesh are distracted by Keenan. and Richard becomes obsessed with an ex's new beau.
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#11 - Success Failure
Silicon Valley - Season 4 - Episode 1
The guys struggle to find funding for Pied Piper's video chat app to keep up with their rapidly growing user base. Erlich faces resistance from Big Head's father. Jack steps on Gavin's toes at Hooli. Richard gets sage advice.
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#12 - Waylon Jennings Pt 1
Mike Judge Presents: Tales From the Tour Bus - Season 1 - Episode 6
The father of 'Outlaw' country music, Waylon Jennings grew up in Texas with dreams of making it to the Grand Ole Opry. Following a musical partnership with Buddy Holly that ended in his first experience cheating death, Waylon eventually made his way to Nashville where he became roommates with Johnny Cash. The singer, like his pal Johnny, never quite fit in with the Nashville sound, although they both found the Nashville speed to their liking. It took a move back home to Texas and a reunion with his old friend and fellow outcast Willie Nelson, for the charismatic Waylon to breathe new life into country music, and finally do things on his own terms.
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#13 - Homicide
Silicon Valley - Season 2 - Episode 6
When Monica encourages the guys to pounce on a livestream opportunity, Erlich reconnects with his old mentee, Double-A, an energy drink billionaire, but Richard finds out their friendship isn’t quite what Erlich thinks. After learning that the livestream might hit a snag, Gilfoyle and Dinesh brainstorm their options. Jared encourages a friendship between Carla and Monica.
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#14 - Founder Friendly
Silicon Valley - Season 3 - Episode 1
After being unceremoniously fired, an angry Richard faces a tough decision: accept the diminished role of CTO, or leave Pied Piper for good. Erlich takes a shine to Jack Barker, Laurie’s new choice of CEO, while Dinesh and Gilfoyle weigh their options in Richard’s absence. At Hooli, Gavin tries to improve his image by admitting failure, and Big Head gets wind of major changes.
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#15 - Jerry Lee Lewis
Mike Judge Presents: Tales From the Tour Bus - Season 1 - Episode 2
One of the pioneers of rock’n’roll, Jerry Lee Lewis also happened to be a country music singer who liked to call himself “The Killer.” He made a name for himself not just as a magnetic piano-playing singer, but also as an impulsive, gun-wielding wild man, who stoked epic rivalries with the likes of Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley. The Killer also notoriously married his 13-year-old second cousin, setting off an epic worldwide scandal.
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#16 - Initial Coin Offering
Silicon Valley - Season 5 - Episode 7
Richard gets unsettling news as the Pied Piper guys prepare to close their Series B funding. Meanwhile, Gilfoyle suggests a risky proposition; Dinesh goes to great lengths to compete with a coworker; Jared keeps an eye on Richard's new assistant; and Gavin tries to charm small-town America.
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#17 - Blood Money
Silicon Valley - Season 6 - Episode 2
Richard meets a potential investor; Gilfoyle butts heads with HR; Gavin explores a leaner Hooli's future.
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#18 - Reorientation
Silicon Valley - Season 5 - Episode 2
Panicked by suddenly leading a much larger team, Richard finds himself managing a number of small conflicts in his efforts to unite his new employees. Dinesh celebrates a new purchase that Gilfoyle looks to spoil. Jian-Yang goes to court. Gavin meets pushback over his signature and what it says about him.
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#19 - Grow Fast or Die Slow
Silicon Valley - Season 5 - Episode 1
Now that Pied Piper has ample funding and new offices, the pressure to get things right stymies Richard and forces him to grow the company in a way he hadn't planned. A picky Dinesh and Gilfoyle question their ability to make good decisions. After returning to Hooli, Gavin worries about becoming antiquated.
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#20 - Two in the Box
Silicon Valley - Season 3 - Episode 2
The new and improved Pied Piper impresses Dinesh and Gilfoyle, but worries Richard; Jared and Erlich both face housing issues; Gavin suggests a controversial move.
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#21 - Sand Hill Shuffle
Silicon Valley - Season 2 - Episode 1
Following their success at TechCrunch Disrupt, the guys of Pied Piper find themselves aggressively courted by every VC in Silicon Valley. With Peter Gregory’s company facing major changes, Monica tries to do what’s best while dealing with new managing partner Laurie, a competitive bigwig who will do anything to hold onto Pied Piper. Later, Richard makes a decision about the company’s future and faces big news from Hooli.
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#22 - Server Space
Silicon Valley - Season 2 - Episode 5
Gavin’s interference causes Pied Piper to struggle with securing their expansion, while a nosy neighbor puts the guys at risk. Gilfoyle takes on the task of building servers, and an overstressed Richard reluctantly takes in Jared as a roommate. Big Head’s management skills are questioned, and Nucleus’ debut zeroes in on a big event.
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#23 - The Cap Table
Silicon Valley - Season 1 - Episode 2
After a celebratory party at the Hacker Hostel, Richard and Erlich learn that Peter Gregory won't pay up until they deliver a viable business plan that includes a slimmed-down staff. A desperate Richard hires former Belson underling Jared, and they set about trying to trim the fat. While Gilfoyle and Dinesh prove essential, Big Head's place in the company is less certain.
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#24 - Artificial Lack of Intelligence
Silicon Valley - Season 6 - Episode 1
Richard discovers his promise that Pied Piper won't collect user data is under threat; Jared longs for the past; Gilfoyle gets creative in dealing with Dinesh.
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#25 - Runaway Devaluation
Silicon Valley - Season 2 - Episode 2
In the wake of Hooli’s bombshell, Richard and the guys struggle to find a backer as they face legal and financial woes. Monica attempts to balance her interest in Pied Piper with her job. A cash-strapped Dinesh tries to put an end to the Kickstarter campaign for his cousin’s new app, Bro. Richard gets a surprising offer.
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#26 - Minimum Viable Product
Silicon Valley - Season 1 - Episode 1
Attending an elaborate launch party, Richard and his computer programmer friends - Big Head, Dinesh and Gilfoyle - dream of making it big. Instead, they're living in the communal Hacker Hostel owned by former programmer Erlich, who gets to claim ten percent of anything they invent there. When it becomes clear that Richard has developed a powerful compression algorithm for his website, Pied Piper, he finds himself courted by Gavin Belson, his egomaniacal corporate boss, who offers a $10 million buyout by his firm, Hooli. But Richard holds back when well-known investor Peter Gregory makes a counteroffer.
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#27 - Billy Joe Shaver
Mike Judge Presents: Tales From the Tour Bus - Season 1 - Episode 5
By all accounts, Billy Joe Shaver should never have made it in country music. A poor Texas kid from a broken family, he lost three fingers in a sawmill accident before ever writing a song. Despite his physical challenge, Shaver landed in Nashville as a singer/songwriter with hard luck songs about real life. A chance meeting with Waylon Jennings in the back of a peanut trailer led to the breakthrough 'Outlaw' album Honky Tonk Heroes, featuring Waylon singing songs written by Billy Joe. A decade later, Shaver made a name for himself after shooting a man at a roadside tavern for allegedly talking to his soon-to-be ex-wife. The gun play led to a celebrity trial and a shocking verdict. And, of course, Billy Joe wrote a song about it.
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#28 - Blaze Foley
Mike Judge Presents: Tales From the Tour Bus - Season 1 - Episode 8
A legend in country music circles, and a complete unknown to most fans, Blaze Foley burned bright on the Austin, Texas music scene before being silenced well before his time. He was an intimidating physical presence with a wry sense of humor and the voice of an angel who battled his demons by writing songs about them. Blaze hated hypocrisy as much as he loved booze and duct tape. He became best friends and brothers in self-destruction with another singer/songwriter, Townes Van Zandt. And he died tragically while trying to defend a friend from harm, but not before writing his greatest song, “If I Could Only Fly.”
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#29 - Hard Sell
Beavis and Butt-Head - Season 5 - Episode 6
The boys get jobs as telemarketers; Beavis becomes the top salesman, and Butt-head can't figure out what to do. videos: Stone Temple Pilots - "Vasoline" Archers Of Loaf - "Web In Front" Stacey Q. - "Two of Hearts" Infectious Grooves - "Violent and Funky"
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#30 - Feel a Cop
Beavis and Butt-Head - Season 6 - Episode 4
Beavis and Butt-head try to score with a vice cop who is working undercover as a prostitute. videos: Rednex - "Cotton-Eyed Joe" Tom Jones - "If I Only Knew" The The - "I Saw The Light"
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#31 - Sexual Harrassment
Beavis and Butt-Head - Season 5 - Episode 46
The boys want to sue a chick in class for sexual harassment because she's constantly giving them "wood." videos: Tom Petty - "It's Good To Be King" The Prodigy - "Poison" Morphine - "Honey White"
#32 - Beaverly Buttbillies
Beavis and Butt-Head - Season 5 - Episode 14
After watching "The Beverly Hillbillies" on TV, Beavis and Butt-head decide to dig for oil but break a sewage line instead. videos: Dog Eat Dog - "No Front" The Bubblemen - "The Bubblemen Are Coming" Girlschool - "Play Dirty" Babes In Toyland - "Ripe"