The WORST episodes of Doogie Howser, M.D.

Every episode of Doogie Howser, M.D. ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Doogie Howser, M.D.!

Doogie Howser showed the coming of age of a teenage genius who was a board-certified surgeon by the time he was 16. At that tender age, Doogie (a childhood nickname for "Douglas") has to balance life with his parents and contemporaries and the demands of a career that's stressful even for adults. He has help and support from understanding parents Katherine and David Howser, the latter also a doctor, co-workers at the hospital who respect him despite his age, best friend Vinnie, and girlfriend Wanda.

Last Updated: 6/22/2025Network: ABC (US)Status: Ended
Doogie Got a Gun
star
7.23
13 votes

#1 - Doogie Got a Gun

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/7/1992

After the family is robbed, Doogie considers buying a gun, but he's haunted by memories of shooting victims he's treated.

Pilot
star
7.24
164 votes

#2 - Pilot

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/19/1989

Doogie passes one test to get his driver's license, but he must pass another when he treats a critically ill boy.

Directors: Rick Wallace
Thanks for the Memories
star
7.25
12 votes

#3 - Thanks for the Memories

Season 3 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/6/1992

Cherished memories get lost in the aging process for a patient who relies on Doogie to help him remember; and Vinnie takes a video journey of self-discovery.

There's a Riot Going On
star
7.46
13 votes

#4 - There's a Riot Going On

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/23/1992

The 1992 L.A. riots find trauma surgeon Doogie overwhelmed.

Writer: Nick Harding
A Stitch Called Wanda
star
7.49
78 votes

#5 - A Stitch Called Wanda

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/27/1989

Out on a date with Doogie, Wanda suffers an appendicitis attack and is rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery.

You've Come a Long Way, Baby-Sitter
star
7.50
10 votes

#6 - You've Come a Long Way, Baby-Sitter

Season 4 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/3/1993

Some things are better left unexplored, like Doogie's crush on his old baby sitter or Vinnie's dream of having a star read his script.

Directors: Mark Horowitz
Writer: Nick Harding
The Short Goodbye
star
7.50
48 votes

#7 - The Short Goodbye

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/11/1989

Moving out of his parents' house proves to be an eye-opening experience for Doogie. Meanwhile, a rock star is admitted to the hospital for vocal-cord surgery.

Doogie Doesn't Live Here Anymore
star
7.67
12 votes

#8 - Doogie Doesn't Live Here Anymore

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/14/1992

Doogie hunts for new digs—a Venice Beach loft; and Vinnie must also find a new home when his parents divorce.

Directors: Win Phelps
The Ice Queen Cometh
star
7.67
66 votes

#9 - The Ice Queen Cometh

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/20/1989

Doogie freezes in disbelief when he's asked out to dinner by Victoria Burke, the new radiology chief, known in some circles as "the Ice Queen."

It Ain't Over Till Mrs. Howser Sings
star
7.70
23 votes

#10 - It Ain't Over Till Mrs. Howser Sings

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/17/1990

A scare involving the results of her mammogram has Katherine intent on reviving her '60s singing career at a nightclub's open-mike night.

It's a Damn Shaman
star
7.70
10 votes

#11 - It's a Damn Shaman

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/16/1991

A Laotian family's religious beliefs jeopardize Doogie's care of a disabled youth.

The Patient in Spite of Himself
star
7.70
10 votes

#12 - The Patient in Spite of Himself

Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/21/1992

A med-school project has Doogie and a fellow doctor posing as patients, being poked, prodded and probed to learn how to empathize with patients.

Directors: Win Phelps
Writer: Hollis Rich
Ask Dr. Doogie
star
7.75
20 votes

#13 - Ask Dr. Doogie

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/26/1990

Doogie becomes famous after doing some public service announcements.

Directors: Ed Sherin
Frisky Business
star
7.77
43 votes

#14 - Frisky Business

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/4/1989

His parents' trip signals party time for Doogie and friends, whose plans include drinking beer while Doogie is on call.

Doogie Has Left the Building (1)
star
7.77
13 votes

#15 - Doogie Has Left the Building (1)

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/2/1991

Doogie ponders a decision affecting the life of a young patient. (Part 1 of 2)

My Old Man and the Sea
star
7.77
31 votes

#16 - My Old Man and the Sea

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/15/1989

Doogie is invited to spend the weekend in Palm Springs with Wanda and her family—but it's the same weekend that his father picked for their annual fishing trip.

To Err Is Human, to Give Up Isn't a Bad Idea
star
7.78
9 votes

#17 - To Err Is Human, to Give Up Isn't a Bad Idea

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/28/1992

Doogie faces his first solo surgery fearing he's not perfect; and Vinnie faces his first time voting.

Double Doogie with Cheese
star
7.79
14 votes

#18 - Double Doogie with Cheese

Season 3 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/5/1992

Vinnie bets that Doogie can't last in a "mindless" fast-food job.

Directors: Bill D'Elia
Writer: Hollis Rich
Simply Irresistible
star
7.79
34 votes

#19 - Simply Irresistible

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/18/1989

After a grueling 48-hour shift amid hothouse conditions, Doogie is tempted to switch loyalties to an upscale pediatrics group eager to woo him away from Eastman.

Directors: Sheldon Larry
Look Ma, No Pants
star
7.80
10 votes

#20 - Look Ma, No Pants

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/30/1992

Katherine can't stop playing mother to Doogie even after he dates her boss, whom he brings to the house for skinny-dipping.

Mummy Dearest
star
7.80
10 votes

#21 - Mummy Dearest

Season 3 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/22/1992

The examination of a mummy brings rumblings of a curse from the staff and has Doogie contemplating the limits of modern medicine.

Writer: Ellen Harman
Tonight's the Night
star
7.80
25 votes

#22 - Tonight's the Night

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/22/1989

Doogie and Wanda are pressured by peers to get intimate; and Doogie has trouble leaving work problems at work as he deals with an unwed teenage mother.

Doogie the Red-Nosed Reindeer
star
7.81
21 votes

#23 - Doogie the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/13/1989

Doogie feigns illness to get out of working the night shift on Christmas Eve so he can go to a party.

Dangerous Reunions
star
7.82
11 votes

#24 - Dangerous Reunions

Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/8/1992

Katherine relives the past with her visiting first love; Raymond starts hanging out with pals from the 'hood.

Directors: Eric Laneuville
Writer: Ellen Herman
Blood and Remembrance
star
7.82
34 votes

#25 - Blood and Remembrance

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/1/1989

Doogie's hectic schedule prevents him from spending time with Wanda, a situation that renders him more sympathetic to a patient.