The WORST episodes of Ed

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

Ed Stevens is a contracts lawyer at a high-profile New York City firm. Around the same time he splits with his wife (she slept with a mailman), he makes a single error in punctuation when going over a contract; and because of the resulting financial loss to the firm, he's fired. Despondent, he heads back to his (small) hometown of Stuckeyville -- 'Anytown', USA. There he realizes he's been missed by a lot of friends whom he's missed; and he sees Carol, the girl he'd adored in high school. Swept up in roiling emotions, Ed buys the local bowling alley on a whim, moves to Stuckeyville, and determines to win Carol's heart. His horizons broaden as he settles once more in Stuckeyville, and the series itself settles into a charming, funny, often serious slice-of-life series focused not solely on Ed but on the lovable ensemble cast of people who live and work with him in Stuckeyville.

Last Updated: 10/6/2024Network: NBCStatus: Ended
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Death, Debt, & Dating
star
6.95
58 votes

#1 - Death, Debt, & Dating

Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/22/2003

Mike and Nancy devise a series of bizarre tests to determine which of their friends would make the best guardian for Sarah if anything were to happen to them; Phil creates the perfect farewell of a 21 pin salute for an eccentric customer who breathes his last at Stuckeybowl; Molly meets an adventurous new man who literally sweeps her off her feet and into the air; Ed represents a man being sued by his father for the cost of his undergraduate and dental school tuition after he quits his internship because he hates being a dentist.

Directors: Stephen Williams
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The Road
star
6.96
117 votes

#2 - The Road

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/9/2002

Overwhelmed by Carol's wedding preparations, Ed decides to take to the road for awhile, but finds the peace and quiet more than he can bear; Eli and Phil duke it out on the basketball court for the right to use Ed's office while he's away; Dennis makes Nancy prove her mettle before hiring her as a guidance counselor by assigning her to turn around a multi-cut slacker; Carol plays passive-agressive games with Dennis over plans for their upcoming nuptials; Carol tries to connect with Ed, but he won't admit his true feelings.

Directors: Jamie Babbit
Writer: Drake Sather
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Therapy
star
7.03
59 votes

#3 - Therapy

Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/12/2003

Several Stuckeyville stalwarts seek a sympathetic ear to help them resolve relationship roadblocks: Ed sees out a therapist with a unique background to help him deal with his new long-distance relationship; Eli uses his physical therapist as a sounding board about the possibility of a future romance with Jennifer; Molly gets some expert guidance counseling from Nancy about her flirtation with an unlikely suitor.

Directors: Jon Beckerman
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Hidden Agendas
star
7.03
58 votes

#4 - Hidden Agendas

Season 4 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/16/2004

Carol is concerned that Liz and Ed still have feelings for each other when Liz returns to town with yet another business proposition for Ed; Mike's eager anticipation of the arrival of Gunter, the foreign exchange student that the Burtons have agreed to sponsor, turns to disappointment when Gunter seems more interested in hanging out with Nancy than playing sports with him; Eli's concern about the closing of the community center prompts him to challenge a radio talk show host, and he does so well that the radio station offers him a tryout when the host gets the flu; Molly urges Carol to talk to Liz after Liz gives Ed an inappropriately expensive watch; Eli continues to use his stint on the radio to advocate for the community center and enlists Ed's help in convincing the City Manager to keep it open; Mike discovers that he couldn't be more wrong about Gunter's interest in women after Gunter tries to kiss Nancy; Liz gives Ed the inside information he needs to help Eli expose the corrupt

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Home For Christmas
star
7.03
58 votes

#5 - Home For Christmas

Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/17/2003

With only a few days left until Christmas, Ed's getting ready to move back to New York with Carol, however an unexpected "friend" returns from Ed's past. In the meantime, Mike and Nancy are anxious to get back into their home in time for Christmas, and Mr. Hagadorn's annual Christmas yard display is under attack from a neighbor.

Directors: Tim Matheson
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Just a Formality
star
7.03
58 votes

#6 - Just a Formality

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/10/2003

Ed asks Carol's father for his permission to marry Carol, while Mike and Nancy argue over the needed rennovations to their fire-damaged home.

Writer: Kevin Etten
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Memory Lane
star
7.05
88 votes

#7 - Memory Lane

Season 2 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/8/2002

The news that Dennis and Carol have moved in together has Ed scrambling to find the perfect way to revisit the past and win her back; Dennis decides to run for president of the senior class after disapproving of the frontrunner; Warren embarks on his first real date with Diane, only to find that the feelings they have aren't exactly romantic.

Directors: Rob Thompson
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Back in the Saddle
star
7.05
59 votes

#8 - Back in the Saddle

Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/9/2004

Ed's ex-wife, Liz is back in town and tries to get Ed to help her get a new restaurant up and going. Meanwhile, Eli is trying to come to grips with his girls 'desires'

Directors: Jason Ensler
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Wheel of Justice
star
7.07
89 votes

#9 - Wheel of Justice

Season 2 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/27/2002

Ed winds up behind bars and in over his head after his favorite judge displays some outlandish courtroom behavior; Phil runs a boot camp for clowns to find the perfect one for a Stuckeybowl celebration; Mike becomes the object of derision after a marketer takes over the ads for his new private practice.

Directors: Mel Damski
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Lloyd
star
7.07
89 votes

#10 - Lloyd

Season 2 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/3/2002

Ed's fast-talking big brother blows into town and ropes Ed into a risky plan to glam up Stuckeybowl; Nancy's Internet chat buddy turns out to be a little younger, but a lot older-acting than she expected; and Warren finally sees Diane in a new light after he fails to make headway with a college girl.

Directors: Timothy Busfield
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Business As Usual
star
7.07
86 votes

#11 - Business As Usual

Season 3 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/5/2003

After Mike and Dr. Jerome get into an ongoing battle over the sign outside their office, Nancy initially brings in Toby to do some conflict management, but is later forced to take matters into her own hands to resolve the dispute; Mark feels responsible when another student's gastric bypass surgery doesn't turn out so well; Ed and Frankie work through the problems of an office romance as they represent an attorney who wants to be released from a contract to marry another lawyer; Carol is shocked and less than thrilled when Ed tells his friends about his romance with Frankie.

Directors: Timothy Busfield
Writer: Aaron Ehasz
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The Case
star
7.07
86 votes

#12 - The Case

Season 3 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/5/2003

Ed takes on his first homicide case when Eli's friend is charged with second degree murder after another friend dies during the drunken recreation of an old high school prank; Frankie and Eli provide the key to the outcome of the trial after damaging testimony nearly sinks the case; Molly develops a crush on Ryan's dad, and tries to mend the relationship between father and son.

Writer: Kevin Etten
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The New World
star
7.13
32 votes

#13 - The New World

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/21/2001

Ed represents Dennis in a minor fender-bender case, but when the other party's lawyer asks for an exorbiant amount of money, Dennis insists they settle in order to close the case; Ed tries to resurrect the annual Thanksgiving Day parade; Nancy declares war on her fellow ""cookie moms"" when she is sabotaged while launching her own cookie line.

Directors: Sandy Smolan
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Two Days of Freedom
star
7.31
88 votes

#14 - Two Days of Freedom

Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/16/2002

Carol breaks Ed's heart with a lie about her relationship with Dennis, who gives Miss Vessey cause to reconsider romance with him. Meanwhile, a Stuckeyville woman hires Ed to watch over her husband during his very unusual birthday celebration; Phil and Kenny set out to invent a new food; and Warren's first date with Jessica hits a snag.

Directors: Adam Bernstein
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Things To Do Today
star
7.34
89 votes

#15 - Things To Do Today

Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/27/2002

A beautiful, off-beat woman blows into town and sweeps Ed off his feet, while encouraging him to face his fears and live life to the fullest; everyone gets more than they bargained for when Carol gives her students a journalism assignment to videotape and report a news-breaking story at Stuckeyville High; Ed discovers an unpleasant truth about Jim and forces him to tell Molly, who is devastated by the revelation.

Directors: James Frawley
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Losing Streak
star
7.36
91 votes

#16 - Losing Streak

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/20/2000

Ed's visiting parents show their disapproval of his new life in Stuckeyville; Ed defends two men being sued for pulling a prank involving a lottery ticket; Carol becomes coach for the school's losing junior varsity basketball team; Shirley and Kenny stake out a vandal at Stuckeybowl.

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Crazy Time
star
7.40
62 votes

#17 - Crazy Time

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/31/2001

Ed's on the case after a bitter kid's show host talks a young boy into running away; Molly gives up on wooing Jim; Warren comes up with the worst idea ever on how to impress his classmates.

Directors: Kevin Dowling
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The Offer
star
7.43
58 votes

#18 - The Offer

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/29/2003

After a former student encourages Carol to interview for a writing job at the magazine where he works, she sets out for New York City, accompanied by Ed; at Molly's request, Warren and Mark escort a new student around school and find that the new kid isn't the only one with something to learn; Carol is sent out to complete a test assignment and does so well that she's offered a full-time writing position; Dr. Jerome and his granddaughter do a little stealth psychological testing on Mike; after some reflection, Carol decides to accept the job offer and relocate to New York City.

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History Lessons
star
7.43
58 votes

#19 - History Lessons

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/15/2003

Carol hides her old love letters concerning a man from her past from Ed. Ed breaks down and reads the letters and pays the guy a visit to check him out. Mike and Nancy are concerned that their baby will eventually learn of past indiscretions and go down the path of revisionist history. Meanwhile, an academic historian questions the role Stuckeyville's founder played in a Revolutionary war battle that is reinacted every year. Ed tries to help General Stuckey's descendant (the town historian/barber) maintain his family's integrity while saving Stuckeyville's historic reputation.

Directors: Alan Myerson
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The Dream
star
7.43
58 votes

#20 - The Dream

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/8/2003

Ed & Mike buy a racehorse. Carol faces trouble with the school board and Molly when she suggests to Warren that college may not be for him. Warren pursues his dream of being a TV host on local cable access.

Directors: Thomas Cavanagh
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Goodbye, Stuckeyville
star
7.49
59 votes

#21 - Goodbye, Stuckeyville

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/5/2003

Afraid that their relationship won't survive if they live apart, Ed decides to join Carol in New York and puts Stuckeybowl up for sale; feeling that he's losing his best friend, Mike tries unsuccessfully to make a new one; after Ed's client wins an arbitration that prevents his long-time friend from dissolving their partnership, Ed urges him to think both inside and outside the box to discover a solution that works for both of them; Molly comes to crossroads in her relationships, and realizes that neither Sean nor Ted is the right man for her; even though Ed guarantees that they will not lose their jobs, the crew at Stuckeybowl pulls some pathetic stunts to sabotage the sale until Ed decides to make them Stuckeybowl's new owners; Warren sees Carol off in high style; at their going-away party, Carol realizes that she shouldn't tear Ed away from Stuckeyville, so they agree that she'll go to New York and Ed will rack up frequent flyer miles visiting her.

Directors: Don Scardino
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Power of the Person
star
7.49
61 votes

#22 - Power of the Person

Season 2 - Episode 20 - Aired 5/1/2002

Ed agrees to coach the Stuckeyville High ""Quiz Bowl"" team and clashes with Dennis over a team member who's scholastically challenged; Dennis falls off the wagon; Phil tries to promote a boxing match; Warren sets out on a religious search to find the courage to transform his life.

Directors: Timothy Busfield
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Home Is Where the Ducks Are
star
7.50
66 votes

#23 - Home Is Where the Ducks Are

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/12/2000

Carol shocks Ed by announcing that she is leaving Stuckeyville to become a writer; Ed concocts Stuckeyville's first-ever Festival of Ducks to boost the town's reputation; Phil becomes mentor to a young bowler.

Directors: Bethany Rooney
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Opposites Distract
star
7.53
64 votes

#24 - Opposites Distract

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/17/2001

Ed locks horns with a sassy new D.A. while defending a man charged with breaking the law by putting dimes in parking meters; Molly chides Carol for taking Ed's attention for granted; Phil searches for his own personal catch phrase; Nancy must decide whether she wants to accept a promotion at work.

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The Whole Truth
star
7.53
64 votes

#25 - The Whole Truth

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 12/6/2000

When Molly's grandfather hires Ed to write his will, he ends up revealing a shocking secret;; Mike has a new rival at the doctor's office; Phil hosts an open-mike night at Stuckeybowl.

Directors: Peter Lauer
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