The BEST episodes of Ellen

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

Ellen, which was titled "These Friends of Mine" during its first season, is a comedy about the life of a young woman by the name of Ellen Morgan – a neurotic, 30-something, bookstore employee who tries to get by in life dealing with her many random foils and follies (and not to mention her annoying and overbearing parents, Lois and Harold). Thanks to her friends, however, including the bubbly redhead Paige, the insecure photographer Adam, her unsure-of-himself cousin Spence, the coffee shop guy Joe Farrell, and the critical and obnoxious Audrey, Ellen is able to find the security, and the sanity, to get through her less than ordinary every day life. The show can be described as a combination between popular sitcoms Seinfeld and Friends, blending a perfect mix of comedy and situational humor with the drama and excitement of every day issues and life in the "real world".

Last Updated: 11/20/2024Network: ABC (US)Status: Ended
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Neighbors
star
9.33
3 votes

#1 - Neighbors

Season 5 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/18/1998

Ellen tries to make friends with her neighbors, but they keep catching her in strange coincidences. After all, why would Ellen and Paige be playing Twister on the roof?

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Puppy Episode (2)
star
9.00
9 votes

#2 - The Puppy Episode (2)

Season 4 - Episode 23 - Aired 4/30/1997

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Hospital
star
9.00
3 votes

#3 - Hospital

Season 5 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/4/1998

Ellen rushes to the hospital after discovering that Laurie was in a car accident. While waiting for news on her condition, Ellen meets a woman in the waiting room, whom she discovers is Laurie's ex-girlfriend and Holly's "father."

Directors: Gail Mancuso
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Break Up
star
9.00
3 votes

#4 - Break Up

Season 5 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/17/1997

Ellen and Laurie hit a crossroads on their one-month anniversary after Laurie misinterprets Ellen's offer to move in.

Writer: Matt Berry
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Womyn Fest
star
9.00
4 votes

#5 - Womyn Fest

Season 5 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/7/1998

Ellen takes Paige and Audrey to a female only concert in Berkeley to have a good time after her break up with Laurie. Meanwhile, Paige ponders commitment with Spence.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
G.I. Ellen
star
8.75
4 votes

#6 - G.I. Ellen

Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/5/1997

Ellen accompanies her father to his annual Civil War re-enactment.

Directors: Gil Junger
Writer: Mike Larsen
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Like a Virgin
star
8.75
4 votes

#7 - Like a Virgin

Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/26/1997

Laurie has prepared for a big romantic evening with flowers, fine wine and a homemade dinner, but she still needs Ellen to stick around for it.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
All Ellen, All the Time
star
8.75
4 votes

#8 - All Ellen, All the Time

Season 5 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/3/1997

Ellen gets a job at a small, all-talk radio station, but when the Sports Chat host leaves in a huff, she's left to fill the void armed with only her personal charm and irrevocable wit.

Directors: Gil Junger
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Parent Trap
star
8.67
3 votes

#9 - The Parent Trap

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/16/1996

Ellen plots to reunite her parents by recreating their honeymoon, transforming her apartment into a 1958 Cuban nightclub complete with headliner Eddie Fisher. Meanwhile, Spence begs Barrett to return as Paige's secretary after he quits.

Directors: Gil Junger
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Escape from L.A.
star
8.67
3 votes

#10 - Escape from L.A.

Season 5 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/28/1998

Ellen and Laurie take their first trip together, to San Diego. However, a problem arises when Ellen wants to party and Laurie wants to stick to her plan.

Directors: Gil Junger
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Ellen in Focus
star
8.67
3 votes

#11 - Ellen in Focus

Season 5 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/11/1998

Ellen and Joe join Paige's focus group, so that her new cop show will receive high marks and need minimal changes before air time.

Directors: Gil Junger
Writer: Leif Sandaas
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Hello, Dalai
star
8.50
4 votes

#12 - Hello, Dalai

Season 4 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/19/1997

Peter confronts Ellen at a spiritual retreat while a robber at Buy the Book confronts Paige, Spence, Joe and Audrey.

Directors: Gil Junger
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah
star
8.50
8 votes

#13 - Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah

Season 4 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/7/1997

Ellen deals with the ramifications of telling her parents she's gay.

Directors: Gil Junger
Writer: Jan Nash
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Mugging
star
8.33
3 votes

#14 - The Mugging

Season 3 - Episode 27 - Aired 5/21/1996

A reluctant Ellen is persuaded to come forward as the witness to a mugging she never saw.

Directors: Rob Schiller
Watch Now:Amazon
Public Display of Affection
star
8.33
3 votes

#15 - Public Display of Affection

Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/12/1997

Ellen faces her toughest challenge yet in a relationship: winning the approval of her new girlfriend's 12-year-old daughter.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
star
8.33
3 votes

#16 - It's a Gay, Gay, Gay, Gay World!

Season 5 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/25/1998

After Spence sniffs a heavy dose of insecticide, he awakens in a world where being gay is normal, Joe is in love with him, and Paige has a buzz cut and tattoos.

Directors: Gil Junger
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Boyfriend Stealer
star
8.27
11 votes

#17 - The Boyfriend Stealer

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 8/30/1994

Things have changed at the bookstore for Ellen, as a coffee shop is added and Joe is hired as its manager. Meanwhile, Ellen thinks Holly's boyfriend is hitting on her, causing problems in their friendship.

Directors: Andrew D. Weyman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Looking Out for Number One
star
8.25
4 votes

#18 - Looking Out for Number One

Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/23/1996

In therapy, Ellen learns to be honest and direct, but she's dumbstruck when she sees her therapist in a shocking position.

Directors: Gil Junger
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Funeral
star
8.25
4 votes

#19 - The Funeral

Season 5 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/14/1998

When Laurie's father dies suddenly, Ellen must help her make peace with the family that shut her out when she revealed her lesbianism.

Directors: Gil Junger
Writer: Matt Berry
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Makin' Whoopie
star
8.25
4 votes

#20 - Makin' Whoopie

Season 4 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/22/1997

Ellen accompanies Spence to an important party thrown by a surgeon he's trying to impress, but it's Ellen who makes the lasting impression.

Directors: Iris Dugow
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Joe's Kept Secret
star
8.25
4 votes

#21 - Joe's Kept Secret

Season 4 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/15/1997

When Ellen accepts a favor from Joe's wealthy older girlfriend, the repercussions are relentless.

Directors: John Tracy
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Alone Again... Naturally
star
8.25
4 votes

#22 - Alone Again... Naturally

Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/8/1997

Ellen conquers being alone by doing fun things on her own. Meanwhile, Spence and Joe wreak havoc on Paige's vacant apartment.

Directors: Alan Myerson
Writer: Mark Wilding
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Witness
star
8.20
5 votes

#23 - Witness

Season 3 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/7/1996

Recruited by Spence to play the key witness in a mock trial, Ellen assumes the role of a stripper, but must perform some fancy footwork when she loses her notes.

Directors: Robby Benson
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
When the Vow Breaks (2)
star
8.20
5 votes

#24 - When the Vow Breaks (2)

Season 3 - Episode 26 - Aired 5/15/1996

With Paige's marriage mere moments away, it's up to maid of honor Ellen to decide if things will go off with or without a hitch.

Directors: Robby Benson
Watch Now:Amazon
Ellen's Deaf Comedy Jam
star
8.20
5 votes

#25 - Ellen's Deaf Comedy Jam

Season 4 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/12/1997

Ellen misinterprets the signs of a handsome deaf actor, and Spence gets his signals mixed when Paige's former fiance returns to the scene.

Directors: Gil Junger
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV