The WORST episodes of Ellen

Every episode of Ellen ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst 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: 2/28/2024Network: ABC (US)Status: Ended
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The Tape
star
5.29
31 votes

#1 - The Tape

Season 3 - Episode 25 - Aired 5/14/1996

Ellen and her friends make a frantic effort to retrieve a racy videotape that winds up in the wrong hands.

Directors: Andy Ackerman
Ellen: A Hollywood Tribute (2)
star
6.33
3 votes

#2 - Ellen: A Hollywood Tribute (2)

Season 5 - Episode 20 - Aired 5/13/1998

Directors: Gil Junger
Writer: Tim Doyle
Ellen: A Hollywood Tribute (1)
star
6.33
3 votes

#3 - Ellen: A Hollywood Tribute (1)

Season 5 - Episode 19 - Aired 5/13/1998

A parody of the career of Ellen DeGeneres, celebrating her 75 years in show business.

Directors: Gil Junger
Writer: Tim Doyle
The Dentist
star
6.48
40 votes

#4 - The Dentist

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/21/1994

Paige refers Ellen to a handsome dentist and Ellen hopes the professional visit might lead to a personal relationship. However, her serious flirtations have unexpected results when a few whiffs of laughing gas unleash her primal instincts. Meanwhile, Adam can't seem to decide whether he wants to date a woman or not.

Directors: Tom Cherones
So Funny
star
6.83
6 votes

#5 - So Funny

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/26/1994

Ellen feels threatened by Adam's visiting friend, Theresa, whose humor rivals her own. But when Ellen sees her own jealousy drive her comic competitor away, she literally flies to make amends.

Directors: Tom Cherones
Writer: Maria Semple
Pilot
star
6.87
55 votes

#6 - Pilot

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 3/29/1994

Ellen, mortified by her driver's license photo, pulls out all the stops in a desperate attempt to get a decent picture.

Directors: Neal Marlens
Oh, Sweet Rapture
star
7.00
32 votes

#7 - Oh, Sweet Rapture

Season 3 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/24/1996

It's Ellen to the rescue when Audrey buys a new car that comes with an extended warranty and an extended family of fanatics.

Directors: Robby Benson
The Spa
star
7.00
33 votes

#8 - The Spa

Season 2 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/25/1995

Paige persuades Ellen to relieve stress at a health spa, but the rigorous regime creates tension between them. Meanwhile, Adam tries to broaden his circle of friends, starting with Joe.

Directors: Tom Cherones
Ellen's Improvement
star
7.06
32 votes

#9 - Ellen's Improvement

Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/4/1995

Ellen goes on a scholastic kick to expand her cultural horizons, and impresses an attractive college professor along the way. Meanwhile, unlikely lovebirds Joe and Stephanie move in together--at the bookstore.

Directors: Tom Cherones
Three Strikes
star
7.09
34 votes

#10 - Three Strikes

Season 2 - Episode 21 - Aired 3/29/1995

Ellen joins an animal rights group, gets thrown in jail and winds up in the custody of her parents.

Directors: Tom Cherones
Watch Now:Amazon
Two Mammograms and a Wedding
star
7.09
32 votes

#11 - Two Mammograms and a Wedding

Season 3 - Episode 22 - Aired 4/3/1996

Ellen is afraid Paige's marriage will end their friendship so, while nervously awaiting a mammogram, she latches onto Chloe, but soon discovers that making new friends isn't as easy as it used to be.

Directors: Robby Benson
Watch Now:Amazon
The Apartment Hunt
star
7.09
32 votes

#12 - The Apartment Hunt

Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/11/1995

Ellen is determined to help Audrey find an apartment, as far away from hers as possible. Meanwhile, Paige dates an alternate juror for a high-profile Hollywood trial and Adam tries to catch a newspaper thief.

Directors: Tom Cherones
Watch Now:Amazon
Do You Fear What I Fear?
star
7.10
30 votes

#13 - Do You Fear What I Fear?

Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/20/1995

Ellen's holiday spirits hit an all-time low when her parents present her with a cemetery burial plot as a Christmas present.

Directors: Robby Benson
Watch Now:Amazon
Hello, I Must Be Going
star
7.10
59 votes

#14 - Hello, I Must Be Going

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/18/1995

Before moving to England for an exciting job opportunity, Adam makes a surprising personal revelation to Ellen, who must deal with the awkward consequences when his trip is postponed.

Directors: Robby Benson
Watch Now:Amazon
Thirty Kilo Man (1)
star
7.12
34 votes

#15 - Thirty Kilo Man (1)

Season 2 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/10/1995

Ellen rekindles her romance with ex-boyfriend Dan, who returns from Rome with a brilliant new career. However, Ellen soon discovers that his venture involves a shady substance.

Directors: Tom Cherones
Watch Now:Amazon
Salad Days
star
7.12
58 votes

#16 - Salad Days

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/15/1995

Inspired by domestic diva Martha Stewart, Ellen throws an elegant dinner party, but she's the one who's thrown when an unexpected guest arrives.

Directors: Robby Benson
Watch Now:Amazon
Two Ring Circus
star
7.12
33 votes

#17 - Two Ring Circus

Season 3 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/28/1996

Ellen gets caught in the middle of Paige and Matt's relationship when Paige's engagement ring gets stuck on Ellen's finger.

Directors: Robby Benson
Watch Now:Amazon
The Trainer
star
7.12
33 votes

#18 - The Trainer

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/23/1994

To help Paige appease her demanding movie-producer boss, Ellen pretends to be his exercise trainer. But when the boss offers Ellen a development job, Paige has a fit.

Directors: Tom Cherones
Writer: Holly Hester
Watch Now:Amazon
Give Me Equity or Give Me Death
star
7.13
32 votes

#19 - Give Me Equity or Give Me Death

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/18/1996

When Ellen decides to put down roots and buy a home of her own, she's unprepared for the price--the cost of her beloved Buy the Book.

Directors: Gil Junger
Watch Now:Amazon
The Promotion
star
7.15
41 votes

#20 - The Promotion

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 4/20/1994

Ellen kisses up to her boss by buying a gift for her new baby, but her job is put in jeopardy through casual remarks overheard through a baby monitor.

Directors: Rob Schiller
Watch Now:Amazon
Thirty Kilo Man (2)
star
7.15
33 votes

#21 - Thirty Kilo Man (2)

Season 2 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/17/1995

Ellen's relationship with Dan heats up, Adam caves in to Audrey's burning desire, and Paige feels left out in the cold.

Directors: Tom Cherones
Writer: Maria Semple
Watch Now:Amazon
The Therapy Episode
star
7.15
33 votes

#22 - The Therapy Episode

Season 2 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/3/1995

Ellen feels guilty about lying to her mother, but when her therapist prescribes a dose of total honesty, the truth proves to be more than the family bargained for.

Watch Now:Amazon
Morgan, P.I.
star
7.16
32 votes

#23 - Morgan, P.I.

Season 3 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/10/1996

When Buy the Book is robbed, Ellen volunteers to become the bait in a police sting operation designed to catch the "perp."

Directors: Robby Benson
Writer: Dava Savel
Watch Now:Amazon
$5,000
star
7.16
32 votes

#24 - $5,000

Season 2 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/22/1995

Ellen feels like an angel when she donates her tax refund to charity, but she has a devil of a time recouping the cash when Uncle Sam demands it back.

Directors: Tom Cherones
Watch Now:Amazon
The Class Reunion
star
7.16
50 votes

#25 - The Class Reunion

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/13/1994

Anxious to impress her classmates at a reunion, Ellen masquerades as a married cardiologist, jeopardizing her romance with a former high-school heartthrob.

Directors: Rob Schiller
Writer: Mark Wilding
Watch Now:Amazon