The BEST episodes of Empty Nest
Every episode of Empty Nest ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Empty Nest!
Widowed pediatrician Harry Weston is a miracle worker when it comes to dealing with his young patients, but he's more challenged by the other people surrounding him: daughters Barbara and Carol; his wisecracking office assistant, nurse LaVerne Todd; and obnoxious neighborhood mooch Charley Dietz. Thank goodness he always finds a friendly shoulder (and a warm, wet tongue) in Dreyfuss, his enormous dog.
#1 - Best Friends
Season 6 - Episode 26 - Aired 5/21/1994
Carol is upset when her childhood friend returns and starts dating Harry. A patient at the clinic turns out to be a member of the family which has feuded with Laverne's for years, which sparks a mini-war between the two.
#2 - The Dog Who Knew Too Much
Season 3 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/9/1991
The Westons each pour their hearts out to Dreyfuss when the girls decide to move out after two years at home.
#3 - Let's Give Them Something to Talk About
Season 7 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/24/1994
Rumors fly after Charley and Laverne begin spending a lot of time together, but the two swear they are just friends. Carol is excited about her new job at a local newspaper, until she finds out that she has been hired merely as a driver for the paper's teenage reporter.
#4 - Life Goes On (2)
Season 7 - Episode 24 - Aired 4/29/1995
With the gang fretting over Laverne's elopement, Kevin comes to see Carol and the two decide to get married with Laverne's father performing the ceremony. Laverne and Matt return unhitched and the ceremony becomes a double wedding. Barbara returns home to pack her things, but Harry has second thoughts about moving...until he is confronted by his dead wife Libby's ghost.
#5 - M.D., P.O.V.
Season 2 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/3/1990
Harry tries to avoid a reporter who is doing a story on him. A young patient is on the verge of death and no one can figure out why.
#6 - Lordy, Lordy, Landlordy
Season 6 - Episode 24 - Aired 4/23/1994
When their good-for-nothing landlord refuses to repair the problems at the clinic, Laverne threatens a rent strike and ends up getting the gang evicted. Meanwhile, Sophia convinces Carol to spend some time away from baby Scotty but she can't seem to bring herself to let him out of her sight.
#7 - Feelings, Whoa Whoa Whoa, Feelings
Season 7 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/25/1995
Laverne is afraid to reveal her true feelings for her visiting friend Matt, and becomes jealous when Carol asks him to dinner. Charley poses for a nude layout in a magazine.
#8 - Just for Laughs
Season 7 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/1/1994
Charley pursues a new career as a stand-up comedian and centers his whole act around making fun of Harry. Meanwhile, a mentally unstable woman befriends Laverne and Maxine battles the bus station when they move the bus shelter.
#9 - Brotherly Shove
Season 6 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/5/1994
Charley ends up working at his brother's used car lot, but when he makes a big sale his brother takes all the credit. Maxine and Laverne become competitive when they start jogging to get in shape.
#10 - Under the Gun
Season 6 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/29/1994
Harry gets shot when a young boy brings a gun to the clinic. Carol has a date with a famous anthropologist, who opts instead to go party with Charley.
#11 - The Ballad of Shady Pines
Season 6 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/12/1994
Laverne fills in for a friend at Shady Pines, where Sophia's boyfriend hits on her. Sophia catches the two together and thinks Laverne is stealing her man.
#12 - What's a Mother to Do?
Season 6 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/15/1994
Carol joins a mother-daughter support group and ends up feeling that she is the worst mother in the world, especially after locking the baby in the car. Laverne thinks Maxine is dying when she mysteriously asks for time off after a check-up.
#13 - Mama Todd, the Sequel
Season 6 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/16/1993
Laverne's mother-in-law visits, unaware that Nick and Laverne are divorced. Charley tries to persuade Carol to make him godfather of the baby.
#14 - Bye-Bye, Baby...Hello (1)
Season 6 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/2/1993
Carol throws Patrick out when she realizes that he'll never grow up, but later learns that she's pregnant. Laverne goes too far when trying to organize things at the clinic.
#15 - When the Rooster Dies
Season 6 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/25/1993
Harry sells his pediatrics practice to another doctor, who ends up firing Laverne. When the hospital sends Harry to check out an inner-city clinic, he ends up teaming up with the owner, Dr. Maxine Douglas, to keep the place open. Laverne joins them as nurse. Meanwhile, Sophia Petrillo moves back into nearby Shady Pines retirement home and drops by the Weston house.
#16 - The All-American Boy -- Not!
Season 5 - Episode 21 - Aired 3/20/1993
Harry befriends a young shoplifter while volunteering at a free clinic and brings him home. The boy, an uncontrolled diabetic, later runs away, taking the Westons furniture with him.
#17 - Dr. Weston and Mr. Hyde
Season 4 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/29/1992
The full moon on Leap Day causes strange things to happen: after throwing his back out, Harry begins to act very unusual; a series of odd occurrences leads Barbara to believe that a neighborhood repairman is actually Dreyfuss; Charley cancels a date to stay home and watch The Sound of Music.
#18 - A Flaw is Born
Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/22/1990
Harry is uncomfortable dating a more successful woman, a world-famous brain surgeon; Carol and Barbara plot revenge on an inconsiderate man who met Carol on a plane and promised to phone but never did.
#19 - All About Harry
Season 3 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/9/1991
Harry dates a newspaper writer who begins writing about their relationship in her column. Charley is rendered impotent after a medical experiment backfires.
#20 - Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?
Season 3 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/16/1991
Harry dates a 28 year old, which upsets Carol, Barbara, and the girl's parents. Laverne shapes up a nurse trainee.
#21 - Mom's the Word
Season 6 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/23/1993
Carol is afraid to tell a date that she is pregnant. Laverne and Maxine disagree when trying to plan a baby shower.
#22 - Harry's Excellent Adventure
Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/29/1990
Harry looks forward to his golf game until he has to cancel to help Barbara with her taxes and Carol with her car. Tired of having no time for himself, he follows a globe-trotting friend to Pamplona for the running of the bulls.
#23 - The Mentor
Season 3 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/2/1991
Harry realizes his mentor is getting too old to practice medicine, but is afraid to tell him. Meanwhile, Carol and Barbara prepare for a piano recital.
#24 - My Dad, My Doctor
Season 5 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/20/1993
Emily upsets Harry when she tears a ligament in her knee and needs surgery, but chooses instead to follow a therapy program recommended by another doctor. Meanwhile, Patrick goes camping and Charley tags along.
#25 - The Cruise
Season 3 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/4/1991
While on a cruise, Barbara practices for a talent show, Harry tries to avoid two ladies who won't leave him alone, and Carol finds the man of her dreams...who disappears when Charley steers the ship into the Bermuda Triangle. Meanwhile back home, Laverne redesigns Harry's refrigerator.