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.

Last Updated: 2/15/2024Network: NBCStatus: Ended
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Best Friends
star
10.00
2 votes

#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.

Directors: Doug Smart
Watch Now:Amazon
The Dog Who Knew Too Much
star
9.33
3 votes

#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.

Directors: Steve Zuckerman
Writer: Gary Jacobs
Watch Now:Amazon
Life Goes On (2)
star
9.33
3 votes

#3 - 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.

Directors: Steve Zuckerman
Watch Now:Amazon
Let's Give Them Something to Talk About
star
9.33
3 votes

#4 - 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.

Directors: Steve Zuckerman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
M.D., P.O.V.
star
9.20
5 votes

#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.

Directors: Steve Zuckerman
Watch Now:Amazon
Feelings, Whoa Whoa Whoa, Feelings
star
9.00
3 votes

#6 - 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.

Directors: Dinah Manoff
Watch Now:Amazon
Just for Laughs
star
9.00
3 votes

#7 - 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.

Directors: Dinah Manoff
Watch Now:Amazon
Lordy, Lordy, Landlordy
star
9.00
3 votes

#8 - 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.

Directors: Steve Zuckerman
Brotherly Shove
star
9.00
3 votes

#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.

Directors: Dinah Manoff
Writer: Drake Sather
Under the Gun
star
9.00
3 votes

#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.

Directors: Steve Zuckerman
Watch Now:Amazon
The Ballad of Shady Pines
star
9.00
3 votes

#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.

Directors: Steve Zuckerman
What's a Mother to Do?
star
9.00
3 votes

#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.

Directors: Steve Zuckerman
Watch Now:Amazon
Mama Todd, the Sequel
star
9.00
3 votes

#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.

Directors: Steve Zuckerman
Bye-Bye, Baby...Hello (1)
star
9.00
3 votes

#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.

Directors: Steve Zuckerman
Watch Now:Apple TV
When the Rooster Dies
star
9.00
3 votes

#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.

Directors: Steve Zuckerman
Writer: Peter Gallay
Watch Now:Amazon
The All-American Boy -- Not!
star
9.00
3 votes

#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.

Directors: Steve Zuckerman
Writer: Peter Gallay
Watch Now:Amazon
Dr. Weston and Mr. Hyde
star
9.00
4 votes

#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.

Directors: Doug Smart
Writer: Peter Gallay
Watch Now:Apple TV
All About Harry
star
9.00
5 votes

#18 - 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.

Directors: Steve Zuckerman
Watch Now:Amazon
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?
star
9.00
5 votes

#19 - 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.

Directors: Steve Zuckerman
Writer: Rob LaZebnik
Watch Now:Amazon
A Flaw is Born
star
9.00
6 votes

#20 - 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.

Directors: Steve Zuckerman
Watch Now:Amazon
Mom's the Word
star
9.00
3 votes

#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.

Directors: Steve Zuckerman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Harry's Excellent Adventure
star
8.80
5 votes

#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.

Directors: Steve Zuckerman
Writer: Arnie Kogen
Watch Now:Amazon
The Mentor
star
8.80
5 votes

#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.

Directors: Steve Zuckerman
Writer: Arnie Kogen
Watch Now:Amazon
My Dad, My Doctor
star
8.75
4 votes

#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.

Directors: Steve Zuckerman
Writer: Wendy Braff
Watch Now:Amazon
The Cruise
star
8.75
4 votes

#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.

Directors: Doug Smart
Writer: Arnie Kogen
Watch Now:Amazon