The BEST episodes of Growing Pains
Every episode of Growing Pains ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Growing Pains!
It's hard enough to raise a kid nowadays but when you have to cope with THESE kids, things tend to get out of hand! Dr Seaver, a psychologist, and his wife Maggie Seaver, a journalist, try to do their best raising their family, and although their kids, Mike, Ben, Carol and Chrissy, cause them endless problems, they manage to keep the family close together. As long as they got each other, nothing else matters...
#1 - Ménage à Luke
Season 7 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/8/1992
A love triangle involves Ben, Luke and a classmate.
#2 - In Vino Veritas
Season 7 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/28/1991
Mike persuades Jason and Maggie to let Luke stay with them temporarily; then Jason's wine cellar goes missing.
#3 - Bad Day Cafe
Season 7 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/23/1991
While Jason and Maggie are away, the principal informs Mike that Luke's birth father is back in town -- and wants him back.
#4 - How the West Was Won (1)
Season 3 - Episode 24 - Aired 4/20/1988
Mike and Boner learn that Coach Lubbock has been fired, prompting them to organize a protest.
#5 - Meet the Seavers
Season 6 - Episode 21 - Aired 3/6/1991
In an homage to The Twilight Zone, Ben awakens to discover he's Jeremy Miller, an actor on the set of "Meet the Cleavers".
#6 - Five Grand
Season 5 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/29/1989
Their grandparents give Mike, Carol and Ben $5,000 each.
#7 - The Last Picture Show (1)
Season 7 - Episode 23 - Aired 4/25/1992
Maggie is offered a plum job in Washington, D.C.
#9 - Mike the Teacher
Season 5 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/7/1990
Mike goes to work as a substitute teacher.
#10 - Fool for Love
Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/19/1988
Ben gets spooked at the prospect of asking a girl to a Halloween party; Jason becomes a disruptive force at Lamaze class.
#11 - The Truck Stops Here
Season 7 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/21/1992
Luke's father George visits the Seavers hoping that Luke has mellowed a little and would like to spend some time with him but Luke doesn't. He was about to leave when he collapses outside the door. He says that can't move, so they take him in. Jason and Ben offer to deliver his load, and they experience all sorts of chaos on the way. Mike thinks that George is faking his injury so that he could stay and Luke would have to talk to him. But the doctor tells Maggie who tells Mike that unless George stops driving trucks, he could become paralyzed. Mike talks to George and tells him to tell Luke but doesn't want Luke to pity him and doesn't anything else to do but be a trucker. Mike suggests that maybe he could open a truck stop. Luke finds George struggling to get up and they finally talk. The next day after Jason and Ben return, George tells them that he is giving up trucking and will open a truck stop and Luke's going with him. Luke says goodbye to the Seavers.
#12 - Ben and Mike's Excellent Adventure
Season 5 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/13/1989
Mike takes Ben girl chasing.
#13 - Mike's Choice
Season 6 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/19/1990
When Mike lands a role in an off-Broadway play, he leaves college to pursue acting full-time in New York City.
#14 - Some Enchanted Evening
Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/27/1987
The winter formal causes opposite problems for Carol and Mike.
#15 - Ben's Movie
Season 5 - Episode 25 - Aired 4/25/1990
Ben casts a girl he likes as the lead in his home movie.
#16 - Roommates
Season 6 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/3/1990
Mike becomes roommates with sister Carol, now a Columbia University student.
#17 - Confidentially Yours
Season 2 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/19/1987
Jason knows the editor offering Maggie a dream job is a notorious womanizer.
#18 - Weekend at Mike's
Season 5 - Episode 24 - Aired 4/4/1990
With Jason's wallet missing, the Seavers must rely on others to provide them with room and board while their house is being fumigated.
#19 - Daddy Mike
Season 6 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/10/1990
Mike and his friend Eddie schemingly join "Parents Without Mates" to meet women.
#20 - Springsteen
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/1/1985
Jason embarrasses Mike at a Bruce Springsteen concert when they are interviewed together.
#21 - Weekend Fantasy
Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/12/1985
Jason and Maggie want to go to a mountain lodge for a weekend, but are reluctant to leave the kids alone.
#22 - It's Not Easy Being Green
Season 7 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/21/1991
Christmas brings anger and angst to the Seavers.
#23 - Carol in Jail
Season 5 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/14/1990
Carol lands in jail after a minor traffic violation.
#24 - The Young and the Homeless
Season 7 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/12/1991
Mike gears up for his big day as a TV soap opera star just as Luke gears up to move out of the Seavers'.
#25 - Jealousy
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/8/1985
Jason fumes when Maggie spends long hours on a toxic waste story with handsome co-worker Fred.