The WORST episodes of Growing Pains

Every episode of Growing Pains ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst 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...

Last Updated: 1/16/2026Network: ABC (US)Status: Ended
The Last Picture Show (2)
star
0.00
0 votes

#1 - The Last Picture Show (2)

Season 7 - Episode 24 - Aired 4/25/1992

The Seavers move to Washington, D.C., but share a final meal and memories in the empty house.

Directors: Jonathan Weiss
Viva Las Vegas
star
0.00
0 votes

#2 - Viva Las Vegas

Season 6 - Episode 24 - Aired 4/24/1991

Mike and Kate accompany the eloping Eddie and a hat-check bimbette to Las Vegas, giving Mike and Carol the wrong idea.

Directors: John Tracy
Graduation Day
star
0.00
0 votes

#3 - Graduation Day

Season 3 - Episode 26 - Aired 5/4/1988

At Mike's high-school graduation, family members recall moments when it seemed like his graduation would never take place.

Directors: John Tracy
How the West Was Won (2)
star
0.00
0 votes

#4 - How the West Was Won (2)

Season 3 - Episode 25 - Aired 4/26/1988

Jason, Carol, Mike and Boner are arrested in the demonstration over the dismissal of Coach Lubbock.

Directors: John Tracy
Who's Zoomin' Who?
star
5.78
9 votes

#5 - Who's Zoomin' Who?

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/10/1987

Bobby's annoying habits make Carol look elsewhere for the man of her dreams -- just in time for her to notice a new student.

Directors: John Tracy
Writer: Tom Walla
Bringing Up Baby
star
5.80
10 votes

#6 - Bringing Up Baby

Season 3 - Episode 21 - Aired 3/9/1988

The Seavers begin to make room for baby, relegating Ben to the guest quarters and making the others lament the changes bound to come. Meanwhile, Maggie grasps for a way to tell her boss she is pregnant.

Directors: John Tracy
Writer: Tom Walla
Fish Bait
star
5.90
10 votes

#7 - Fish Bait

Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/11/1989

His drama teacher and classmates intimidate Mike.

Directors: John Tracy
Writer: Rob Bragin
State of the Union
star
5.91
11 votes

#8 - State of the Union

Season 3 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/12/1988

Maggie fumes over the many irritants that seem to be driving her and Jason apart -- until unexpected news sheds light on the situation.

Directors: John Tracy
Jason's Rib
star
5.91
11 votes

#9 - Jason's Rib

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 12/9/1986

A proposed school dress code puts Maggie and Jason at odds.

Directors: John Tracy
Writer: Tom Walla
Born Free
star
6.00
7 votes

#10 - Born Free

Season 2 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/31/1987

Airlines passengers Jason and Mike must deliver a baby.

Directors: John Tracy
Watch Now:Apple TV
Paper Route
star
6.09
11 votes

#11 - Paper Route

Season 5 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/22/1989

Ben assumes Mike's paper route for half the money.

Directors: John Tracy
Dance Fever (2)
star
6.17
12 votes

#12 - Dance Fever (2)

Season 3 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/2/1988

Great expectations turn sour at the Dewey High dance after Mike hears Lydia's voice; and Ben and Stinky find themselves in a seedy diner eyeing a pinball machine that pays real money.

Directors: John Tracy
Divorce Story
star
6.30
10 votes

#13 - Divorce Story

Season 6 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/5/1990

Jason, happy to see his mother's second marriage crumbling, doesn't want to provide her with professional help.

Directors: John Tracy
Higher Education
star
6.33
9 votes

#14 - Higher Education

Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/20/1987

A girl raises a grade for Mike, then demands payment.

Directors: John Tracy
Watch Now:Apple TV
Second Chance
star
6.36
14 votes

#15 - Second Chance

Season 4 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/12/1989

Carol's boyfriend is injured drinking and driving.

The Awful Truth
star
6.36
11 votes

#16 - The Awful Truth

Season 2 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/17/1987

A genealogy assignment unearths a dark family secret.

Thank You, Willie Nelson
star
6.36
11 votes

#17 - Thank You, Willie Nelson

Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/3/1987

Maggie's quarreling parents come to visit the Seavers.

Dance Fever (1)
star
6.41
17 votes

#18 - Dance Fever (1)

Season 3 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/1/1988

At the school dance, Mike gets a girl and Carol gets raked over the coals. Meanwhile, Ben's adventure goes awry.

Directors: John Tracy
Daddy Mike
star
6.43
7 votes

#19 - Daddy Mike

Season 6 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/10/1990

Mike and his friend Eddie schemingly join "Parents Without Mates" to meet women.

Directors: John Tracy
This is Your Life
star
6.44
9 votes

#20 - This is Your Life

Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/17/1987

During a tonsillectomy, Ben has an out-of-body experience, dreaming that he escapes with a friendly cabbie, only to find a new Ben has replaced him at home.

Directors: John Tracy
Not With My Carol You Don't
star
6.44
9 votes

#21 - Not With My Carol You Don't

Season 6 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/20/1991

Though Jason had an insensitive Carol pitch in at the clinic, he objects to her dating an ex-con she meets there.

Directors: John Tracy
Broadway Bound
star
6.45
11 votes

#22 - Broadway Bound

Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/24/1987

After their success in the school play, Mike and Monica set their sights on a Broadway audition for "Our Town."

Directors: John Tracy
Mike and Julie's Wedding
star
6.46
13 votes

#23 - Mike and Julie's Wedding

Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/27/1989

Julie and Mike suffer prenuptial jitters.

Directors: John Tracy
The Nanny
star
6.46
13 votes

#24 - The Nanny

Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 1/4/1989

The Seavers hire a nanny for Chrissy.

Directors: John Tracy
Writer: Kevin Abbott
The Anniversary That Never Was
star
6.50
14 votes

#25 - The Anniversary That Never Was

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/4/1986

Maggie's assignment interferes with anniversary plans.

Directors: John Tracy