The BEST episodes of Melissa & Joey season 1

Every episode of Melissa & Joey season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Melissa & Joey season 1!

Mel is a local politician from a political family. When a family scandal leaves her niece, Lennox, and nephew, Ryder, without their parents, Mel takes them in. Joe is a former commodities trader left bankrupt after a ponzi scheme who is searching for a job. Just when Mel finds it hard to handle an instant family, her career and her own personal life, she meets and hires Joe to become the family's nanny.

Last Updated: 3/10/2026Network: ABC FamilyStatus: Ended
The Settlement
star
8.30
366 votes

#1 - The Settlement

Season 1 - Episode 30 - Aired 9/14/2011

Joe considers newfound possibilities, when he comes into a large sum of money. Meanwhile, a water leak is found on the living room ceiling.

Directors: Jeff Melman
Watch Now:Amazon
Don't Train On My Parade
star
7.93
420 votes

#2 - Don't Train On My Parade

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 7/6/2011

Melissa's trainer, "Lindsay Gates" (Jessalyn Wanlim) has a physical thing for Joey.

Directors: Steve Zuckerman
Writer: Matt Boren
All Politics is Local
star
7.91
411 votes

#3 - All Politics is Local

Season 1 - Episode 24 - Aired 8/24/2011

Mel's dad comes back to town to support a bill Mel opposes. Meanwhile, Lennox's poetry proves popular with a classmate who's an aspiring singer.

Directors: Shelley Jensen
The Other Longo
star
7.86
391 votes

#4 - The Other Longo

Season 1 - Episode 25 - Aired 8/31/2011

Joe's younger brother visits and takes an interest in Mel.

Directors: David Trainer
Writer: Seth Kurland
Do as I Say, Not as I Did
star
7.85
417 votes

#5 - Do as I Say, Not as I Did

Season 1 - Episode 29 - Aired 9/14/2011

Fearing that she will give into peer pressure, Mel and Joe follow Lennox to her all night after-party. Meanwhile, while studying with another girl, Ryder seizes the opportunity to stand up to Holly.

Directors: David Trainer
Writer: Julie Brown
Watch Now:Amazon
Teacher/Teacher
star
7.84
358 votes

#6 - Teacher/Teacher

Season 1 - Episode 26 - Aired 8/31/2011

Joe gets Ryder in trouble with his teacher; Mel sneaks Lennox into an 18-and-over concert.

Directors: Jeff Melman
Dancing With the Stars of Toledo
star
7.82
481 votes

#7 - Dancing With the Stars of Toledo

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 9/28/2010

Mel agrees to dance with a dancer from "Dancing with the Stars'' at a charity event.

Directors: Ted Wass
Writer: Matt Boren
Lost in Translation
star
7.82
431 votes

#8 - Lost in Translation

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 7/13/2011

Mel has an important deal with a Japanese businessman and asks Joe to teach her Japanese. When the businessman's son arrives in his place and speaks no English, Joe has to translate between the two. When the Japanese businessman develops a romantic interest in Mel, Joe sabotages the translation. Meanwhile, Lennox is forced to work with her ex-best friend on a school project, and Ryder tries to mediate.

Directors: Steve Zuckerman
Writer: Seth Kurland
Pilot
star
7.80
750 votes

#9 - Pilot

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 8/17/2010

Former wild child Mel Burke has just been elected as city council person for Toledo, Ohio. However, in addition to her new job, she is also forced into raising her niece, Lennox, and her nephew, Ryder. Lennox and Ryder's father, Louis Scanlon, was part of a ponzi scheme and fled the country. Their mother was sent to prison, leaving Mel as the only option. Joe Longo, a former employee of Louis and lost all of his money. His wife kicked him out and left him with nothing. Joe tracks down Mel for information on Louis. Their paths continue to cross until Mel accidentally offers Joe a job to help her take care of the kids. Lennox got suspended from school and Joe saves the day getting Lennox to talk to the principal and accept her punishment.

Directors: Ted Wass
Play Ball
star
7.79
389 votes

#10 - Play Ball

Season 1 - Episode 27 - Aired 9/7/2011

Mel recruits Joe to play on her office softball team, as she is determined to beat her rival's team (Tom Wilson). Meanwhile, Ryder wants Lennox to feature Holly's short story in the school blog.

Writer: Ed Driscoll
Watch Now:Apple TV
Mel and Joe's Anniversary
star
7.79
395 votes

#11 - Mel and Joe's Anniversary

Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 8/17/2011

George has a party to introduce Mel to his friends. Meanwhile, Joe gets upset at his ex-wife for disrespecting their anniversary.

Directors: Ted Wass
Writer: Seth Kurland
Watch Now:Apple TV
Joe Versus The Reunion
star
7.79
416 votes

#12 - Joe Versus The Reunion

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 7/20/2011

After debating whether to show his face after the tumultuous year he's had, Joe ultimately decides to go to his 10-year college reunion. On the same evening, per the Mayor's request, Mel goes out to dinner with an artist to discuss bringing his installations to Toledo. But when Mel gets a call from a depressed Joe at his reunion, she rushes over there to surprise him by posing as his girlfriend and save the day - only to realize that in the meantime, Joe has found and reconnected with an old flame. And Lennox and Ryder decide to throw a party with Mel and Joe out for the evening, but it does not go as planned.

Directors: Jeff Melman
The Perfect Storm
star
7.78
479 votes

#13 - The Perfect Storm

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 9/7/2010

Mel grounds Lennox because she is failing chemistry and needs to study. However, when Senator Russell Burke, Mel‘s father, shows up unexpected, he undermines her authority. Senator Burke sweet talks Joe and takes the kids out for a night of fun against Mel‘s wishes. Seeing the conflict between Mel and Lennox, Senator Burke invites Lennox to move in with him and her grandmother in Washington, D.C.

Directors: Steve Zuckerman
Up Close & Personal
star
7.77
471 votes

#14 - Up Close & Personal

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 9/21/2010

Mel is working on her public image and invites a TV reporter to do a story on her and the kids. Celeste Vega (Valery Ortiz) finds out that Mel has a male nanny working for her and shifts the story to Joe. Stephanie alerts Joe that the piece is not flattering for Mel. Joe goes down to Celeste‘s office to defend Mel.

Directors: David Trainer
Waiting for Mr. Right
star
7.76
428 votes

#15 - Waiting for Mr. Right

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 8/10/2011

Mel feels the pressure to find someone after her last single friend gets engaged.

Directors: David Trainer
Writer: Matt Boren
Spies & Lies
star
7.75
395 votes

#16 - Spies & Lies

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 9/14/2010

Mel catches Joe having secret meetings with a girl named Tessa in the basement. When Mel begins to spy, she learns that Joe & Tessa are on a manhunt for her brother-in-law Lewis Scanlon. Mel & Joe think Ryder is getting bullied at school because he keeps losing his stuff. Joe & Mel come to his rescue by getting his stuff back, but proceed to make everything worse.

Directors: David Trainer
Writer: Brenda Hsueh
Seoul Man
star
7.74
471 votes

#17 - Seoul Man

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 10/5/2010

Due to a recent scandal at the city council, Mel is asked to prove Joe’s legal working status in the United States. Much to her surprise, Joe was born in Korea while his family was stationed abroad, and he can’t find his legal documents. Meanwhile, when Lennox decides to go to a school dance with one of her girlfriends, rumors start circulating about her sexuality.

Directors: Tim O'Donnell
A House Divided
star
7.73
361 votes

#18 - A House Divided

Season 1 - Episode 28 - Aired 9/7/2011

Mel and Joe get into a property dispute with their neighbor; Ryder films a PSA starring Lennox.

Directors: Ted Wass
Watch Now:Apple TV
A Fright in the Attic
star
7.71
527 votes

#19 - A Fright in the Attic

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 10/19/2010

Mel hears something in the attic but when she goes to investigate it is the last thing she expected.

Directors: David Trainer
Writer: Seth Kurland
Going the Distance?
star
7.66
354 votes

#20 - Going the Distance?

Season 1 - Episode 23 - Aired 8/24/2011

Mel reexamines her romance with George. Elsewhere, Holly introduces her folks to Ryder.

Directors: Ted Wass
In Lennox We Trust
star
7.63
523 votes

#21 - In Lennox We Trust

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 10/12/2010

Lennox dates the Mayor's son, who may not be the good influence Mel thinks he is.

Directors: Steve Zuckerman
The Mel Word
star
7.62
406 votes

#22 - The Mel Word

Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 8/3/2011

Mel plans a wedding at her home; Lennox and Ryder work on a documentary.

Directors: Steve Zuckerman
Nanny Love
star
7.61
499 votes

#23 - Nanny Love

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 8/24/2010

Joe fears that being a nanny will prevent him from having a love life. Mel is worried that a depressed Joe means no more gourmet food so she lies to help him get a date with her former sorority sister. Joe needs to keep the lie going to help out Mel in her job.

Directors: Ted Wass
Writer: Seth Kurland
Watch Now:Apple TV
Toledo's Next Top Model
star
7.61
403 votes

#24 - Toledo's Next Top Model

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 7/27/2011

Lennox is asked to be a model but she must get permission from Mel. Joe helps Ryder ask a girl out.

Directors: David Trainer
Moving On
star
7.60
582 votes

#25 - Moving On

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 8/17/2010

Mel dates a guy with ulterior motives. Joe deals with getting his stuff back from his ex-wife, most importantly his flat screen TV. Lennox tries to make friends in her new school.

Directors: Ted Wass