The WORST episodes of Picket Fences

Every episode of Picket Fences ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Picket Fences!

Before Ally and The Practice, David E. Kelley was behind this superlative series. Picket Fences followed the lives of the residents of the small town of Rome, Wisconsin, where weird things happened. Cows giving birth to human babies, a spate of people turning up dead in freezers, sex change teachers, a revolving door of mayors who never lasted very long - and one who even spontaneously combusted! Struggling to maintain order in this Twin Peaksesque environment is Sheriff Jimmy Brock. Married to the town doctor, Jill, they are attempting to bring up their three kids Kimberly, Matthew and Zachary against the odds.

Last Updated: 9/22/2024Network: CBSStatus: Ended
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Away in the Manger
star
7.09
35 votes

#1 - Away in the Manger

Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/16/1994

Jimmy investigates cows that are suspected to have been injected with alien DNA, but the Sheriff's department soon finds that the truth is even stranger than fiction and that the cows are being used to help breed human babies.

Directors: Bill D'Elia
Watch Now:Amazon
When in Rome
star
7.11
36 votes

#2 - When in Rome

Season 3 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/24/1995

After 26 years in prison, a child molester moves to Rome, stirring controversy.

Watch Now:Amazon
Pal Joey
star
7.14
7 votes

#3 - Pal Joey

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/6/1995

A talk-show-host/physician tries to take over Jill's practice. An Asian man's courting ritual leads to his arrest and Kenny uses a dating-service.

Directors: Mel Damski
Watch Now:Amazon
Three Weddings and a Meltdown
star
7.17
6 votes

#4 - Three Weddings and a Meltdown

Season 4 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/24/1996

Carter inadvertantly proposes to Sue after she gets her wires crossed. Nevertheless, he's a man of his word and they announce their engagement to the people of Rome. Their sudden decision to wed prompts Kenny and Max to do the same, although they later begin to experience cold feet. Digging in her friend Selma's backyard, Myriam Wambaugh discovers human remains and Selma goes on trial for murder. Persuaded to defend her by his ex-wife, Wambaugh manages to get her off and passion erupts again for Doug and Myriam, who decide to get re-married in a triple ceremony with Carter & Sue and Kenny & Max. Meanwhile, the Brocks' marriage is in serious trouble, with Jill feeling they've come to the end of the line. She moves in with Joey to do some thinking and Jimmy is left to do the same. At the wedding, the three happy couples tie the knot and the wedding fever gets to Jimmy and Jill, who make up and get back together. As the cast gather for a group photo in their wedding finery, we wave a sad

Directors: Mel Damski
Watch Now:Amazon
Rebels with Causes
star
7.19
36 votes

#5 - Rebels with Causes

Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/11/1994

Jill takes an ailing Wambaugh to Chicago Hope Hospital for tests and locks horns with Geiger over how to practice medicine.

Directors: Tom Skerritt
Watch Now:Amazon
Picket Fences
star
7.25
32 votes

#6 - Picket Fences

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/18/1992

The sudden death of the Tin Man during a community performance of The Wizard of Oz throws the normally sleepy town of Rome, Wisconsin, into chaos and throws Sheriff Jimmy Brock right into the middle of a difficult murder investigation. Meanwhile, when the favourite singing group of Brock's teenage daughter Kimberly arrive in town, they prove not to be what either she or Deputy Kenny had anticipated.

Directors: Ron Lagomarsino
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Upbringings
star
7.26
35 votes

#7 - Upbringings

Season 3 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/5/1995

A troubled relationship resurfaces when Jimmy's father wants him to take over the law practice.

Watch Now:Amazon
Changing of the Guard
star
7.26
35 votes

#8 - Changing of the Guard

Season 3 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/10/1995

Jimmy asks the Dancing Bandit to investigate the mayor's murder. Max and Kenny are caught kissing on the job.

Directors: Arvin Brown
Watch Now:Amazon
A Change of Season
star
7.27
11 votes

#9 - A Change of Season

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/22/1995

Following Carter's narrow escape from a house fire, Jill fears he tried to commit suicide. Kimberly makes a career decision: she's not going to be a lawyer after all, she's going to be a doctor. Jill is both shocked and a little delighted.

Directors: Michael Pressman
Writer: Jeff Melvoin
Watch Now:Amazon
Final Judgement
star
7.28
36 votes

#10 - Final Judgement

Season 3 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/7/1995

While Jill awaits sentencing, her lawyers ask Bone to put the euthanasia law on trial. Kenny and Carter investigate an attack on swans.

Directors: Michael Pressman
Watch Now:Amazon
Saint Zach
star
7.28
36 votes

#11 - Saint Zach

Season 3 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/28/1995

All of Rome is in an uproar after stigmata appear on Zach's hands.

Watch Now:Amazon
Enemy Lines (2)
star
7.28
39 votes

#12 - Enemy Lines (2)

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/14/1994

A judge jails Jill for interfering with the busing order. Littleton and Max consider dating.

Directors: James Frawley
Watch Now:Amazon
For Whom the Wind Blows
star
7.29
35 votes

#13 - For Whom the Wind Blows

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/2/1994

Jimmy experiences a mid-life crisis on his 55th birthday. Max and Kenny re-open the Latham case.

Directors: Michael Schultz
Watch Now:Amazon
May It Please the Court
star
7.30
37 votes

#14 - May It Please the Court

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/18/1994

Wambaugh and Littleton argue their case in the Supreme Court.

Directors: Lou Antonio
Watch Now:Amazon
Mr. Seed Goes to Town
star
7.31
35 votes

#15 - Mr. Seed Goes to Town

Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/20/1995

Wanting another baby, Lydia Brock wants to use Jimmy's frozen sperm.

Watch Now:Amazon
Without Mercy
star
7.33
36 votes

#16 - Without Mercy

Season 3 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/31/1995

Jimmy arrests Jill for euthanizing a cancer patient.

Directors: James Frawley
Watch Now:Amazon
Heroes and Villains
star
7.33
36 votes

#17 - Heroes and Villains

Season 3 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/3/1995

The Dancing Bandit returns to Rome to help Zack celebrate his birthday but finds federal agents waiting for her.

Directors: Richard Masur
Watch Now:Amazon
Cold Spell
star
7.33
39 votes

#18 - Cold Spell

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/28/1994

Brock investigates the home life of a girl who spray-painted a pentacle on a school wall. Max and Kenny are horrified to find Ginny, frozen to death after falling into her freezer.

Directors: Lou Antonio
Watch Now:Amazon
Remembering Rosemary
star
7.35
17 votes

#19 - Remembering Rosemary

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/26/1992

It's Halloween and Jimmy decides to reopen the ten year old suicide case of Rosemary Bauer when Karina Shaw, her former maid who hasn't spoken since the death, suddenly utters the word "murder". On the strength of this new piece of evidence, the case is reopened and elderly Rome resident Howard Buss confesses to killing Rosemary, bringing proof of his guilt to the authorities. Meanwhile, holiday tricks get out of hand.

Directors: Donald Petrie
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
High Tidings
star
7.36
14 votes

#20 - High Tidings

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/18/1992

Brock catches Kimberly in bed with her boyfriend, arrests him and cancels Christmas in the household. At the Sheriff Station, Max and Ginny are held hostage at gunpoint by an elderly man dressed as Santa Claus.

Directors: Oz Scott
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Cross Examination
star
7.36
11 votes

#21 - Cross Examination

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 12/3/1993

Some members of the community don't know what to believe when a woman pulled from a submerged vehicle is discovered to be pregnant - even though she is technically a virgin. Matthew decides to tell Zach about Santa Claus.

Watch Now:Amazon
The Song of Rome
star
7.41
37 votes

#22 - The Song of Rome

Season 3 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/12/1995

Judge Bone struggles to be objective with a youth who shot Father Barrett during confession.

Directors: Michael Pressman
Watch Now:Amazon
Down the Tubes
star
7.50
4 votes

#23 - Down the Tubes

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/3/1995

Pregnant Mayor Bey shields the baby's father as Jill considers tubal ligation. Meanwhile, Littleton is haunted by memories of his brother and makes some big decisions about his future.

Directors: Michael Schultz
Watch Now:Amazon
Heart of Saturday Night
star
7.50
4 votes

#24 - Heart of Saturday Night

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/27/1995

Saturday night in Rome and the residents' minds turn to leisure activities. Matthew goes cruising with his pals. Jill and Jimmy's attempt at romance leaves him in an extremely painful position. Meanwhile, Judge Bone and Wambaugh's poker gang loses a player when one of them drops dead at the table.

Directors: Jeremy Kagan
Writer: Ellen Herman
Watch Now:Amazon
Reap the Whirlwind
star
7.50
8 votes

#25 - Reap the Whirlwind

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/29/1995

A tornado threatens Rome and Zach is so worried for Kimberly's safety that he sets out on his bike to warn her. Kenny's hooker is arrested in a sting operation organised by Max, who ends up commiting a felony by covering for him. Wambaugh's wife leaves him after he embarrasses her at their anniversary party.

Directors: James Frawley
Writer: Nick Harding
Watch Now:Amazon