The BEST episodes of Providence

#1 - All Good Dogs Go to Heaven

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/22/1999

A dying dog triggers Jim's greif; Syd races to save a teen whoose diagnosis is grave; Joanie gets into a lather after meeting Syd's Soap- Star patient.

#2 - Home Again

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/15/1999

Sydney helps a woman with a bad home life; Joanie names her baby. Kyle reenters Syd's Life.

#3 - The Eleventh Hour (2)

Season 5 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/20/2002

#4 - If Memory Serves

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/19/1999

Syd's momeries confirm her fears about Jim's mystery lady; Robbie jumps through the hoops for a new lady.

#5 - Runaway Sydney

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/5/1999

Trouble at home & at the clinic causes Syd to pack her bags to return to LA; Jim faces a clingy client.

#6 - Guys and Dolls

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 5/14/1999

Syd and her father clash over her relationship with Paul when it's revealed that the District Attorney's office has begun a criminal investigation into Paul's alleged mob ties. Meanwhile, Robbie talks Joanie into filming her own cable TV commercial to promote the Barkery, and Syd tries to treat a teenage boy whose symptoms don't match his blood tests.

#7 - Two to Tango

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 5/7/1999

Syd firmly tries to fend off the romantic advances of a handsome businessman (guest star David Lee Smith) whose family is linked to the Mob, and lavish gifts begin to wear her down while at the clinic. She diagnoses a sickly landscaper (guest star Tim Ransom) who she suspects is being poisoned by pesticides. Elsewhere among the Hansen clan: Joanie -- on the eve of her new shop opening -- becomes concerned when boyfriend/business partner shows little interest in her infant daughter; Jim indulges himself when he commits to helping Lilly rig up a Rube Goldberg contraption as part of a school project; and Robbie begins to appreciate the hidden allure of Jim's clumsy veterinary assistant in a whole new way.

#8 - Good Fellows

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 4/30/1999

14 A busy Syd helps an injured high school runner (guest star Brian Poth) who is driven to win at any price by his stern coach/father even as she is romanced by the handsome son of a courtly mob boss (guest star John Capodice) whose beloved pug is treated in her dad's veterinary clinic. Elsewhere, Joanie's culinary reputation takes a hit when her vaunted meatloaf is spurned by humans but makes for a tail-wagging dogfood among the canine set.

#9 - Family Tree

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 4/23/1999

A wary Syd tries to do the right thing when she takes in Lilly , a troublesome teenager who is returned by her latest foster parents, but in no time, the lodger's carelessness places the entire Hansen household in jeopardy. Joanie's hopes soar when she learns that her handsome business partner has broken up with his girlfriend, but their main concern however, is finding a restaurant that will let them showcase her special chowder for food distributors. Robbie comes to the rescue and risks his job when he volunteers his place of employment while the owner is away. In addition, Sydney encounters a likable elderly patient (guest star Maxine Stuart) with hidden health problems, and Jim wants to help a bedraggled stray dog give birth to her pups.

#10 - Saint Syd

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 4/9/1999

No good deed goes unpunished. Against her better judgment, Syd can't resist reaching out to help a wayward teenager, but her efforts only complicate the manipulative young woman's relationship with her new foster parents - especially when she suddenly disappears; Joanie is agog when a major food distributor wants to buy her secret chowder if she will leave her family and move to Japan to provide quality control; and resourceful Robbie borrows more trouble when he secretly volunteers one of his dad's prized poodle patients for a day-long, lucrative TV commercial shoot that backfires.

#11 - Pig in Providence

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 4/2/1999

Syd gamely tries to help a young stripper who wants to leave her profession and have her bustline reduced to alleviate a dangerous back problem - but her abusive biker boyfriend may have other ideas. Elsewhere, Sydney's chilly relationship with a desirable chief surgeon begins to thaw quickly; Robbie's lucky dalliance with horse racing encourages him to roll the dice one too many times; and Joanie searches for the missing ingredient that could make her clam chowder a winner in the 'Taste of Providence' cooking contest.

#12 - You Bet Your Life

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 3/19/1999

Syd is staggered by the indecent proposal of an eccentric, elderly but lustful millionaire who offers her cash-starved medical clinic a fortune if she'll spend 48 hours traveling with him; a debt-ridden Robbie gets in deeper when he urges his injured girlfriend not to play in a key college basketball game while he secretly bets against her team; Joanie begins cooking school and falls for a mysterious fellow student who admires her ""aphrodisiacal"" clam chowder; Jim hires a klutzy veterinary assistant at the clinic.

#13 - Taste of Providence

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 3/12/1999

Syd helps a stripper leave the business, drawing fire from Dr. Marcus and the dancer's angry lover; Joanie makes a splash at a cooking contest; Robbie gets involved with a bookie.

#14 - Blind Faith

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 2/26/1999

Syd's hospital job is jeopardized by a surly surgeon-and a blind date who gets struck by lighting; a seeing-eye dog (voice of Jay Leno) opens up to a flu-ridden Jim.

#15 - Tying the Not

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 2/12/1999

Syd's thrilled when Joanie announces that she's marrying Richie, but Lynda plants doubts in Syd's mind weather or not the pair really love each other.

#16 - Sisters

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/29/1999

Syd helps Joanie's friend whose health is as bad as her reputation: Jim and Robbie bust a sick chimp out of the zoo.

#17 - Heaven Can Wait

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 5/21/1999

The series closes its first season with an emotional episode revolving around troubled teen Lilly. With Syd and the Hansens, Lilly has found a sense of security. Syd is thrilled when Kyle returns to Providence for a quick visit, but later becomes concerned when he also seeks her medical advice. Meanwhile, Jim is stunned when his assistant, Heather, quits her job, and enlists Robbie's help to convince her to stay. Joanie has a difficult time finding someone suitable to help her out at the Barkery. And, a family celebration turns tragic when a friend from Lilly's past arrives in Providence.

#18 - The Letter

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/1/1999

On the first anniversary of Lynda's death, the Hansens agree to celebrate her life with a memorial dinner until Jim causes a family uproar when he confesses that a missing secret letter that he wrote to his wife just before her fatal heart attack might have caused the calamity. Elsewhere, Sydney stays close to the athletic Kyle when he learns he must undergo a traumatic surgery. Joanie must make a painful decision when she discovers that the obedient employee in her dog store eatery has been behaving more and more like a canine.

#19 - Shadow Play

Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/11/2002

LARRY MILLER (""THE PRINCESS DIARIES"") GUEST-STARS -- In the wake of her malpractice suit, Syd (Melina Kanakaredes) is shadowed at St. Clare's Clinic by one of it's snoopy board members, Dr. Mincus (guest star Larry Miller, ""The Princess Diaries""). Similiarly at the vet clinic, Jim (Mike Farrell) returns to work part-time under the watchful eye of Sam (guest star Cress Williams, NBC's ""ER""). Tina (Maria Pitillo) seeks Syd's professional advice and learns she may have to consider surgery if she hopes to conceive a child. Robbie (Seth Peterson) becomes a full partner at O'Neill's. Joanie (Paula Cale) and Phil (guest star Dan Montgomery) use their talents for fighting the system to help a father (guest star Peter Onorati) whose son (guest star Scott Terra) needs more assistance than his school is willing to give him. Concetta Tomei, Dana Daurey and Samaria Graham also star.

#20 - Pilot

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/8/1999

Dr. Sidney Hansen returns home to Rhode Island From Los Angeles after tragedy strikes.

#21 - Impulse Control

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/12/2001

FRIENDS AND LOVERS - Syd (Melina Kanakaredes) and Joe's (guest star Steven Ekholdt) relationship is strained when Syd becomes better acquainted with his estranged wife Erica (guest star Christina Haag) and the two women discover that they like each other. Brought together through volunteer work for breast cancer research, Erica asks Syd to consult on her friend Lynn's (guest star Allison Smith, ""The West Wing"") breast reconstructive surgery. Meanwhile, Joanie (Paula Cale) struggles with financial problems caused by Jim's (Mike Farrell) HMO coverage, or lack thereof. Jim discovers the joys of home shopping on cable television which adds to Joanie's concerns. Joanie and Heather (guest star Dana Daurey) interview a temporary replacement for Jim to run the vet clinic and decide to hire Dr. Sam Magala (guest star Cress Williams). Robbie (Seth Peterson) tries to help Tina's (guest star Maria Pitillo) son Pete (guest star Alex D. Linz, ""Home Alone 3"") with a school science project but meets w

#22 - The Good Fight

Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/25/2002

WILL SYD OBJECT TO HER DEFENSE ATTORNEY? -- Syd (Melina Kanakaredes) meets the attractive, brilliant attorney Owen Frank (guest star George Newburn) who will defend her in the malpractice suit and faces a will stronger than her own. Joanie (Paula Cale) is apprehensive about taking her relationship with Phil (Dan Montgomery) to a more physical level. Robbie (Seth Peterson) and Tina (Maria Pitillo) try to play cupids with Pete (Alex D. Linz) and his tomboy friend, Nicky (guest star Brenda Grate). Jim (Mike Farrell) performs surgery on a patient for the first time since his injury and does so well that Sam (Cress Williams) tells him he no longer needs a ""shadow"". TV-PG

#23 - The Start of Something Big

Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/4/2002

Syd is personally and professionally stunned by a malpractice suit brought on by a high-risk pregnancy patient (guest star Ashley Johnson) and in turn questions her recent decision to end therapy sessions with Dr. Dunseith (guest star Isabella Hofmann). In the meantime, Joanie and Phil (guest star Dan Montgomery) go rock wall climbing as platonic friends, but soon realize that the tension between them isn't just in the ropes. Jim begins an independent living program at the rehab center and can return to work at the vet clinic part-time if Sam (guest star Cress Williams) shadows him. Meanwhile, Jim uses a pet kitten to help his friend Meredith (guest star Marcia Srassman) realize that she never has to live alone. And something is cooking at O'Neill's when Robbie creates a salad dressing that inadvertently induces labor pains in pregnant customers. Amid the expectant customers, Tina (Maria Pitillo) suspects she may be pregnant herself.

#24 - The Mating Dance

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/14/2001

JOANIE GOES ON A 'BLIND DATE' TO FIND A MATE; SERIES HOST ROGER LODGE GUEST-STARS AS HIMSELF -- At the suggestion of her therapist, Syd (Melina Kanakaredes) participates in an evening of ""Speed Dating"" while Joanie (Paula Cale) becomes a contestant on the romantic reality show ""Blind Date"" hosted by Roger Lodge (appearing as himself) while Phil (guest star Dan Montgomery) babysits Hannah (Tessa Allen) -- and while her date turns out to be the wrong guy, Joanie still has a chance for romance. Robbie (Seth Peterson) sells his skis to buy a new sewing machine for Tina (Maria Pitillo), who sells her own sewing machine to buy ski tickets for Robbie. Meanwhile, Jim (Mike Farrell) makes a new female friend at rehab. Concetta Tomei also stars. TV-PG

#25 - Gobble Gobble

Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/23/2001

THANKSGIVING BRINGS OUT JIM'S GOOD DEED - MUCH TO SYD'S DISMAY -- Jim's (Mike Farrell) rehabilitation requires him to travel on a bus to do his errands but when he decides to do a Good Samaritan deed for the bus driver's grandmother, he ends up accepting a ride from some rough dudes -- and an unknowing Syd (Melina Kanakaredes) grows frantic when he doesn't return on time. Meanwhile: St. Clare's loans its space for a charity Thanksgiving dinner hosted by the Daughters of the Mayflower allowing Syd to treat their chairwoman -- whose lineage might be suspect; Joanie (Paula Cale) and Hannah take a ride in the country and end up saving a turkey; Robbie's (Seth Peterson) well-intentioned plan to surprise Tina with a big family holiday dinner goes up in smoke. Concetta Tomei also stars