The WORST episodes of Raising Hope

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

At 23 years old, Jimmy Chance is going nowhere in life. He skims pools for a living, parties every night and still lives at home with his family, including his parents and his cousin, Mike. Jimmy's life takes a drastic turn when a chance romantic encounter with Lucy goes awry once he discovers she is a wanted felon. Months later, when Jimmy pays a visit to the local prison, he discovers Lucy gave birth to their baby, who he is now charged with raising.

Last Updated: 6/25/2025Network: FOXStatus: Ended
Burt Mitzvah: The Musical
star
6.85
620 votes

#1 - Burt Mitzvah: The Musical

Season 3 - Episode 21 - Aired 3/28/2013

After learning that he may be Jewish, Burt prepares for the bar mitzvah that he never had.

Directors: Eyal Gordin
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Road to Natesville
star
7.28
558 votes

#2 - The Road to Natesville

Season 4 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/31/2014

Howdy's hosts a televised supermarket competition.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Sleep Training
star
7.41
1121 votes

#3 - Sleep Training

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/26/2011

When Burt is introduced to a book on sleep-training, he and Virginia decide to try it on baby Hope. Meanwhile, Jimmy's wild new girlfriend introduces him to a special beverage that takes him on a scary trip.

Directors: Eyal Gordin
Watch Now:Apple TV
Ship Happens
star
7.47
707 votes

#4 - Ship Happens

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/22/2013

Sabrina is determined to take Hope on a memorable trip.

Directors: David Katzenberg
Writer: Sean Conaway
Watch Now:Apple TV
I Want My Baby Back, Baby Back, Baby Back
star
7.47
895 votes

#5 - I Want My Baby Back, Baby Back, Baby Back

Season 2 - Episode 22 - Aired 4/17/2012

Following the revelations of the "Inside Probe" expose of their family history, the Chances are put on trial in a fight to retain custody of Hope.

Directors: Eyal Gordin
Writer: Bobby Bowman
Watch Now:Apple TV
Gambling Again
star
7.51
904 votes

#6 - Gambling Again

Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/31/2012

When Burt starts gambling again to try and win back the items he lost 20 years ago, Jimmy and Virginia get addicted to gambling themselves, which causes them to forget about Shelley's play that Sabrina wrote and Hope stars in.

Directors: Rebecca Asher
Watch Now:Apple TV
What Up, Bro?
star
7.52
703 votes

#7 - What Up, Bro?

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/13/2012

Jimmy learns that his parents briefly gave him up for adoption and seeks the man who would have been his brother.

Directors: Mike Mariano
Writer: Mike Mariano
Watch Now:Apple TV
Déjà Vu Man
star
7.53
642 votes

#8 - Déjà Vu Man

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 11/15/2013

A strange man keeps popping up in the Chances' lives.

Directors: Mike Mariano
Writer: Mike Mariano
Watch Now:Apple TV
Blue Dots
star
7.54
1480 votes

#9 - Blue Dots

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/16/2010

Jimmy decides to put Hope in an expensive daycare center, but meets an obstacle in the form of an old record from Burt's past, so the family decides to take matters in their own hands and deal with the law.

Directors: Eyal Gordin
Writer: Liz Astrof
Watch Now:Apple TV
Meet the Grandparents
star
7.55
1195 votes

#10 - Meet the Grandparents

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/23/2010

Instead of sleeping in and ordering pizza, per his normal Thanksgiving custom, Jimmy invites Hope's other grandparents, Dale and Margine, to join the Chances for a more traditional holiday dinner. The Chances soon realize that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree when Dale and Margine kidnap Hope, and it's up to them to get her back.

Directors: Jace Alexander
Watch Now:Apple TV
Toy Story
star
7.55
1239 votes

#11 - Toy Story

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/7/2010

Jimmy finds out about his father's annual Christmas scheme where he sells the most wanted toy for a lot of money, which always left Jimmy disappointed when he was a child. Virginia wants the family to be a part of the living nativity scene at their church to gain the respect of the members.

Directors: Michael Fresco
Writer: Bobby Bowman
Watch Now:Apple TV
Family Secrets
star
7.56
1484 votes

#12 - Family Secrets

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/26/2010

When a box containing videos of Hope's mother arrives from prison, Jimmy must decide whether or not to let Hope see them. Virginia explains that children need to be protected from the truth, leading Jimmy to question what exactly his parents have been keeping from him.

Directors: Randall Einhorn
Writer: Bobby Bowman
Watch Now:Apple TV
Romeo and Romeo
star
7.56
1339 votes

#13 - Romeo and Romeo

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 2/8/2011

Jimmy hasn't had any time to socialize or make friends since Hope was born, so when he meets another single dad at the grocery store, he immediately sets up a play date. But when Jimmy finds out that Virginia is his new friend's housekeeper, Virginia insists that Jimmy cancel the outing. In an effort to keep the peace, Jimmy and his friend arrange a dinner at the Chance house.

Directors: Eyal Gordin
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Old Girl
star
7.56
580 votes

#14 - The Old Girl

Season 3 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/26/2013

Sabrina's new friend once broke Jimmy's heart.

Directors: Eyal Gordin
Watch Now:Apple TV
Cheaters
star
7.56
1150 votes

#15 - Cheaters

Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/19/2011

Maw Maw has a crush on a man she meets at Shelley's daycare. Jimmy takes Sabrina to see Wyatt after she suspects he might be cheating on her, and he resorts to drastic measures to win her back.

Directors: Daniel Attias
Watch Now:Apple TV
A Cultish Personality
star
7.57
1133 votes

#16 - A Cultish Personality

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/8/2011

Mike returns after going through a spiritual quest with a wife and her other three husbands in tow. Burt attempts to fix the relationship between his brother and Mike.

Directors: Phil Traill
Watch Now:Apple TV
Dead Tooth
star
7.57
1720 votes

#17 - Dead Tooth

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/28/2010

Jimmy asks Sabrina's cousin to baby-sit Hope so he can return to work. Burt tries to persuade Virginia to quit smoking.

Directors: Michael Fresco
Writer: Greg Garcia
Watch Now:Apple TV
Happy Halloween
star
7.58
1489 votes

#18 - Happy Halloween

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/26/2010

When Sabrina's boyfriend can't make it to the deli guy's Halloween party, Jimmy offers to put on his costume and go in his place. Virginia takes Maw Maw, who is dressed as a cat, trick-or-treating while Burt plots ways to play tricks on Jimmy.

Directors: Greg Garcia
Writer: Dan Coscino
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Last Christmas
star
7.59
665 votes

#19 - The Last Christmas

Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/11/2012

Convinced that the world will soon end, Virginia prepares for the apocalypse.

Directors: Greg Garcia
Writer: Greg Garcia
Watch Now:Apple TV
What Happens at Howdy's Doesn't Stay at Howdy's
star
7.60
661 votes

#20 - What Happens at Howdy's Doesn't Stay at Howdy's

Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/22/2013

Jimmy is apprehensive when Frank wants to throw a memorable bachelor party.

Directors: Eyal Gordin
Writer: Gina Gari
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Chance Who Stole Christmas
star
7.61
509 votes

#21 - The Chance Who Stole Christmas

Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/13/2013

Burt becomes the interim mayor of Natesville so that Virginia can light the town Christmas tree.

Directors: Mike Mariano
Watch Now:Apple TV
Killer Hope
star
7.61
929 votes

#22 - Killer Hope

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/1/2011

After discovering that Hope hit a boy at daycare, the family becomes worried that Hope is following in her mother's footsteps. Meanwhile, the Chances run into some problems when they camp out in tents due to their home being fumigated for termites.

Directors: Michael Fresco
Watch Now:Apple TV
Anniversary Ball
star
7.63
510 votes

#23 - Anniversary Ball

Season 4 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/7/2014

The Chances visit a dude ranch for their anniversary but Burt is keeping a secret from Virginia.

Directors: Timothy Stack
Writer: Mike Mariano
Watch Now:Apple TV
Burt Bucks
star
7.63
640 votes

#24 - Burt Bucks

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 11/15/2013

Burt and Virginia introduce Natesville to a new bartering system that resembles a pyramid scheme.

Directors: Rebecca Asher
Watch Now:Apple TV
If a Ham Falls in the Woods
star
7.63
795 votes

#25 - If a Ham Falls in the Woods

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/23/2012

When Jimmy and Sabrina go on a marriage retreat, Virginia, Burt and Sabrina's mother tag along.

Directors: Eyal Gordin
Watch Now:Apple TV