The BEST episodes of Roc
Every episode of Roc ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Roc!
Roc Emerson, a city garbage collector from Baltimore, balances the pressures of work with the everyday crises of family life in an effort to do what he believes is best for his loving and understanding wife, Eleanor, his live-in dad, Andrew, and his irresponsible brother, Joey.
#1 - Nightmare on Emerson's Street
Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 3/29/1992
When a gang of drug dealers move into a nearby house, Roc and Elenor try to organize their neighbors into a non-violent protest movement to scare them away. Roc suggests they picket and demonstrate loudly and continuously in front of the crack house, but the frightened neighbors fear retaliation from the gang.
#2 - Choosing Your Friends
Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 9/27/1992
While Joey tricks two famous jazz musicians into playing with him. Eleanor worries that Roc is getting too friendly with neighborhood vigilante Ronnie Paxton who's forceful methods 'took care' of the thief that robbed Andrew. Roc defends his right to choose his own friends, but when Eleanor threatens to stop having sex, Roc reconsiders.
Watch Now:Amazon#3 - The Poker Game
Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/6/1992
When Roc loses seven hundred dollars in a poker game, he stubbornly refuses Joey's offer to pay the debt for him. Reluctantly, Roc takes Joey's money and Eleanor announces that instead of a loan, they'll accept it as a repayment for all the years that Joey lived with them without paying rent or expenses.
Watch Now:Amazon#4 - A Piece of the Roc
Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/23/1992
Roc is proud to be chosen by his boss, Mr. Samuels, to supervise a new sanitation trainee. But when he discovers that the new garbageman is a beautiful woman, Angela Kimbro, Roc worries that he'll be too distracted by her looks to work. Angela quickly proves that she's as strong as any male sanitation worker. She also tells the horrified Roc that she's extremely attracted to him. Roc insists he loves his adoring wife, Eleanor. Still, Angela refuses to leave him alone.
Watch Now:Amazon#5 - The Artificial Insemination Story
Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/11/1992
When tests confirm his low sperm count, Roc asks Joey to donate his sperm . Roc does not want another man's sperm impregnating his wife, but Roc also realizes how passionately Eleanor wants to have a child. When they arrive at the hospital and begin the procedure, Roc suddenly changes his mind. He confesses that he wants to be genetically connected to his son and will continue more tests.
Watch Now:Amazon#6 - 1992 Presidential Election
Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/1/1992
On the eve of the election, Eleanor, Andrew and Matty try to convince Roc and Joey to cast their ballots before the polls close. Andrew, Matty, and Eleanor each are pulling for a different candadiate and stage a mock debate to help Roc choose who to vote for. However, Eleanor tries not to antagonize Matty because she doesn't want to ruin her chances of getting the promotion at the hospital. Roc and Joey finally realize every vote is important and run out to the polls to vote just before closing time.
Watch Now:Amazon#7 - The Car Accident from Heaven
Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/15/1992
When Joey escapes serious injury in a car accident, Andrew forsees his own death and buys cemetery plots for himself and Joey, but not for Roc. Roc gets jealous and accuses his father of always favoring his selfish brother. Andrew explains that Roc has Eleanor to love him and bury him and Joey will always be a roving playboy with no one to care for his needs.
Watch Now:Amazon#8 - Joey's First Fan
Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/13/1992
Joey proudly encourages his musical protege, Devon Brown, until he learns that the young man is involved with Andre Thompson, the local drug dealer. Joey learns that Devon is earning tuition money by delivering drugs for Andre. Pleading with his prized student to stay away from Andre, Joey learns that Devon is addicted to the drugs as well.
Watch Now:Amazon#9 - The Hand That Rocs the Cradle
Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/9/1992
When Joey, Andrew and Roc offer a meal to a pregnant homeless woman, Linda, who suddenly goes into labor in the middle of their kitchen. Linda's husband, Donald, confides in Roc, worrying that as a homeless man he can't care for his family. But Donald's fears are groundless, the baby is stillborn. Donald comforts his wife and promises to find work and shelter. Roc is so moved my their courage that he vows to show more concern for people who are less fortunate.
Watch Now:Amazon#10 - The Second Time Around
Season 2 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/17/1993
On the day that the Emersons are to renew their wedding vows, Eleanor gets upset when she learns that Roc is coaching her brother David on how to be more sexually aggressive. Meanwhile, Joey brings two dates to the wedding and attempts to let neither know that the other exists.
Watch Now:Amazon#11 - Dear Landlord
Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired 12/20/1992
When the Emerson's landlord wants to sell all of his rental properties, Roc and Eleanor invest their life savings to become the new landlords. Roc allows Joey to move back in with them if he'll work as Roc's new superintendent. Roc and Joey promise to forget their past disagreements.
#12 - Roc and the Actor
Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/8/1992
Ruben Stiles, a popular actor, uses Roc as the model for his role in a new movie. He quickly perfects an imitation of Roc's voice and movements, Roc becomes upset. Ruben apologizes for embarrassing Roc but Roc criticizes him for not caring about his character's inside feelings. Several months later, the Emersons watch the movie on television and admire Ruben's accurate characterization of Roc. But when the character talks about his low sperm count, Roc chases Joey out of the house for revelaing his most private secret to Ruben.
Watch Now:Amazon#13 - Joey Messes Up
Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 10/18/1992
When Joey learns that his new girlfriend just ended her affair with Miles Taylor, the piano player in his jazz band, he tries to prevent the jealous pianist from learning the truth by convincing his brother, Roc, to pose as her new lover. Miles confronts Roc, suspecting that Joey is lying to him. When Roc confessess the truth, Miles vents his anger at Joey and quits the band along with Curtis, the bass player.
Watch Now:Amazon#14 - The Stan Who Came to Dinner
Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/18/1992
Roc 's boss Stan had a brief sexual encounter with a woman at a sanitation convention. Now Stan's wife Connie has thrown him out of the house. Roc gives Stan some honest advice and invites him home for dinner. But over the next few weeks, Stan asks Roc for too much emotional support and imposes on the Emersons for a place to sleep.
Watch Now:Amazon#15 - No Notes Is Good Notes
Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/12/1992
Reverend Hill suggests that Joey Emerson, an unemployed musician, give trumpet lessons to some of the congregation's children. Roc immediately commits his lazy live-in brother to the job, hoping finally to see some money for rent. During the ""lessons,"" Joey makes telephone calls, bets on horse races and gives his students no musical guidance at all. Roc and Eleanor, endure the horrible trumpet noises coming from the living room and hope that the children will improve in time. Then Roc promises Reverend Hill that Joey and his students will play in the churh's next musical recital.
Watch Now:Amazon#16 - Roc Strikes Out
Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/16/1992
Roc hopes his union's decision to strike against the city will only last a few days. When the strike enters week three and Roc has spent his small allotment from the union's emergency fund, he takes a job as a hospital orderly, working under the supervision of his wife, Eleanor.
Watch Now:Amazon#17 - Musician, Heal Thyself
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 9/22/1991
When unemployed trumpet player Joey can't pay his gambling debts, he begs his older brother for a thousand-dollar loan. Roc refuses to come to the rescue, even though Joey promises to change. As a test, Roc gets Joey a legitimate job with the sanitation department, and promises to pay the debt if Joey can keep the job for two weeks.
#18 - Car Wars
Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 8/31/1992
When Joey is given free use of his friend's luxury car, Elanor insists that Roc withdraw some of their savings from the bank so they can buy a car of their own.
Watch Now:Amazon#19 - Terence Got His Gun
Season 3 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/4/1994
Roc and Eleanor are outraged when they learn that Sheila's new friend, Terence, carries a handgun to school to defend himself against the violent gang members. Meanwhile, Joey organizes his musician friends to fund their own music school to educate and occupy the neighborhood children.
Watch Now:Amazon#20 - Unforgiven
Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/12/1993
When Andrew's goddaughter Nina comes to town, Andrew warns Joey to stay away from her. Joey agrees. Nina takes a shine to Joey, and has him show her the sights of the city. Then Nina seduces Joey back at her hotel room, and Joey naturally gives in despite his better judgement.
#21 - Labor Intensive
Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/5/1993
When Roc finally realizes the importance of prenatal care for the health of their baby, he obsessively pampers Eleanor with food, exercise and music. Meanwhile, Joey and Andrew meet Al Fontaine, a dishonest acquaintance who enjoys gambling on silly stunts and party games. Joey tries to win back a large wager that he lost to Al in the past but is unsuccessful.
Watch Now:Amazon#22 - Crime and Punishment
Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 9/28/1993
When Sheila is out two hours past her curfew, the family worries; and when she shows up, saying she lost track of time at the movies, Roc and Joey have to punish her.
#23 - Joey the Bartender
Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 9/21/1993
Charlaine hires Joey to be a bartender at her restaurant, but he quickly demonstrates his irresponsibility by transforming it into a gambling casino.
#24 - The Poker Hand That Rocks the Cradle
Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/14/1993
When Eleanor's baby party interferes with Roc's weekly poker game, the expectant couple worry that the baby may interfere in their fun and romance. Then Roc loses the money for Eleanor's anniversary gift in a game.
Watch Now:Amazon#25 - The Garbageman's Apprentice
Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/7/1993
When Roc's crazy neighbor George is hired by the Sanitation Department, Roc is assigned to teach the annoying man how to be a garbage collector. Meanwhile, Joey persuades the Emersons' foster daughter Sheila to use the computer's mathematical probability program to determine the winning horses at the racetrack.
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