The WORST episodes of The Abbott and Costello Show

Every episode of The Abbott and Costello Show ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of The Abbott and Costello Show!

Bud and Lou are unemployed actors living in Mr. Fields’ boarding house. Lou’s girlfriend Hillary lives across the hall. Many situations arise leading to slapstick and puns.

Last Updated: 9/16/2024Network: CBSStatus: Ended
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The Paper Hangers
star
6.07
30 votes

#1 - The Paper Hangers

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 11/7/1953

To pay back rent, Bud and Lou attempt to wallpaper an apartment. Later, as waiters in a restaurant, they brawl with hoodlums.

Directors: Jean Yarbrough
Watch Now:Amazon
Las Vegas
star
6.13
31 votes

#2 - Las Vegas

Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/1/1953

Bud and Lou pay $90 for a car and head for Las Vegas, where Lou takes part in a violent game of billiards. The "mudder/fodder" routine is performed.

Directors: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Sid Fields
Watch Now:Amazon
The Army Story
star
6.15
34 votes

#3 - The Army Story

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 1/23/1953

Bud and Lou join the Army, where they recreate their routines from the feature film 'Buck Privates.' "Drill Routine" and "Dice Game" are performed.

Directors: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Sid Fields
Watch Now:Amazon
Uncle from New Jersey
star
6.33
3 votes

#4 - Uncle from New Jersey

Season 2 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/13/1954

When Mr. Fields is just about to evict the boys, Bud convinces him that Lou's Uncle Ruppert is a millionaire and Lou is the sole heir. Complications arise, however, when Mike the Cop begins to believe that the visiting uncle (Lou in disguise) has been murdered.

Directors: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Jack Townley
Watch Now:Amazon
Fencing Master
star
6.67
3 votes

#5 - Fencing Master

Season 2 - Episode 23 - Aired 4/10/1954

A mad scientist's experiment convinces Lou that he is indestructible.

Directors: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Jack Townley
Watch Now:Amazon
Private Eye
star
6.67
3 votes

#6 - Private Eye

Season 2 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/20/1954

After receiving his private eye diploma from the Watchdog Correspondence School, Lou helps a friend locate some valuable bonds in a haunted house.

Directors: Jean Yarbrough
Watch Now:Amazon
Wife Wanted
star
6.67
3 votes

#7 - Wife Wanted

Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/6/1954

When Lou finds out he will inherit $10,000 provided that he has a wife, he tries to marry a former girlfriend—who is dating a man named Bonebender Brodsky.

Directors: Jean Yarbrough
Watch Now:Amazon
Safari
star
6.97
30 votes

#8 - Safari

Season 1 - Episode 26 - Aired 5/29/1953

When Bingo gets sick, the whole gang travels to Africa to find his parents.

Directors: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Sid Fields
Watch Now:Amazon
Efficiency Experts
star
7.00
2 votes

#9 - Efficiency Experts

Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/23/1954

Bud and Lou land jobs as efficiency experts, and are assigned to restrain their client’s daughters from spending money. The young women, however, get the boys to buy them expensive dresses and take them to a casino, where they end up in a brawl.

Directors: Jean Yarbrough
Watch Now:Amazon
Police Rookies
star
7.00
30 votes

#10 - Police Rookies

Season 1 - Episode 25 - Aired 5/22/1953

Mike the Cop helps Bud and Lou enroll in the Police Rookie School, where Lou blows up the gymnasium while playing with a hand grenade.

Directors: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Sid Fields
Watch Now:Amazon
Uncle Bozzo's Visit
star
7.00
3 votes

#11 - Uncle Bozzo's Visit

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 11/14/1953

Lou's eccentric opera singing uncle comes to stay with the boys for a couple of months.

Directors: Jean Yarbrough
Watch Now:Amazon
In Society
star
7.00
2 votes

#12 - In Society

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/21/1953

A wealthy society matron pays Bud to attend a formal reception and impersonate the Duke of Gluten. Lou comes along pretending to be his cousin, the Earl of Waldo.

Directors: Jean Yarbrough
Watch Now:Amazon
Life Insurance
star
7.00
3 votes

#13 - Life Insurance

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 11/28/1953

Mr. Fields takes out an insurance policy on Lou. Later, Bud takes Lou on a hunting trip, and Lou suspects Bud and Mr. Fields have plotted to kill him for the insurance money.

Directors: Jean Yarbrough
Watch Now:Amazon
Cheap Skates
star
7.00
2 votes

#14 - Cheap Skates

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 12/19/1953

Bud and Lou accidentally buy a crate of roller-skates, not knowing that they have stolen diamonds hidden inside.

Directors: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Jack Townley
Watch Now:Amazon
Amnesia
star
7.00
2 votes

#15 - Amnesia

Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/16/1954

Lou is in love with a girl he has never met. As a gag, Bud and his friends convince him that he has already married the girl. The woman who poses as his wife then makes his existence miserable.

Directors: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Jack Townley
Watch Now:Amazon
Car Trouble
star
7.00
3 votes

#16 - Car Trouble

Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/30/1954

When Lou wins a car, Bud sells it to buy a cheaper one, using the profits to try to finance a vacation in Flint, Michigan.

Directors: Jean Yarbrough
Watch Now:Amazon
The Tax Return
star
7.00
4 votes

#17 - The Tax Return

Season 2 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/27/1954

Lou receives a tax refund check for $1,000,000. He takes the check to a bank and demands cash. He is subsequently followed by home by crooks.

Directors: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Jack Townley
Watch Now:Amazon
Public Enemies
star
7.00
3 votes

#18 - Public Enemies

Season 2 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/6/1954

Lou is mistaken for a crook named Dapper Dan and is forced to take part in a robbery.

Directors: Jean Yarbrough
Watch Now:Amazon
The Pigeon
star
7.00
2 votes

#19 - The Pigeon

Season 2 - Episode 21 - Aired 3/27/1954

Bud and Lou's beautiful next door neighbor uses Lou as a decoy to help break up with her mobster boyfriend.

Directors: Jean Yarbrough
Watch Now:Amazon
The Television Show
star
7.03
31 votes

#20 - The Television Show

Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 4/24/1953

Lou is a contestant on a TV quiz show where he wins a pack of bubblegum. Their neighbor slips on a piece of gum and takes them to court.

Directors: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Sid Fields
Watch Now:Amazon
Little Old Lady
star
7.03
30 votes

#21 - Little Old Lady

Season 1 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/8/1953

Bud and Lou attempt to help an old lady who has been evicted. They raise $300 and she uses the money to bet on a racehorse.

Directors: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Sid Fields
Watch Now:Amazon
The Actors' Home
star
7.07
30 votes

#22 - The Actors' Home

Season 1 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/15/1953

Bud is taken away to an old actors' home where he and Lou perform their famous "Who's on first?" routine.

Directors: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Sid Fields
Watch Now:Amazon
Bingo the Chimp
star
7.13
31 votes

#23 - Bingo the Chimp

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/10/1953

Mike the Cop tells Lou that he must have a license for his pet chimp. But Lou accidentally applies for a marriage license.

Directors: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Sid Fields
Watch Now:Amazon
Hillary's Birthday
star
7.16
32 votes

#24 - Hillary's Birthday

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/17/1953

While shopping for Hillary's birthday present, Lou nearly destroys a grocery store. Later, at her party, Mr. Fields becomes upset about the noise.

Directors: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Sid Fields
Watch Now:Amazon
The Politician
star
7.16
31 votes

#25 - The Politician

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/20/1953

Bud coaches Lou on running for public office, a political campaign that ends with Lou delivering a disastrous speech in a neighborhood park.

Directors: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Sid Fields
Watch Now:Amazon