The BEST episodes of The Bernie Mac Show
Every episode of The Bernie Mac Show ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Bernie Mac Show!
Bernie and his wife, Wanda, reluctantly step into the role of parents when his sister drops off her three kids -- naive Bryanna, nerdy Jordan and teenager Vanessa -- en route to rehab.
#1 - Being Bernie Mac
Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/22/2004
Bernie is hoping for some peace and quiet as he prepares for a performance that night, but he must deal with the kids when Wanda's business meeting runs long.
#2 - Back in the Day
Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/20/2002
Bernie becomes concerned when he begins to see the classic signs that old age is catching up with him. He's forgetful, has aches and pains, and is finding gray hairs in, uh, unwanted places. When a panic attack sends Bernie to the Emergency Room after an argument with the kids, he decides to not let the kids send him to an early grave. He fights back and begins trying to act young again. He blasts his music and nags his friends for not staying up all night to play poker with him. Bernie only makes matters worse however when all his ""young"" activities take their toll on his mind and body. When Bryana asks Bernie to play in her Father-Daughter Basketball tournament at school, he complains, saying that he is just too old to play. When he gets to the game though, he realizes that he should be playing and joins in. Although he gets hurt playing, Bernie realizes that being old doesn't mean stopping your life.
#3 - Hot Hot Hot
Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 1/16/2002
On a hot day, Vanessa detours the family's trip to the water park. Back at home, the kids act wild and the air conditioning breaks.
#4 - Wanda's Week Off
Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/23/2002
Wanda spends time with the kids and considers having a child with Bernie.
#5 - Hall of Fame
Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 2/6/2002
Jordan sets his sights on joining Vanessa and Bryana on the Bernie Mac Hall of Fame awards shelf. He decides to join his school's football team after hearing that everyone on the squad gets a trophy just for participating. Bernie is thrilled that Jordan is playing football—until he sees his playing skills.
#6 - Handle Your Business
Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/13/2002
Bernie is booked on a popular morning radio show, and he gets himself into trouble with the whole family when he draws from his private life to bring comedy to the public airwaves.
#7 - Mac 101
Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/27/2002
Impressed by the behavior and talents of another family's kids, Bernie cracks down on his own with a program of constant studying.
#8 - If I Were N-Riched Man
Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/3/2002
After hearing Bernie use inappropriate language at home, Bryana goes to school and repeats it—much to the horror of her teacher. Soon after, a social worker shows up at the house to discuss Bernie's hostility problems.
#9 - Secrets and Lies
Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 5/1/2002
Bernie takes Jordan to a Clippers' game but tells Wanda that Jordan has had an asthma attack and had to go to the hospital. Wanda tries to help Jordan 'feel better'. He feels guilty and asks Bernie if he can admit his wrongdoing. Bernie explains that it is occasionaly ok to lie, but Jordan takes it to a whole new level. He manipulates his sisters, aunt, school, and even Bernie. When the family has dinner a slew of lies are admitted by everyone in the family.
#10 - Now You Got It
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 11/14/2001
Bernie's desperate to get away to Vegas with his frineds, but Bryana's birthday and the germ infested children that it causes make it a difficulty.
#11 - The King and I
Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/30/2002
when Bernie realizes that anything he says to Jordan and Bryana first goes through Vanessa, he decides to stop fighting the situation and let Vanessa be responsible for the kids.
#12 - Stop Having Sex
Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/17/2002
Bernie is concerned that the kids are exposed to mature subjects.
#13 - Starting School
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 1/2/2002
With the kids officially under Bernie's control, it's come time to find them schooling. He enrolls Bryana in a prestigious preschool, Jordan in Catholic school and Vanessa in public junior high. On the first day however, everything that can go wrong, does. With Wanda at work, Bernie is forced to figure everything out for himself. While trying to braid Bryana's hair, he gets hair grease all over his favorite shirt. Jordan fakes being sick and actually forces himself to puke on Bernie's second favorite shirt. Vanessa barricades herself in the bathroom, having ""the worst hair day ever!"" Bernie being Bernie fortunately finds away around all the problems. He fixes Bryana's hair, he foils Jordan's fake illness and he boosts Vanessa's confidence. Not bad for a day's work. If only he didn't ruin his favorite shirts in the process.
#14 - Pilot
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 11/14/2001
In the pilot, much to his chagrin, Bernie and Wanda are forced to take care of his sister's three children, Vanessa, Jordan, and Bryanna since she can no longer take care of them anymore.
#15 - Wrestling with a Sticky Situation
Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/23/2005
When Jordan makes the wrestling team, Bernie turns to Stone Cold Steve Austin for advice.
#16 - Easy Rider
Season 3 - Episode 15 - Aired 4/5/2004
Bernie is tired of living in a child-friendly house and having to give up all of his favorite things because of the kids. When the studio gives him a motorcycle and Wanda suggests that he give it to charity because it is unsafe, he puts his foot down and decides to keep it until he crashes, passes out and sees what the Mac house would be like without him. When he comes to, he realizes that Wanda is right, and he child-proofs everything in the house and becomes over-protective of the kids. Meanwhile, Jordan is caught trying to sell Bernie's girlie magazines to the boys at school and Bernie and Wanda are called into another meeting with Father Cronin.
#17 - Father Knows Best
Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/23/2005
Bryan, Bryanna's father, shows up to spend more time with his daughter-and ends up spoiling her.
#18 - Walk Like a Man
Season 4 - Episode 16 - Aired 4/8/2005
Bernie feels that Jordan is ready to walk home from elementary school after noticing other kids in his class doing the same. Although Wanda feels Jordan is too young to take such a big step, Bernie sees it as a rite of passage. But when Bernie hears that a bully is beating up kids on their way home, he has a change of heart.
#19 - The Music Mac
Season 4 - Episode 15 - Aired 4/1/2005
Legendary soul and R&B musician Isaac Hayes makes a guest appearence in Bernie Mac's confessional, offering him advice on how to nuture Vanessa's newly unveiled musical talent.
#20 - The Big Picture
Season 4 - Episode 14 - Aired 3/18/2005
Bernie is being honored at his high school in Chicago, but when Wanda mixes up the dates and Bernie misses the ceremony, he hires an assistant to help him, which offends Wanda. Meanwhile, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Triple H becomes the victim of Jordan's anonymous prank phone calls.When Bernie blows Jordan's cover, there will be ""H"" to pay.
#21 - I Don't Wanna Be a Playa No More
Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 3/11/2005
When Jordan develops a crush on a girl, Bernie teaches Jordan how to be a ""player"" and get his girl.
#22 - You Got Served
Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired 2/25/2005
Against his better judgment,Bernie throws Bryana a themed birthday party, complete with a blow-up ""moon-jumper"", which ends up being the scene of the ""crime"" after Bryana's new friend,Riley,breaks her wrist. Riley's parents sue Bernie, claiming that he is a negligent parent, and in turn, Bernie counter-sues for defamation of character. A whirlwind of lawyer battles begins, during which Bernie's parenting skills come into question.
#23 - You Don't Know Squad
Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 2/18/2005
Vanessa's high school guidance counselor explains to the Macs that her good grades are not enough to warrant acceptance into a good college. Reluctantly, Vanessa boosts her extracurricular activities by joining the Drill Team, which pleases Bernie greatly - until he sees one of the squad's racy and provacative routines.Bernie launches a mean offense, getting the principal and PTA to intervene, but he grossly underestimates Vanessa's rebellious teenage ways.
#24 - Manchild in Vanessa Land
Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 2/11/2005
Bernie learns Vanessa has a boyfriend, Rahim, who is 18 years old, but when he discovers that the teen has a child, he hits the ceiling.
#25 - Jack & Jacqueline
Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 2/4/2005
When Bernie disapproves of Vanessa's slacker friends, Wanda urges her and the other kids to join Jack & Jacqueline, a 70-year-old organization set up to enrich the lives of upper-class black youth that Wanda once belonged to. But when Vanessa and her new friends get picked up for shoplifting, they quickly see that these ""respectful"", ""well-mannered"" and college-bound youths aren't all they seem to be.