The WORST episodes of The Drew Carey Show

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

This long-running sitcom stars comedian Drew Carey as a sort of blue-collar everyman. The show chronicles Drew's working life, the ups and downs of his romances and his strong relationship with his long-time friends Lewis, Oswald and Kate.

Last Updated: 2/21/2024Network: ABC (US)Status: Ended
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Straight Eye for the Queer Guy
star
5.10
50 votes

#1 - Straight Eye for the Queer Guy

Season 9 - Episode 17 - Aired 7/28/2004

Mimi encourages Drew to make friends with the gay parents of Gus's friend. However, Drew winds up inadvertently splitting up the couple and finds himself as the "other man."

Directors: Sam Simon
Drew's Best Friend
star
5.20
54 votes

#2 - Drew's Best Friend

Season 9 - Episode 10 - Aired 6/30/2004

Kellie tries to convince Drew to become friends with a new neighbor, but it all blows up in her face when the man turns out to be a clingy pest who just will not leave Drew alone.

Directors: Bob Koherr
Girlfriend, Interrupted
star
5.24
50 votes

#3 - Girlfriend, Interrupted

Season 9 - Episode 16 - Aired 7/21/2004

In the aftermath of his disastrous marriage, Drew heads off alone on his honeymoon to try to define his feelings for Kellie. Oswald and Lewis head to Mexico ahead of Drew, where Oswald accidentally falls for a hooker, unaware of her identity because he doesn't know how to speak Spanish.

Directors: Bob Koherr
Writer: Dan O'Keefe
Still Life with Freeloader
star
5.24
49 votes

#4 - Still Life with Freeloader

Season 9 - Episode 18 - Aired 7/28/2004

Drew resorts to drastic action after Mimi's latest boyfriend moves into the house and begins mooching off of him.

Directors: Drew Carey
The Passion of the Wick
star
5.25
55 votes

#5 - The Passion of the Wick

Season 9 - Episode 25 - Aired 9/8/2004

Drew comes up with a plan to open a retro store, and seeks a partnership with the now-wealthy Wick. However, all of Wick's funds come through his father-in-law, so Drew must help cover up Wick's extra-marital affair or lose his financial backing.

Directors: Shelley Jensen
Writer: Ed Lee
Baby Face
star
5.74
50 votes

#6 - Baby Face

Season 9 - Episode 15 - Aired 7/21/2004

Drew has trouble getting romantic with Kellie after a photo of the baby puts a lot of very strange ideas in his head.

Directors: Bob Koherr
Writer: Masha Tivyan
Drew Carey's Back-to-School Rock 'n' Roll Comedy Hour (2)
star
5.89
18 votes

#7 - Drew Carey's Back-to-School Rock 'n' Roll Comedy Hour (2)

Season 7 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/26/2001

Drew hosts a film about the dangers of cooties. Another film shows girls how cheerleading can help them later in life. Mimi bothers Uncle Kracker for help with a crossword puzzle. A clueless police officer goes undercover while still wearing his uniform. Peter Frampton recalls his past romance with Mimi. A talking zit gives a young man questionable dating advice. Mimi tries to convince Sugar Ray to stay over at her place after the show. Drew compliments teachers, with the exception of his elementary school teacher, Ms. Freeman. He boasts that math isn't necessary in life, only to miss out on a party because Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray tells him the location in the form of a story problem.

Directors: Gerry Cohen
Kate's Family
star
6.02
99 votes

#8 - Kate's Family

Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/25/1998

After Kate loses another job, Drew suggests that she contact his neighbors about a paid housesitting gig. She meets Scott, a handsome plumber working on the house, and they become attracted to each other. The couple's two children are supposed to stay with a babysitter while their parents are away, but the woman has to leave town because of a family emergency. She leaves the kids with Kate. Scott offers to help her out, and the foursome begins acting like a family. Kate gets a little too caught up in the charade, and freaks out when Scott decides to go out with his buddies instead of staying over with her. She leaves the kids with Drew and tries to win him back, but Scott has tired of the situation and dumps her. Kate becomes depressed when the Fosters return early and reclaim their kids. Drew takes up swimming in the hopes of impressing avid swimmer Sharon, but only ends up with an ear infection. Sharon still refuses to date him. Mimi worries about how Drew will get his reven

Directors: Sam Simon
Writer: Richard Day
House of the Rising Son-in-Law
star
6.35
48 votes

#9 - House of the Rising Son-in-Law

Season 9 - Episode 12 - Aired 7/7/2004

Kellie tries to get Drew and her father to overcome their differences by having them work together to fix up an old house for sale. Mimi turns to Larry's matchmaking service in her quest to find a new man.

Directors: Tommy Thompson
Writer: Ed Lee
Drew Carey's Back-to-School Rock 'n' Roll Comedy Hour (1)
star
6.43
28 votes

#10 - Drew Carey's Back-to-School Rock 'n' Roll Comedy Hour (1)

Season 7 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/26/2001

The cast and special guests perform comedy sketches with a "back to school" theme. Teenage Drew visits a doctor and learns about his "changing body." A wood shop teacher conducts class, despite the fact that he is just a decapitated head. A sketch parodies the accelerated aging process seen in commercials for milk. Oswald and Lewis try to convince SHeDAISY to hire them as backup singers. Two girls at a slumber party decide to practice kissing on each other. Christa Miller and Jenny McCarthy question the purpose of the sketch after noticing that Drew, John Carroll Lynch and a bunch of pervert crew members are gawking at them. They retaliate by making a sketch in which a buff Abraham Lincoln becomes a stripper and dances for Drew. Oswald tries to impress Jenny with a story about a painful football injury, but the flashback reveals that he was actually a cheerleader. Mimi warns musical guest Smash Mouth not to steal her idea for a speed metal version of Gordon Lightfoot's "The Wr

Directors: Gerry Cohen
Love, Sri Lankan Style
star
6.43
51 votes

#11 - Love, Sri Lankan Style

Season 9 - Episode 23 - Aired 9/1/2004

Drew's plans to reunite Mimi and Steve (and get Mimi out of his house) face a hitch due to the appearance of Steve's lover.

Directors: Bob Koherr
Writer: Russ Woody
Assault with a Lovely Weapon
star
6.44
50 votes

#12 - Assault with a Lovely Weapon

Season 9 - Episode 22 - Aired 8/25/2004

Drew lies to Kellie about going out to a strip club, but the whole thing may come out after an injured Lewis decides to sue one of the dancers.

Directors: Shelley Jensen
Writer: Hugh Fink
Drew's Brother
star
6.44
75 votes

#13 - Drew's Brother

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/19/1997

Drew's older brother Steve makes a surprise visit. He reveals that he has recently lost his job and gone through a broken engagement, and asks to stay with Drew for a while. Lewis dislikes Steve because of a prank he once played on him. Kate convinces Drew to hire Steve for the opening in the store's cosmetics department. He reluctantly agrees after they both promise to stay out of trouble. Drew asks Mr. Wick to pretend to fire Steve on his first day. When they go down to the floor to carry out the joke, Drew discovers that Steve is wearing a wig and women's clothing. He reveals that he is a cross-dresser. Wick orders Drew to fire Steve immediately. Drew is shocked by his brother's news, but decides to stand up for him. He feels that the customers won't even realize that Steve is a man, as Wick initially mistook him for a woman. He dresses up four men on the sales floor as women and challenges Wick to find one of them. If he is correct, he can fire Steve and have Drew's poo

Directors: Gerry Cohen
Michigan J. Gus
star
6.44
52 votes

#14 - Michigan J. Gus

Season 9 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/23/2004

Kellie's fears about Drew's inability to be a good father grow after Gus suddenly begins misbehaving every time he is around his uncle. Inspired by Mimi's romance with a widower, Oswald and Lewis hope to set themselves for life by picking up wealthy widows.

Directors: Sam Simon
Writer: John N. Huss
Drew Gets Out of the Nuthouse
star
6.47
101 votes

#15 - Drew Gets Out of the Nuthouse

Season 7 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/3/2001

Drew is finally released from the mental institution. On the day of his release, he runs into Nicki at the Warsaw. She reveals that she is divorced, and feels she made a mistake in letting Drew go. Kate worries that Nicki is going to hurt Drew again. Kate, Lewis and Oswald try to create a distraction to help Drew get away, but he assures them that he is all right. After his friends leave, Drew suddenly proposes to Nicki. She accepts, and they marry in Pennsylvania. Drew's friends cannot find him for several days. Kate admits to Lewis and Oswald that it made her very jealous to see Drew with Nicki. She realizes that she still loves him. She calls Drew on his cell phone and arranges to meet him at a bar near City Hall. Drew returns home with Nicki and announces their marriage. He leaves to meet Kate before Lewis and Oswald can warn him of her intentions. She proposes to Drew, who immediately accepts. Meanwhile, Steve refuses to forgive Mimi for driving his brother insane.

Directors: Gerry Cohen
No Booze for Drew
star
6.48
54 votes

#16 - No Booze for Drew

Season 9 - Episode 9 - Aired 6/30/2004

As a sign of support, Drew pledges to stop drinking for the duration of Kellie's pregnancy, but soon finds it very difficult to keep his promise. Meanwhile, Mimi has the hots for a handsome delivery man; and Oswald becomes part-owner of the Warsaw.

Directors: Shelley Jensen
It's Halloween, Dummy
star
6.56
68 votes

#17 - It's Halloween, Dummy

Season 7 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/31/2001

Drew decides to fill some of his free time by taking a ventriloquism class. Winfred-Louder gets a new owner, the easy-going Mr. Newsome. He identifies with Drew because he spent many years in middle management before he got rich. Drew organizes the store's charity Halloween party. Kate shows up as herself, in a wedding dress with a fake knife in her back. Mr. Newsome tells Drew that he wants him to replace Wick as store manager. He plans to make the announcement to the board the next day. Seconds later, Newsome gets spooked by a fake bat and drops dead of a heart attack. After Lewis has DrugCo preserve the body, Drew brings it to the board meeting the next day and does his ventriloquism act. He gets Mimi demoted, but becomes too cocky and tries to drink a glass of water while talking. He drops Newsome before he can appoint himself manager. Lewis winds up looking like Frankenstein's monster after a visit to a deranged dentist who works on a boat.

Directors: Bob Koherr
What's Wrong with This Episode II
star
6.56
64 votes

#18 - What's Wrong with This Episode II

Season 4 - Episode 22 - Aired 3/31/1999

While Steve and Drew are getting their hair cut, their longtime barber suddenly dies of a heart attack. Drew plans to throw a party for his parents' 45th wedding anniversary, but his mother comes to town a week early. The gang is just about to leave for Phil's funeral when she arrives. Beulah is visibly shaken by news of his death, and insists on coming along. She had lunch with Phil whenever she was in town. Oswald, Kate and Lewis notice Beulah giving a kiss to Phil's corpse, and also witness a nasty exchange with the widow. They suspect that Beulah had an affair with Phil. Drew doesn't believe this, but remembers once seeing Beulah and Phil go off to the back room of the barber shop after she came to pick up the boys. Drew accuses his mother of betraying his father, and doesn't want to attend the anniversary party. Steve tells him that George actually had an affair with Phil's wife; Beulah and Phil just became friends while discussing their mutual problems. The Careys thoug

Directors: Gerry Cohen
Writer: Clay Graham
Sleeping with the Enemy
star
6.59
22 votes

#19 - Sleeping with the Enemy

Season 9 - Episode 21 - Aired 8/25/2004

Drew and Kellie's new relationship is threatened by their strong political differences.

Directors: Shelley Jensen
Writer: Ed Lee
Drew Live
star
6.62
65 votes

#20 - Drew Live

Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/10/1999

Steve objects to Mimi's plans for a wild bachelorette party at a strip club. They decide to hold their bachelor and bachelorette parties simultaneously at Drew's house. After Drew mentions that he might start dating again, Kate tells Lewis that she is going to make her move. Drew overhears her say that she is going to tell someone she loves him during the party, but doesn't know that she is talking about him. Drew plots to keep Kate away from the guy. He ignores her obvious attempts to talk to him (as well as Lewis's hints) and makes a complete fool of himself. They both decide not to confess their feelings yet.

Directors: Gerry Cohen
Writer: Clay Graham
Drew Live II
star
6.62
63 votes

#21 - Drew Live II

Season 6 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/8/2000

Mr. Wick refuses to let Drew collect unemployment, and keeps saying that he quit even though he was actually fired. An employee objects to Wick's treatment of Drew and gets fired. Drew promises to help him land a new job, and the man offers to give him ten percent of his first month's salary. Drew decides to run an employment agency out of his house, and it proves very successful. Oswald and Lewis express dissatisfaction with their jobs and ask Drew to help them. He believes that he can get both of them work at a new restaurant, only to discover that there is only one opening. Oswald and Lewis are furious, as they have already quit their jobs. They keep pushing Drew to choose between them. Kate suggests that they just go to the restaurant for a tryout. They both fail miserably. Fortunately, Oswald realizes that he never really quit at Global (he went into the wrong office and mooned a blind lady instead of his boss). Lewis returns to DrugCo to beg for his job back.

Directors: Gerry Cohen
Writer: Brian Scully
Y2K, You're Okay
star
6.62
77 votes

#22 - Y2K, You're Okay

Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/22/1999

Doreen, a "little person" who works at the store, chooses Mimi as her idol and begins emulating her dress and behavior. Mimi is a little freaked out, but soon takes to the idea and has Doreen help her play pranks on Drew. Sharon takes note of the fact that Kate can get Drew to do whatever she wants without having to make much of an effort. The store's computers fail a test for Y2K compliance, and a glitch causes excerpts from Drew's diary to appear on all the computer screens. A panicked Drew seeks the aid of the store's computer expert, Hal. He convinces Drew that there will be a massive computer failure and total chaos on New Year's Eve. Drew and the gang ask Sharon to build them a bomb shelter. Lewis carries his life savings ($37,000) around in a garbage bag. Mimi and Doreen print out copies of Drew's diary and sell them at the Warsaw. Sharon discovers that in the passage where Drew described sleeping with her for the first time, he accidentally wrote Kate's name. She conc

Directors: Gerry Cohen
The Devil, You Say
star
6.64
158 votes

#23 - The Devil, You Say

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/30/1996

Kate begins dating Jack, a guy that she met at the Warsaw. He interviews for a job at the store, and Drew is disturbed to learn that he thinks he is the devil. He has even taken out credit cards under the name "The Devil." Kate is certain that this is a joke, but soon discovers otherwise. When she tries to dump Jack, he claims that she has sold him her soul. Drew puts his own soul on the line and challenges Jack to a game of pool, but it doesn't go very well. Kate confronts Jack and says that he claims to be the devil because he is afraid that women will dump him if he acts like himself. He mocks her, so Drew prepares to beat him up. However, Jack loses interest when he learns that Kate lied about being a virgin. He leaves in disgust. Wick orders all of the staff to wear costumes for Halloween. Drew dresses as Mimi, who is outraged when he wears an outfit that she had already purchased.

Directors: Sam Simon
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Suddenly No Summer
star
6.65
23 votes

#24 - Suddenly No Summer

Season 8 - Episode 16 - Aired 6/25/2003

Drew tries to improve his standing at work by taking a computer course over the summer. The gang tempts him into blowing it off to take a trip to Florida. Drew is wracked with guilt and his vacation, not surprisingly, turns out to be a disaster.

Directors: Sam Simon
Drew's Inheritance
star
6.67
67 votes

#25 - Drew's Inheritance

Season 6 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/25/2000

Lewis and Oswald get Drew in trouble at the cafeteria by bringing him a beer. Drew grows tired of all the abuse and elects to quit instead of getting fired. He tries to get Mr. Wick to re-hire him, only to find that his cubicle has been replaced by a frozen yogurt machine. Steve tells Drew that their uncle, Cecil, has died. Cecil has left most of his fortune to Bill Gates, but offers smaller amounts to his friends and relatives, provided that they pass certain tests. Steve gets $10,000, but Oswald and Lewis lose out on $5000 each when they are unable to remain silent for 24 hours (they last about five seconds). Cecil had always worried that Drew would end up alone, so he will give him $10,000 if he marries within 72 hours. Drew and Kate try to throw together a ceremony, but realize that it would be making a travesty out of the event. They hire a drunken Santa Claus from the store to pose as a minister and pretend to marry them. They ask Lewis and Oswald to keep quiet about the

Directors: Gerry Cohen