The BEST episodes of The Hard Times of RJ Berger

Every episode of The Hard Times of RJ Berger ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Hard Times of RJ Berger!

The Hard Times of RJ Berger is an American television comedy series created by David Katzenberg and Seth Grahame-Smith for MTV. The show's central character is RJ Berger (Paul Iacono), an unpopular sophomore at the fictional Pinkerton High School in Ohio. Berger's two best friends are Miles Jenner (Jareb Dauplaise), whose ambitions for popularity cause him to clash with Berger, and Lily Miran (Kara Taitz), who has been lusting after Berger for several years. Berger's love interest is Jenny Swanson (Amber Lancaster), a "girl next door" who is involved with Max Owens (Jayson Blair), a popular jock and bully. The show is presented as a coming of age story and has been described by Katzenberg and Grahame-Smith as a blend of the television series The Wonder Years and the film Superbad.

Last Updated: 10/31/2024Network: MTVStatus: Ended
Sex. Teen. Candles
star
7.83
263 votes

#1 - Sex. Teen. Candles

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 5/23/2011

After years of having his birthday ruined by Max Owens, RJ and his friends decide to throw a "Max Bash." When Max and his gang of jocks show up at the party, things get out of hand.

Directors: Jeff Melman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Cousin Vinny
star
7.69
477 votes

#2 - Cousin Vinny

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/28/2011

In an attempt to win over the girl of his dreams, RJ asks Jenny on a date. When she says "yes," he and Miles prepare with a G-T-L makeover from Cousin Vinny (Jersey Shore's Vinny Guadagnino).

Directors: David Katzenberg
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Lock-In
star
7.65
450 votes

#3 - The Lock-In

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/11/2011

It's "Lock-In Night" at Pinkerton, and RJ finally gets the chance to have sex with Jenny, but a bitter Lily Miran will do everything she can to make sure that doesn't happen.

Directors: Ryan Shiraki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Better Man
star
7.64
263 votes

#4 - The Better Man

Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 5/30/2011

RJ receives shocking news from Lily and faces off with Max Owens for the title of "Mr. Pinkerton."

Directors: David Katzenberg
Writer: Paul Ruehl
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Steamy Surprise
star
7.62
235 votes

#5 - Steamy Surprise

Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 5/30/2011

RJ finds out Max's "steamy secret," and things get complicated with Amy when he gets nominated for "Mr. and Miss Pinkerton" with ex-girlfriend, Jenny.

Directors: David Katzenberg
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Hunkeez
star
7.52
350 votes

#6 - Hunkeez

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 5/16/2011

With his 16th birthday rapidly approaching, RJ asks his dad for driving lessons. He gets way more than he bargained for when Rick takes him to Hunkeez, a male strip club.

Directors: Jeff Melman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
RJ's Choice
star
7.51
418 votes

#7 - RJ's Choice

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 3/24/2011

Season 2 opens on a confused RJ, who is haunted by his friend Lily while yearning for his dream girl Jenny Swanson. Also, Miles deals with the ramifications for ball-beating Pinkerton's top dog, Max Owens.

Directors: David Katzenberg
Writer: Paul Ruehl
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Saving Dick
star
7.50
321 votes

#8 - Saving Dick

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 4/25/2011

When RJ gets caught in a lie, his relationship with Jenny falters. In her absence, Amy joins RJ on a quest to save his drunk, depressed, and unemployed father.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Over the Rainblow
star
7.43
321 votes

#9 - Over the Rainblow

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 7/12/2010

RJ becomes interested in a new girl at school and discovers that she is a member of the Purity Club.

Directors: David Rogers
Writer: Paul Ruehl
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Tell and Kiss
star
7.42
352 votes

#10 - Tell and Kiss

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 7/19/2010

RJ lies to the jocks about his progress with Claire; Miles is busted for spreading rumors.

Directors: Ryan Shiraki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
You, Me, and Weezer
star
7.33
321 votes

#11 - You, Me, and Weezer

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 5/2/2011

In an attempt to impress Amy, RJ ventures to the wrong side of the tracks to find fake IDs and tickets to a 21 and over concert. Special Guest Star: Weezer.

Directors: Ryan Shiraki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Lily Pad
star
7.32
379 votes

#12 - Lily Pad

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

Lily's dreams might actually come true when RJ somewhat reluctantly decides to ask her to the upcoming dance. Things get a little sticky, however, when Miles raises the bar with an unlikely date and RJ finds himself in a tough spot.

Directors: David Katzenberg
Writer: Paul Ruehl
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Give Me a P
star
7.25
291 votes

#13 - Give Me a P

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 5/9/2011

On the eve of their 20th anniversary, RJ's parents invite him to dueling dinners, and RJ is forced to choose between his mom and his dad. Meanwhile, Miles joins the cheerleading squad to lose weight.

Directors: Ryan Shiraki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Ugly Jenny
star
7.24
500 votes

#14 - Ugly Jenny

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/11/2011

When Jenny suffers a breakout, RJ questions the depth of their relationship. At the same time, Lily receives her settlement from the bus accident and experiences her first taste of popularity.

Directors: Ryan Shiraki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Deadliest Crotch
star
7.14
440 votes

#15 - Deadliest Crotch

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 4/18/2011

Distracted by problems with Jenny and his parents, RJ's grades start to slip. When he's forced to see a tutor, she offers him more than just academic advice. Meanwhile, Miles gets seduced by his teacher.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Yes We Can't
star
7.13
424 votes

#16 - Yes We Can't

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 6/14/2010

When RJ's request for Computer Club funding is denied, he runs for student government.

Directors: Ryan Shiraki
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Rebound
star
7.12
324 votes

#17 - The Rebound

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 7/5/2010

When Jenny becomes single, she asks RJ to study with her.

Directors: Anton Cropper
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Nerds Gone Wild
star
7.06
385 votes

#18 - Nerds Gone Wild

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 7/26/2010

RJ's parents go away for the weekend, leaving him in the care of a sexy babysitter; Miles throws a party for the nerds.

Directors: Jeff Melman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Here's to You, Mrs. Robbins
star
7.05
419 votes

#19 - Here's to You, Mrs. Robbins

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 6/28/2010

When RJ begins working to save money for a gift for Jenny Swanson's Sweet 16 birthday party, he soon learns his new employer has a strong sexual appetite, and Miles searches for a new best friend to replace RJ, due to his busy work schedule. At the end of the episode, RJ and Miles are best friends again.

Directors: David Rogers
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Behind Enemy Lines
star
7.03
410 votes

#20 - Behind Enemy Lines

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 8/9/2010

Unable to concentrate on his tutoring with Jenny, RJ fears that he's losing his focus and failing both himself and the girl of his dreams, so he and Miles conspire to steal a cheat sheet from a teacher's house. Unfortunaley, Miles makes the mistake of getting his psychopathic Iraq War Vet brother involved, and promising the answers for other jocks at Pinkerton High.

Directors: David Katzenberg
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Berger Cometh
star
6.96
454 votes

#21 - The Berger Cometh

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 6/21/2010

RJ tries out for the school musical to get closer to Jenny Swanson.

Directors: Anton Cropper
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Right Thing
star
6.95
501 votes

#22 - The Right Thing

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 8/23/2010

RJ and date Jenny try their hardest to have the "best winter formal ever," but RJ's guilt over leaving Lily lands him back at her hospital bedside, where the two keep their promise to lose their virginity together.

Directors: David Katzenberg
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
It's All About the Hamiltons
star
6.94
412 votes

#23 - It's All About the Hamiltons

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 8/2/2010

While in detention, RJ befriends a tough thug; Lily tries out for the cheerleading squad.

Directors: Jeff Melman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Pilot
star
6.84
410 votes

#24 - Pilot

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

When RJ's shorts fall off in front of the whole school, his life is turned upside-down.

Directors: David Katzenberg
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV