The BEST episodes of The Partridge Family
Every episode of The Partridge Family ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Partridge Family!
In 1970, the Partridge Family was among the top-selling recording acts, not to mention one of the top-rated TV shows of its time. Either way, it made David Cassidy a successful teen idol until the show's cancellation in 1974. The Partridge Family consisted of Shirley Partridge (keyboards, vocals) and her five kids: Keith (lead vocalist and guitar), Laurie (keyboards, vocals), Danny (bass guitar, vocals), Chris (drums), and Tracy (tambourine). Rounding out the cast was their manager, Reuben Kincaid.
#1 - Trial of the Partridge One
Season 3 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/19/1973
Laurie is falsely accused of stealing a test, but refuses to name the real culprit.
#2 - Reuben Kincaid Lives
Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/13/1973
Shirley decides the family's been too hard on Reuben lately and they have to start appreciating him a little more. They decide to give him a surprise birthday party and invite his mother. Reuben can't understand why everyone is being so nice to him, even Danny. When he tries to bribe Danny to see what's going on, Danny just says they are appreciating him. Reuben tells the family he believes he's dying, that's why they are being nice to him. There was something in his annual physical that the doctors didn't tell him about and they know the truth. Shirley just about convinces him he's being foolish when Reuben's mother walks in. Now he's convinced he's going to kick the bucket. No amount of talking can change Reuben's mind and he begins to prepare for the hereafter. The family, meanwhile, goes ahead with the plans for the party, hoping that will jar him into realizing the truth. Shirley tricks Reuben into going to the restaurant where the party will be held, and everyone is there, includ
#3 - Heartbreak Keith
Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/10/1973
Keith enrolls in a Sociology class in college and discovers one of his favorite subjects, a beautiful girl, 23-years-old, Dory Kimmel. He maneuvers his way into working on a class project with her. After a study session with Dory at the Partridge home, Keith announces to his mother that he's finally found true love in an older woman, Dory. As their work together continues, Keith becomes completely infatuated and believes that Dory feels the same way about him. But he's totally stunned when he learns Dory is married. An unhappy Keith confides to his mother that he thinks Dory is going to leave her husband for him. When Shirley confronts Dory with this bit of news, it's Dory's turn to be stunned. She likes Keith as a friend but she's truly in love with her husband. She has to find a way to tell him the truth without hurting his feelings. Dory finally decides to invite Keith over for dinner to meet her husband and see how happy they are; Keith arrives for the dinner, expecting Dory's husb
#4 - Beethoven, Brahms, and Partridge
Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/29/1973
Keith meets Rachel Weston, a beautiful classical music student, at his junior college and is surprised when he learns he has never heard of """"The Partridge Family"""" and their music. Keith invites her home to meet the family and hear some of their hits. Rachel thinks their music is nice, but unimportant. She tells Keith that with his talent, he should write something classical. The family's eardrums suffer when Keith begins to compose """"Partridge's First Concerto for Cello in D Major,"""" which is played at the conservatory by the college orchestra. The concerto turns out to be a total disaster, but the family decides to be kind to Keith and help him over his failure. Keith, however, encouraged by Rachel, who loves the concerto, thinks he's on the road to musical immortality. He decides to use his trust fund to pay for a recording session with professionals to preserve his great work for posterity. Shirley, worried about Keith's wasting his money, has Reuben contact Walter Yost, a famous
#5 - None But the Onely
Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/22/1973
Keith's scheme to meet a new girl at school using Laurie's newspaper advice column backfires.
#6 - A Likely Candidate
Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/3/1972
Keith is suddenly jolted out of his political apathy when Laurie takes him to a rally where Richard Lawrence, a candidate for Congressman, is speaking. Keith is so enthusiastic about the man that he decides to help Lawrence run his campaign. That night, Lawrence, who is handsome and charming besides being an excellent candidate, visits the Partridges to see if they will perform at a rally he is giving. All the kids notice that there is an immediate attraction between the politician and Shirley and, in fact, Richard invites their mother out to dinner that very night. Within a few days there is obviously a budding romance going on between Shirley and Richard, now known as """"Dick."""" But Keith feels insecure about this, afraid he is going to lose his mother. Shirley dispells her son's jealousy by explaining to him that there are some times when she feels very lonely and wants a man's companionship. Although Richard later loses the election, he flatters Shirley by saying that losing has its
#7 - For Sale by Owner
Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/29/1972
The Partridge house just doesn't seem big enough – they need more bathrooms and just more room in general! Reuben takes Shirley to look at a new, larger house. The Partridge house is home to her, so Shirley doesn't really want to move, but all the kids are very anxious to. They put their house up for sale, with Reuben acting as real estate agent. After a week without even one """"looker,"""" Reuben and Danny cook up a scheme for """"open house"""" with the Partridge Family. The open house is like a carnival – hundreds of people show up. As the family overhears various disparaging remarks about their home from the visitors, they begin to realize just how much the house means to them. Just as the kids tell Shirley that they don't want to move either, Reuben arrives with the news that he's sold the house. When the buyers, Mr. and Mrs. Sharp come to look the house over, the kids sabotage the plumbing, the doors and the windows to make it seem like the house is falling apart. They confess that they
#8 - Hate Thy Neighbor
Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/15/1973
Noise pollution is the issue as the musical Partridges face professional ruin in the fourth-season opener. Seems the new next-door neighbor doesn't dig pop music and has installed a new kind of sound barrier-the law! This episode introduces regular Ricky Segall as the neighbors' four year old son. (1/2 hour)
#9 - Each Dawn I Diet
Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/6/1972
Because he wants to take Gloria Hickey to a swimming party, Danny suddenly becomes self-conscious about being overweight. At the end of his first week of dieting, not only has he not lost any weight, he has gained four pounds – he could not resist the temptation of a few candy bars and tacos, just as """"energy food."""" Reuben tells Danny that he is too young to have enough will-power to diet in order to shame Danny into continuing his effort. But his plan backfires as Danny challenges him to a contest which involves Reuben's breaking the cigarette habit for as long as Danny diets. While Reuben is feeling withdrawal symptoms, Danny is fantasizing about chocolate cake. Shirley decides that both Danny and Reuben should turn to the other members of the family at any time for added incentive if they feel themselves giving in to temptation. This plan fails miserably because no one is getting any sleep, and Shirley's new tactic is to present Danny with a bowl of chocolates and Reuben with a pac
#10 - Princess and the Partridge
Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/29/1972
Keith is having a hard time getting a date for the weekend until Reuben announces that a princess who is visiting the United States wants to spend a few days with him. After a diplomat warns Keith to take good care of the girl since he is acting as a representative of the United States, Keith meets Princess Genevieve, commonly known as Genny. She is beautiful and unaffected by her royalty, but unfortunately the two young people are allowed very little time together because they are constantly surrounded by security guards. The solution which Genny proposes is for Keith to kidnap her. This is achieved with relative ease, and afterwards, they go to a drive-in movie. But Keith is so hung up about Genny's being """"royalty"""" that he can't even put his arm around her. Finally, she advises him to pretend that she's just an ordinary girl. They kiss warmly until a white flash explodes in their faces. It is a photographer – and the next day, the picture of Genny in Keith's arms makes the front pa
#11 - I Left My Heart in Cincinnati
Season 3 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/26/1973
One season before The Brady Bunch went to Kings Island, The Partridge Family does a gig there. Keith falls in love with the park director. When Keith asked her out on a date, he finds that Danny asked first. So Danny humiliates Keith by taking him on all the fast scary rides on their date! Shirley found out what happened & was mad @ Danny! Keith has a talk with Danny saying that she's 20 years older than him. And when gets ready to ask her out to a movie, she has a date, CHRIS!
#12 - M is for the Many Things
Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/22/1972
When Shirley is named """"Mother of the Year,"""" she decides to take the whole family, by bus, to the award dinner in Sacramento. Shirley decides to drive the scenic route so that the children can see the countryside. The scenic route proves to be a road to disaster. Besides awful roads and bad diner food, the group loses all their money. While still heading for Sacramento, the bus is stopped by Deputy Haynie for speeding. Shirley refuses to pay the ticket because she believes it was a speed trap. Haynie hauls the family off to see Judge McElwreath, a man who is as crooked as the deputy! The judge keeps adding fine upon fine when he learns that Shirley is the mother of the famous Partridge Family. But the Judge finally backs down and dismisses the case when he learns that Shirley is also the Mother of the Year. His decision is not based on admiration, but the far that no woman in town will vote for him if he fines a woman who has received such an honor. The bedraggled family depart from t
#13 - Who is Max Ledbetter and Why is He Saying All Those Terrible Things?
Season 2 - Episode 24 - Aired 3/17/1972
The Partridges hire a psychic performer for Tracy's birthday party. Keith and Danny keep asking for predictions about their lives, so the psychic asks them to help his failing business from a foreclosure.
#14 - Guess Who's Coming to Drive?
Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/10/1971
Reuben brings the schedule for the Partridge Family summer tour and Shirley does not like the prospect of driving for two months. They decide to hire a driver. Most of the people who answer the ad are lousy drivers... until Johnny Burnhardt comes along. He helps them fix the bus and then is interviewed by the family. They tell him he's hired. Danny begins to notice that Johnny is doing some strange things on the road. He makes lots of phone calls, looking around to see that no one is watching. Then, he runs into a guy he knows at a gas station and takes money from him. Danny suspects that he is a floating bookie. One day, while Danny is spying... behind his glasses and false nose... he learns that Johnny is having coffee with the local parole officer. Danny tells Shirley who then confronts Johnny. Johnny admits that he is on parole for armed robbery and he must check in with the parole officer in every city. The following day, Danny picks up a newspaper and reads about a bank robbery.
#15 - Where Do Mermaids Go?
Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired 12/31/1971
Reuben and the Partridges stop off for a picnic on the way home as they unwind after several weeks on the road. At the picnic spot they meet Jenny, a free spirit, just traveling around and doing her thing. The Partridges strike up a friendship with Jenny and she goes home with them and stays for a few days. Jenny, however, is really very wealthy and before she hits the road again she leaves the Partridge family a bank book containing one million dollars! The kids are thrilled with this unexpected windfall but Shirley is skeptical and wants to return the gift. Shirley calls the police to have them find Jenny. In the meantime, the family is having a hard time handling their new wealth. The Partridges go back to their picnic spot and find Jenny there. They give back the money and return to their normal lifestyle.
#16 - Queen for a Minute
Season 4 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/2/1974
Laurie's girlfriend, Frankie, tries out for the varsity basketball team and shows a great deal of ability. When the coach turns her down because of her sex, not judging her skill, both girls are indignant. Keith and Danny kid Laurie about it and she argues that men think of women as objects capable only of being cheerleaders of homecoming queens. Laurie becomes even more upset when Reuben suggests she run for homecoming queen. Shirley later convinces Laurie to enter the contest because if she does win, people will listen to what she has to say. Keith and Danny overhear the plan and do a little scheming of their own: they convince handsome Jerry Bishop to run against Laurie. After all, if a girl can try out for basketball, a guy can run for homecoming queen. The night of the contest Laurie wins the title and Jerry is chosen first runner-up. Laurie thanks everyone who voted for her, but declines the honor. She tells the shocked audience that the contest is just another way of turning wom
#17 - Al in the Family
Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/24/1973
Reuben Kincaid's nephew, Alan, comes to live with him to be his assistant. It's evident right from the start that Alan is eager to learn but he's always failed at everything. He suffers from shyness and a total lack of confidence. Keith and Laurie try to build him up and find out what he really would like to do. Alan confides that he wants to be a comedian but he's terrified of audiences. When he does some of his act for them, they discover he's really funny but he's too afraid to try. Alan gets a chance to show he's learned about managing when Reuben can't go with the family on a club date. Alan will manage the family all by himself for two days. Everything goes smoothly, until Alan loses his notebook with all the itinerary written in it. Then the date becomes a total disaster. Alan loses the costumes at the cleaners, fouls up their dinner reservations and then, in a grand finale, turns out the lights during the Partridges' performance. Alan confesses the loss of the notebook to the f
#18 - A Day of Honesty
Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/17/1973
Danny gets caught trying to sneak into a movie theater without a ticket and the police bring him home. Shirley punishes Danny for his dishonesty by taking away his movie privileges for a month. Danny, depressed about his punishment, begins to write down every instance when other members of the family tell a lie or are dishonest. Later he confronts them with his notes. Shirley, trying to teach Danny a lesson, proposes that the family try to be completely honest for 24 hours. As the day of honesty progresses, everyone, including Shirley, gets into trouble when they have to tell the truth. But Danny, seeking revenge, keeps them all in line. Then Danny is faced with the problem of telling Laurie that basketball player Jim Benson has canceled his date with her for another girl and he lies, rather than hurt Laurie's feelings. Danny confides to his mother about his lie and offers to do another 24 hours of honesty. But Shirley feels that Danny has finally learned his lesson about how people's
#19 - The Diplomat
Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/3/1973
Shirley receives an unexpected invitation to dinner from Howard Lipton, the presidential ambassador and well-known ladies man. It seems he's visiting San Pueblo, on his way to talk in China, and he remembers her from a previous short meeting. On the big night, Lipton shows up two hours late for the date and then spends more than half the evening on the phone with world dignitaries. When Shirley gets a second request for a date, she turns him down, explaining that she really didn't have a very good time. Lipton's ego is crushed. The diplomat showers Shirley with gifts from around the world, trying to make her reconsider her decision. Shirley is being hounded by newspapermen and ostracized by her neighbors, but she refuses to give in unless Lipton visits her in person to ask for a date. When Lipton finally agrees, Shirley sets up the terms for the date – the ambassador must come and spend a quiet dinner in the Partridge home, with no interrupting phone calls. During the evening, Lipton c
#20 - Everything You Wanted to Know About Sex... but Couldn't Pronounce
Season 3 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/23/1973
American's "heartthrob," Keith Partridge, is falling his sex education course at school. When the family hears about this they find it hard to stifle their laughter, until they realize that if he does fail, he won't graduate.
#21 - The Eleven-Year Itch
Season 3 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/2/1973
When an old friend, a romantic interest of Shirley's, Richard Lawrence, comes to town he brings his 11-year-old daughter, Julie. Julie is a Partridge fan and everyone teases Keith, being sure Julie will be groveling at his feet during the visit. When the Lawrences arrive, it seems that Julie's affections are not lavished on Keith, but on Danny! Julie spends all her time following Danny, while Danny spends all his time trying to hide from her. When Shirley tries to tell Richard that Julie is a bit too aggressive and Danny is not ready for this, Richard reacts like a wounded father. Laurie and Keith ask Danny to be nice to Julie for just a few days, in order not to ruin Shirley and Richard's relationship. Danny reluctantly agrees, and when he tries it, he finds he really does like Julie. When he gives in to a sudden urge to kiss her, Julie reacts by giving him a black eye! This doesn't make any sense at all to Danny so he goes to the """"older folks"""" for an explanation. When Keith and Lau
#22 - Whatever Happened to Keith Partridge?
Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/24/1972
After a show the Partridge Family is approaching by a talent scout who informs them that Keith would be perfect for a part in a new movie and he wants Keith to take a screen test. Reuben and Shirley coach Keith and the family all act out the characters in the script to help him learn his lines. He will play a baby-faced gangster. A week later the whole family goes off to Hollywood for the test. A very nervous Keith manages the part well and is notified a few days later that he got the part. Keith is being treated like a great Hollywood star by everyone in town. The family has planned a surprise party for him the night before he leaves to make the movie. That afternoon Reuben tells Keith that World Pictures has decided against starring an 'unknown', so he has lost the part. When Keith finally brings himself to tell Shirley the news, he is unknowingly walking into the surprise party. When everyone cries for a speech, Keith explains what has happened. The party is a good one despite the b
#23 - Swiss Family Partridge
Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/10/1972
After a few weeks on the road, the kids are overjoyed to hear that Shirley and Reuben have arranged for the family to spend a weekend in the mountains near Lake Tahoe. But as soon as they enter the cabin, which has no heat or electricity, the skies open and buckets of rain come pouring down. Fated to at least a few hours of being inside, the kids realize that there is no television with which they can plug the electrical musical equipment. Boredom takes over, and when they hear over the transistor radio that the rain will continue for at least another five days, everyone, including Shirley and Reuben, begins to panic. In fact, they feel doomed to die. All the melodramatics prove unnecessary, however, and a forest ranger knocks on the door, in the process of checking the area to see if anyone is in trouble. With his help the Partridges are able to leave, and once again they find themselves in the warmth and security of their own living room.
#24 - My Heart Belongs to a Two-Car Garage
Season 2 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/4/1972
The Partridge Family awakes one morning to find they have an unexpected visitor: Nicholas Pushkin, or, as he is otherwise known, Puskin the Magnificent. Nicholas is a jack of all trades; master chef, master carpenter, master artist, etc. Nicholas has decided to offer his services to a typical middle-class American family and two Partridges are that lucky family. The family likes Nicholas well enough but he seems to break just as many things as he fixes. In his sincere desire to be helpful, Nicholas paints the garage door while the Partridges are away on a concert date. It may sound innocent, but Pushkin the Magnificent has painted a scantily clad young lady on the garage door and although Nicholas is an accomplished artist, the location of the work is a cause for much embarrassment. As it turns out, Nicholas may not be the greatest of carpenters, but he is a recognized artist. The local museum purchases the garage door for a large sum so Shirley is able to buy a new garage door and Pus
#25 - I Am Curious Partridge
Season 2 - Episode 18 - Aired 1/28/1972
Danny draws the ire of his brother and mother after writing provocative but false pieces about them for a local magazine.
Want to see the rest of the rankings?
Episode Ninja is a small business run by one person.
Pro memberships help fund servers and new feature development!