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 - 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
#3 - 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
#4 - 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
#5 - 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
#6 - 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.
#7 - 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.
#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 - 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
#10 - 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
#11 - 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
#12 - 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.
#13 - 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
#14 - Aspirin at 7, Dinner at 8
Season 3 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/5/1973
By coincidence, Shirley meets a doctor whom she once dated, named Bernie Applebaum. Trapped into accepting a date with him for the following evening, they go to a fine French restaurant. But Bernie allows her to eat only plain lambchops, carrots, and buttermilk – the rest is too high in cholesterol. The doctor is evidently very wrapped up in his vocation, for the following night, he takes Shirley to the hospital cafeteria for an after-concert dinner. Shirley finds herself in the embarrassing position of having to tell Bernie that she's really not interested in him without hurting his feelings. Her plans to do this are complicated when the doctor brings his mother to visit the Partridge household. However, the enthusiasm of the two members of the Applebaum family does not diminish even when the kids try to help out their mother by misbehaving. Later, Bernie approaches Shirley with what he feels will be terribly upsetting news – that he can't marry her because he enjoys the swinging bach
#15 - 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
#16 - 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
#17 - 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.
#18 - The Modfather
Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/27/1972
Grandma and Grandpa come to the Partridge house having rediscovered themselves, or so they think, through an experience with an encounter group. In an effort to share what they lerned with Shirley and the kids, the grandparents provoke them all into expressing their hostility toward each other so that their pent-up feelings will be brought out into the open. When the kids start arguing bitterly, Shirley is forced to tactfully suggest to her parents that they are interfering with her family life, and they leave. A few days later a tearful Grandma comes knocking on the Partridges' front door, explaining that she and Grandpa had been too honest with each other, for he had said that their marriage had no zip to it. Grandpa later arrives and they consider first getting a divorce and then living together as a means of revitalizing the marriage. Instead, they take Shirley's suggestion to pretend that they are divorced, and then go out with other people.
#19 - Danny and the Mob
Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/6/1970
A mobster thinks that stock-market whiz Danny is after his lady.
#20 - See Here, Private Partridge
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/16/1970
When Danny mistakenly receives a draft notice, he becomes convinced that he will have to join the military.
#21 - Whatever Happened to Moby Dick?
Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/22/1971
Danny comes up with an idea for cashing in on the ecology movement... the Partridges should get a whale to be their lead singer. He had just played Laurie's new record, """"Song of the Humpback Whale."""" Laurie explains that whales are becoming extinct and she doesn't want to profit from their plight, but Danny doesn't understand. He puts an ad in the paper for a singing whale, and loads of people show up with their animals – a dancing bear, singing dog, chimp – but no whale. The Partridges go to Marineland and talk to Dr. Whelander, who agrees that they should make a record – to allow people to become aware of the plight of the whales so that maybe they'll do something to stop them from being slaughtered. He said that any profits Marineland receives will go to the New York Zoological Society, where they are working to save whales. Shirley says that her family will devote their profits to the whales too. At the recording session, E.J. Flicker walks in and claims the whale belongs to him s
#22 - This Male Chauvinist Piggy Went to Market
Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/15/1972
It's role reversal time in the Partridge household as Keith takes home economics and Laurie takes auto shop. Keith's struggles with cooking make him the target of barbs from the school bully, and things really heat up when Laurie gives the tough a Judo flip. Keith is then challenged to a fight, and must face up to the bully even if it means getting his face turned to hamburger.
#23 - 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!
#24 - Whatever Happened to the Old Songs?
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/9/1970
Shirley's father wants to tour with the family and perform his outdated songs.
#25 - Hel-l-l-p
Season 2 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/11/1972
It's a battle of the sexes as Shirley and Laurie prove to their male chauvinist counterparts to be better able to handle the wilderness.