The BEST episodes of The Partridge Family season 1
Every episode of The Partridge Family season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Partridge Family season 1!
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 - Danny and the Mob
Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/6/1970
Danny gives stock advice to a very attractive cocktail waitress during the family's engagement in Las Vegas. However, the girl's very jealous boyfriend sends a couple of his goons to rough Danny because he thinks Danny is a much older man trying to steal his girl. A frightened Danny then runs away in terror thinking that he is about to be rubbed out by the mob.
#2 - See Here, Private Partridge
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/16/1970
Danny receives a letter from the Draft Board that he's been drafted into the United States Army. Shirley contacts he Draft Board and tries to convince them that Danny is 10, but they won't listen to her; on top of that, they say the Draft Board doesn't make mistakes, and he is to report. Now the family has to try once again to convince the Army that Danny is too young to serve - and so he reports as ordered.
#3 - Whatever Happened to the Old Songs?
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/9/1970
Shirley's father is feeling restless, so he and the mother visit the Partridges. The father wants to tour with the group and perform songs from his day to the audience.
#4 - But the Memory Lingers On
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/13/1970
While the family is on a picnic, a skunk sneaks on board the bus and winds up spraying them. They try the best they can to get rid of the odor without much success; even bathing in tomato juice. However, things go from bad to worse when Reuben informs them that they have been requested to play at a local hospital to entertain some of the children that are patients there.
#5 - What? And Get Out of Show Business?
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/25/1970
Recently widowed mother, Shirley Partridge who's struggling to raise her five children who are playing in a band and, Shirley works a bank teller. Older brother and sister Keith (Lead vocals and guitar) and Laurie (Keyboards). Younger brothers and sister Danny (Bass guitar), Chris (Drums) and, Tracy (Tamborine and percussion) are playing in a band called "The Partridge Family". Ruben Kincaid, a kid hater was signed as their manager. Finally, the kids asked their mother to join the band. Reluctantly, she agreed but, for a single condition: if she faints the kids have to assist her.
#6 - This is My Song
Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/4/1970
When Keith is worried that he may not be able to write songs anymore because he's "written out", Danny decides that it's time for him to become the group's songwriter.
#7 - Love at First Slight
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/30/1970
With a hit record on the radio, Keith is starting to be followed and adored by the girls at his school. He is not too happy about it. However, the one girl he does like is not impressed that he is a recording star.
#8 - A Partridge Up a Pear Tree
Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 2/19/1971
Keith has a new, albeit junk, car. He keeps putting money into restoring the car and make car payments. Out of money, Keith turns to Danny for help. Danny puts Keith on a tight budget so he can have money for the car and to go to the prom. Shirley suggests that Keith get a job to make extra money. He first becomes a trainee to a plumber, but can't quite get the knack of plumbing. Then he tries to learn to become a salesman of a vegetable slicer, but ends up buying the slicer for his mother. His attempt at a newspaper route ends disastrously when he sees a beautiful girl walk by.
#9 - The Sound of Money
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/2/1970
While parking their bus, Shirley bumps into a car. There is no damage, but when the driver finds they are famous, he fakes an injury for the insurance. Shirley and the family try to prove he is not injured by staying with him 24 hours.
#10 - They Shoot Managers, Don't They?
Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/12/1971
Ruben meets a woman and it seems like love. They talk of marriage, but she wants Ruben to stop managing the band. Shirley tells him the Partridges can find another manager and to follow his heart. Then the Partridges realize they need Ruben.
#11 - Why Did the Music Stop?
Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/22/1971
Shirley's former co-worker who talks about how wonderful Shirley's life must be now that she is famous. Shirley thinks they are still a normal family, so when on a tour Danny talks about the high life, Shirley thinks it is time for a break.Several days later, the kids are bored to death without their music and, feeling they're sacrificing in vain, Danny plays matchmaker by finding Jim and dropping a not-so-subtle hint that Shirley is always at home.
#12 - To Play or Not to Play?
Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/5/1971
After arriving in town to play at a club, Laurie finds a former classmate works at the club. The entire club staff walks out in protest against management. Laurie takes a stand and refuses to perform so she can join the picket line. Shirley realizes Laurie's sense of moral obligation, but there's also the family's legal obligation to consider.
#13 - Old Scrapmouth
Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/15/1971
Laurie gets the bad news that she needs braces just as she thinks Jerry, the boy across the street, might finally get up the nerve to ask her to go steady. However, if that wasn't bad enough, Reuben informs the Partridges that they have been booked to appear on a high profile talk show. Things then go from bad to worse when Laurie's braces somehow pick up radio signals during rehearsals and causes her to play a different tune than what the band is. Who knew braces could be so complicated? The next day, Wink Burgess and his entire crew arrive for the taping. When Burgess tells Laurie to smile for the camera, she storms out of the house in tears and hides in the bus.
#14 - A Partridge by Any Other Name
Season 1 - Episode 24 - Aired 3/12/1971
When Danny is unable to find his birth certificate or pictures of himself as a baby, he is convinced that he is adopted and sets out to find his birth family.
#15 - Did You Hear the One About Danny Partridge?
Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/20/1970
After a song performance, Danny has an awkward moment when he is tangled with his microphone cord. The audience laughs at the moment, but Danny thinks they are laughing at him. He decides to add jokes to the Partridge Family
#16 - When Mother Gets Married
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/23/1970
Shirley meets an old friend and goes on a date with him. The children are worried that she is too interested in him, and even more worried when they see him with another woman.
#17 - A Knight in Shining Armor
Season 1 - Episode 25 - Aired 3/19/1971
The Partridges meet Bobby Conway, a composer who plays beautiful music and who is looking for a lyricist. They introduce him to Lionel Poindexter, whose poetry could provide excellent lyrics for Bobby's music but Lionel's many eccentricities may drive Bobby away instead.
#18 - Star Quality
Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/18/1970
The family gets a good review from a famous columnist after one of their recent performances. However, she was seemingly impressed with Danny and declares him a future star. Unfortunately, Danny lets the review go to his head and is seriously contemplating leaving the band, even to the point where he holds auditions for his replacement. Now it is up to Shirley to convince her middle son that going solo is not such a hot idea.A few days later, Shirley sees children and their mothers heading for the garage. When she goes to investigate, she finds Danny holding Danny holding auditions to find his replacement and Shirley learns of his plans.
#19 - Soul Club
Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 1/29/1971
The Partridges and Ruben are in Detroit for a performance. Due to a booking mix-up, they arrive at the place where the Temptations are expected. The audiences are totally different. The Partridges agree to perform and hope for the best.
#20 - My Son, the Feminist
Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/11/1970
Shirley Partridge receives a call from the school principal, George Clauson, asking her if she and her family are identified with women's liberation. There is a poster in school saying that they will sing at a rally for POW, Power of Women. Shirley tries to find out which member of her family committed them to this appearance. She learns that it is Keith; his new girlfriend Tina Newcomb is very involved in the movement and has taken Keith's maybe for a definite yes. Shirley has to confront angry, hostile parents who are called "Morality Watchdogs." She tries to keep calm in the face of their threats, but she finally blows up and says that her family will definitely appear at the rally. Keith invites Tina to dinner so that his family can finally meet her and they are shocked with what she has to say on the subject of women's lib. Keith is annoyed and when he takes her home, he refuses to walk her to the door or even kiss her. He tells her that if she wants equality, she can have it.
#21 - The Red Woodloe Story
Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/1/1971
While in a small town for a performance, the Partridges and their manager attend the Sunday church service. Shirley and Reuben recognize the church singer as a formerly famous folk singer. They want to help him start his career again.Just as he's about to be introduced, Red Woodloe sneaks out a back door and runs out on an audience and a family, the Partridges, who had virtually made him one of their clan.
#22 - Mom Drops Out
Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/8/1971
The Partridges are booked for a huge European tour. However, the booking agent in charge of the tour thinks that Shirley is too old and won't book them if she is part of the group. This then causes Shirley to doubt her continuing role in the band and contemplate retirement. However, the kids conspire to keep their mom from becoming a retired rock and roll star even to the point of intentionally giving a bad performance.The next day, Keith and Laurie go to Logan's hotel room and learn the real reason behind Shirley's sudden resignation. Furious, they try to get their mother back in the group by deliberately messing up a nightclub performance in front of Logan. When that fails, they all decide to quit until Shirley tells them she'll join the group after the tour.
#23 - Not With My Sister, You Don't
Season 1 - Episode 23 - Aired 3/5/1971
Lester is a new transfer to San Pueblo High and he already is beginning to develop a reputation as quite the ladies man. However, Keith panics when he hears that Laurie has accepted a date with the Lothario. After Danny plants the seed in his head that he might try something with Laurie, Keith goes after them with Danny in tow to make sure his sister's reputation remains intact, even though he promised Shirley he would butt out. Unfortunately, Keith's efforts meet with disastrous results as he winds up humiliating his sister. Now he must find a way to make it up to her and not be so overprotective.
#24 - Go Directly to Jail
Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/27/1970
When the Partridges are invited by to play a show at a prison, one of the inmates fakes an epidemic just to try to sell them some songs he claims to have written. However, a complication arises when an inmate who claims to be the true author confronts Shirley. She then comes up with a novel concept to try to prove who the real author is.
#25 - Road Song
Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 2/26/1971
The Partridges and Ruben meet a girl at a diner who wants to hitch a ride when they drive off to Albuquerque. They take her along on the bus, and then the police catch up with them because the girl is a habitual run-away.