The WORST episodes of The Partridge Family
Every episode of The Partridge Family ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst 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 - . . . --- . . . (S.O.S.)
Season 4 - Episode 22 - Aired 3/23/1974
Shirley is surprised to learn that an old boyfriend is in town to make a speech. It turns out he is now a navy Captain and Keith and Danny are suspicious of his motives for their mother.
#2 - 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.
#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 - 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.
#5 - 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.
#6 - 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.
#7 - 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.
#8 - Anatomy of a Tonsil
Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/15/1971
Danny's sore throat is diagnosed as tonsillitis and he has to have his tonsils removed. He is nervous about the operation, and when it is over, he is nervous about losing his voice.
#9 - Whatever Happened to Moby Dick?
Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/22/1971
Danny is interested in the whales singing and tells the family they need to include whales in their act to show their support of ecology.
#10 - Guess Who's Coming to Drive?
Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/10/1971
Reuben sets up an aggressive summer tour schedule. Shirley does not want to go on tour as it is tiring to drive all day and sing all night, so they hire a bus driver. But Danny is suspicious when they find out that he's an ex-con.
#11 - Where Do Mermaids Go?
Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired 12/31/1971
Driving home after a tour, the Partridges stop for a picnic on a country road and meet a young woman who likes to travel alone and enjoy her freedom. After hours together, she stays at their home, leaves, and gives them a million dollars.
#12 - Home is Where the Heart Was
Season 2 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/7/1972
After being scolded from a mess, Chris and Tracy decided to run away from home but, ended up at Ruben's apartment causing mayhem.
#13 - Fellini, Bergman, and Partridge
Season 2 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/14/1972
After seeing some experimental films at a theater, Keith says he can do better than any they saw. Keith pulls out the movie camera and begins filming various random clips. Danny becomes his partner. The premier is not what he expects.
#14 - 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.
#15 - M is for the Many Things
Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/22/1972
Shirley is awarded Mother of the Year by a magazine. The family travel by bus to Sacramento to accept the award. Taking the back road leads them to wrong turns, lost wallet, traffic tickets, and other annoyances.
#16 - Princess and the Partridge
Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/29/1972
A princess flies into town with the express purpose of having a date with Keith. They find it difficult to act natural around each other until the princess tells all to relax. Keith & the princess manage to slip away from bodyguards.
#17 - Whatever Happened to Keith Partridge?
Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/24/1972
A talent agent sees Keith and offers him a screen test for a Hollywood movie. He practices his scene and drives to the studio with the whole family. Keith is offered the part, and as he packs, he finds out he lost the part just that fast.
#18 - Aspirin at 7, Dinner at 8
Season 3 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/5/1973
Shirley has a first date with a pediatrician. At dinner, he orders the food so Shirley does not eat fat, cholesterol, salt, or other negative food items. She tries to discourage him from another date, but he is persistent.
#19 - For Whom the Bell Tolls . . . and Tolls . . . and Tolls
Season 3 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/12/1973
Ruben has a burglar alarm installed in the Partridge home for their security. They keep setting off the alarm accidentally so much that everyone starts to ignore it. When a real burglar breaks in, no one realizes it is a real break in.
#20 - I Left My Heart in Cincinnati
Season 3 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/26/1973
While the Partridges perform several days at an amusement park, Keith meets the public relations host. Keith has a crush on her.
#21 - Bedknobs and Drumsticks
Season 3 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/9/1973
A chicken fast food place wants the Partridges to appear in his commercials. Ruben signs the contract. The family agree because the commercial is supposed to be tasteful. However, there is a last minute change that is not so tasteful.
#22 - The Selling of the Partridge
Season 3 - Episode 23 - Aired 3/16/1973
Laurie comes home from school excited because her friend Phyllis asked her to be a campaign manager for student body president. The excitement changes to a constant battle when Keith announces he is running for president - against Phyllis.
#23 - Reuben Kincaid Lives
Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/13/1973
Shirley tells the children they have to start being nice to Reuben. But since he is not used to this new attitude, he thinks it is because they heard he is dying. The nicer they are, the more he thinks he is dying.
#24 - The Last of Howard
Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/27/1973
The Partridges are on a cruise ship. Laurie meets a handsome, charming man who seems to have an interest in her. He say he is a rich heir, but his actions are not of a rich man. Keith thinks he is a jewel thief.
#25 - Maid in San Pueblo
Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/8/1973
Shirley's mother (Amanda) and father (Walter) argue over Amanda wanting a job outside the house. She leaves home and goes to Shirley's home. Amanda gets a job with a service company, and Shirley hires a maid. Guess who is the maid?