The BEST episodes written by Dick Bensfield
#1 - Father, Dear Father (Part 1)
One Day at a Time - Season 4 - Episode 1
Ann's ex-husband tells her that he can no longer pay her child support for his daughters.
Watch Now:Amazon#2 - Mary's Brother
227 - Season 1 - Episode 2
When Mary's brother Lewis comes to town on business, she decides to set him up on a date with Rose. The next day when Rose won't give Mary any details about the date, they get in to an argument where Rose finally admits that she thinks Mary's brother is ""self-centered"" and ""egotistical."" They stop speaking. Meanwhile, Lewis asks Sandra out on a date, and Mary fears that Sandra may be her future sister-in-law. When Mary spies on the ending of Sandra's and Lewis' date, and notices that all he talks about is himself and his job, she realizes where Rose is coming from. Sandra leaves Lewis on the stoop, dissatisfied with the date, and the next day Mary apoligizes and she and Rose make-up.
Watch Now:Amazon#3 - A Young Man's Fancy
227 - Season 1 - Episode 16
Pearl goes to Baltimore to visit her sister and the Jenkins watch Calvin for her. When he tries out for the romantic lead for a school play and doesn't get it, he becomes depressed. Sandra boosts his confidence and makes him feel better, however, he mistakes her kindness for affection and begins to fall in love with Sandra. When Brenda hears how silly Calvin is acting over Sandra, she goes and talks to him and expresses to him that she cares for him more than Sandra would ever, and she tells him that he is her best friend. Calvin gets over his crush really fast after that.
Watch Now:Amazon#4 - Brenda's Last Date
227 - Season 1 - Episode 15
Pearl asks Mary if Lester would have a man-to-man talk with Calvin about sex and Brenda asks her parents if she could go to the dance Friday night. They believe that she is too young to date (14). From Mary's persuading, Lester talks to Calvin and ends his talk with, ""If you mess around with my daughther, I'll rip your head off."" Scared, Calvin breaks the date anyway. But Brenda still wants to go and comes up with a plan. Brenda tells her parents that she will go to the library Friday night, while Calvin tells his grandmom that he is going to see Haley's Comet. When Mary finds out, she goes to the dance and takes Brenda home. At home she and Brenda have a heart-to-heart talk, where Mary says she and Lester will relax the rules a little.
Watch Now:Amazon#5 - Come Into My Parlor
227 - Season 2 - Episode 7
When Brenda meets a cute boy she decides to invite him to her party Saturday night. After getting permission to actually have the party, she then hears Sandra tell a story about how when she was young and wanted to get to know a boy better, she would ""mistakenly"" tell him the wrong day of the party. Brenda tries the idea and invites Ken over for Friday night instead, hoping that when he gets there he will meet her parents and stay for dinner. But Mary and Lester decide to go out to eat and are not home when Ken arrives. Brenda decides to let him come in anyway, just to have a drink, but then Calvin shows up to drop off chairs for the party. When she tells them they need to leave, Mary and Lester arrive home and the boys hide. Mary and Lester eventually catch the boys in the house.
Watch Now:Amazon
#6 - The Other Richie Cunningham
Happy Days - Season 3 - Episode 5
Needing to make a good impression for a prospective business deal, Howard asks Richie to take the "Prince of Porcelain's" daughter out on a date. Richie, however, already has big plans and asks Potsie to take his place and pretend to be him.
Watch Now:Amazon
#7 - Thelma's Scholarship
Good Times - Season 2 - Episode 23
Thelma has a chance at winning a scholarship to an exclusive boarding school in Michigan. However, even before she knows she won, a snobby girl from a fraternity comes around wanting Thelma to join and quickly discovers they just want her because she's black.
Watch Now:Amazon#8 - The Big Piano Play-Off
227 - Season 1 - Episode 12
Mary decides to buy a piano, even though Lester hates the idea and Brenda doesn't want to take lessons. When Sandra & Rose visit to take a look at the piano, Rose offers Mary piano lessons and Sandra wants lessons as well. Then, Sandra makes a sucker bet that for $20, she'll progress faster than her. After many piano lessons, Mary still struggles. Pearl tells Mary that Sandra used to take piano lessons. During a lesson, Mary offers to throw a party recital to show their progression. She shocks Sandra when she plays ""Minuet in G.""
Watch Now:Amazon
#9 - The Frog
The Odd Couple - Season 5 - Episode 3
Oscar loses Felix's son's entry in a frog-jumping contest.
Watch Now:Amazon
#10 - Operation Florida
Good Times - Season 3 - Episode 3
James insists on a level of care he can't afford when Florida needs a gallbladder operation.
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
#11 - Home is Where the Heart Was
The Partridge Family - Season 2 - Episode 15
After being scolded from a mess, Chris and Tracy decided to run away from home but, ended up at Ruben's apartment causing mayhem.
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
#12 - The Mural
Good Times - Season 3 - Episode 12
J.J. is commissioned by a bank to paint a mural depicting ghetto life.
Watch Now:Amazon
#13 - Wish Upon a Star
Happy Days - Season 2 - Episode 7
Richie wins a date with a movie star, Cindy Shea, to a school dance, and Gloria breaks up with him because of circumstances surrounding it. Cindy, however, will only be able to meet up with Richie after the dance has started.
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
#14 - One Jeannie Beats Four of a Kind
I Dream of Jeannie - Season 5 - Episode 25
After Tony and Roger win at poker, thanks to Jeannie, they are under suspicion of being card sharks. Worse still, the mobsters who are the real card sharks believe that Roger is a card shark too, and give him an ultimatum; win for them or take a swim in the river wearing cement shoes.
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV#15 - For Richer, for Poorer
227 - Season 4 - Episode 17
Sandra's new boyfriend keeps showering her with gifts. When everyone meets him, they are surprised-- he is Pearl's age! He asks Sandra to marry him and gives her a day to think about it. She tells him no, and he has a heart attack. In the hospital, Mary and Sandra pose as doctor and nurse because the rude desk nurse will not let them see him. Sandra decides to tell him that she will marry him, since she thinks that he is on his death bed and it would make him happy. The next day when they return to the hospital, Abner has made a recovery. It turns out that his ""heart attack"" was gas, and he says he is ready to get married to the nurse that raised his spirits. He thinks that nurse was the rude desk RN, nurse Grubb, and Sandra doesn't object. Meanwhile, Brenda, Calvin and Alexandria are trying to raise ticket money for a Prince concert.
Watch Now:Amazon
#16 - Keith and Lauriebelle
The Partridge Family - Season 4 - Episode 19
Laurie wants Danny to take over one of her babysitting jobs so she can go skiing. Danny refuses, but Keith agrees to do it - as long as Laurie poses as his girlfriend at a party to make another girl jealous.
Watch Now:Amazon
#17 - Father, Dear Father (Part 2)
One Day at a Time - Season 4 - Episode 2
Ed is forced to admit the truth to Julie and Barbara.
Watch Now:Amazon#18 - Mary Nightingale
227 - Season 2 - Episode 2
Lester comes home from work sick, with the assumption that he has the flu. Using a bell that Sandra gives him, he drives Mary crazy with his demands for ""water"" and ""celery salt"" for his soup. She just assumes that he is being a big baby. Asking Brenda to watch Lester for a little while, Mary goes shopping and gets a pedicure and manicure (something she was not able to do earlier with Pearl and Rose). When she returns, Lester is being carried into an ambulance because he has appendicitis and needs to go to the hospital. Mary is worried to death because she can't see Lester in the operating room, so she sneaks in. The operation is OK.
Watch Now:Amazon
#19 - George's Family Tree
The Jeffersons - Season 1 - Episode 2
The Willis' give Louise and George a piece of primitive African art, as a housewarming gift, which leads to the discussion of family roots. This leads George to discover his family roots, from an African tribe believed to be kings.
Watch Now:Amazon
#20 - The Lemon
Happy Days - Season 1 - Episode 2
Tired of driving around in Howard's DeSoto, Richie and Potsie buy a car of their own. The car has several problems including an engine that won't run consistently. This causes problems when they try to impress two girls.
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
#21 - The Nude
Good Times - Season 2 - Episode 16
A woman aks J.J. to paint a nude portrait of her as a birthday gift for her husband. However, Florida has a hard time understanding why a woman would pose in the nude and why she has to pose in the Evans' apartment.
Watch Now:Amazon#22 - Another Man's Shoes
One Day at a Time - Season 9 - Episode 22
Schneider decides to move to Florida to care for his niece and nephew.
Watch Now:Amazon
#23 - Jeannie and the Bachelor Party
I Dream of Jeannie - Season 5 - Episode 6
Against Tony's wishes, Roger and Dr. Bellows scheme to throw the future groom a bachelor party. The party must be kept secret from Amada Bellows and the other NASA wives.
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
#24 - Give the Band a Hand
Happy Days - Season 1 - Episode 10
To make some money, Richie, Potsie, Ralph, and Bag form a band. They secure a gig, but Richie and Potsie lose the money (including that of Ralph and Bag) playing poker.
Watch Now:Amazon
#25 - Aunt Bee's Cousin
The Andy Griffith Show - Season 8 - Episode 13
Andy learns the truth when he sees his cousin Bradford alight from a freight train but keeps quiet because Aunt Bee thinks he's a wealthy relative.
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV#26 - Pity the Poor Working Girl
227 - Season 1 - Episode 9
When Sandra tells Mary how she can't keep a job because of jealous wives, Mary asks Lester if he knows of any job openings. He admits that his company needs a receptionist for their main office and Sandra gets the job. Howvever, Pearl and Rose worry Mary so much about Sandra working with Lester that Mary becomes suspicious and jealous. When she goes down to the office one day to take Lester to lunch, she tells Lester how she feels about ""Ms. Wiggles"" and Sandra quits. Pearl and Rose put Sandra and Mary in the room together to talk it out and Mary apoligizes. Sandra takes her job back, on the premise that Mary's jealous days are over.
Watch Now:Amazon
#27 - Mrs. Djinn Djinn
I Dream of Jeannie - Season 5 - Episode 18
Roger spreads the word to everyone that Jeannie is expecting but all the while its a misunderstanding and the only one that is expecting is Mrs. Djinn Djinn (the dog).
Watch Now:Apple TV
#28 - Jeannie and the Curious Kid
I Dream of Jeannie - Season 5 - Episode 19
The Bellows' troublesome nephew stays at the Nelson house for a couple days and figures out the truth about Jeannie when he sees her smoke into her bottle.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#29 - Not with My Sister, You Don't
Happy Days - Season 2 - Episode 8
Spike, Fonzie's little cousin, takes Joanie out on her first date. Richie and his date act as Joanie and Spike's chaperones and discover them missing at the movie theater.
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
#30 - The New Owner
One Day at a Time - Season 3 - Episode 17
Determined to keep his job, Schneider woos the building's new owner, who falls for him.
Watch Now:Amazon#31 - The Handwriting on the Wall
227 - Season 2 - Episode 11
When Mary and Rose come home from the movie theater, they see JoJo spray painting his gang tag underneath Pearl's window. Pearl hits him with her pillow, Rose grabs the spray can and accidentally sprays his shirt, and Mary grabs hims, but tries to talk sense into him. JoJo tells his mother everything that happened, while leaving out the part about him spray painting on the building. They decide to sue the ladies, and use Sandra as a witness, who was in the car on a date. When they get in court, his mother and the Judge eventually find out the truth and JoJo is made to clean up his damage. His mother apologizes to the ladies and the ladies are fined 10 cents each.
Watch Now:Amazon
#33 - Sam for Town Council
The Andy Griffith Show - Season 8 - Episode 27
Sam runs against Emmett for office.
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
#35 - Emmett's Anniversary
The Andy Griffith Show - Season 8 - Episode 25
Emmett Clark cannot decide on a suitable anniversary gift for his spouse. Helpful friend Flora Mahlerbie {Alberta Nelson} finds a way and suggests her friend Bernie the wholesale fur man as the golden answer to Emmett's problem. Flora takes Emmett to Bernie's shop one night to haggle over furs and things. Ultimately, though, Cheapskate Emmett will not cough up the change for the pricey women's wear, even at 40% off, which leaves Flora a trifle sad.
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
#36 - . . . --- . . . (S.O.S.)
The Partridge Family - Season 4 - Episode 22
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.
Watch Now:Amazon
#37 - Danny Drops Out
The Partridge Family - Season 4 - Episode 15
Danny seems to be getting into a lot of trouble at school, and now decided to drop out. Shirley and his teacher discuss how to prevent this. They decide to let him think he has dropped out, and find out what the real world is like.
Watch Now:Amazon
#38 - Love in the Ghetto
Good Times - Season 3 - Episode 4
Thelma's engagement plans aren't well received by James and Florida.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#39 - Murray the Fink
The Odd Couple - Season 2 - Episode 6
Oscar and Felix are arrested after Murray raids the poker game.
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
#40 - Danny Converts
The Partridge Family - Season 4 - Episode 17
Danny has a new girlfriend at school. Renee is Jewish, so Danny pretends to be Jewish. Danny meets her father, who says he would like to meet Danny's family. Danny tries to hide his "little white lie" from his family.
Watch Now:Amazon
#41 - Good, Bad Boy
The Odd Couple - Season 2 - Episode 20
Felix overreacts when his daughter is asked to a dance by a reform-school youth.
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
#42 - A Trip to Mexico
The Andy Griffith Show - Season 8 - Episode 3
Aunt Bea and her friends go to Mexico. While there, their friendships gets strained.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#43 - The Big Brothers
The Odd Couple - Season 1 - Episode 9
Oscar and Felix become big brothers to a fatherless boy.
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
#44 - To Bowl or Not to Bowl
The Odd Couple - Season 5 - Episode 2
Felix drops a bombshell when he refuses to participate in the championship bowling match.
Watch Now:Amazon
#45 - Myrna's Debut
The Odd Couple - Season 3 - Episode 17
Felix tries to turn Oscar's tap-dancing secretary Myrna pro.
Watch Now:Amazon#46 - The Nearness of You
One Day at a Time - Season 9 - Episode 20
Working together fuels an attraction between Max and Barbara.
Watch Now:Amazon#47 - Off We Go
One Day at a Time - Season 9 - Episode 21
Ann accepts a job offer in London and ponders how she will break the news.
Watch Now:Amazon
#48 - Double Trouble
The Partridge Family - Season 4 - Episode 6
Keith does not have a date for a party after the popular girl at school declines his date request, citing another date, so Laurie sets him up with one of her friends. The next day when the popular girl's plans fall through she belatedly accepts the date with Keith. Now he has two dates for the same party.
Watch Now:Amazon
#49 - Howard, the Bowler
The Andy Griffith Show - Season 8 - Episode 2
Howard is on a bowling hot streak. When the lights go out during the final frame of the championship game, he gets the jitters but must still finish the game.
Watch Now:Apple TV
#50 - Felix the Calypso Singer
The Odd Couple - Season 2 - Episode 13
Nancy cannot go away with Oscar on vacation, so Oscar talks Felix into joining him.
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV