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The Best Episodes of Empty Nest

Every episode of Empty Nest ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Empty Nest!

Widowed pediatrician Harry Weston is a miracle worker when it comes to dealing with his young patients, but he's more challenged by the other people...
Genres:FamilyComedy
Network:NBC

Best Episodes Summary

"A Life in the Day" is the best rated episode of "Empty Nest". It scored 9/10 based on 131 votes. Directed by N/A and written by Rob LaZebnik, David Sacks, it aired on 4/1/1989. This episode scored 0.3 points higher than the second highest rated, "Ex-appeal".

  • A Life in the Day
    9.0/10131 votes
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    #1 - A Life in the Day

    Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 4/1/1989

    Harry sees five patients: a week-old baby, a five-year-old whose father denies the boy's onset diabetes; a seven-year-old curious about sex; an eleven-year-old having the cast removed from his arm; a belligerent 14-year-old who uses drugs; and an 18-year-old picking up his medical records before going away to college. The end of the episode reveals that all of these have been the same patient at different ages.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Rob LaZebnik, David Sacks

  • Ex-appeal
    8.7/1099 votes
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    #2 - Ex-appeal

    Season 4 Episode 14 - Aired 1/11/1992

    Carol starts dating Barbara's ex-boyfriend, but Barbara realizes she still has feelings for him.

    Director: Steve Zuckerman

    Writer: N/A

  • Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?
    8.6/10108 votes
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    #3 - Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

    Season 3 Episode 18 - Aired 2/16/1991

    Harry dates a 28 year old, which upsets Carol, Barbara, and the girl's parents. Laverne shapes up a nurse trainee.

    Director: Steve Zuckerman

    Writer: Rob LaZebnik

  • The Great Escape
    8.6/1097 votes
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    #4 - The Great Escape

    Season 4 Episode 15 - Aired 1/18/1992

    While Harry and Laverne are en route to a medical seminar, an escaped convict takes Barbara and Carol hostage.

    Director: Steve Zuckerman

    Writer: Arnie Kogen

  • Cyrano de Weston
    8.5/10110 votes
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    #5 - Cyrano de Weston

    Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 3/18/1989

    Harry gives Charley advice on how to impress a new girlfriend, who turns out to be the same lady Harry is seeing. When a relative dies and leaves Barbara and Emily money, Carol is anxious to see what she'll be getting but isn't too thrilled when it arrives.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Arnie Kogen

  • On the Interpretation of Dreams
    8.5/10106 votes
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    #6 - On the Interpretation of Dreams

    Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 10/21/1989

    His recurring dream (which includes running from a tiger, a pink kimono, and Ed McMahon) keeps Harry and the girls up all night, trying to decipher it's meaning. They end up at an all-night diner where they run into Laverne.

    Director: Steve Zuckerman

    Writer: N/A

  • It Happened Two Nights, Four Costume Changes
    8.5/10106 votes
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    #7 - It Happened Two Nights, Four Costume Changes

    Season 2 Episode 18 - Aired 2/17/1990

    Laverne is told that Nick is having an affair so she tells him she is dating Harry. When she finds out she was misinformed, Nick refuses to believe that she made up the story about her affair. Meanwhile, Carol and Barbara disagree on how to get rid of a mouse in the house.

    Director: Steve Zuckerman

    Writer: N/A

  • Barbara Gets Shot
    8.4/10122 votes
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    #8 - Barbara Gets Shot

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/29/1988

    Harry tries to get Barbara to give up her police career after she is shot.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Don Reo

  • Dumped
    8.4/10117 votes
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    #9 - Dumped

    Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 2/18/1989

    Barbara falls in love with neighbor, Dorothy's nephew, but is surprisingly not phased when he dumps her. Dorothy and Harry have an argument when Dorothy blames Barbara for the breakup.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Susan Beavers

  • You Are 16 Going on 17 and I'm Not
    8.4/10114 votes
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    #10 - You Are 16 Going on 17 and I'm Not

    Season 2 Episode 7 - Aired 11/18/1989

    Carol objects when Harry asks her to tutor a boy she used to baby-sit, until she sees how handsome he has become. Carol feels guilty after the two end up sleeping together. Laverne misses best friend, Lurlene's birthday party because of a double work load at the office.

    Director: Steve Zuckerman

    Writer: Susan Beavers

  • Did You Ever See a Dream Dying?
    8.4/10104 votes
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    #11 - Did You Ever See a Dream Dying?

    Season 2 Episode 23 - Aired 4/14/1990

    Harry helps Nick buy a bar. The Westons take in a lost dog and then blame Dreyfuss for all the damage it does.

    Director: Steve Zuckerman

    Writer: N/A

  • Green Eggs and Harry
    8.3/10108 votes
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    #12 - Green Eggs and Harry

    Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 12/2/1989

    Harry enlists the help of Carol when he is asked to write a children's book, but he soon finds out that Barbara has better ideas. Charley is smitten with another juror during jury duty.

    Director: Steve Zuckerman

    Writer: Rob LaZebnik, David Sacks

  • Lessons
    8.3/10106 votes
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    #13 - Lessons

    Season 2 Episode 21 - Aired 3/10/1990

    A student has a crush on Barbara, who is working undercover at a high school. Meanwhile, Charley takes up golf, Harry teaches Dreyfuss to fetch the paper, and Laverne is convinced she'll become fat after looking at a family album.

    Director: Steve Zuckerman

    Writer: Susan Beavers

  • Harry's Vacation
    8.2/10116 votes
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    #14 - Harry's Vacation

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 11/19/1988

    Harry thinks he has become a burden on Carol and Barbara when they send him away on a vacation, despite his objections.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Susan Beavers

  • Blame It on the Moon
    8.2/10109 votes
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    #15 - Blame It on the Moon

    Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 2/11/1989

    The Westons laugh when Charley says the full moon will bring love, but then realize he could be right. A rude doctor catches Harry's eye. Carol's finds romance when a man returns run-away Dreyfuss (who in turn finds love in the man's female dog). A stake-out leads Barbara into the arms of a high-school boyfriend.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Rambo of Neiman Marcus
    8.2/10106 votes
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    #16 - Rambo of Neiman Marcus

    Season 2 Episode 6 - Aired 11/11/1989

    Carol and Barbara are witnesses to a mall robbery and surprisingly it's Carol who nabs the thief, not police officer, Barbara. Neighbor Rose hits Harry's car and offers to pay for the damages.

    Director: Steve Zuckerman

    Writer: Arnie Kogen

  • The R.N. Who Came to Dinner
    8.2/10111 votes
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    #17 - The R.N. Who Came to Dinner

    Season 2 Episode 8 - Aired 11/25/1989

    Laverne moves in with the Westons after a fight with Nick and proceeds to take control of the house. A young patient who can't get a date for a school dance asks Harry to take her.

    Director: Steve Zuckerman

    Writer: N/A

  • Love is Blind
    8.2/10105 votes
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    #18 - Love is Blind

    Season 2 Episode 19 - Aired 2/24/1990

    Carol dates a blind man and focuses only on his disability, ignoring the fact that he is rude and obnoxious. Jeffrey Millstein is nervous about a chess tournament.

    Director: Steve Zuckerman

    Writer: Arnie Kogen

  • There's No Accounting
    8.2/10106 votes
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    #19 - There's No Accounting

    Season 3 Episode 3 - Aired 10/6/1990

    Carol is drawn to Barbara's sensitive, intelligent new boyfriend and can't figure out why he would be interested in Barbara. Harry is bored by his new girlfriend, a lady who seems perfect for him. Laverne grows attached to a dog that Nick brings home.

    Director: Steve Zuckerman

    Writer: N/A

  • Barbara the Mom
    8.2/10103 votes
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    #20 - Barbara the Mom

    Season 3 Episode 4 - Aired 10/13/1990

    Barbara fears she has no motherly instincts when babysitting her boyfriend's young kids. Carol volunteers at the zoo and finds that the pandas only mate when she is around. Harry is reluctant to let Laverne give him a flu shot. Charley attempts to write his autobiography.

    Director: Steve Zuckerman

    Writer: N/A

  • A Family Affair
    8.2/10103 votes
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    #21 - A Family Affair

    Season 3 Episode 9 - Aired 11/17/1990

    Harry suspects that Barbara's new boyfriend is married, and when he voices his concerns Barbara gets mad. Worried that Dreyfuss is getting too fat, the Westons put him on a diet, but then end up secretly giving him junk food.

    Director: Steve Zuckerman

    Writer: Susan Beavers

  • Sucking Up is Hard to Do
    8.2/10102 votes
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    #22 - Sucking Up is Hard to Do

    Season 3 Episode 14 - Aired 1/19/1991

    Carol advises Barbara on how to suck up to get a job promotion. Laverne plays matchmaker for Harry.

    Director: Steve Zuckerman

    Writer: N/A

  • Thanksgiving at the Westons'
    8.2/10100 votes
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    #23 - Thanksgiving at the Westons'

    Season 5 Episode 10 - Aired 11/21/1992

    Laverne is reluctant to accept Harry's invitation to Thanksgiving dinner and flashbacks to the previous such dinner show why.

    Director: Steve Zuckerman

    Writer: Arnie Kogen

  • Libby's Gift
    8.1/10112 votes
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    #24 - Libby's Gift

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 12/17/1988

    An organ that Libby ordered before dying finally arrives at the house and Harry becomes determined to learn to play it in time for his and Libby's anniversary. Barbara and Carol worry that he is going too far. A patient asks Harry for birth control.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Rob LaZebnik, David Sacks

  • The First Time, Again
    8.1/10110 votes
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    #25 - The First Time, Again

    Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 1/7/1989

    Harry is encouraged to spend a weekend alone with his girlfriend. Jeffrey Millstein's imagination runs wild after he sees a scary movie.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A