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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!

Binge this in 30m•Peaking at 9.2/10

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 surrounding him: daughters Barbara and Carol; his wisecracking office assistant,

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Empty Nest Season 1 Episode 22 - A Life in the Day
    9.2/10(140 votes)

    #1 - A Life in the Day

    S1:E22

    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:Unknown
    Writers:Rob LaZebnik, David Sacks

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  2. Empty Nest Season 4 Episode 14 - Ex-appeal
    9.0/10(102 votes)

    #2 - Ex-appeal

    S4:E14

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

    Director:Steve Zuckerman
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Empty Nest Season 4 Episode 15 - The Great Escape
    9.0/10(100 votes)

    #3 - The Great Escape

    S4:E15

    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

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  4. Empty Nest Season 2 Episode 18 - It Happened Two Nights, Four Costume Changes
    8.9/10(109 votes)

    #4 - It Happened Two Nights, Four Costume Changes

    S2:E18

    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:Unknown

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  5. Empty Nest Season 3 Episode 18 - Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?
    8.9/10(114 votes)

    #5 - Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

    S3:E18

    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

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  6. Empty Nest Season 1 Episode 3 - Barbara Gets Shot
    8.7/10(127 votes)

    #6 - Barbara Gets Shot

    S1:E3

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Don Reo

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Empty Nest

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  7. Empty Nest Season 1 Episode 20 - Cyrano de Weston
    8.7/10(113 votes)

    #7 - Cyrano de Weston

    S1:E20

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Arnie Kogen

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  8. Empty Nest Season 2 Episode 7 - You Are 16 Going on 17 and I'm Not
    8.7/10(117 votes)

    #8 - You Are 16 Going on 17 and I'm Not

    S2:E7

    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

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  9. Empty Nest Season 1 Episode 17 - Dumped
    8.6/10(121 votes)

    #9 - Dumped

    S1:E17

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Susan Beavers

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  10. Empty Nest Season 2 Episode 3 - On the Interpretation of Dreams
    8.6/10(110 votes)

    #10 - On the Interpretation of Dreams

    S2:E3

    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:Unknown

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  11. Empty Nest Season 2 Episode 23 - Did You Ever See a Dream Dying?
    8.6/10(107 votes)

    #11 - Did You Ever See a Dream Dying?

    S2:E23

    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:Unknown

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  12. Empty Nest Season 1 Episode 16 - Blame It on the Moon
    8.4/10(113 votes)

    #12 - Blame It on the Moon

    S1:E16

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Empty Nest Season 2 Episode 9 - Green Eggs and Harry
    8.4/10(111 votes)

    #13 - Green Eggs and Harry

    S2:E9

    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
    Writers:Rob LaZebnik, David Sacks

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  14. Empty Nest Season 2 Episode 19 - Love is Blind
    8.4/10(108 votes)

    #14 - Love is Blind

    S2:E19

    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

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  15. Empty Nest Season 2 Episode 21 - Lessons
    8.4/10(109 votes)

    #15 - Lessons

    S2:E21

    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

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  16. Empty Nest Season 3 Episode 4 - Barbara the Mom
    8.4/10(106 votes)

    #16 - Barbara the Mom

    S3:E4

    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:Unknown

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  17. Empty Nest Season 3 Episode 9 - A Family Affair
    8.4/10(106 votes)

    #17 - A Family Affair

    S3:E9

    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

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  18. Empty Nest Season 1 Episode 6 - Harry's Vacation
    8.3/10(119 votes)

    #18 - Harry's Vacation

    S1:E6

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Susan Beavers

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  19. Empty Nest Season 1 Episode 10 - Libby's Gift
    8.3/10(115 votes)

    #19 - Libby's Gift

    S1:E10

    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:Unknown
    Writers:Rob LaZebnik, David Sacks

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  20. Empty Nest Season 1 Episode 14 - Strange Bedfellows
    8.3/10(116 votes)

    #20 - Strange Bedfellows

    S1:E14

    Carol falls in love with a South American freedom fighter and announces she's going away with him. Jeffrey Millstein falls in love with Laverne.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Empty Nest Season 2 Episode 6 - Rambo of Neiman Marcus
    8.3/10(109 votes)

    #21 - Rambo of Neiman Marcus

    S2:E6

    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

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  22. Empty Nest Season 3 Episode 3 - There's No Accounting
    8.3/10(109 votes)

    #22 - There's No Accounting

    S3:E3

    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:Unknown

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  23. Empty Nest Season 3 Episode 10 - Someone to Watch Over Me
    8.3/10(109 votes)

    #23 - Someone to Watch Over Me

    S3:E10

    Charley wants visitors during a hospital stay and when his parents can't come, he hires actors to play them. A neighbor accuses Dreyfuss of fathering his dog's puppies.

    Director:Steve Zuckerman
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Empty Nest Season 4 Episode 20 - Dr. Weston and Mr. Hyde
    8.3/10(104 votes)

    #24 - Dr. Weston and Mr. Hyde

    S4:E20

    The full moon on Leap Day causes strange things to happen: after throwing his back out, Harry begins to act very unusual; a series of odd occurrences leads Barbara to believe that a neighborhood repairman is actually Dreyfuss; Charley cancels a date to stay home and watch The Sound of Music.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Empty Nest Season 5 Episode 10 - Thanksgiving at the Westons'
    8.3/10(103 votes)

    #25 - Thanksgiving at the Westons'

    S5:E10

    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

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Best Episodes Summary

"A Life in the Day" is the best rated episode of "Empty Nest". It scored 9.2/10 based on 140 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Rob LaZebnik, David Sacks, it aired on 4/1/1989. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "Ex-appeal".