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The Best Episodes of Grounded for Life

Every episode of Grounded for Life ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Grounded for Life!

Binge this in 1d 3h•Peaking at 8.6/10

Right out of high school, Sean Finnerty got his girlfriend Claudia pregnant. Now she’s his wife, and at just 32, he’s somehow found himself with 14-year-old daughter Lily, two little boys, and a constant struggle

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Grounded for Life Season 3 Episode 6 - Henry's Been Working for the Drug Squad
    8.6/10(167 votes)

    #1 - Henry's Been Working for the Drug Squad

    S3:E6

    From TV Guide: Following his school's drug-awareness day, Henry thinks his family is on drugs and stages an intervention for Sean after he finds a suspicious plant growing in the yard.

    Director:John Blanchard
    Writer:Ned Goldreyer

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  2. Grounded for Life Season 5 Episode 13 - Hello, Goodbye
    8.3/10(156 votes)

    #2 - Hello, Goodbye

    S5:E13

    In the series finale, Claudia and Sean miss Lily's graduation (thus spoiling Lily's senior-prank plan) when Claudia goes into labor. Meanwhile, the Finnerty boys learn that Walt has a girlfriend... his cleaning lady!

    Director:John Blanchard
    Writers:Bill Martin, Mike Schiff

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  3. Grounded for Life Season 4 Episode 4 - I Right the Wrongs
    8.2/10(174 votes)

    #3 - I Right the Wrongs

    S4:E4

    Brad is bothered that Lily is embarrassed to be seen with him, so Sean tries to make over his geeky image. But all Sean succeeds in doing is inadvertantly getting another student suspended from school... Which leads to an in-bar confrontation with Sister Helen. Meanwhile, Jimmy's ""trademark"" hair-length has become an issue at school. Elsewhere, Claudia helps Eddie deal with an unwise purchase he made for the bar -- by getting drunk with the customers. And Lily confesses her relationship with Brad in front of the entire school.

    Director:John Blanchard
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Grounded for Life Season 2 Episode 22 - Oops!...I Did It Again
    8.1/10(129 votes)

    #4 - Oops!...I Did It Again

    S2:E22

    A home-pregnancy test in the trash has Sean convinced Lily is with child, but it may be Claudia who has something unexpected to tell him. Meanwhile, Lily learns the truth about the musical circumstances surrounding her birth; and Jimmy sings the blues about the zit that is taking over his face.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Grounded for Life Season 4 Episode 22 - It's Hard to be a Saint in the City
    8.1/10(151 votes)

    #5 - It's Hard to be a Saint in the City

    S4:E22

    This one might be better: Sean is having trouble keeping the bar alive and Claudia asks him to reconsider running it. With St. Patrick's Day around the corner Eddie tries to lure customers over from rival pubs. Meanwhile, Brad and Lily prepare for the parade and Jimmy is having trouble understanding the meaning of St. Patrick's day.

    Director:John Blanchard
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Grounded for Life Season 2 Episode 1 - Baby, You Can't Drive My Car
    8.0/10(155 votes)

    #6 - Baby, You Can't Drive My Car

    S2:E1

    After the family car goes missing one night, the Finnertys find themselves at an impasse: Sean is in mourning over the loss, while Claudia hopes to gain from a slightly inflated insurance claim. But when the battered remains of the car are towed to the house a few days later, it becomes clear that Lily has been covering her tracks about an ill-fated joyride -- and the reason why her parents have to buy the missing parts from Eddie's maniacal mechanic.

    Director:Ken Kwapis
    Writers:Ned Goldreyer, Chris Kelly

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Grounded for Life

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  7. Grounded for Life Season 3 Episode 11 - Tonight's the Night
    8.0/10(139 votes)

    #7 - Tonight's the Night

    S3:E11

    Lily winds up with the strangest bedfellow after Dean fails to pitch enough woo on her monumental 16th birthday. Meanwhile, Henry and Jimmy put Sean's shoddy fathering skills to the test with a con-game and a hot-wings binge.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Grounded for Life Season 4 Episode 28 - Space Camp Oddity
    8.0/10(137 votes)

    #8 - Space Camp Oddity

    S4:E28

    Lily has her doubts when Brad tells her about a girl he once had a relationship with at space camp named Lana. But Brad, tired of Lily thinking this, changes his Summer plans and boards a bus to space camp with a very cute, and very real, Lana.

    Director:John Blanchard
    Writer:Chris Kelly

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  9. Grounded for Life Season 5 Episode 1 - The Policy of Truth
    8.0/10(142 votes)

    #9 - The Policy of Truth

    S5:E1

    Brad, after admitting he hooked up with his space camp buddy, Lana (guest star Mila Kunis), begs for forgiveness from Lily until he learns of her infidelity.

    Director:John Blanchard
    Writer:Chris Kelly

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  10. Grounded for Life Season 5 Episode 11 - The Letter(s)
    8.0/10(132 votes)

    #10 - The Letter(s)

    S5:E11

    Sean becomes infuriated after receiving letters from the Home Owner's Association telling him to clean up his house, while Claudia is happy about the positive changes to the neighborhood. Meanwhile, Lily insists that Brad buys her an anniversary gift from a list that she's made... but he defies her wishes and gets her a sexy nighty... that he can't enjoy because he's busy picturing Sister Helen, who he ran into at the lingerie store. And Jimmy shocks the family by making an unusual lifestyle choice -- he announces that he's a vegetarian.

    Director:John Blanchard
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Grounded for Life Season 1 Episode 9 - Eddie's Dead
    7.9/10(165 votes)

    #11 - Eddie's Dead

    S1:E9

    Sean (Donal Logue) tries to keep Eddie (Kevin Corrigan) from hitting on a woman (guest star Julie Claire) Claudia (Megyn Price) is consoling after a break-up.

    Director:Brian Levant
    Writer:Chris Kelly

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  12. Grounded for Life Season 1 Episode 12 - Jimmy Was Kung-Fu Fighting
    7.9/10(156 votes)

    #12 - Jimmy Was Kung-Fu Fighting

    S1:E12

    To save for a dream vacation to Mexico, Sean and Claudia start working extra shifts at work. This leads to chaos at home, with Eddie raising the kids, Lily getting her tongue pierced, Jimmy becoming a bully, and Henry panhandling and eating out of the garbage.

    Director:Terry Hughes
    Writer:Brad Copeland

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  13. Grounded for Life Season 2 Episode 8 - Let's Talk About Sex, Henry
    7.9/10(146 votes)

    #13 - Let's Talk About Sex, Henry

    S2:E8

    After Henry unexpectedly catches Sean and Claudia having sex, Sean is determined to handle the inevitable topic of the birds and the bees with Henry in a better way than Walt did with he and Eddie. After having a father/son talk with Henry about sex, Sean feels good about how he handled things. When Sean and Claudia catch word that they have a ""reputation"", they discover that Henry told his entire class about what he caught Sean and Claudia doing, forcing them to do some damage control.

    Director:Peter Lauer
    Writers:Bob Kushell, Jim O'Doherty

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  14. Grounded for Life Season 2 Episode 17 - The Kids Are Alright
    7.9/10(146 votes)

    #14 - The Kids Are Alright

    S2:E17

    When Sean and Claudia win a free weekend in Atlantic City, Eddie offers to look after the boys while they are away. At first suspicious of his offer, they succumb because they desperately want the time away. But when they return from their trip to find Jimmy and Henry locked in the basement, they are shocked to find out that it was Lily and not Eddie who put them there. As Lily tries to explain what happened at home over the weekend, it becomes clear to Sean and Claudia that, surprisingly, Eddie was not such a bad choice to take care of the kids after all, even if he really did have an ulterior motive.

    Director:John Putch
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Grounded for Life Season 4 Episode 26 - Pressure Drop
    7.9/10(137 votes)

    #15 - Pressure Drop

    S4:E26

    Claudia tries to alleviate Sean's hypertension and high blood pressure by running the household all by herself but everything goes awry. Jimmy gets suspended from school, which causes a set of problems all its own, and Lily and Brad break her bed so they steal the family car... and get it impounded.

    Director:John Blanchard
    Writer:Eric Kentoff

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  16. Grounded for Life Season 5 Episode 4 - Day Tripper
    7.9/10(130 votes)

    #16 - Day Tripper

    S5:E4

    Eddie moves into the Finnerty basement after being evicted from his apartment. Claudia is not happy and tells him if he screws up he's out. Lily is jealous of Taya, Brad's new girlfriend, after she becomes the first girl on the Football team at school. Claudia's pregnancy interferes with her motherly duties.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Grounded for Life Season 5 Episode 6 - Psycho Therapy
    7.9/10(132 votes)

    #17 - Psycho Therapy

    S5:E6

    Brad and Lily fight it out in a race for student body president...but it seems all the sniping and mudslinging is a mask to hide the former lovers' true feelings about each other. Meanwhile, Eddie is depressed and seeks the help of a quack psychiatrist...and Claudia tries not to learn the baby's sex, wanting to be surprised.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Grounded for Life Season 1 Episode 8 - Devil's Haircut
    7.8/10(160 votes)

    #18 - Devil's Haircut

    S1:E8

    Sean (Donal Logue) tries to disguise the fact that he cut Henry's (Jake Burbage) hair himself instead of taking him to a barber shop.

    Director:John Blanchard
    Writers:Bill Martin, Mike Schiff

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  19. Grounded for Life Season 1 Episode 10 - Catch Us If You Can
    7.8/10(158 votes)

    #19 - Catch Us If You Can

    S1:E10

    Sean catches a fly ball that's still in play and loses a game for the Yankees. Claudia's upset when the bachelorette party she's throwing for her girlfriend gets disrupted by Sean, Eddie and the boys, who have been chased home by irate fans.

    Director:Ken Kwapis
    Writers:Jim O'Doherty, David Israel

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  20. Grounded for Life Season 1 Episode 14 - Mrs. Finnerty, You've Got a Lovely Daughter
    7.8/10(163 votes)

    #20 - Mrs. Finnerty, You've Got a Lovely Daughter

    S1:E14

    When Lily is miserable because she and her girlfriends have been booed off the stage at the school's talent show, Sean and Claudia have some explaining to do. Meanwhile, the Finnerty's get roped into buying cases of candy bars that the boys are selling for school.

    Director:Kenny Ortega
    Writer:Aron Abrams

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  21. Grounded for Life Season 1 Episode 15 - Love Child
    7.8/10(152 votes)

    #21 - Love Child

    S1:E15

    Sean has some explaining to do when Lily’s devastated to discover that she was born out of wedlock.

    Director:Craig Zisk
    Writers:Ned Goldreyer, Chris Kelly

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  22. Grounded for Life Season 2 Episode 2 - Dream On
    7.8/10(152 votes)

    #22 - Dream On

    S2:E2

    Claudia's dream about Eddie has Sean out to relight his wife's fire, until he goes down in flames during an impromptu visit to her work. Meanwhile, Lily bombs out with a new boy after guzzling Jimmy's spiked cider. (TV Guide)

    Director:John Blanchard
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Grounded for Life Season 2 Episode 4 - Rubber Sold
    7.8/10(143 votes)

    #23 - Rubber Sold

    S2:E4

    Sean freaks out over Lily's attending a bash at Brad's after he spots the nerdy neighbor stocking up on certain sexy party supplies.

    Director:Peter Werner
    Writer:Bob Kushell

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  24. Grounded for Life Season 2 Episode 6 - Smoke on the Daughter
    7.8/10(149 votes)

    #24 - Smoke on the Daughter

    S2:E6

    During a stressful day at work, Claudia takes a puff of a co-worker's cigarette which quickly turns into an entire cigarette and then a daily habit. Desperate to keep her smoking habit from Sean and the kids, Claudia tries her best to smoke without being found out, but is busted by Lily. Lily makes a deal with her - she won't say anything if Claudia will get her a cell phone and Claudia agrees. Sean thinks that Claudia's bizarre behavior lately has something to do with him, prompting him to buy her the expensive armoire Claudia was admiring recently at the flea market. When her quest for a cigarette leads to her digging through the trash and landing outside Brad O'Keefe's window, she realizes she has hit a new low and swears off her habit. Meanwhile, after setting a date with Dean on her new cell phone, Lily is humiliated to find out Dean heard her gushing about him when the phone didn't turn off.

    Director:John Blanchard
    Writer:Tom Purcell

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  25. Grounded for Life Season 2 Episode 9 - Is She Really Going Out with Walt?
    7.8/10(146 votes)

    #25 - Is She Really Going Out with Walt?

    S2:E9

    The Finnertys' plan to push Walt (Richard Riehle) back into the social scene backfires when he's social with a lady they don't like. Meanwhile, Lily fears that her bad behavior has thrust Brad into Kristina's arms.

    Director:Paul Lazarus
    Writer:Brad Copeland

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Best Episodes Summary

"Henry's Been Working for the Drug Squad" is the best rated episode of "Grounded for Life". It scored 8.6/10 based on 167 votes. Directed by John Blanchard and written by Ned Goldreyer, it aired on 3/7/2003. This episode scored 0.3 points higher than the second highest rated, "Hello, Goodbye".