7.0/10130 votes#1 - Pilot
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/24/1985
Maggie goes back to work as a journalist, prompting psychologist Jason to move his office into their home so he can keep his eye on the kids. Things don't get off to a great start: the first night he gets a call from the police that Mike has been picked up for illegally driving a car.
Director: John Pasquin
Writer: N/A
7.5/10108 votes#2 - Springsteen
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 10/1/1985
Jason embarrasses Mike at a Bruce Springsteen concert when they are interviewed together.
Director: John Pasquin
Writer: David Kendall
7.1/1093 votes#3 - Jealousy
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/8/1985
Jason fumes when Maggie spends long hours on a toxic waste story with handsome co-worker Fred.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.1/1088 votes#4 - Carol's Article
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/15/1985
Maggie gives an honest assessment of Carol's writing of an article for her school magazine; Mike and Ben discover track betting.
Director: John Pasquin
Writer: N/A
7.1/1091 votes#5 - Superdad!
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/29/1985
Maggie accuses Jason of monopolizing the children.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.3/10105 votes#6 - Mike's Madonna Story
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 11/5/1985
Mike's infatuation with a Madonna look-alike worries Maggie.
Director: John Pasquin
Writer: N/A
7.3/1087 votes#7 - Weekend Fantasy
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/12/1985
Jason and Maggie want to go to a mountain lodge for a weekend, but are reluctant to leave the kids alone.
Director: John Tracy
Writer: Arnold Margolin
7.0/1081 votes#8 - Slice of Life
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/19/1985
Coming across a compatibility test in Jason's office, Maggie decides she and Jason should fill it out, but her answers don't tab with his. Meanwhile, Mike feigns interest in karate when his real goal is a girl attending the course.
Director: John Tracy
Writer: N/A
7.0/1082 votes#9 - Carol's Crush
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 11/26/1985
Carol develops a crush on a family friend, who thinks of her as his little sister.
Director: John Tracy
Writer: N/A
7.2/1089 votes#10 - Dirt Bike
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 12/3/1985
Mike hurts more than his pride when he takes a nasty fall off a dirt bike that he promised his parents he wouldn't go near.
Director: John Tracy
Writer: Ali Marie Matheson
7.4/1082 votes#11 - Standardized Test
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 12/5/1985
Mike doodles on his aptitude test and winds up with an IQ score of 27.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.0/1092 votes#12 - A Christmas Story
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 12/10/1985
A depressed department store Santa consulting Jason decides to commit suicide by leaping down the Seavers' chimney.
Director: John Tracy, Neal Marlens
Writer: N/A
7.0/1080 votes#13 - The Love Song of M. Aaron Seaver
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 1/7/1986
Mike backs out of the family-bowling match so he can date a snobbish girlfriend.
Director: John Tracy
Writer: Arnold Margolin
6.7/1088 votes#14 - First Blood
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 1/14/1986
Jason faces off against Ben's hockey coach, who's teaching the boys to play dirty; Mike learns ballroom dancing.
Director: John Tracy
Writer: Mark Fink
6.9/1079 votes#15 - Slice of Life II
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 1/21/1986
Maggie casually mentions to Jason that she might be pregnant; Mike acts as a weekend servant to Ben; and Carol wants to divorce her class-project husband.
Director: N/A
Writer: David Kendall
7.1/1085 votes#16 - The Seavers vs. the Cleavers
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 1/28/1986
The PTA head rejects the Seavers as dance chaperones.
Director: John Tracy
Writer: Susan Beavers
7.4/1077 votes#17 - Charity Begins at Home
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 2/18/1986
Ben gives Jason a very expensive birthday present, causing speculation on how he can possibly afford it.
Director: John Tracy
Writer: Steve Marshall
7.8/1084 votes#18 - Reputation
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 2/25/1986
Mike writes test answers on his shoe soles.
Director: John Tracy
Writer: David Kendall
6.9/1075 votes#19 - The Anniversary That Never Was
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 3/4/1986
Maggie's assignment interferes with anniversary plans.
Director: John Tracy
Writer: N/A
6.9/1081 votes#20 - Be a Man
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 3/11/1986
Custodian Mike watches a wild party explode in his home.
Director: John Tracy
Writer: N/A
6.8/1072 votes#21 - Career Decision
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 5/6/1986
Reporter Maggie and psychiatrist Jason both face important career decisions.
Director: John Tracy
Writer: Bob Brush
7.3/1077 votes#22 - Extra Lap
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 5/13/1986
Mike's practical-joker uncle Bob visits from the hereafter.
Director: John Tracy
Writer: N/A
The Best Episodes of Growing Pains Season 1
Every episode of Growing Pains Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Growing Pains Season 1!
Fatherhood has taken on a whole new meaning for Jason Seaver, who has assumed the chores of cooking, cleaning and minding the kids so that...
Genre:Comedy
Network:ABC
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Pilot" is the best rated episode of "Growing Pains" season 1. It scored 7/10 based on 130 votes. Directed by John Pasquin and written by N/A, it aired on 9/24/1985. This episode is rated 0.5 points higher than the second-best, "Springsteen".