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The Best Episodes of Mr. Novak

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

Mr. Novak is an American dramatic series starring James Franciscus in the title role, which aired on NBC for two seasons, from 1963 to 1965.
Genre:Drama
Network:NBC

Best Episodes Summary

"Beyond a Reasonable Doubt" is the best rated episode of "Mr. Novak". It scored 9.8/10 based on 7 votes. Directed by Richard Donner and written by N/A, it aired on 12/22/1964. This episode scored 0.6 points higher than the second highest rated, "Fare Thee Well".

  • Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
    9.8/107 votes
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    #1 - Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

    Season 2 Episode 12 - Aired 12/22/1964

    It's discovered that a young girl who has just transferred to Jefferson High was tried and acquitted of killing her parents. The other students ostracize her and she becomes the subject of a whispering campaign, even among some of the teachers.

    Director: Richard Donner

    Writer: N/A

  • Fare Thee Well
    9.2/106 votes
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    #2 - Fare Thee Well

    Season 1 Episode 29 - Aired 4/7/1964

    Miss Cathy Williams is going to become a mother, but she wants to graduate with her senior class and she doesn't want to tell her parents about her condition.

    Director: Abner Biberman

    Writer: N/A

  • Death of a Teacher
    9.1/1012 votes
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    #3 - Death of a Teacher

    Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 2/4/1964

    The death of a teacher brings forth a variety of reactions and emotions from the students and faculty at Jefferson High.

    Director: Richard Donner

    Writer: N/A

  • Sparrow on the Wire
    9.0/106 votes
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    #4 - Sparrow on the Wire

    Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 1/21/1964

    A member of Novak's debating club makes some anti-Semitic remarks during an intra-squad debate.

    Director: Mark Rydell

    Writer: N/A

  • Day in the Year
    9.0/1010 votes
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    #5 - Day in the Year

    Season 1 Episode 27 - Aired 3/24/1964

    A girl in Novak's homeroom collapses from an overdose of narcotics.

    Director: Ida Lupino

    Writer: N/A

  • Fear is a Handful of Dust
    8.8/109 votes
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    #6 - Fear is a Handful of Dust

    Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 2/25/1964

    Novak tries to help shy, introverted Sue Johnson by encouraging her to develop her talent for caricature.

    Director: Abner Biberman

    Writer: N/A

  • Hello Miss Phipps
    8.7/1012 votes
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    #7 - Hello Miss Phipps

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/5/1963

    Maude Phipps, a teacher for some 40 years, is sharply outspoken and is the object of various complaints -- including those of irate parents who don't like the idea of her teaching social hygiene to their children.

    Director: Don Medford

    Writer: N/A

  • To Lodge and Dislodge
    8.6/1013 votes
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    #8 - To Lodge and Dislodge

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 10/1/1963

    Julie Dean, a blind student at Jefferson High, develops a crush on Mr. Novak.

    Director: Boris Sagal

    Writer: N/A

  • Pay the Two Dollars
    8.6/1011 votes
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    #9 - Pay the Two Dollars

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 11/26/1963

    A father holds Novak responsible for roughing up his son. It all happened when Novak broke up some student horseplay.

    Director: Walter Doniger

    Writer: N/A

  • Love in the Wrong Season
    8.6/1015 votes
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    #10 - Love in the Wrong Season

    Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 12/3/1963

    Novak, who's dating a teacher, has some competition from one of her students.

    Director: Ida Lupino

    Writer: N/A

  • Moment Without Armor
    8.6/108 votes
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    #11 - Moment Without Armor

    Season 1 Episode 28 - Aired 3/31/1964

    School grounds are quiet in the evening, and darkness was the accomplice of the unknown assailant who attacked assistant principal Jeanne Pagano.

    Director: Michael O'Herlihy

    Writer: N/A

  • Beat the Plowshares,Edge the Sword
    8.6/108 votes
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    #12 - Beat the Plowshares,Edge the Sword

    Season 2 Episode 17 - Aired 1/26/1965

    When Mr. Novak uncovers a tight knit group of four male students secretly living together in an unusual arrangement, he must also take on the person enabling the minors.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • I Don`t Even Live Here
    8.5/1012 votes
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    #13 - I Don`t Even Live Here

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/8/1963

    When Mr. Otis was conducting the English class, all the students were raking in As - but Novak can't seem to get the same caliber of work out of them.

    Director: Abner Biberman

    Writer: N/A

  • The Risk
    8.4/1012 votes
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    #14 - The Risk

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 10/29/1963

    Novak helps a former teacher and mentor obtain a position at the school. The instructor is a recovering alcoholic, while his much-younger wife is still afflicted with the disease.

    Director: Michael O'Herlihy

    Writer: N/A

  • A Single Isolated Incident
    8.3/1011 votes
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    #15 - A Single Isolated Incident

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/22/1963

    A black student, Marcy Desmond, is violently accosted by a gang of youths who let her know that she's not welcome at Jefferson High.

    Director: Abner Biberman

    Writer: N/A

  • To Break a Camel's Back
    8.3/1012 votes
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    #16 - To Break a Camel's Back

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/12/1963

    Novak clashes with Holly Metcalfe, a rebellious senior who doesn't like to follow rules.

    Director: Michael O'Herlihy

    Writer: N/A

  • The Tower
    8.1/108 votes
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    #17 - The Tower

    Season 1 Episode 25 - Aired 3/10/1964

    After numerous complaints that an elderly geometry instructor is no longer an effective teacher, Vane is forced to retire her.

    Director: Michael O'Herlihy

    Writer: N/A

  • X is the Unknown Factor
    8.0/1010 votes
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    #18 - X is the Unknown Factor

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/15/1963

    Mike Daniels is being considered for an important science scholarship, but he's having problems in Novak's literature class. Dr. Frank Baxter, TV educator, appears as Dr. Gagan.

    Director: Richard Donner

    Writer: N/A

  • He who can Does
    8.0/1011 votes
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    #19 - He who can Does

    Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 12/31/1963

    Novak invites a famous novelist to address the school's Literary Club - despite protests of Miss Pagano who feels that the writer's unorthodox views will be a bad influence.

    Director: Irving Lerner

    Writer: N/A

  • How Does Your Garden Grow?
    8.0/107 votes
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    #20 - How Does Your Garden Grow?

    Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 3/3/1964

    An inexperienced and frightened substitute teacher has trouble with her first class at Jefferson High.

    Director: Michael O'Herlihy

    Writer: N/A

  • My Name is not Legion
    7.7/107 votes
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    #21 - My Name is not Legion

    Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 12/24/1963

    Novak is interested in Arnold Frazer, a new student who shows signs of brilliance and trouble adjusting to school life.

    Director: Bernard Girard

    Writer: N/A

  • The Exile
    7.7/107 votes
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    #22 - The Exile

    Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 1/14/1964

    Charlie Payne, who dropped out three years ago, now has nothing better to do than spend his time hanging around the school grounds.

    Director: Michael O'Herlihy

    Writer: N/A

  • One Way to Say Goodbye
    7.7/107 votes
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    #23 - One Way to Say Goodbye

    Season 1 Episode 26 - Aired 3/17/1964

    Novak finds himself attracted to Jenny Peterson, a former Jefferson High student.

    Director: Richard Donner

    Writer: N/A

  • The Boy Without A Country
    7.6/106 votes
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    #24 - The Boy Without A Country

    Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 12/10/1963

    Novak and Vane prepare a hero's welcome for a new student, a Russian defector, who's quick to show that he's not easy to get along with.

    Director: Michael O'Herlihy

    Writer: N/A

  • First year,First Day
    7.4/1017 votes
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    #25 - First year,First Day

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/24/1963

    A brilliant student with a good business - an auto body shop - wants to quit school. He challenges Novak to give him a good reason for continuing his education.

    Director: Boris Sagal

    Writer: N/A