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The Worst Episodes of My Wife and Kids

Every episode of My Wife and Kids ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of My Wife and Kids!

Michael Kyle is a loving husband and modern-day patriarch who rules his household with a unique and distinct parenting style. As he teaches his three...
Genres:ComedyFamilyDrama
Network:ABC

Worst Episodes Summary

"Empty Nest (1)" is the worst rated episode of "My Wife and Kids". It scored 6.3/10 based on 128 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 2/4/2004. This episode scored 0.1 points lower than the second lowest rated, "The Funeral".

  • Empty Nest (1)
    6.3/10128 votes
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    #1 - Empty Nest (1)

    Season 4 Episode 20 - Aired 2/4/2004

    During a rare occasion when Michael and Jay have the house to themselves, they find themselves reminiscing about the fun times they've had with their kids and various friends. Some of these memorable moments include Jay's obsession with her weight and Michael's visit to a proctologist.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Funeral
    6.4/10132 votes
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    #2 - The Funeral

    Season 4 Episode 7 - Aired 11/5/2003

    The Kyles are willing to support Michael's inconsolable employee, Larry, who can't get over losing his 103-year-old grandmother. But Larry goes overboard when, at the funeral, he asks little Kady to kiss his ""Grammy"" goodbye and for Jay to sing his beloved grandmother's favorite R&B song.

    Director: Damon Wayans

    Writer: N/A

  • Childcare Class
    6.4/10128 votes
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    #3 - Childcare Class

    Season 5 Episode 3 - Aired 10/5/2004

    Michael fails a child-care course for grandparents, so Vanessa and Jr. refuse to let him baby-sit his grandchild.

    Director: Kim Wayans

    Writer: N/A

  • Return of the Wall
    6.5/10162 votes
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    #4 - Return of the Wall

    Season 2 Episode 21 - Aired 3/4/2002

    Competitive Janet and easygoing Michael use contrasting methods to coach Kady's soccer team. Michael takes over the coaching of Jay's girls soccer team only to find his opponents are Jay's new team.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Working Relationship
    6.5/10143 votes
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    #5 - Working Relationship

    Season 2 Episode 22 - Aired 3/20/2002

    Jay badgers Michael into giving her a job, where she soon begins to get ideas above her station. Michael discovers that Janet's personality is not a good fit for his office, and Kady reenacts a memorable scene from `E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'.

    Director: James Widdoes

    Writer: N/A

  • Empty Nest (2)
    6.5/10122 votes
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    #6 - Empty Nest (2)

    Season 4 Episode 21 - Aired 2/11/2004

    During a rare occasion when Michael and Jay have the house to themselves, they find themselves reminiscing about the fun times they've had with their kids and various friends. Some of these memorable moments include Jay's obsession with her weight and Michael's visit to a proctologist.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Sweetheart's Day
    6.5/10122 votes
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    #7 - Sweetheart's Day

    Season 5 Episode 14 - Aired 2/8/2005

    When Jay insists that Michael buy her a present for ""Sweetheart's Day,"" a reluctant Michael comes up with a scheme to base the price of Jay's gift on her attitude towards him at a particular moment. He shares his plan with Jr., Tony and Franklin, hoping that they will follow the lead, but the only lead is straight to trouble.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Jr.'s Cartoon
    6.5/10121 votes
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    #8 - Jr.'s Cartoon

    Season 5 Episode 21 - Aired 4/12/2005

    When Jr. wins a national competition for his cartoon entitled ""My Wife and Kid"" -- based on himself, Vanessa, the baby and the rest of the Kyle family -- it catches the attention of ABC. Michael becomes Jr.'s agent, but the meeting with the television executives goes badly, crushing Jr.'s dream opportunity, so now Michael has to find a way to rectify the situation. Meanwhile, Claire threatens to break up with Tony unless he can bring some ""umph"" into their relationship.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Kim Wayans

  • Michael Sells the Business
    6.5/10125 votes
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    #9 - Michael Sells the Business

    Season 5 Episode 24 - Aired 5/10/2005

    Michael sells his trucking business to spend more time with Jay and Junior Junior.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Big Bang Theory
    6.6/10133 votes
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    #10 - The Big Bang Theory

    Season 3 Episode 24 - Aired 5/7/2003

    Michael and Jay panic when Claire reveals that she and Tony have decided to have sex. Her parents try by all means to change their minds and stop them, unsuccessfully. When the day and time comes, their find out Claire has sneaked out of the house and panic. Claire and Tony show up a few minutes later, and just when Michael is ready to kill him, Tony reveals that they didn't do anything. Just when they were about to do it, he opened the drawer on the hotel room's nightstand and found a bible, which he took as a sign from God. But he doesn't have to know that every hotel has a bible.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Return of Bobby Shaw
    6.6/10141 votes
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    #11 - The Return of Bobby Shaw

    Season 5 Episode 9 - Aired 11/30/2004

    Micheal's enemy, Bobby Shaw tricks Jr. into signing a contract making Jr. his slave. When Micheal tries to get him out of the contract,they end up in a dance off.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Careful What You Wish For
    6.6/10126 votes
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    #12 - Careful What You Wish For

    Season 5 Episode 11 - Aired 1/18/2005

    When Jay wishes that Michael would give her the kind of romantic attention that she sees newlywed Vanessa getting from Jr., Michael decides to kill Jay with kindness so he can get back to watching TV and ignoring her. Meanwhile, Franklin tells Kady that he thinks he's too short and goes to great lengths to appear otherwise.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Thru Thick and Thin
    6.7/10202 votes
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    #13 - Thru Thick and Thin

    Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 10/17/2001

    When Jay returns, Michael remains silent about her obvious weight gain. The episode builds to a dream sequence, in which Janet has a nightmare and the entire family is morbidly obese after Michael decides to grow big with her.

    Director: James Widdoes

    Writer: N/A

  • Failure to Communicate
    6.7/10160 votes
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    #14 - Failure to Communicate

    Season 2 Episode 19 - Aired 2/22/2002

    A huge argument arises when Michael's mother and father, who have not spoken to each other in years, visit the Kyle household. Note: This episode was originally intended to air in season one, but for unknown reasons, ABC pulled back to season 2 Episode 19. Which is why Jazz Raycole portrays Claire, making this episode her very final appearance in the series.

    Director: Leonard R. Garner, Jr.

    Writer: Don Reo

  • Jay Goes to School
    6.7/10128 votes
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    #15 - Jay Goes to School

    Season 4 Episode 4 - Aired 10/15/2003

    Jay decides to go to college and get her psychology degree, which Michael fully reprehends her for. He doesn't want her to put the household in second because it would jeopardize the entire family and eventually could ruin their marriage. After going to a real psychologist, Michael and Jay come to terms and she agrees to scale back her classes as he decides to let her pursue her dream. Meanwhile, Junior's friends turn his old crib into some sort of vehicle.

    Director: Damon Wayans

    Writer: Kim Wayans

  • Illegal Smile
    6.7/10133 votes
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    #16 - Illegal Smile

    Season 4 Episode 18 - Aired 1/21/2004

    The day after an anti-wrinkle injection goes awry for Michael and he ends up with an unnatural expression, he has to fight a traffic ticket in court. The judge is angered by his frozen grin and sentences him to a night in jail, where Michael's cell mate, Big Guy, thinks Michael is coming on to him since he keeps smiling at him.

    Director: Kim Wayans

    Writer: N/A

  • Poker Face
    6.7/10132 votes
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    #17 - Poker Face

    Season 5 Episode 6 - Aired 11/9/2004

    Michael advises Jr. that it's ok to spend some time away from Vanessa and the baby, but his advice misfires when Jr. invites Jay along to their all-male poker game. Michael decides, in turn, to crash Jay's all-female book club, where they're discussing the latest book by Angeline Boudreaux.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Wedding
    6.7/10128 votes
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    #18 - The Wedding

    Season 5 Episode 10 - Aired 1/11/2005

    Jr. and Vanessa announce that they want to get married in two weeks, Vanessa having told Jr. that she wants a small, simple wedding. Michael and Jay offer to help plan it, but instead of something simple and sweet, they plan an elaborate and expensive ceremony that includes dolphins, a castle and 751 guests. Frustrated, Vanessa tells Jr. he needs to regain control of things, forcing him to decide whether he should stand up to Michael.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Bahamas (1)
    6.7/10132 votes
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    #19 - The Bahamas (1)

    Season 5 Episode 16 - Aired 2/22/2005

    When the Kyles arrive at the Atlantis, Paradise Island resort in the Bahamas for their family vacation, Michael announces that all he wants to do is get some rest and relaxation-by himself. But no sooner does he settle into his lounge chair for some peace and quiet than his talkative and annoying golf buddy, Jimmy (David Alan Grier), shows up and insists that they spend time together. Michael is relieved to find a way out when Jay invites him to the isolated Magic Island so they can have some romantic fun. As their day winds down and it's time to leave, the boat never shows up to take them back and the couple find themselves stranded in the middle of nowhere.

    Director: Dean Lorey

    Writer: Don Reo

  • Celibacy
    6.7/10129 votes
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    #20 - Celibacy

    Season 5 Episode 20 - Aired 3/29/2005

    When Jay tells Michael that their love life will be even better if they are celibate for six months, Michael is willing to abide by her wishes, although reluctantly. Meanwhile, Franklin and Kady plant some seeds in the ground to symbolize their growing love for each other, but the seeds grow into an ingredient for a love potion that Jay uses to spice up her romantic dinner for Michael.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Samba Story
    6.8/10164 votes
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    #21 - Samba Story

    Season 3 Episode 4 - Aired 10/9/2002

    Michael and Janet try to spice up their date nights by taking samba lessons, but their instructors arouse jealousy.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Kim Wayans

  • Sharon's Picture
    6.8/10147 votes
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    #22 - Sharon's Picture

    Season 3 Episode 22 - Aired 4/9/2003

    Jay gets mad at Michael after finding a photo of an attractive former girlfriend among his things. Franklin has trouble admitting that his little sister Aretha is an outstanding singer.

    Director: Roger E. Mosley

    Writer: Kim Wayans

  • From Dummy to Daddy
    6.8/10138 votes
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    #23 - From Dummy to Daddy

    Season 4 Episode 1 - Aired 9/24/2003

    After hearing the shocking news that their son Junior is going to become a father, Michael and Jay freak out. They try to talk with him and help him realize he can't support a family living in their garage and having no job, so Michael offers him a job at his firm. Due to Michael's teasing with the boy, he gets late for his first day and Michael fires him after his second tardiness. But seeing that his son needs all the help he can get, Michael gives him another chance. Meanwhile, Tony feels guilty about having spicy thoughts about Claire and Franklyn is still out for Junior's spot on the Kyle family.

    Director: Eric Laneuville

    Writer: Don Reo

  • The Lady is Not a Tramp
    6.8/10120 votes
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    #24 - The Lady is Not a Tramp

    Season 4 Episode 12 - Aired 12/10/2003

    Michael's imagination takes off when he finds a package of condoms in daughter Claire's backpack — the same day her boyfriend, Tony, is returning from a month in the desert. Annoyed that her father is jumping to conclusions, Claire decides to give him a taste of his own unique brand of discipline. Meanwhile Jr. accidentally gives Kady his pet dog's medicine — and Kady pretends to turn into a dog.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Romantic Night
    6.8/10127 votes
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    #25 - Romantic Night

    Season 4 Episode 24 - Aired 3/3/2004

    Wanting to spend quiet time together, Michael plans a romantic evening with Jay at an exclusive hotel. Then, when Jr. mistakenly cancels the reservation, Michael tries to create a romantic night at home. But things take a disastrous turn when Michael hurts his head trying to shut off the water valve, Jay handcuffs them to each other – but can't find the key – and a burnt roast almost causes the house to burn down.

    Director: Dean Lorey

    Writer: Dean Lorey