The Best Episodes of Popular Season 1

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   8.2/10(109 votes)

   #1 - Popular, Round One

   S1:E19/29/1999

   In the series pilot, social opposites Sam and Brooke are paired as lab partners, to the delight of Carmen, who sees it as a chance for Sam to help her get on the cheerleading squad. Meanwhile, Brooke and Nicole plan the first party of the school year and star quarterback Josh tries out for the school play.

   Director:Brian Robbins

   Writer:Ryan Murphy

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   Director:Brian Robbins

   Writer:Ryan Murphy
2. 

   8.2/10(99 votes)

   #2 - Mo' Menace, Mo' Problems

   S1:E29/30/1999

   Carmen ditches school the day after the cheerleading roster is posted, and Lily refuses to dissect a frog in science class. Meanwhile, Josh's father embarrasses him at rehearsal; and Mary Cherry stalks Nicole.

   Director:Michael M. Robin

   Writer:Ryan Murphy

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   Director:Michael M. Robin

   Writer:Ryan Murphy
3. 

   8.0/10(96 votes)

   #3 - Under Siege

   S1:E310/7/1999

   Sam writes an exposé about the cheerleaders' school budget, leading to the squad's termination and its remaining funds being redistributed to the drama department. The exposé also heightens the tension between Brooke and Sam as they prepare for their first dinner together with their parents. Meanwhile, Josh must decide between starring in the school musical or playing in the homecoming game.

   Director:Perry Lang

   Writer:Ryan Murphy

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   Director:Perry Lang

   Writer:Ryan Murphy
4. 

   8.0/10(89 votes)

   #4 - Windstruck

   S1:E410/14/1999

   Sam and Josh have an embarrassing encounter during a play rehearsal, starting rumors that they are interested in each other. Meanwhile, Brooke confesses to Nicole that she and Josh are still virgins, and Harrison's hope for a relationship with Brooke gets a boost when she turns to him for comfort.

   Director:Jamie Babbit

   Writer:Oliver Goldstick

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   Director:Jamie Babbit

   Writer:Oliver Goldstick
5. 

   8.1/10(97 votes)

   #5 - Slumber Party Massacre

   S1:E510/21/1999

   Members of the cheerleading squad agree to attend Carmen's slumber party, causing Sam to question their motives. At the party, Nicole tries to impress Carmen's older brother, Leo, and a party game takes a disturbing turn.

   Director:Michael M. Robin

   Writer:Wendy MacLeod

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   Director:Michael M. Robin

   Writer:Wendy MacLeod
6. 

   8.2/10(88 votes)

   #6 - Truth or Consequences

   S1:E611/4/1999

   Sam discovers that Nicole, Poppy and Mary Cherry stole the answers to the biology midterm, and she sets out to gather the evidence she needs to turn them in. Meanwhile, Mike and Jane's sneaking around angers Brooke and Sam.

   Director:Marc Buckland

   Writers:Eric Preven, Ari Posner

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   Director:Marc Buckland

   Writers:Eric Preven, Ari Posner
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7. 

   8.3/10(88 votes)

   #7 - Queen B.

   S1:E711/11/1999

   Brooke, Poppy, Mary Cherry and Carmen are nominated for the Junior Court Homecoming Queen and Nicole pressures two of Brooke's opponents to halt their campaigns. Meanwhile, Sam and Jane move into the McQueens' house, causing an instant turf war between Brooke and Sam.

   Director:Matthew Harrison

   Writer:Ryan Murphy

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   Director:Matthew Harrison

   Writer:Ryan Murphy
8. 

   8.3/10(89 votes)

   #8 - Tonight's the Night

   S1:E811/18/1999

   Sam and Brooke wager on whether or not Sam can land a boyfriend by the end of the week and whether Brooke can prove that her relationship with Josh is more than just physical, with the loser publicly joining an embarrassing club. Meanwhile, Lily hands out condoms to her classmates in response to the popularity of a new singer whose sexual image is mimicked by some students at Kennedy High.

   Director:Jamie Babbit

   Writers:Ryan Murphy, Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz

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   Director:Jamie Babbit

   Writers:Ryan Murphy, Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz
9. 

   8.2/10(86 votes)

   #9 - Wild Wild Mess

   S1:E912/2/1999

   The students embark on finding nominees for "Principal for the Day," while a custodial strike leaves the school a mess. Meanwhile, Brooke fears she may be pregnant; and Sam, Carmen and Lily discover something personal about Harrison's mother.

   Director:Lev L. Spiro

   Writer:Oliver Goldstick

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   Director:Lev L. Spiro

   Writer:Oliver Goldstick
10. 

    8.7/10(114 votes)

    #10 - Fall on Your Knees

    S1:E1012/9/1999

    Brooke and Sam are forced to hold their annual Christmas parties together, and Carmen is injured just weeks before the next round of cheerleader tryouts. Meanwhile, Nicole's brooding over the yuletide season leads to visits from the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future.

    Director:Elodie Keene

    Writer:Ryan Murphy

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    Director:Elodie Keene

    Writer:Ryan Murphy
11. 

    8.5/10(85 votes)

    #11 - Ex, Lies and Videotape

    S1:E111/13/2000

    Sam gets a chance to produce a segment on a syndicated TV show--with one catch--Brooke is the on-air talent. Meanwhile, Josh must tell his father that he can't make a dinner with college scouts, which is scheduled for the opening night of the musical; and April Tuna becomes obsessed with Carmen.

    Director:Arvin Brown

    Writers:Eric Preven, Ari Posner

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    Director:Arvin Brown

    Writers:Eric Preven, Ari Posner
12. 

    8.2/10(86 votes)

    #12 - The Trial of Emory Dick

    S1:E121/20/2000

    Emory puts the popular kids, Bobbi Glass and the lunch lady on trial for harassing him. Sam and Lily volunteer to represent him at the school's mock proceeding, which leads Principal Hall to ask Brooke to lead the defense. Meanwhile, Josh and Sugar look forward to the start of the wrestling season.

    Director:Perry Lang

    Writer:Oliver Goldstick

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    Director:Perry Lang

    Writer:Oliver Goldstick
13. 

    8.3/10(90 votes)

    #13 - Hope in a Jar

    S1:E131/27/2000

    A Sadie Hawkins dance has most of the students obsessing over their appearances, while Brooke considers inviting a young man of substance. Meanwhile, Nicole, Poppy and Mary Cherry follow a dangerous crash diet: the one who loses the most weight gets to ask out the gorgeous guy they all pine for.

    Director:David Petrarca

    Writer:Wendy MacLeod

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    Director:David Petrarca

    Writer:Wendy MacLeod
14. 

    8.9/10(109 votes)

    #14 - Caged!

    S1:E142/3/2000

    Mounting tensions between Sam's friends and Brooke's clique lead to a proposed rumble, but the guys intervene and lock the ladies in a school bathroom in an attempt to make them reconcile. Meanwhile, Josh, Harrison and Sugar Daddy get an education on ovulation from a nature film provided by Bobbi Glass.

    Director:Jamie Babbit

    Writer:Ryan Murphy

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    Director:Jamie Babbit

    Writer:Ryan Murphy
15. 

    8.0/10(93 votes)

    #15 - Booty Camp

    S1:E152/10/2000

    Principal Hall forces Josh, Harrison and Sugar Daddy to attend a weekend sensitivity camp after they harass a scantily clad Lily. Sam and Brooke work on the school's crisis hot line and inadvertently heighten one of the caller's problems.

    Director:Michael M. Robin

    Writers:Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz

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    Director:Michael M. Robin

    Writers:Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz
16. 

    8.1/10(96 votes)

    #16 - All About Adam

    S1:E162/17/2000

    A new male student sets out to join the cheerleading squad--by any means necessary. Meanwhile, Sam bests Brooke in a modeling contest and nets an opportunity to appear in a commercial with U.S. Women's World Cup soccer stars Tiffeny Milbrett and Tisha Venturini.

    Directors:Michael M. Robin, Perry Lang

    Writer:Wendy MacLeod

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    Directors:Michael M. Robin, Perry Lang

    Writer:Wendy MacLeod
17. 

    7.9/10(79 votes)

    #17 - Lord of the Files

    S1:E172/24/2000

    A new vice-principal joins Kennedy High and his good looks draw the attention of the female students. Meanwhile, Brooke lies to Carmen about a tattoo she claims was inspired by Josh, so Carmen suspects that Brooke may want her old beau back; and Emory tells Harrison that a grade-school music teacher was once impressed with Harrison's music skills.

    Director:Lev L. Spiro

    Writer:Oliver Goldstick

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    Director:Lev L. Spiro

    Writer:Oliver Goldstick
18. 

    8.2/10(104 votes)

    #18 - Ch-Ch-Changes

    S1:E184/20/2000

    Harrison campaigns to save the job of the school's shop teacher when the instructor's career is jeopardized by his announcement of plans for a sex-change operation. Meanwhile, Cherry Cherry teaches a home-economics course at Kennedy High as part of her community service sentence for punching a police officer.

    Director:Craig Zisk

    Writers:Eric Preven, Ari Posner

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    Director:Craig Zisk

    Writers:Eric Preven, Ari Posner
19. 

    8.2/10(86 votes)

    #19 - Hard on the Outside, Soft in the Middle

    S1:E194/27/2000

    When Sam, Lily and Carmen dye their hair blonde to prove that the popular girls' power is based on their hair color, Brooke and her friends set out to prove them wrong by darkening their own tresses. Meanwhile, a beautiful, new exchange student is attracted to Sugar Daddy.

    Director:Jamie Babbit

    Writer:Ryan Murphy

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    Director:Jamie Babbit

    Writer:Ryan Murphy
20. 

    7.8/10(77 votes)

    #20 - We Are Family

    S1:E205/4/2000

    Brooke and Sam try to derail their parents' wedding plans by planting false evidence of Mike's infidelity, which leads to a startling announcement from Mike and Jane. Meanwhile, Mary Cherry discovers that her mother is engaged to actor Erik Estrada.

    Director:Elodie Keene

    Writers:Ryan Murphy, Deidre Strohm

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    Director:Elodie Keene

    Writers:Ryan Murphy, Deidre Strohm
21. 

    8.0/10(80 votes)

    #21 - What Makes Sammy Run

    S1:E215/11/2000

    Sam runs away from home and hunts for Brooke's mother, with the hope that the woman will help her put an end to Mike and Jane's wedding plans. Meanwhile, Josh, Sugar Daddy, Harrison and Emory Dick go to a strip club with fake IDs.

    Director:Jamie Babbit

    Writers:Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz

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    Director:Jamie Babbit

    Writers:Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz
22. 

    7.6/10(91 votes)

    #22 - Two Weddings and a Funeral

    S1:E225/18/2000

    Bobbi Glass ruins the annual "skip day" ritual for the popular and alternative kids by faxing their photos to their favorite hangouts so they'll be caught cutting classes. The kids plot their revenge during an extended musical number. Meanwhile, Sam and Brooke agree to work together to make their parents' rehearsal dinner a success.

    Director:Lev L. Spiro

    Writer:Ryan Murphy

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    Director:Lev L. Spiro

    Writer:Ryan Murphy