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The Best Episodes of Recess

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

Join a group of six fourth-grade best friends at Third Street Elementary School on their fun-filled adventures in their school playground. Through the ups-and-downs of...
Genres:AnimationKidsComedy
Networks:ABCUPN

Best Episodes Summary

"Operation Stuart" is the best rated episode of "Recess". It scored 8.4/10 based on 173 votes. Directed by Chuck Sheetz and written by Katy Ballard, it aired on 11/14/1998. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Dodgeball City".

  • Operation Stuart
    8.4/10173 votes
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    #1 - Operation Stuart

    Season 2 Episode 15 - Aired 11/14/1998

    The kids take in a really ratty stray cat that they find near the dumpster, naming it Stuart.

    Director: Chuck Sheetz

    Writer: Katy Ballard

  • Dodgeball City
    8.4/10167 votes
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    #2 - Dodgeball City

    Season 3 Episode 3 - Aired 9/18/1999

    The main kids discover that Gus was once a notorious dodgeball player who went by the name of El Diablo.

    Director: Howy Parkins

    Writer: Mark Drop, Phil Walsh, Gil Evans

  • Gus' Last Stand
    8.1/10145 votes
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    #3 - Gus' Last Stand

    Season 2 Episode 7 - Aired 10/3/1998

    Gus winds up the new target of the school bully's wrath.

    Director: Chuck Sheetz

    Writer: Jonathan Rosenthal

  • Omega Kids
    8.0/10153 votes
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    #4 - Omega Kids

    Season 2 Episode 20 - Aired 12/12/1998

    The main kids wish they could have the overcrowded school to themselves, then surprisingly get their wish.

    Director: Chuck Sheetz

    Writer: Steve Bannos

  • Gretchen and the Secret of Yo
    8.0/10142 votes
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    #5 - Gretchen and the Secret of Yo

    Season 2 Episode 12 - Aired 10/31/1998

    Gretchen turns to former yo-yo champ Tommy Tate to learn how to master the yo-yo.

    Director: Chuck Sheetz

    Writer: Doria Biddle

  • The Rules
    8.0/10129 votes
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    #6 - The Rules

    Season 4 Episode 14 - Aired 11/7/1999

    The original 1935 edition of The Rules of the Playground is discovered in the library.

    Director: Howy Parkins

    Writer: Etan Cohen, Bart Jennett

  • Parents' Night
    7.9/10174 votes
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    #7 - Parents' Night

    Season 1 Episode 25 - Aired 1/17/1998

    Spinelli will do anything to keep her parents from attending parents' night and meeting the others.

    Director: Chuck Sheetz

    Writer: Holly Huckins

  • The Break-Up
    7.9/10154 votes
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    #8 - The Break-Up

    Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 9/12/1998

    The gang breaks up when they are forced to choose a best friend to write about.

    Director: Chuck Sheetz

    Writer: Michael L. Kramer

  • Economics of Recess
    7.9/10152 votes
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    #9 - Economics of Recess

    Season 2 Episode 19 - Aired 12/12/1998

    When the playground goes on the monsticker standard T.J. goes down the path from poverty to wealth.

    Director: Howy Parkins

    Writer: Mark Drop, Phil Walsh, Rick Gitelson

  • Operation Field Trip
    7.9/10148 votes
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    #10 - Operation Field Trip

    Season 2 Episode 8 - Aired 10/3/1998

    All the kids go on a big field trip to MISOOE (The Museum of Industry, Science, Oceanography, Oddities and Energy). But Ol' Smokey, the beloved school bus, breaks down in the middle of nowhere.

    Director: Chuck Sheetz

    Writer: Michael L. Kramer

  • Lost Leader
    7.9/10131 votes
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    #11 - Lost Leader

    Season 6 Episode 5 - Aired 11/4/2001

    When one of T.J.s plans goes wrong and Gus breaks his leg he won't make another plan. It's up to the others to get T.J. back to his old self

    Director: Howy Parkins

    Writer: Bart Jennett, Randy Fechtor

  • The Experiment
    7.8/10196 votes
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    #12 - The Experiment

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 9/20/1997

    The kids carry out a crucial experiment to see if it's really true that kissing each other is an inevitable part of their future.

    Director: Chuck Sheetz

    Writer: Lesa Kite

  • Outcast Ashley
    7.8/10145 votes
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    #13 - Outcast Ashley

    Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 9/19/1998

    Ashley A. hooks up with Gretchen when she sins against the clique so gravely as to get thrown out.

    Director: Chuck Sheetz

    Writer: Doria Biddle

  • The Big Prank
    7.8/10129 votes
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    #14 - The Big Prank

    Season 4 Episode 2 - Aired 9/12/1999

    The kids rope T.J. into a challenge to play a prank on King Bob before the end of the school day.

    Director: Chuck Sheetz

    Writer: Gregg Taylor

  • Schoolworld
    7.8/10127 votes
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    #15 - Schoolworld

    Season 4 Episode 21 - Aired 11/21/1999

    The school gets a new technology system installed called the SAL 3000 which controls everything.

    Director: Howy Parkins

    Writer: Scott Shelley

  • Soccer Boy
    7.8/10129 votes
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    #16 - Soccer Boy

    Season 4 Episode 34 - Aired 2/27/2000

    Mikey makes the other kids regret not letting them play on their team for the playground's soccer tourney.

    Director: Howy Parkins

    Writer: Bart Jennett, Scott Redman

  • Jinxed
    7.7/10190 votes
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    #17 - Jinxed

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 9/27/1997

    The Ashleys jinx Gus according to the playground rules so that he can't talk until his friends say his name.

    Director: Chuck Sheetz

    Writer: Scott Shelley

  • Mama's Girl
    7.7/10141 votes
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    #18 - Mama's Girl

    Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 9/19/1998

    Spinelli gets labelled a mama's girl when she inadvertantly calls Ms. Grotke ""Mama.""

    Director: Chuck Sheetz

    Writer: Mark Drop

  • The Story of Whomps
    7.7/10155 votes
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    #19 - The Story of Whomps

    Season 2 Episode 17 - Aired 1/9/1999

    Principal Prickly and Miss Finster deem T.J.'s word "whomps" as a cuss and punish him for it, starting a scandal that leads all the way to the board of education.

    Director: Chuck Sheetz

    Writer: Mark Drop

  • The Challenge
    7.7/10142 votes
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    #20 - The Challenge

    Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 10/10/1998

    A visit from Principal Prickly's brother Paul leads to a challenge between 3rd Street and 98th Street kickball teams.

    Director: Chuck Sheetz

    Writer: Jonathan Greenberg

  • The Girl Was Trouble
    7.7/10144 votes
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    #21 - The Girl Was Trouble

    Season 2 Episode 13 - Aired 11/7/1998

    Gretchen's search for her stolen laptop leads her on a journey among the school's delinquents that ultimately brings about her downfall.

    Director: Chuck Sheetz

    Writer: Mark Drop

  • Lord of the Nerds
    7.7/10139 votes
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    #22 - Lord of the Nerds

    Season 3 Episode 10 - Aired 11/6/1999

    T.J. breaks his clavicle and now has to spend recess with the ""pale kids"" in Room 51.

    Director: Chuck Sheetz, Howy Parkins

    Writer: Ford Riley

  • The Ratings Game
    7.7/10143 votes
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    #23 - The Ratings Game

    Season 3 Episode 16 - Aired 1/22/2000

    Everyone is segregrated once the Ashley's start giving ratings to everyone on the playground.

    Director: Howy Parkins

    Writer: Holly Huckins, Ilana Wernick

  • The First Picture Show
    7.7/10127 votes
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    #24 - The First Picture Show

    Season 4 Episode 1 - Aired 9/12/1999

    Señor Fusion: the Movie finally opens and T.J. vows to be there at its first screening.

    Director: Chuck Sheetz

    Writer: Richard Whitley

  • The Dude
    7.7/10131 votes
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    #25 - The Dude

    Season 4 Episode 23 - Aired 11/28/1999

    T.J. and the gang meet Mr. Dudicoff, a student teacher who was a legend at 3rd Street School back in the day.

    Director: Howy Parkins

    Writer: Richard Whitley