7.5/10274 votes#1 - The Break In
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/13/1997
The main kids try to get all the other kids to help rescue T.J. when Miss Finster punishes him by making him miss recess.
Director: Chuck Sheetz
Writer: Paul Germain, Joe Ansolabehere
7.5/10242 votes#2 - The New Kid
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 9/13/1997
New kid Gus arrives at Third Street Elementary, but has to endure the indignities that a new kid must undergo.
Director: Chuck Sheetz
Writer: Paul Germain, Joe Ansolabehere
7.8/10195 votes#3 - 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
7.4/10173 votes#4 - The Great Jungle Gym Stand Off
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 9/20/1997
The kids stage a protest when Principal Prickly plans to tear down Ol' Rusty to replace it with a new jungle gym.
Director: Chuck Sheetz
Writer: Joe Purdy
7.7/10188 votes#5 - 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
7.2/10172 votes#6 - Officer Mikey
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 9/27/1997
The others try to help out when Mikey wants to be a safety ranger.
Director: Chuck Sheetz
Writer: Lesa Kite
7.3/10176 votes#7 - First Name Ashley
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 10/4/1997
The Ashleys try to force Spinelli to be just like them when Spinelli's first name is revealed.
Director: Chuck Sheetz
Writer: Holly Huckins
7.2/10167 votes#8 - To Finster with Love
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 10/4/1997
The kids help bring Miss Finster together with Hank the janitor when they find out she has a crush on him.
Director: Chuck Sheetz
Writer: Jeff Wright
7.1/10168 votes#9 - King Gus
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 10/11/1997
Bob installs Gus as a substitute king while he has a tonsilectomy, figuring Gus will be easy to control - but Gus turns into a despot instead.
Director: Chuck Sheetz
Writer: Peter Gaffney
7.4/10171 votes#10 - Big Brother Chad
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 10/11/1997
The kids, and Vince himself, come to the awful realization that Vince's once popular older brother Chad has grown up into a geek.
Director: Chuck Sheetz
Writer: Jonathan Greenberg
7.1/10161 votes#11 - My Fair Gretchen
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 10/18/1997
The kids come up with a plan to keep Gretchen from being transferred to Oppenheimer Elementary for the Incredibly Extremely Gifted.
Director: Chuck Sheetz
Writer: Holly Huckins
7.1/10164 votes#12 - Speedy, We Hardly Knew Ye
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 10/18/1997
The kids stage an elaborate funeral for the 4th grade class's beloved hamster, wherein they learn about how many lives the hamster has touched.
Director: Chuck Sheetz
Writer: Bruce Rubin
7.0/10156 votes#13 - I Will Kick No More Forever
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 10/25/1997
Vince completely loses his confidence at playing kickball when Ashley Q. beats him in a game.
Director: Chuck Sheetz
Writer: Michael L. Kramer
7.4/10158 votes#14 - The Kid Came Back
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 10/25/1997
A weird little boy keeps tagging along behind the kids, apparently causing a streak of bad luck.
Director: Chuck Sheetz
Writer: Holly Huckins
7.4/10174 votes#15 - The Pest
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 11/1/1997
Jeffrey, an annoying jerk of a boy, insists that Gretchen will be his girlfriend.
Director: Chuck Sheetz
Writer: Rachel Lipman
7.5/10160 votes#16 - The Legend of Big Kid
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 11/1/1997
What do the kindergarteners have planned for T.J. when they capture him?
Director: Chuck Sheetz
Writer: Peter Gaffney
7.5/10160 votes#17 - The Box
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 11/8/1997
Miss Finster comes up with a new punishment that reduces T.J. to a vegetable.
Director: Susie Dietter
Writer: Jeff Wright
7.3/10156 votes#18 - The Trial
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 11/8/1997
Randall accuses Spinelli of hitting him with a rock during a dirt clod war so the kids put her on trial.
Director: Chuck Sheetz
Writer: Scott Shelley
7.3/10155 votes#19 - Teachers Lounge
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 11/15/1997
The kids dream about what the teachers' lounge must be like.
Director: Chuck Sheetz
Writer: Jonathan Greenberg
7.3/10156 votes#20 - Randall's Reform
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 11/15/1997
Loneliness compels Randall to want to make friends with the other kids.
Director: Chuck Sheetz
Writer: Rachel Lipman
7.7/10173 votes#21 - Rainy Days
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 11/22/1997
The kids grow increasingly frustrated when rain keeps then indoors for recess days on end.
Director: Chuck Sheetz
Writer: Lane Raichert
7.4/10171 votes#22 - The Great Can Drive
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 11/22/1997
At first only Mikey wants to participate in the Thanksgiving can drive competition against the unbeatable Ashleys. But then the other kids join in to beat the Ashleys.
Director: Chuck Sheetz
Writer: Michael L. Kramer
7.6/10176 votes#23 - The Voice
Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 1/10/1998
Principal Prickly needs Mikey to sing the National Anthem at the PTA Spring Fling, but Mikey only sings well in the bathroom. So he brings in a music teacher to bring the Robert Goulet out of Mikey.
Director: Susie Dietter, Chuck Sheetz
Writer: Jonathan Greenberg
7.3/10166 votes#24 - Kids in the Mist
Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 1/10/1998
The kids deal with a pompous expert on child research who wants to study them as they play.
Director: Chuck Sheetz
Writer: Joe Ansolabehere, Holly Huckins
7.9/10172 votes#25 - 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 Best Episodes of Recess Season 1
Every episode of Recess Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Recess Season 1!
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
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"The Break In" is the best rated episode of "Recess" season 1. It scored 7.5/10 based on 274 votes. Directed by Chuck Sheetz and written by Paul Germain, Joe Ansolabehere, it aired on 9/13/1997. This episode is rated 0.0 points higher than the second-best, "The New Kid".