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The Best Episodes of Taxi

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

The Best Episodes of Taxi

Louie De Palma is a cantankerous, acerbic taxi dispatcher in New York City. He tries to maintain order over a collection of varied and strange...

Seasons5

  1. Background image for Going Home
    8.5/10(284 votes)

    #1 - Going Home

    S3:E5

    Jim is sought out by a detective, hired by his wealthy father to locate him and give him plane tickets to come visit him in Boston. Jim explains to the gang that he has been estranged from his family after dropping out of Harvard in the 1960's and changed his name from Caldwell to Ignatowski. Jim agrees to go to visit his father and brings Alex with him, who is curious about what Jim's family must be like. At his father's mansion, Jim's oddness upsets his father and they get into an argument during dinner. Jim is asked to leave, but Alex speaks to Jim's father privately to try to smooth things over. It turns out Jim's father still thinks of Jim as his favorite child, but it hurts him to see him wasting his life when he had so much potential. Jim comes in and convinces his father that he's got a happy life and doesn't need his father's money and they share a moment before Jim leaves.

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  2. Background image for Latka the Playboy
    8.4/10(252 votes)

    #2 - Latka the Playboy

    S3:E20

    After Latka is rejected by a snobbish, but beautiful woman at Mario's, he decides to change his image by taking some time off and studying Playboy magazines and English language tapes. When Latka reemerges from his sabbatical, he has lost his accent and now is a lounge lizard who goes by the name, Vic Ferrarri. He soon easily picks up on the woman who had rebuffed him earlier. Although amused, the cabbies become concerned about the changes Latka has gone through, since he has now lost all of his nice qualities and is constantly hitting on Elaine. Alex tells Latka/Vic off, and later Latka appears at Alex's apartment, saying that he's sorry and doesn't want to be Vic anymore. Alex works with Latka and manages to get the old Latka back, although there is a twinge in Latka's eye that suggests Vic isn't gone forever..

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  3. Background image for High School Reunion
    8.3/10(3 votes)

    #3 - High School Reunion

    S1:E7

    When Louie hesitates to attend his high-school reunion, Bobby offers to take his place.

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    Director:James Burrows
    Writer:Unknown
  4. Background image for Tony's Sister and Jim
    8.3/10(249 votes)

    #4 - Tony's Sister and Jim

    S3:E2

    Tony's sister, Monica, has returned to New York after her divorce, and Tony has set her up on a date with Alex, with hopes that they will fall in love. However, while Monica waits for Alex in the garage, she gets to talking to Jim and they hit it off famously. They begin dating, but Tony is not supportive of the relationship and asks Jim not to see her anymore. However, Tony catches Jim at Monica's apartment when he stops by for a visit. Tony is angered that they are seeing each other despite his objections and is ready to toss Jim out (literally), when Monica tells him off about his immaturity and trying to control her life. Tony then sees the light, apologizes, and seems resigned to the new relationship.

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    Director:James Burrows
    Writer:Unknown
  5. Background image for Elaine's Strange Triangle
    8.1/10(209 votes)

    #5 - Elaine's Strange Triangle

    S3:E4

    At Mario's, while Elaine is complaining about problems with her love life, a handsome man named Kirk approaches. Tony then plays matchmaker for Elaine and soon she and Kirk are dating happily. Kirk later tells Tony in private that he has a problem: he is interested romantically in someone else-- Tony! Tony, who is not gay but does not want to see Elaine hurt over this, tells Alex and although he doesn't really want to get involved, Alex agrees to meet Tony and Kirk at a gay bar to help smooth over the situation. Alex arrives at the bar before Tony and is nervous, but relaxes after Kirk tells him he knows Tony isn't interested and he's already gently broken things off with Elaine. Alex begins to feel more at ease, but soon he is asked to dance by a large man. Alex is then pulled on to the dance floor and is eventually chased on to the bar itself by a chorus of gay dancers and unable to escape, begins dancing on the bar, when Tony arrives..

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    Director:James Burrows
  6. Background image for Latka's Cookies
    8.1/10(214 votes)

    #6 - Latka's Cookies

    S3:E8

    When Latka's grandmother dies, he is pleased that she has left him her famous cookie recipe, complete with a supply of the secret ingredients. He bakes up some for the cabbies to enjoy, but the cabbies don't enjoy them. Nonetheless, Latka begins his own cookie business. In the days to come, the cabbies find that they are indeed starting to inexplicably like the cookies, and are also unusually happy and energetic. When Jim samples one, he determines that the secret ingredient is cocaine—which accounts for why everyone's behavior. Upon learning this, Alex visits Latka (busy baking cookies to fill supermarket orders) to tell him the bad news. Latka is noticeably high from the cookies, and hallucinates that Famous Amos tells him to do whatever it takes to be successful. Although Latka can no longer sell the drugged cookies, he is excited at the taste of capitalism because it means he's now a true American.

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Taxi

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  8. Background image for Paper Marriage
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #7 - Paper Marriage

    S1:E8

    Latka must marry an American to avoid deportation.

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    Director:James Burrows
    Writer:Unknown
  9. Background image for Honor Thy Father
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #8 - Honor Thy Father

    S2:E2

    The cabbies are disturbed by Alex's nonchalance when confronted with the news of his father's heart attack.

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  10. Background image for Louie Meets the Folks
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #9 - Louie Meets the Folks

    S2:E13

    Nervous about meeting his girlfriend's parents, Louie hires Alex for moral support.

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    Director:James Burrows
    Writer:Barry Kemp
  11. Background image for Shut It Down (1)
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #10 - Shut It Down (1)

    S2:E19

    To settle the cabbies' strike, Elaine agrees to date Louie.

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    Director:James Burrows
    Writer:Unknown
  12. Background image for Shut It Down (2)
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #11 - Shut It Down (2)

    S2:E20

    Elaine endures a date with Louie to end the cabbies' strike.

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  13. Background image for Art Work
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #12 - Art Work

    S2:E22

    On Elaine's advice, the cabbies pool their money to buy a painting.

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  14. Background image for Mr. Personalities
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #13 - Mr. Personalities

    S4:E3

    Latka begins exhibiting multiple personalities again: not only Vic Ferrari, but also a cowboy, and best of all, he becomes Alex! Elaine refers Latka to her psychiatrist, but meanwhile Latka is becoming even more ""Alex""-like than Alex himself: he is a better cab driver and gives better advice to the gang. Alex decides he'd better sit in on a psychiatric session with Latka and Latka/Alex is about to reveal the answer to all of Alex's problems (somehow he has figured out the secret to Alex in the midst of subconsciously becoming him), when he becomes Latka again. This leaves Alex extremely frustrated and after Latka leaves, Alex sticks around to talk to the psychiatrist further.

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    Director:Unknown
  15. Background image for Jim's Inheritance
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #14 - Jim's Inheritance

    S5:E2

    When Jim's father passes away and leaves him a substantial inheritance, Jim's siblings sue to have Jim declared incompetent and his inheritance placed in an account that the brother will have control of. In court, Louie and Alex speak in Jim's behalf, but to no avail. Jim later feels better when he plays a tape of ""You Are the Sunshine of My Life"" that his father left for him.

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    Director:Noam Pitlik
    Writer:Ken Estin
  16. Background image for Alex the Gofer
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #15 - Alex the Gofer

    S5:E7

    Alex, who loves the theater, takes a part time job as a gofer for a young producer and director, but soon feels mistreated by his younger bosses. Louie, spying on Alex at his new job, spots Alex being humiliated and uncharacteristically does not make fun of him; rather, he tries to convince Alex to stand up for himself and tell the director off. Alex is considering this when the director suddenly has a change of heart and apologizes for mistreating Alex and ignoring one of his earlier suggestions. As a result, Alex regains his dignity.

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  17. Background image for Simka's Monthlies
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #16 - Simka's Monthlies

    S5:E24

    Simka faces deportation if she puts off another immigration interview because of her monthly "crimpka poosh."

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    Director:Harvey Miller
    Writer:Unknown
  18. Background image for Zen and the Art of Cab Driving
    7.9/10(192 votes)

    #17 - Zen and the Art of Cab Driving

    S3:E13

    Jim picks up two men in his cab and overhear them talking about the secret to success: dynamic perfectionism. Jim takes it to heart and decides to use the technique to reach his goal, which he won't reveal to the cabbies. Soon, Jim becomes the perfect cab driver, setting company records on every shift. After a few weeks, Jim gives up, announcing that he's reached his goal and can no longer stand to work so hard. He invites the gang over to his apartment to reveal what he's been working so hard for. Upon arrival, they see that his goal was a room full of televisions, with satellites, cable, VCRs, and video games—his ticket to the global village. The gang is unimpressed at first, until each of them gets sucked into watching exciting things on the various televisions.

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  19. Background image for The Call of the Mild
    7.7/10(194 votes)

    #18 - The Call of the Mild

    S3:E7

    After witnessing Bobby playing a lumberjack in a beer commercial, the guys are inspired to go camping and rough it in the woods for a week. They opt for a hunting cabin 100 miles away from civilization in the middle of winter, and their guide is justifiably concerned they won't make it, but they reassure him that they're fine and to come back for them in a week. They soon regret their decision when they learn that there is no electricity in the cabin. To keep their food from spoiling, they put their groceries outside in the cold, but animals eat them during the night. Somehow they make it through a week, starving, unshaven, and barely coherent, but due to a snowstorm, their guide doesn't come back for them. They decide that they'll need to hunt for food to survive any longer, but the guys can't bring themselves to shoot anything. Finally when a wild turkey walks into their cabin, Alex rises to the occasion and shoots it. Jim says a prayer over the turkey dinner, which consoles Alex, up

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  20. Background image for Thy Boss's Wife
    7.7/10(214 votes)

    #19 - Thy Boss's Wife

    S3:E9

    At the garage, the cabbies overhear a screaming match between the company's owner, Mr. McKenzie, and his wife. Meanwhile, Louie tells them that whenever McKenzie and his wife are fighting, she chooses a handsome young cab driver to have a fling with, then confesses to her husband, and the cabbie is then never heard from again. Louie continues that even if the cabbie turns her down, she still will make up a story about him to tell her husband. The cabbies don't buy it until Alex comes in, overhears Mrs. McKenzie about to come downstairs, and hides in his locker. Louie approaches Mrs. McKenzie, surveying the cab drivers in the garage, with vigor, hoping to pimp Tony or Bobby, but she decides on Louie (her explanation is that since her husband would be upset by her fooling around with a good looking man, being with Louie would kill him). Louie breaks into Alex's apartment while he's sleeping and begs him for advice and all Alex can come up with is that he confront her and try to talk to h

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    Director:James Burrows
    Writer:Ken Estin
  21. Background image for On the Job (1)
    7.7/10(201 votes)

    #20 - On the Job (1)

    S3:E18

    The cab company goes bust, and the gang is forced to get other jobs. They meet at Mario's a month later to discuss their new jobs. Tony is a collector for a bookie, but feels guilty about this line of work, especially when he needs to collect on a priest. Elaine is an executive assistant, but after she convinces her spineless boss to speak his opinions at a board meeting, they both get fired. Jim takes a job as a door to door salesman, but forgets that he is selling encyclopedias rather than rug shampooers and ruins a woman's carpet in the process. (Part one of a two part episode)

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    Director:James Burrows
    Writer:Unknown
  22. Background image for Elaine's Old Friend
    7.6/10(174 votes)

    #21 - Elaine's Old Friend

    S3:E11

    In her cab, Elaine picks up a woman who turns out to be her old high-school rival, Mary. Elaine is embarrassed that she is a cab driver, especially since Mary heads a prestigious ad agency, so to save face, Elaine makes up a story about having a wonderful boyfriend who is a Columbia University professor. Over the next few days, Mary calls Elaine to try to arrange a dinner with their respective boyfriend's, but Elaine keeps making excuses, as she is ashamed that she made up a lie about having a boyfriend. When Elaine is about ready to confess her lie to Mary over the phone, Alex grabs the phone, pretending to be Elaine's boyfriend, and accepts her dinner invitation for that evening. At dinner, Alex is so charming, in an effort to make their relationship look very loving, that all of a sudden, Mary and her boyfriend become jealous that they don't have such an exciting relationship. Meanwhile, even Elaine is swept up in the moment, and is taken by Alex's romantic acting job. Having d

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  23. Background image for Memories of Cab 804 (1)
    7.5/10(2 votes)

    #22 - Memories of Cab 804 (1)

    S1:E11

    After John smashes up Cab 804, the cabbies reminisce about their experiences in the car.

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    Director:James Burrows
    Writer:Barry Kemp
  24. Background image for Louie Sees the Light
    7.5/10(2 votes)

    #23 - Louie Sees the Light

    S1:E16

    Louie vows to change his ways if the Lord sees him through an operation.

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    Director:James Burrows
    Writer:Unknown
  25. Background image for Bobby's Big Break
    7.5/10(2 votes)

    #24 - Bobby's Big Break

    S1:E18

    Bobby leaves the cab company after landing a role in a soap opera.

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    Director:James Burrows
    Writer:Barry Kemp
  26. Background image for Louie Bumps into an Old Lady
    7.5/10(164 votes)

    #25 - Louie Bumps into an Old Lady

    S3:E16

    Louie, driving a cab in order to give pointers to a new driver, accidentally runs into an old lady pedestrian. Louie starts catering to the old lady, in the hopes of avoiding being sued, but soon learns she is still going to sue him for a million dollars. Alex notices that the old lady looks familiar, and recognizes her as a con artist, who pulls scams like this on cab drivers all the time (faking injuries in order to sue them). Alex makes a deal with Louie to find some of her previous victims to testify against her, if Louie agrees to treat Alex with more respect. It turns out, however, that this time, the woman really has broken her leg this time, and is indeed confined to a wheelchair legitimately (she tells this to her lawyer without any of the gang around). At the trial, Alex shows up alone because he couldn't get anyone to testify in Louie's behalf, so Louie gets a bright idea. In an attempt to prove that the woman is faking an injury, in front of the court, Louie pushes he

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    Director:James Burrows

Best Episodes Summary

"Going Home" is the best rated episode of "Taxi". It scored 8.5/10 based on 284 votes. Directed by James Burrows and written by Les Charles, Glen Charles, it aired on 12/17/1980. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Latka the Playboy".