The Worst Episodes of Taxi
Every episode of Taxi ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst 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 characters who drive for him. As he bullies and insults them from the safety of his “cage,” they form a special bond among themselves, becoming friends and supporting each other through the inevitable trials and tribulations of life.
Lowest Rated Episodes Summary
The worst episode of "Taxi" is "Vienna Waits", rated 6.2/10 from 184 user votes. It was directed by Howard Storm and written by Ken Estin. "Vienna Waits" aired on 10/18/1981 and is rated 0.3 point(s) lower than the second lowest rated, "Tony and Brian".
6.2/10 184 votes#1 - Vienna Waits
Season 4 Episode 2 - Aired 10/18/1981
Alex and Elaine decide to take a vacation together through Europe. However, Alex feels it necessary to tell Elaine in no uncertain terms that they are going together as platonic friends, so there's no resentment if he meets and wants to spend time with any other ladies on vacation. Elaine agrees to this and they decide to do things mostly separately during the days, but to meet up once a day to write post cards together. During the trip, it turns out that Elaine is getting all the action, while Alex is lonely and unhappy. The last night, however, Elaine takes pity on Alex (more or less) and propositions him, suggesting that their friendship is strong enough to endure one night of ""love."" They then go off together...
Director: Howard Storm
Writer: Ken Estin
6.5/10 180 votes#2 - Tony and Brian
Season 2 Episode 16 - Aired 1/8/1980
Tony wants to adopt a boy who would rather live with a wealthy couple.
Director: James Burrows
Writer: Ken Estin
6.5/10 167 votes#3 - Nina Loves Alex
Season 4 Episode 13 - Aired 1/21/1982
Alex is strangely rejecting the advances of a cute, bubbly, young African American cab driver named Nina. Alex is growing more and more annoyed until he decides to invite Nina over to his apartment to talk to her and try to explain why she shouldn't be so interested in him. Although he succeeds with a fatherly talk where he comes off very dull, they kiss goodnight. After the kiss, Nina is convinced there's no spark between them after all, while Alex seems to change his tune also, but it's too late.
Director: Joan Darling
Writer: David Lloyd
6.5/10 129 votes#4 - Sugar Ray Nardo
Season 5 Episode 15 - Aired 2/5/1983
When Elaine's son, Jason, watched Tony coaching youth boxing, he wants to get involved. Alex and Tony talk Elaine into letting Jason box, despite her better judgement. In Jason's first bout, he gets knocked out by the first punch and Elaine holds Alex responsible. Fortunately, Elaine forgives Alex eventually and Jason doesn't want to box again.
Director: Danny DeVito
Writer: Katherine Green
6.5/10 111 votes#5 - A Taxi Celebration (1)
Season 5 Episode 16 - Aired 3/23/1983
Part one of a two part clip show featuring highlights of Taxi.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.5/10 107 votes#6 - A Taxi Celebration (2)
Season 5 Episode 17 - Aired 3/23/1983
Part two of a two part clip show featuring highlights of Taxi.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.6/10 134 votes#7 - Travels with My Dad
Season 5 Episode 9 - Aired 11/25/1982
Tony's dad, a merchant seaman who Tony hasn't seen much of, arranges to bring Tony on a sea trip with him. Tony is hesitant but doesn't want to disappoint his dad, so he goes along. On the trip, Tony spends much of the time seasick, but bonds with his dad and they engage in a bar brawl in Singapore, and almost get matching tattoos until they think better of it.
Director: Michael Zinberg
Writer: N/A
6.7/10 221 votes#8 - Money Troubles
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 11/14/1978
John and his new bride are in financial straits, and only Alex has the resources to come to the rescue.
Director: James Burrows
Writer: N/A
6.7/10 176 votes#9 - The Reluctant Fighter
Season 2 Episode 15 - Aired 12/25/1979
Tony faces a bout with a champ who has dedicated his fight to a disabled youth.
Director: James Burrows
Writer: Ken Estin
6.7/10 156 votes#10 - Bobby's Roommate
Season 3 Episode 15 - Aired 4/9/1981
Elaine is forced out of her apartment when her building goes co-op and moves into Bobby's place while he's away with a touring stage production. Soon, Bobby returns because he is kicked off the tour for fooling around with the director's daughter, and suddenly, he and Elaine are living together. A few days later, Elaine tells Alex how much she's enjoying living with Bobby, when suddenly she gets a call from her boyfriend, who breaks up with her. Elaine leaves upset, and Alex briefs Bobby to look out because Elaine is vulnerable and may want physical companionship. That night, Elaine wakes up Bobby to talk and drink some wine with her, then Bobby panics that she is coming on to him, and calls Alex. When Alex arrives in his robe and slippers, having run 25 blocks through the snow to get there, Elaine gets upset that they have misinterpreted her actions. The guys are ashamed at their chauvinism and they all make up.
Director: James Burrows
Writer: N/A
6.7/10 139 votes#11 - Tony's Comeback
Season 4 Episode 19 - Aired 3/4/1982
Tony begins working out with a new cabbie, Lucius, who is a former football player. Tony is in great shape all of a sudden and Lucius inspires Tony to try to get his boxing license reinstated. Tony is not hopeful that the boxing commission will reinstate him, so he is surprised when he gets his license back. In addition, he getes a major fight scheduled with a promising young fighter. Meanwhile, Lucius goes away to Miami to try out for the Dolphins. Without Lucius around, Tony loses his motivation and his training suffers. At the fight, he is getting pummelled until Lucius, who has learned that he has made the Dolphins, arrives to inspire him. With Lucius' support, Tony turns the fight around and knocks out his opponent.
Director: Michael Lessac
Writer: Sam Simon
6.8/10 215 votes#12 - Elaine and the Lame Duck
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 2/13/1979
Elaine dates a congressman who badly needs self-confidence.
Director: James Burrows
Writer: Les Charles, Glen Charles
6.8/10 203 votes#13 - The Lighter Side of Angela Matusa
Season 2 Episode 6 - Aired 10/23/1979
Alex renews his acquaintance with a once-overweight woman who has lost weight and yearns for romance.
Director: James Burrows
Writer: N/A
6.8/10 175 votes#14 - What Price Bobby?
Season 2 Episode 18 - Aired 1/22/1980
An agent agrees to represent Bobby and expects him to be her lover.
Director: James Burrows
Writer: Ken Estin
6.8/10 140 votes#15 - Fledgling
Season 4 Episode 8 - Aired 11/26/1981
Elaine makes it her mission to try to cure a talented and friendly but troubled artist of his severe agoraphobia (fear of public places). Alex (possibly jealous of Elaine spending time with another man) advises Elaine to leave the treatment to a professional, but she ignores his advice and eventually brings the artist to the garage. Predictably, the artist is scared to leave the cab but while Alex and Elaine bicker about her methods, the artist walks out of the cab and appears to be making progress.
Director: James Burrows
Writer: Ken Estin
6.8/10 122 votes#16 - Tony's Baby
Season 5 Episode 21 - Aired 4/20/1983
News of his girlfriend's pregnancy floors Tony on the eve of his fight with a contender.
Director: Richard Sakai
Writer: N/A
6.9/10 244 votes#17 - A Full House for Christmas
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 12/12/1978
A visit from Louie's prodigal brother sours the dispatcher's Christmas spirit.
Director: James Burrows
Writer: Barry Kemp
6.9/10 184 votes#18 - Friends
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 1/30/1979
Tony mourns the death of his goldfish, which he left in Bobby's care.
Director: James Burrows
Writer: N/A
6.9/10 179 votes#19 - Wherefore Art Thou, Bobby?
Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 10/16/1979
Bobby questions his luck when a friend passing through town lands an off-Broadway role.
Director: James Burrows
Writer: Barry Kemp
6.9/10 162 votes#20 - The Ten Percent Solution
Season 3 Episode 6 - Aired 1/7/1981
Bobby is fed up after losing an acting gig to an inferior actor with the right look, which he explains to be like Tony. Tony decides he wants to capitalize on this and give acting a try, and asks Bobby to be his manager. Reluctantly, Bobby agrees and soon, despite a terrible audition, Tony gets a major role in a movie. Bobby is soon regretting his decision to take Tony under his wing, though, since he's resentful that Tony (whose acting is not improving, despite Bobby's coaching) could get a part so easily. Bobby feels vinidicated, however, when Tony is eventually cut from the film because of his lack of skills.
Director: James Burrows
Writer: N/A
6.9/10 142 votes#21 - Elaine and the Monk
Season 5 Episode 10 - Aired 12/2/1982
Latka and Simka introduce Elaine to a friend of theirs visiting from their country named Zifka. Zifka is a monk who has taken a vow of silence but during his vacation is allowed a week (every ten years) to experience all worldly pleasures. He and Elaine quickly fall in love (seemingly to Alex's dismay) but Zifka must resume his silence when his week ends right before he can tell Elaine exactly how he feels about her. Elaine is saddened but understanding, and lets Zifka go.
Director: Danny DeVito
Writer: David Lloyd
7.0/10 282 votes#22 - One-Punch Banta
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 9/19/1978
Tony is ecstatic when a lucky punch of his brings a boxing champion to his knees.
Director: James Burrows
Writer: N/A
7.0/10 208 votes#23 - Hollywood Calling
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 5/8/1979
The cabbies are wined and dined by a film company looking for ideas for a movie they are making about taxi drivers.
Director: James Burrows
Writer: Les Charles, Glen Charles
7.0/10 183 votes#24 - A Woman Between Friends
Season 2 Episode 7 - Aired 10/30/1979
Bobby and Tony compete for the same woman.
Director: James Burrows
Writer: Ken Estin
7.0/10 153 votes#25 - Bobby and the Critic
Season 3 Episode 17 - Aired 4/30/1981
Bobby, who is appearing in a one man play, is fired up about a ruthless theater critic who has been writing scathing reviews. Bobby writes an angry letter to the critic, but throws it away without sending it, having already felt better for venting his anger. Predictably, Louie fishes it out of the trash and mails it, and it gets printed in the newspaper. Bobby is soon getting cheers from actors all over the city, but gets worried when he learns that the critic himself is going to be at Bobby's play. After the play, the critic finds Bobby and hands him a wonderful review of his performance. Bobby is overcome until the critic says he's not going to print it, because rather than a scathing review which would seem like sour grapes or a good review that would boost his career, not submitting a review will leave Bobby in obscurity and the critic will have his vengeance.
Director: James Burrows
Writer: Barry Kemp