7.7/10121 votes#1 - The Drug Store
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 12/5/1952
Bud and Lou find jobs in Fields' drugstore and nearly wreck the place. This episode opens with the famous "Jonah and the Whale" routine.
Director: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Sid Fields
7.8/10100 votes#2 - The Dentist's Office
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 12/12/1952
When Lou gets a toothache he attempts to get arrested so he can receive free treatment while incarcerated.
Director: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Sid Fields
8.1/1087 votes#3 - Jail
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 12/19/1952
Lou damages Mrs. Crumbcake's waterpail and she drags him into court claiming .79 cents in damages. In jail, Lou's crazed cellmate becomes enraged whenever he hears "Niagara Falls."
Director: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Eddie Forman
7.3/1075 votes#4 - The Vacation
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 12/26/1952
Bud and Lou head off to the Biltmore Hotel near Phoenix for a vacation. "Hertz U-Drive" and the "Pack-Unpack" routines are performed.
Director: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Sid Fields
7.5/1077 votes#5 - The Birthday Party
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 1/2/1953
Lou throws a birthday party for himself, but nearly poisons his guests when he puts ant paste on his hors d'oeurves instead of anti pasto. Bud throws him out and Lou consoles himself by ordering a giant decorated cake.
Director: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Eddie Forman
7.8/1073 votes#6 - Alaska
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 1/9/1953
When news arrives that Lou's uncle has struck gold in Alaska, Bud and Lou plan to help him spend it.
Director: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Eddie Forman
8.1/1071 votes#7 - The Vacuum Cleaner Salesman
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 1/16/1953
Bud and Lou visit an employment agency run by Mr. Fields' brother, who gives Lou a job selling vacuum cleaners door to door.
Director: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Sid Fields
8.1/1065 votes#8 - The Army Story
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 1/23/1953
Bud and Lou join the Army, where they recreate their routines from the feature film 'Buck Privates.' "Drill Routine" and "Dice Game" are performed.
Director: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Sid Fields
8.0/1060 votes#9 - Pots and Pans
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 1/30/1953
Working as a door-to-door cookware salesman, Lou prepares a dinner for his friends in hopes of moving some product. However, his honest culinary efforts are met with disaster.
Director: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Sid Fields
8.2/1062 votes#10 - The Charity Bazaar
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 2/6/1953
Bud and Lou participate in Hillary's charity bazaar, raising money with the "shell game." Lou blows his money at the kissing booth.
Director: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Sid Fields
7.8/1060 votes#11 - The Western Story
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 2/13/1953
Bud and Lou accept Hillary's invitation to visit her uncle's B-Bar-Bop ranch.
Director: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Sid Fields, Eddie Forman
7.9/1076 votes#12 - The Haunted House
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 2/20/1953
Hillary will inherit a castle if she spends one night there. Bud and Lou come along with her for protection and Lou is scared out of his mind by frightful encounters.
Director: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Sid Fields, Eddie Forman
7.9/1062 votes#13 - Peace and Quiet
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 2/27/1953
Lou sleeps all day but can't sleep at night. Bud takes him to see a psychiatrist. Eventually Bud checks him into a sanitarium for a night's rest. "Crazy House" is performed.
Director: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Eddie Forman
8.3/1058 votes#14 - Hungry
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 3/6/1953
Bud and Lou visit a couple of restaurants. In one they become involved with twin waitresses. In the other, Lou has a battle with an oyster.
Director: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Sid Fields
8.4/1064 votes#15 - The Music Lovers
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 3/13/1953
Lou attempts to impress Hillary and her father with his musical abilities. While pretending to perform, Bud falls asleep and ruins the scheme.
Director: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Sid Fields
8.2/1057 votes#16 - The Politician
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 3/20/1953
Bud coaches Lou on running for public office, a political campaign that ends with Lou delivering a disastrous speech in a neighborhood park.
Director: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Sid Fields
7.9/1065 votes#17 - The Wrestling Story
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 3/27/1953
Lou and Stinky agree to settle their differences with a wrestling match. When Stinky becomes ill, his little brother Ivan the Terrible takes his place.
Director: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Sid Fields
8.2/1062 votes#18 - Getting a Job
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 4/3/1953
Bud and Lou are hired to deliver hats to the Susquehanna Hat Company on Floogle Street and encounter several lunatics on the way. Also, Stinky attempts to kill Lou by backing him into traffic. The "Loafing" routine is performed.
Director: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Sid Fields
7.7/1057 votes#19 - Bingo the Chimp
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 4/10/1953
Mike the Cop tells Lou that he must have a license for his pet chimp. But Lou accidentally applies for a marriage license.
Director: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Sid Fields
7.8/1059 votes#20 - Hillary's Birthday
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 4/17/1953
While shopping for Hillary's birthday present, Lou nearly destroys a grocery store. Later, at her party, Mr. Fields becomes upset about the noise.
Director: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Sid Fields
8.1/1060 votes#21 - The Television Show
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 4/24/1953
Lou is a contestant on a TV quiz show where he wins a pack of bubblegum. Their neighbor slips on a piece of gum and takes them to court.
Director: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Sid Fields
8.0/1052 votes#22 - Las Vegas
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 5/1/1953
Bud and Lou pay $90 for a car and head for Las Vegas, where Lou takes part in a violent game of billiards. The "mudder/fodder" routine is performed.
Director: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Sid Fields
7.8/1047 votes#23 - Little Old Lady
Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 5/8/1953
Bud and Lou attempt to help an old lady who has been evicted. They raise $300 and she uses the money to bet on a racehorse.
Director: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Sid Fields
8.7/1074 votes#24 - The Actors' Home
Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 5/15/1953
Bud is taken away to an old actors' home where he and Lou perform their famous "Who's on first?" routine.
Director: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Sid Fields
7.5/1047 votes#25 - Police Rookies
Season 1 Episode 25 - Aired 5/22/1953
Mike the Cop helps Bud and Lou enroll in the Police Rookie School, where Lou blows up the gymnasium while playing with a hand grenade.
Director: Jean Yarbrough
Writer: Sid Fields
The Best Episodes of The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1
Every episode of The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1!
Bud and Lou are unemployed actors living in Mr. Fields’ boarding house. Lou’s girlfriend Hillary lives across the hall. Many situations arise leading to slapstick...
Genres:ComedyFamily
Network:Syndication
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"The Drug Store" is the best rated episode of "The Abbott and Costello Show" season 1. It scored 7.7/10 based on 121 votes. Directed by Jean Yarbrough and written by Sid Fields, it aired on 12/5/1952. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "The Dentist's Office".