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The Worst Episodes of The Abbott and Costello Show

Every episode of The Abbott and Costello Show ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of The Abbott and Costello Show!

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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 and puns.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 4 - The Vacation
    7.3/10(85 votes)

    #1 - The Vacation

    S1:E4

    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

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  2. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 5 - The Birthday Party
    7.6/10(87 votes)

    #2 - The Birthday Party

    S1:E5

    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

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  3. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 25 - Police Rookies
    7.6/10(56 votes)

    #3 - Police Rookies

    S1:E25

    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

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  4. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 1 - The Drug Store
    7.7/10(134 votes)

    #4 - The Drug Store

    S1:E1

    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

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  5. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 2 Episode 8 - South of Dixie
    7.7/10(60 votes)

    #5 - South of Dixie

    S2:E8

    Lou accidentally lands himself and Bud roles in a Civil War melodrama.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Clyde Bruckman

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  6. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 2 Episode 9 - From Bed to Worse
    7.7/10(53 votes)

    #6 - From Bed to Worse

    S2:E9

    Bud and Lou attempt to plant a backyard garden in order to win a cash prize offered by a civic group.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Clyde Bruckman

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  7. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 2 Episode 13 - Car Trouble
    7.7/10(50 votes)

    #7 - Car Trouble

    S2:E13

    When Lou wins a car, Bud sells it to buy a cheaper one, using the profits to try to finance a vacation in Flint, Michigan.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Clyde Bruckman

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  8. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 2 Episode 22 - Honeymoon House
    7.7/10(55 votes)

    #8 - Honeymoon House

    S2:E22

    When Bud and Mr. Fields help Lou put together a prefab house in order to impress his fiancée and her parents, a jealous former boyfriend sabotages their work.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Clyde Bruckman

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  9. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 6 - Alaska
    7.8/10(83 votes)

    #9 - Alaska

    S1:E6

    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

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  10. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 11 - The Western Story
    7.8/10(70 votes)

    #10 - The Western Story

    S1:E11

    Bud and Lou accept Hillary's invitation to visit her uncle's B-Bar-Bop ranch.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writers:Eddie Forman, Sid Fields

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  11. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 19 - Bingo the Chimp
    7.8/10(65 votes)

    #11 - Bingo the Chimp

    S1:E19

    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

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  12. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 2 Episode 4 - Life Insurance
    7.8/10(57 votes)

    #12 - Life Insurance

    S2:E4

    Mr. Fields takes out an insurance policy on Lou. Later, Bud takes Lou on a hunting trip, and Lou suspects Bud and Mr. Fields have plotted to kill him for the insurance money.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writers:Clyde Bruckman, Sid Fields

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  13. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 2 Episode 12 - Efficiency Experts
    7.8/10(50 votes)

    #13 - Efficiency Experts

    S2:E12

    Bud and Lou land jobs as efficiency experts, and are assigned to restrain their client’s daughters from spending money. The young women, however, get the boys to buy them expensive dresses and take them to a casino, where they end up in a brawl.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Clyde Bruckman

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  14. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 2 Episode 18 - Public Enemies
    7.8/10(56 votes)

    #14 - Public Enemies

    S2:E18

    Lou is mistaken for a crook named Dapper Dan and is forced to take part in a robbery.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Clyde Bruckman

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  15. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 2 Episode 25 - Fall Guy
    7.8/10(59 votes)

    #15 - Fall Guy

    S2:E25

    Bud and Lou want to take two sisters on a date but their father convinces the boys to put an antenna on his roof instead.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Clyde Bruckman

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  16. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 2 - The Dentist's Office
    7.9/10(109 votes)

    #16 - The Dentist's Office

    S1:E2

    When Lou gets a toothache he attempts to get arrested so he can receive free treatment while incarcerated.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Sid Fields

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  17. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 20 - Hillary's Birthday
    7.9/10(67 votes)

    #17 - Hillary's Birthday

    S1:E20

    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

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  18. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 26 - Safari
    7.9/10(56 votes)

    #18 - Safari

    S1:E26

    When Bingo gets sick, the whole gang travels to Africa to find his parents.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Sid Fields

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  19. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 2 Episode 1 - The Paper Hangers
    7.9/10(66 votes)

    #19 - The Paper Hangers

    S2:E1

    To pay back rent, Bud and Lou attempt to wallpaper an apartment. Later, as waiters in a restaurant, they brawl with hoodlums.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writers:Clyde Bruckman, Sid Fields

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  20. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 2 Episode 2 - Uncle Bozzo's Visit
    7.9/10(60 votes)

    #20 - Uncle Bozzo's Visit

    S2:E2

    Lou's eccentric opera singing uncle comes to stay with the boys for a couple of months.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Clyde Bruckman

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  21. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 2 Episode 14 - Wife Wanted
    7.9/10(54 votes)

    #21 - Wife Wanted

    S2:E14

    When Lou finds out he will inherit $10,000 provided that he has a wife, he tries to marry a former girlfriend—who is dating a man named Bonebender Brodsky.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Clyde Bruckman

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  22. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 12 - The Haunted House
    8.0/10(84 votes)

    #22 - The Haunted House

    S1:E12

    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
    Writers:Eddie Forman, Sid Fields

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  23. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 13 - Peace and Quiet
    8.0/10(71 votes)

    #23 - Peace and Quiet

    S1:E13

    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

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  24. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 17 - The Wrestling Story
    8.0/10(73 votes)

    #24 - The Wrestling Story

    S1:E17

    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

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  25. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 22 - Las Vegas
    8.0/10(60 votes)

    #25 - Las Vegas

    S1:E22

    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

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Worst Episodes Summary

"The Vacation" is the worst rated episode of "The Abbott and Costello Show". It scored 7.3/10 based on 85 votes. Directed by Jean Yarbrough and written by Sid Fields, it aired on 12/26/1952. This episode scored 0.3 points lower than the second lowest rated, "The Birthday Party".