The Worst Episodes of The Magic School Bus

It's "Accidental Science Project" day and the class has brought in marvelously rotten entries from the back of their refrigerators. With Ed Begley, Jr. as Larry Log-Away.

Director: N/A

Writer: Jocelyn Stevenson, John May

Ms. Frizzle takes the class on a field trip to R.U. Humerus's Body Shop. They learn how bones, muscles and joints all work together to help us move.

Director: N/A

Writer: Jocelyn Stevenson, John May, George Arthur Bloom

When the kids see Horace Scope (Dabney Coleman) on the Star Shopping Network, they decide to buy Dorothy Ann a real twinkling star for her birthday.

Director: N/A

Writer: Noel MacNeal

Arnold and Wanda are due to give a report on the town waterworks. But Ms. Frizzle thinks it's field DRIP time! She turns the bus and class into water drops and the kids evaporate, condense, become rain and rush by river into the ocean. After several trips through the water cycle, they're ready to turn back into regular kids. But the magic key that will get them out of the cycle is locked in the school bathroom! Trying to work their watery way into the bathroom, the kids go through the town waterworks and see how water is purified. Can they get to school through bathroom pipes? Or are they stuck in the water cycle forever?

Director: N/A

Writer: Jocelyn Stevenson, Kristin Laskas Martin, George Arthur Bloom

It’s the night of the rock lovers’ annual Granite Awards, and Arnold is about to become the first kid to win the Rocky Award. He’s so excited, all he’s been able to eat for weeks are “Seaweedies.” When he arrives for the big event, he’s totally nervous and totally... orange!

Director: N/A

Writer: Jocelyn Stevenson

Liz has gone off to a mysterious place called “Herp Haven.” Thinking she’s in trouble, the class rushes to Herp Haven, where they turn into reptiles. With Michael York as Herpst.

Director: N/A

Writer: Jocelyn Stevenson, John May, George Arthur Bloom

The kids rent a rainforest cocoa tree as an Earth Day present for Ms. Frizzle. But when the harvest arrives, there’s only one shrivelled cocoa bean! Ms. Frizzle takes the class to the rainforest to meet the impeccable Inspector 47 who keeps a tidy, mud-free cocoa grove. What has he done to the rainforest's intricate ecology web?

Director: N/A

Writer: Brian Meehl

Should Walkerville get rid of the swamp and replace it with a great new shopping mall or build the mall somewhere else? The class learns that the swamp is an important habitat and natural water filter, but the town council’s not convinced until... FLOOD!

Director: N/A

Writer: George Arthur Bloom, Robert Schechter

When Wanda's pet frog, Bella, jumps out an open window, Ms. Frizzle shrinks the bus into a mechanical frog and takes her now tiny class on a hop-along adventure.

Director: N/A

Writer: Jocelyn Stevenson

The class needs a new mascot for its soccer team. Phoebe suggests butterflies, but everyone thinks they’re wimpy—until The Friz flutters in!

Director: N/A

Writer: Brian Meehl, George Arthur Bloom

The school district’s Vehicle Maintenance Inspector, Junkett is about to condemn the Magic School Bus!

Director: N/A

Writer: Brian Meehl, Sean Kelly, George Arthur Bloom

The class is ready to plug in their “Double-Trouble Wheel of Wonder” at the town carnival, when they discover all the electrical outlets are taken.

Director: N/A

Writer: Brian Meehl, George Arthur Bloom

The principal, Mr. Ruhle, has to go away for a few days and leaves his beloved chicken, Giblets, in Dorothy Ann’s care. The Friz takes the class on a field trip to see how eggs are made - from the inside out!

Director: N/A

Writer: Ronnie Krauss

Flora Whiff, the famous expert on smell—whose “nose knows”— comes to school to judge the First Annual Smell Search. Ms. Frizzle’s class creates a unique smell that is bound to take first prize.

Director: N/A

Writer: George Arthur Bloom

It’s Valentine’s Day and the class is selling lightbulbs. When they stop at Ms. Frizzle’s house to sell her one, they find that her battery-operated doorbell doesn’t work.

Director: N/A

Writer: Jocelyn Stevenson, George Arthur Bloom, Suzanne Bolch

City Critters: Ms. Frizzle’s class is visiting the zoo, which is, according to Tim, the only place in the city where wild animals can survive. To test this idea—ZAP!—Ms. Frizzle turns the class into possums, foxes, and falcons!

Director: N/A

Writer: Jocelyn Stevenson, George Arthur Bloom, Noel MacNeal

When Wanda discovers that one of Ms. Frizzle’s ancestors was Redbeard the Pirate, she naturally wants to follow the treasure map he left. The map leads the class to a coral reef, where they learn firsthand that life there is risky.

Director: N/A

Writer: Jocelyn Stevenson

The class' garden is going to be featured on the cover of PLANT IT! magazine. But Phoebe's garden plot is glaringly empty. With Robby Benson as Mr. Seedplot.

Director: N/A

Writer: Brian Meehl, Jocelyn Stevenson, Ronnie Krauss

When Ms. Frizzle invites the class’ parents in to see that their kids are learning about bats, Ralphie and the gang are convinced The Friz is a vampire! With Tyne Daly as Ralphie’s mom; Eartha Kitt as Keesha’s grandmother; Elliot Gould as Arnold’s dad; Dana Elcar as Phoebe’s dad; and Edward James Olmos as Carlos’s dad.

Director: N/A

Writer: Brian Meehl, Ronnie Krauss, George Arthur Bloom

There’s a monster in Walkerville Lake! Wanda competes with Gerri Poveri, a TV reporter whose ratings are sinking, to be the first one underwater.

Director: N/A

Writer: Brian Meehl, George Arthur Bloom

Tim’s beekeeper Grandfather has the sweetest honey in town. Ms. Frizzle turns her class into bees so they can visit a hive and learn how raw honey is processed firsthand.

Director: N/A

Writer: Doug Booth

Ralphie wants to serve salmon at the annual school picnic, but he can’t find any at his favorite fishing spot. But when the kids are “Frizzled” inside a salmon-bus they have an uncontrollable urge to head upriver.

Director: N/A

Writer: Ronnie Krauss

Ms. Frizzle’s “Uncle Shelby” wants the class to look after his beachfront property. The kids soon discover that this “luxurious” accommodation is only a tiny spot on the shoreline.

Director: N/A

Writer: Jocelyn Stevenson, John May, George Arthur Bloom

Ms. Frizzle’s class opens the school for Mr. Ruhle. But there’s so much to do! “There must be a way to do these chores without actually doing them,” says Carlos. Enter Mr. Ruhle’s new computer and Mikey, Carlos’ whiz kid brother!

Director: N/A

Writer: John May, Ronnie Krauss

The Magic School Bus goes into show business when Keesha directs a movie about social animals for the school science fair.

Director: N/A

Writer: Brian Meehl, Jocelyn Stevenson, Kristin Laskas Martin