10.0/101 votes#1 - The Game Is Chicken
Season 3 Episode 17 - Aired 1/6/1993
Steve becomes friends with a guy in detention through their interest in cars. Steve and Brandon win a lot of money betting on Joe in a car race, but Dylan warns that the whole thing may be a scam. Steve and Brandon agree to bankroll Joe in a high-stakes race against drug dealer Frank Padilla. Brandon realizes that their opponent may be the guy who ran over Andrea. While Brandon contacts the police, Steve tries to stall by insisting that he be allowed to race Padilla. The two get into an argument and agree to a deadly game of ""chicken,"" but Dylan comes between them. Andrea identifies Padilla as the hit-and-run driver. Brenda and Kelly agree to a double-date with two guys from Princeton, only to find that they are geeks from the Princeton School in Encino. Donna takes over David's radio show while he tries to catch up on his studies in the hopes of graduating early.
Director: Jack Bender
Writer: Chip Johannessen
10.0/101 votes#2 - Parental Guidance Recommended
Season 3 Episode 20 - Aired 2/3/1993
Iris flies in from Hawaii, and Dylan and Jack try to soften her up to convince her to approve the dissolution of the trust. She is leery of Jack's motives, but elects not to stand in their way. Jack makes a clandestine phone call and promises someone that he will get the money. Brenda mopes around in her room and discards all mementos of Dylan. A visit from Iris convinces her to get past her pain, and she talks to Kelly at school. Steve helps David get a meeting with a record company. The record company executive threatens to call off the deal unless David fires Steve, and he agrees. Andrea is hesitant to attend a tea for future Yale students. Music: ""Losing My Religion"" by R.E.M.; ""Kansas City"" by Wilbert Harrison (#1, 1959); ""Action Speaks Louder Than Words"" by Tara Kemp (from the 90210 soundtrack); ""So You Want to Be a Rock 'N' Roll Star"" by
Director: Gwen Arner
Writer: Chip Johannessen
10.0/101 votes#3 - Take Back the Night
Season 4 Episode 11 - Aired 11/17/1993
Steve tells Laura that he cannot see her again because he has a girlfriend. During the activities for Take Back the Night Week, she concludes that she was a victim of date rape and plans to identify Steve at a campus rally. Kelly warns Steve, who adamantly proclaims his innocence. Steve confesses his indiscretion to Celeste, who breaks up with him. Before Laura can speak at the rally, Kelly steps to the microphone. She shares that she was nearly a victim of rape, then pointedly adds that there were other times when she regretted sleeping with a guy, but had consented at the time. She identifies Steve as a hero for saving her from the rapist at the Halloween party. Steve apologizes for using Laura, who admits that she had done nothing to discourage him. Lucinda insists on openly flirting with Brandon, who wants nothing to do with her. D'Shawn threatens to tell Professor Randall that Brandon is sleeping with his wife unless he takes his midterm for him. Lucinda encourages Brandon to take
Director: James Whitmore Jr.
Writer: Chip Johannessen
10.0/101 votes#4 - Heartbreaker
Season 4 Episode 18 - Aired 1/26/1994
David begins seeing a psychiatrist and tries to make amends with Donna. He tries to take time off from his radio show, but Steve proves to be completely incompetent as a fill-in. David steals drugs from Howard's desk and returns to the airwaves high. Andrea confesses her pregnancy to Brandon and Kelly; but has difficulty telling Jesse, who has just been offered a clerkship in San Francisco. The university names Brandon as its representative on a national task force. Suzanne takes a waitress job at the Peach Pit. Nat collapses with a heart attack, and Dylan and Brandon save his life with CPR. Nat's cousin Joey, an equal partner, wants to sell the Peach Pit. Brandon fears that Nat will have nothing to live for without the Peach Pit. He ignores his father's advice and decides to run the diner in Nat's absence. Music: ""Then Came You"" by Dionne Warwick and The Spinners (#1, 1974); ""This Old Heart of Mine"" by the Isley Bro
Director: Paul Schneider
Writer: Chip Johannessen
10.0/101 votes#5 - Change Partners
Season 4 Episode 22 - Aired 2/23/1994
Brandon and Kelly attend a weekend retreat. The chancellor's teenage daughter Clare develops a crush on Brandon. Brandon confesses his affair with Lucinda to Kelly. Brandon and Kelly realize they must discontinue the charade after they share a passionate kiss. Lucinda invites Dylan to her house to view her film, and makes a pass at him. Donna and Brenda befriend a stray dog, which they name Rocky. They learn that the animal escaped from the university's research lab, and are afraid to return him. Brenda takes an interest in an animal rights group that is protesting the lab. Andrea, who works at the facility, argues that the lab is researching potential medical breakthroughs. She returns the dog safely to Donna. Andrea is furious when Steve lets Muntz use her room for a rendezvous with his girlfriend. She fears that the resident advisor will kick her out, but Steve makes amends by sleeping with the woman. Music: ""Get Closer"" by Seals and Crofts (#6, 1976)
Director: Bethany Rooney
Writer: Chip Johannessen
10.0/101 votes#6 - Acting Out
Season 4 Episode 28 - Aired 4/27/1994
Brenda accuses Kelly of betraying her and refuses to speak to her. Kelly's relationship with Dylan is strained by the situation with Brenda and Kelly's disdain for Suzanne and Erica. Kelly drops out of the auditions because she does not want to be an actress. She and Brenda make up and admit their mutual jealousy. After witnessing Laura's brilliant performance, a nervous Brenda tanks her audition. She shows up at Roy Randolph's house that night in search of another chance. Clare tricks Brandon into taking her to the senior prom. At the after-party, she flashes and dumps beer on some guys before giving them the room number. Brandon winds up getting into a fight, and helps Clare clean up the trashed hotel room. Andrea continues to worry about the baby as Jesse leaves for an out-of-town trip. She collapses in pain, and Donna rushes her to the hospital. The doctor orders Andrea to stay in bed for the remainder of the pregnancy. Dylan becomes interested in environmental chemist Kevin's plan
Director: Jeff Melman
Writer: Chip Johannessen
10.0/101 votes#7 - Under the Influence
Season 5 Episode 2 - Aired 9/14/1994
Donna plans to take a semester off to become a debutante in Houston. Kelly realizes that Donna is hiding behind her mother to shield herself from David. Brandon tries to tell the drunken Dylan about Kelly and him, but chickens out. Nat inadvertently reveals the truth to Dylan. He shows up at an affair organized by Felice and gets into a scuffle with Brandon. Kelly goes to Dylan's house to talk with him; she finds him with a bimbo. Donna reconsiders becoming a debutante after her mother makes a big deal about her dancing with D'Shawn. Dylan apologizes to her and agrees to join her at registration, but never shows up. Andrea balks at entrusting Hannah to the campus day care center. Clare enrolls at California University (as a sophomore because of AP credit). Josh talks Brandon into being his running mate in the student body elections. Music: ""Faded Love,"" performed by band; ""Make It Right"" by Lisa Stansfield (from the 90210: The College Years soundtrack)
Director: Scott Paulin
Writer: Chip Johannessen
10.0/101 votes#8 - P.S. I Love You
Season 5 Episode 31 - Aired 5/24/1995
Jim and Cindy leave for Hong Kong. Kelly wants to continue her relationship with Brandon, but he cannot get over the rejected marriage proposal. Steve and Donna head to Palm Springs for an Alpha/KEG convention. A contrite Ray agrees to accompany Donna, who is making a speech at the event. He quickly becomes angry and possessive. Rush tries to set up Steve with a business associate's daughter. Steve is more interested in the Cadillac-driving ""goddess"" he keeps encountering. Brandon and Valerie decide to head to Palm Springs to avoid the caravan of potential buyers who have overrun the house. Brandon goes on a drinking binge and finds himself tempted by Valerie. He has a hallucination in which his parents appear and express their disappointment. Kelly postpones her trip to the convention to spend the day with Allison, but is very secretive. David and Clare see them together and get the wrong idea. Allison admits her love for Kelly, who is not interested.
Director: Victor Lobl
Writer: Chip Johannessen
9.0/101 votes#9 - Home and Away
Season 3 Episode 10 - Aired 10/7/1992
West Beverly's undefeated football team prepares for a showdown with powerhouse Shaw High. The school decides to forfeit after two Shaw students are shot to death by gang members during a game. Brandon is furious because the West Beverly student body cares more about the homecoming dance (coordinated by Brenda) than the shootings. He and Jordan Bonner, editor of the Shaw paper, run each other's editorials in their papers without school permission. Brandon invites the Shaw students to the dance, drawing the wrath of his friends and the administration. A fight nearly breaks out--partially due to the overzealous security guards--but Nikki and Donna defuse the situation by asking the Shaw guys to dance. Music: ""Switch It Up,"" performed by Brian Austin Green; ""Let Me Be Yo
Director: Jack Bender
Writer: Chip Johannessen
9.0/101 votes#10 - Senior Poll
Season 3 Episode 25 - Aired 4/7/1993
Kelly stops attending her eating disorder group because the girls with more severe cases unnerve her. Kelly wins ""Most Beautiful"" in the senior poll, while Dylan is ""Most Handsome."" Kelly suspects that everyone judges her entirely on her looks, and blows up at Dylan and Jackie. Dylan lets her read a section from his manuscript in which he describes his feelings for her. Brenda feels isolated from her classmates when she fails to win anything in the poll. She decides to apply to the University of Minnesota. Brandon and Steve take Jim and Cindy to a Lakers game because they can't get dates. They do not arrive until nearly halftime because of Brenda's big news and a traffic jam. Steve wins the chance to take a halfcourt shot for $10,000, and makes the shot. He anonymously donates the money to the school to revive a summer camp for elementary school students. Music: ""Man on the Moon"" by R.E.M. (#30, 1993); ""Humpin' Around"" by Bobby Brown (#3, 1992)
Director: Christopher Hibler
Writer: Chip Johannessen
9.0/101 votes#11 - Greek to Me
Season 4 Episode 4 - Aired 9/29/1993
Steve badgers Brandon into pledging the Kappa Epsilon Gamma fraternity. The frat brothers disapprove of Brandon's involvement with Josh and the Progressives. Brandon disassociates himself from the party when it proposes the elimination of all fraternities and sororities. He disappoints Steve by not joining the KEG house, but is made an honorary member. Kelly, Donna, Brenda and Andrea pledge the Alpha Omega sorority. Kelly runs into John Sears, a guy who spread rumors about her after they dated in high school. He insists that he has changed, and Kelly stays out late talking with him after a party (which Dylan refused to attend). Dan Rubin, Andrea's resident advisor, warns her of possible discrimination. Andrea wears a star necklace to a ceremony, and the sorority president chastises her for ""making an issue"" of being Jewish.
Director: Bethany Rooney
Writer: Chip Johannessen
9.0/101 votes#12 - Things That Go Bang in the Night
Season 5 Episode 8 - Aired 10/26/1994
Val wants to move back to Buffalo, but her mother has checked into a mental facility and cannot care for her. Brandon explains Valerie's situation to Steve and asks him to give her another chance. A pool hall acquaintance supplies Dylan with drugs. Brandon behaves coldly toward Valerie after she skips a party to go to Dylan's house. She reveals the gravity of Dylan's situation and pleads with Brandon for help. Dylan finds his gun and points it at brats who vandalize his house on Halloween. He shoots up his living room. Brandon confiscates Dylan's gun, ignoring his threats of legal action. After Dylan passes out, he stays to watch over him. Ray reacts angrily after seeing Griffin kiss Donna at a Halloween party. Donna finally tells Griffin about Ray; he responds rudely and gets slapped. Ray agrees to respect Donna's decision to remain a virgin. Andrea hestitates to take Hannah to a Día de los Muertos ceremony. She enjoys the experience, but expresses reservations when J
Director: Jason Priestley
Writer: Chip Johannessen
9.0/101 votes#13 - Sweating It Out
Season 5 Episode 17 - Aired 1/11/1995
Dylan asks Brandon to join him on a motorcycle road trip before he begins his probation and loses his driver's license. They constantly argue about Kelly and nearly call off the trip. They are caught going to the bathroom on a Native American burial ground, and must make amends by digging a hole for a special ceremony. The Native American sheriff invites Brandon and Dylan to join him in a sweat lodge, where they learn valuable lessons. Jonesy calls Dylan and tells him that he has found Kevin and Suzanne. Kelly and Valerie attend a psychology seminar conducted by Professor Patrick Finley. Val laughs off the philosophies and decides to leave. Kelly takes the professor's words to heart because of her experience with the fire. Steve is still bitter about being cut out of the Peach Pit After Dark. Rush apologizes for being insensitive to his feelings. Music: ""I Wonder Wh
Director: Jason Priestley
Writer: Chip Johannessen
8.8/108 votes#14 - Day 8: 12:00 P.M.-1:00 P.M.
Season 8 Episode 21 - Aired 5/10/2010
With only four hours left, a rogue Jack Bauer stops at nothing to determine who is behind the day's most devastating events, and he uncovers an unexpected lead.
Director: Milan Cheylov
Writer: Chip Johannessen
8.5/1034 votes#15 - The Big One
Season 5 Episode 12 - Aired 12/12/2010
Dexter's situation grows desperate when he discovers that Lumen's been set up. Despite knowing he's being baited into a trap, Dexter risks everything to make sure he doesn't fall into the same mistake again. In the Barrel Girls case, Debra lets her personal feelings lead her instincts once she concludes that vigilantes are more than just a theory. Quinn finds himself in a troublesome situation, which only Dexter can help him out of.
Director: Steve Shill
Writer: Chip Johannessen
8.4/1021 votes#16 - Halfway to a Donut
Season 4 Episode 8 - Aired 11/16/2014
Carrie and Quinn organize a last-ditch operation. Saul extracts a painful promise from Carrie. Lockhart and Martha stall the ISI.
Director: Alex Graves
Writer: Chip Johannessen
8.3/1038 votes#17 - My Bad
Season 5 Episode 1 - Aired 9/26/2010
Dexter must make a choice; Quinn stirs up trouble for Dexter but supports Deb.
Director: Steve Shill
Writer: Chip Johannessen
8.2/1029 votes#18 - The Vest
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 12/11/2011
In the wake of the explosion, Saul finds Carrie hospitalized and manic, but realizes her chaotic theories have merit; before his congressional campaign begins, Brody takes his family on a weekend trip to Gettysburg, where he retrieves an important item.
Director: Clark Johnson
Writer: Chip Johannessen
8.2/108 votes#19 - Day 8: 9:00 A.M.-10:00 A.M.
Season 8 Episode 18 - Aired 4/19/2010
With only seven hours left in the series' final harrowing day, Jack Bauer sets out to avenge the tragic life-changing events that he has endured. As things become even more personal for Jack, he heads to CTU for an intense meeting after learning of a devastating development. Meanwhile, on the verge of achieving peace on a scale that has eluded the world for generations, President Taylor becomes deeply conflicted when former President Logan sits down at the bargaining table.
Director: Milan Cheylov
Writer: Chip Johannessen
8.2/1013 votes#20 - Catch and Release
Season 8 Episode 2 - Aired 2/16/2020
Carrie gets an anonymous tip on a possible source of leverage to use against G'ulom. Saul goes to Pakistan to arrange a private meeting with Haqqani.
Director: Lesli Linka Glatter
Writer: Chip Johannessen
8.2/1011 votes#21 - Like Bad at Things
Season 7 Episode 4 - Aired 3/4/2018
The parking ticket leads Carrie to a series of transactions. O'Keefe loses control of the situation at the compound, and an outsider spreads a rumor.
Director: Alex Graves
Writer: Chip Johannessen
8.2/1011 votes#22 - Lies, Amplifiers, F**king Twitter
Season 7 Episode 8 - Aired 4/1/2018
Wellington puts pressure on the Russian ambassador. Maggie gives Carrie an ultimatum. Saul and Carrie take extreme steps to get Dante to talk.
Director: Tucker Gates
Writer: Chip Johannessen
8.1/1022 votes#23 - 4:00 A.M.-5:00 A.M.
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 12/11/2001
Jack follows the arrested conspirator to the police station in order to get more info on Kim's whereabouts. Palmer meets with a reporter who has some damaging information. Kim realizes just how dangerous Ira Gaines really is.
Director: Winrich Kolbe
Writer: Chip Johannessen
8.0/101 votes#24 - The Mortal Cure
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 1/18/2008
Mick's dream of becoming human again is within reach when he uncovers Coraline's secret, but the answers come with a steep price. Meanwhile, still angry with Mick, Beth must deal with some heartbreaking news alone.
Director: Eric Laneuville
Writer: Chip Johannessen
8.0/101 votes#25 - Episode 7
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/7/2005
Jackson comes to Laura and Rich's aid after they find that Laura's home has been broken into. Miles gets in trouble with the law in his attempt to free Nimrod. And Lee discusses Cirko and the creatures with his superiors.
Director: Rick Wallace
Writer: Chip Johannessen
Popular searches:
The Best Episodes Written By Chip Johannessen
Every TV Episode Written by Chip Johannessen Ranked from Best to Worst by Thousands of Voters
Chip Johannessen Ratings Summary
"The Game Is Chicken" is the best rated episode written by Chip Johannessen. It scored 10/10 based on 1 votes. It was directed by Jack Bender. It aired on 1/6/1993 and is rated 0.0 points higher than their second-best episode, "Parental Guidance Recommended".