The Best Episodes Written By Darren Star

Charles and Liza make amends and promise not to lie anymore, but Kelsey's plans force Liza to withhold the truth. Lauren plans a romantic reunion. Sparks fly between Maggie and an enemy-turned-friend.

Director: Peter Lauer

Writer: Darren Star

A furious Jim goes to the Mexican border to retrieve Brenda. Jim bans Dylan from the Walsh house. Jackie learns that Kelly covered for Brenda, and embarrasses her by yelling at her in front of Jake. Music: ""Wedding Bell Blues"" by The Fifth Dimension (#1, 1969); ""Blue Moon"" (Glen Gray - #1, 1

Director: Jeff Melman

Writer: Darren Star

Brenda invites Kelly, Donna and Andrea over for a ""night of female bonding."" They are having a good time until Kelly's friend Amanda shows up. She insults everyone and decides to turn the girls against each other. As part of a ""game"" about secrets, Amanda bullies Kelly into describing her first sexual encounter, in which she was humiliated by the football captain. After Brenda recalls stealing a Minnesota friend's boyfriend, Kelly admits that she tried to hit on Dylan. The girls eventually make up, and Brenda and Kelly vow to never let a man come between them. Amanda's behavior is attributed to a diet pill addiction. The girls catch David and Scott lurking outside the window and taking pictures of them. Brandon and Steve are denied entry to a club, but hook up with two girls. They steal Steve's Corvette, but he doesn't press charges (and pays their traffic ticket) because he foolishly thinks that he and Brandon still have a chance with them.

Director: Charles Braverman

Writer: Darren Star

Everyone but Dylan is driven into a frenzy by the upcoming SATs. A completely panicked Andrea seeks help from Steve, who attended an expensive SAT prep course. During their study session, they end up kissing, and avoid each other for days. Kelly reads an article about breast health, so the girls take time out from studying for a self-exam. Brenda discovers a lump in her breast and must undergo a biopsy. Cindy and Brenda are haunted by memories of Cindy's sister Sheila, who died of breast cancer. Brandon cannot concentrate during his SAT, so he leaves during the exam to go to the hospital. (He and Brenda are to take a make-up test at a later date.) Brenda is relieved when she receives a clean bill of health.

Director: Charles Braverman

Writer: Darren Star

Brenda tries to convince Andrea to ask Brandon to the spring dance, but Kelly beats her to it. Steve reluctantly takes Donna, who wears an elaborate gown that impedes sitting or dancing.

Director: Darren Star

Writer: Darren Star

Brandon and Brenda's cousin Bobby visits, as he is considering transferring to UCLA. He is a paraplegic, the result of a skiing accident three years earlier. Bobby and Kelly develop a mutual interest, but Brenda fears that Kelly will break her cousin's heart. Although Bobby is extremely well-adjusted, he feels uncomfortable when he attends a party with the gang. After seeing Kelly dance with another guy, Bobby becomes depressed and asks to leave. He squelches his relationship with Kelly because he believes that she would lose interest in him. Brandon confesses his guilt about the accident to Bobby, who insists that Brandon should not blame himself for daring him to take the fateful ski jump. Brenda finally passes her driver's test, but is afraid to get behind the wheel. Emily joins the school paper. David asks Donna for a date. Music: ""Romantic"" by Karyn White (#1, 1991); ""Crazy"" by Seal (#7, 1991)

Director: N/A

Writer: Darren Star

Alison's roommate leaves in the middle of the night and sticks her with the rent. The goofy Billy Campbell approaches her and asks about the vacancy, but she turns him down. Faced with eviction, she finally takes him up on his offer. Alison accidentally dents the car door of a vice president at the ad agency that employs her, D&D. She accepts a date with him, but Billy has to come to the rescue when the man tries to force his way into the apartment. Jake attempts a relationship with Kelly Taylor, a teenager whose house he had helped remodel. They are constantly faced with obstacles due to their age difference. Rhonda is pursued by one of her aerobics students, but learns that his interest is anything but romantic.

Director: Howard Deutch

Writer: Darren Star

Alison undergoes successful surgery, and Billy agrees to care for her when she returns home from the hospital. They both become frightened by how much they have come to care about each other. Jake and Jo observe that the necklace Billy plans to give Alison for Christmas is more than a ""friendship"" present. Billy disagrees, but decides not to give Alison the gift after she makes him agree to a ""no presents"" pact (because she is short on cash). Alison fears that she has hurt Billy's feelings. She later apologizes, and he gives her the necklace. They admit that they have become confused by their feelings. Jo and Jake try to overcome their unhappy memories of Christmas. He is excited about making a fresh start, but she remains cynical and wants to ignore the holiday. She also tries to push Jake away, but they end up having a hot make-out session. Michael is depressed when he and Kimberly cannot save a young gunshot victim, but his spirits are revived after delivering a baby for t

Director: Bethany Rooney

Writer: Darren Star

Feeling très guilty over her encounter with Gabriel, Emily decides to move on with a romantic weekend away. Mindy's new job turns out to be a total drag.

Director: Andrew Fleming

Writer: Darren Star

In between undermining a colleague and helping Gabriel achieve his culinary dream, Emily attends a celebration in Champagne that takes a shocking turn.

Director: Andrew Fleming

Writer: Darren Star

Emily brings her can-do American attitude and fresh ideas to her new office in Paris, but her inability to speak French turns out to be a major faux pas.

Director: Andrew Fleming

Writer: Darren Star

Twins Brandon and Brenda begin school at trendy West Beverly High after moving from Minnesota. Brandon joins the newspaper and meets Andrea Zuckerman, the intelligent and devoted editor. Brenda is befriended by snobbish Kelly, who picks her as a chemistry lab partner to avoid being paired with a fat girl. A rich but reclusive girl invites the entire school (except the freshmen) to a party at her house, complete with a live rock band. Freshmen David and Scott crash the party, and the drunken Steve asks David to drive him home. David accidentally damages the car, prompting Steve to begin a frantic search for the culprit. Brandon connects with the hostess, Marianne, and goes on a date with her. He insinuates that they slept together, prompting rumors to fly at school. Andrea is disappointed in him. Brandon clears the air about Marianne over the campus radio station. He follows Andrea home to explain himself, and discovers that she lives out of district. Brenda and her friends get fake IDs

Director: Tim Hunter

Writer: Darren Star

Sheryl, Brandon's old girlfriend from Minneapolis, stays with the Walshes for the weekend. A concerned Cindy asks Jim to have a talk with Brandon. Before he gets around to it, Sheryl spends the night in Brandon's room. Sheryl seems obsessed with wealth and fame, and takes a liking to Dylan and his Porsche. Brandon believes that Dylan is hitting on Sheryl and punches him. Brandon is stunned to learn that he was not the first guy to sleep with Sheryl. Sheryl's mother calls Cindy and reveals that her daughter ran away following a fight with her stepfather. Brenda babysits for her handsome algebra teacher, with ""help"" from Kelly and Donna. She no longer finds him appealing after watching his wife push him around.

Director: Bethany Rooney

Writer: Darren Star

The gang stays at the Peach Pit after hours to study for midterms. Brenda is left alone while Brandon and Dylan take out the recycling. A gunman enters through the unlocked door, holds a rifle to her head, and forces her to empty the cash register. Brenda puts on a brave front for family and friends, but suffers nightmares and behaves erratically. She has a flashback during a midterm, screams, and runs out of the classroom. A psychiatrist helps her begin to deal with her fears. Brenda reluctantly views a police line-up, resulting in the arrest of the 17-year-old gunman. Music: ""Let the Good Times Roll"" by Shirley & Lee (#20, 1956)

Director: N/A

Writer: Darren Star

40-year-old Liza passes herself off as 26 to land a job in the field of her dreams. Now she just has to make sure no one discovers her secret.

Director: Darren Star

Writer: Darren Star

Emily navigates the intricacies of French amour when her enthusiasm at a work soirée impresses a flirtatious — and married — client.

Director: Andrew Fleming

Writer: Darren Star

Brandon meets senior Melissa Coolidge on the school lawn during lunch. He makes a date with her, and learns that she is the mother of an infant son, Joey. Brandon is forced into emergency babysitting duty while Melissa has an interview with Harvard. Jim and Cindy are unavailable, but Steve helps Brandon through the afternoon. Melissa's interview does not go well, and she becomes frustrated with her life. She fears that she may have to give up her son, but Cindy calms her with a heart-to-heart talk. Brenda and Kelly win skydiving lessons from a radio contest.

Director: Burt Brinckerhoff

Writer: Darren Star

After a suspiciously decadent dinner with Alfie, Emily heads to Camille's family chateau, where more than just the tops of Champére bottles pop off.

Director: Jennifer Arnold

Writer: Darren Star

Liza's lies come to a disastrous head on multiple fronts, threatening to ruin her professionally and romantically.

Director: Tricia Brock

Writer: Darren Star

Liza returns from the Hamptons and has to deal with the aftermath. A famous life coach, whose book Empirical is pursuing, forces Liza to face some hard truths.

Director: Dottie Dartland Zicklin

Writer: Darren Star

Liza returns to Empirical hoping to resume business as usual, but Charles announces a new project that spurs several unsettling revelations.

Director: Steven K. Tsuchida

Writer: Darren Star

Michael plans an elaborate surprise party for Colin's milestone birthday, but the night takes a devastating turn after a shocking revelation.

Director: Andrew Fleming

Writer: Darren Star

Carrie dates an author who has a premature ejaculation problem and finds that she regrets having to break-up... with his perfect family. Child-phobic Miranda dates a divorced father who has a son. Charlotte's brother Wesley stays with her after his wife leaves him. Samantha gives Charlotte's brother what he really needs: sex.

Director: Daniel Algrant

Writer: Darren Star

While settling into life as a 26-year-old, Liza looks to date someone age-appropriate, and learn to market to a younger audience.

Director: Darren Star

Writer: Darren Star

Diana tasks Liza with running a book launch party for a demanding author; Maggie encounters an old crush; Kelsey starts to fall for her new author.

Director: Arlene Sanford

Writer: Darren Star