The Best Episodes Written By Tom Patchett

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   8.0/10(1 votes)

   #1 - Mutiny on the Hartley

   S2:E911/10/1973

   Bob decides to meet the rising cost of living by raising his rates. But the members of his therapy group revolt when he picks the most inappropriate moment to tell them.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Tom Patchett

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   Director:N/A

   Writer:Tom Patchett
2. 

   7.5/10(20 votes)

   #2 - A.L.F.

   S1:E19/22/1986

   Gordon Shumway, last known survivor from the planet Melmac, crash-lands his spaceship into the Tanner family's suburban garage. Willie dubs him "ALF", short for Alien Life Form. After convincing a military officer that they are not harboring a space creature, the Tanners decide to take ALF in as a member of the family.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Tom Patchett

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   Writer:Tom Patchett
3. 

   7.2/10(9 votes)

   #3 - Turkey in the Straw (2)

   S3:E811/15/1988

   ALF must avoid the Alien Task Force when a bum blows the whistle on him.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Tom Patchett

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   Writer:Tom Patchett
4. 

   7.0/10(9 votes)

   #4 - Turkey in the Straw (1)

   S3:E711/14/1988

   The Tanners are invited to a Thanksgiving dinner with the Ochmonek's bizarre relatives.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Tom Patchett

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   Writer:Tom Patchett
5. 

   7.0/10(1 votes)

   #5 - Let's Get Away From it Almost

   S1:E151/6/1973

   Bob and Emily travel to a ski lodge that's nearly deserted except for the annoying couple with whom they share a bathroom. After sitting through a disastrous dinner, the Hartleys decide to leave only to find themselves caught in the spotlight of the abominable floor show they're trying to escape.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Tom Patchett

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   Writer:Tom Patchett
6. 

   7.0/10(1 votes)

   #6 - Motel

   S2:E29/22/1973

   A trip to Peoria turns into one long embarrassment for Bob when Jerry introduces him to a pretty girl named Janine. Janine doesn't seem to care that Bob is a married man.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Tom Patchett

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   Writer:Tom Patchett
7. 

   7.0/10(1 votes)

   #7 - I'm Dreaming of a Slight Christmas

   S2:E1512/22/1973

   Christmas Eve is almost spoiled when Bob is trapped in the office because of a power failure.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Tom Patchett

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   Writer:Tom Patchett
8. 

   7.0/10(1 votes)

   #8 - The Jobless Corps

   S2:E181/19/1974

   Depressed after losing his job with the airline, Howard accepts Bob's offer to join his "out of workshop," a special therapy group for the unemployed. (Bob extends the invitation at Emily's insistence when Howard's attempts to help her around the apartment begin driving her up the wall.)

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Tom Patchett

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   Writer:Tom Patchett
9. 

   7.0/10(1 votes)

   #9 - Mind Your Own Business

   S2:E202/2/1974

   At Jerry's urging, Bob hires a business manager to handle his money. He ends up living on a meager allowance that affords him only such luxuries as peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Tom Patchett

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   Writer:Tom Patchett
10. 

    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #10 - The Battle of the Groups

    S3:E29/21/1974

    Bob takes two of his therapy groups to a rustic retreat for a marathon session that never progresses further than everyone's complaints about the primitive conditions of their accommodations.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Tom Patchett

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    Writer:Tom Patchett
11. 

    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #11 - Dr. Ryan's Express

    S3:E710/26/1974

    Bob's office routine becomes a wreck when Jerry hires a temporary receptionist. She's a very nice but very vague woman who can't even get Bob's name straight.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Tom Patchett

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    Writer:Tom Patchett
12. 

    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #12 - The Longest Good-Bye

    S4:E19/13/1975

    Bob's old school friend Murdock is in town for a day to sell a complex giveaway item to a Chicago cereal company. Bob invites him to stay overnight at his home. The brief encounter stretches out to a week when Murdock can't make his business connections. He gradually takes over Bob's car, clothing, and most of his home life.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Tom Patchett

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13. 

    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #13 - Death of a Fruitman

    S4:E39/27/1975

    Bob's patients observe tradition by planning a surprise party to honor the fourth year of the group's therapy sessions. When an unseen member, a Mr. Gianelli, threatens to turn the party into a disaster, Bob kicks him out of the group. His decision meets with instant group approval until Mr. Gianelli dies under a ton of zucchini.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Tom Patchett

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    Writer:Tom Patchett
14. 

    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #14 - Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time

    S4:E1011/15/1975

    Bob moves up in the world from the seventh to the tenth floor when he joins the firm of a swinging psychiatrist.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Tom Patchett

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15. 

    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #15 - Bob Has to Have His Tonsils Out, So He Spends Christmas Eve in the Hospital

    S4:E1512/20/1975

    Christmas Eve finds Bob in the hospital with tonsillitis and an impending operation. Meanwhile, his friends are all suffering from an attack of Christmas-itis.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Tom Patchett

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16. 

    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #16 - The Separation Story

    S3:E410/5/1974

    For the sake of their marriage, as well as Emily's Master's Degree and Bob's heavy work schedule, the Hartleys decide that it would be best if they took up separate residences.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Tom Patchett

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    Writer:Tom Patchett
17. 

    6.6/10(12 votes)

    #17 - Help Me, Rhonda

    S1:E711/10/1986

    Willie helps homesick ALF arrange a trip to Melmac.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Tom Patchett

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    Writer:Tom Patchett
18. 

    6.0/10(2 votes)

    #18 - Father Knows Worst

    S1:E711/4/1972

    Bob's divorced neighbor, Howard Borden, is convinced that his son, Howie, doesn't really like him. Later, Howard's ex-wife convinces him that Howie thinks he is the greatest guy in the world.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Tom Patchett

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19. 

    4.0/10(1 votes)

    #19 - Home is Where the Hurt Is

    S3:E1512/21/1974

    Facing the depressing prospect of returning home to Iowa to spend the holidays with her domineering parents, Carol brings her troubles to Bob's apartment. There she spends Christmas Eve pouring out the disasters of her childhood.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Tom Patchett

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20. 

    4.0/10(1 votes)

    #20 - The Heavyweights

    S4:E510/11/1975

    Bob and Emily invite Carol to share her "heavy" experiences with the "overweight workshop."

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Tom Patchett

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    Writer:Tom Patchett