The Best of Growing Pains

The Best of GROWING PAINS (ABC)

Creator: Neal Marlens

Seasons: 7 Episodes: 167 Years: 1985-1992

Premise: Your typical family sitcom, this one with Kirk Cameron.

My 20 Standout Episodes

1. Pilot S01E01 | #01

Jason gives Mike more responsibility but he gets arrested

2. Slice of Life II S01E16 | #16

Maggie wants another child; Ben blackmails Mike to be his slave

3. Employee of the Month S02E05 | #27

Mike gets fired after covering for a coworker but can’t tell his parents

4. My Brother, Myself S02E16 | #38

When Ben hits puberty, he gets advice from Mike to hit on his babysitter

5. A Star is Born S03E07 | #51

Mike gets the lead in the school play but is more interested in kissing

6. Nasty Habits S03E14 | #58

Mike keeps procrastinating to keep from finishing an English report

7. How the West Was Won, Part I & II S03E24/25 | #68 & #69

Mike & Boner protest when they learn that Coach Lubbuck has been fired

8. Fool for Love S04E01 | #71

Ben tries to get up the courage to ask a girl to a Halloween party

9. The Nanny S04E09 | #79

Maggie feels threatened when Jason hires Julie, an attractive nanny

10. Semper Fidelis S04E13 | #83

Mike is angry when Boner drops out of college to become a marine

11. The Recruiter S04E18 | #88

Carol & Mike hire a homeless man to pose as Jason to avoid a college

12. Second Chance S04E20 | #90

Carol’s  boyfriend, Sandy, gets into a drunk driving accident

13. Mike and Julie’s Wedding S05E02 | #94

Mike and Julie get some cold feet as the wedding approaches

14. Carol’s Papers S05E06 | #98

Jason hears conflicting versions of how Ben got in trouble at school

15. The Triangle & The Return of the Triangle

S05E14/15 | #106 & #107

Mike falls for his taken leading lady in a drama scene

16. Mike, Kate and Julie S05E18 | #110

While Mike and Kate are on a Valentine’s date, they run into Julie

17. How Could I Leave Her Behind? S06E14 | #132

Eddie and Mike double date but Eddie’s girl turns out to be Kate.

18. Meet the Seavers S06E21 | #139

Ben wakes up as Jeremy Miller, an actor on the set of the sitcom

19. Menage a Luke S07E17 | #159

Luke falls for a girl who is interested in Ben

20. The Last Picture Show, Part I & II S07E23/24 | #165 & #166

Maggie decides to take a job and move to Washington DC

My Top Five

1. The Triangle & Return of the Triangle

2. The Recruiter

3. Second Chance

4. A Star is Born

5. Nasty Habits