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The Best Episodes of American Playhouse Season 1

Every episode of American Playhouse Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of American Playhouse Season 1!

Binge this in 1d 1h•Peaking at 8.1/10

American Playhouse is an anthology television series periodically broadcast by Public Broadcasting Service in the United States.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    American Playhouse Season 1 Episode 1 - The Shady Hill Kidnapping
    7.8/10(22 votes)

    #1 - The Shady Hill Kidnapping

    S1:E1

    John Cheever's comedy of a supposedly kidnapped 5-year-old boy. At first the police aren't interested until a ransom note is discovered. Then the town goes into action to support the finding of Toby.

    Director:Paul Bogart
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. American Playhouse Season 1 Episode 2 - King of America
    4.2/10(30 votes)

    #2 - King of America

    S1:E2

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. American Playhouse Season 1 Episode 3 - Seguin
    6.3/10(56 votes)

    #3 - Seguin

    S1:E3

    No description available

    Director:Jesús Salvador Treviño
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. American Playhouse Season 1 Episode 4 - Who Am I This Time?
    7.6/10(896 votes)

    #4 - Who Am I This Time?

    S1:E4

    From a short story by Kurt Vonnegut. Christopher Walken is a shy hardware store employee. But whenever he takes a part in a local amateur theater production, he becomes the part completely--while on screen. Susan Sarandon is new in town, a lonely itenerant telephone company employee. On a whim, she auditions for and gets the part of Stella to Walken's Stanley when the theater group does A Streetcar Named Desire. Before anyone realizes the problem, she falls deeply in love with the sexy brute, not knowing what the real man is like.

    Director:Jonathan Demme
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. American Playhouse Season 1 Episode 5 - Any Friend of Nicholas Nickleby Is a Friend of Mine
    7.0/10(52 votes)

    #5 - Any Friend of Nicholas Nickleby Is a Friend of Mine

    S1:E5

    No description available

    Director:Ralph Rosenblum
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. American Playhouse Season 1 Episode 6 - Come Along With Me
    6.1/10(85 votes)

    #6 - Come Along With Me

    S1:E6

    Mabel Lederer is a recently widowed woman who sells all her belongings and leaves her home to start a new life. Mabel believes she has powers to see into the future and to conduct seances. She changes her name to 'Angela Motorman' and moves into a boarding house where she interacts with the strange residents.

    Director:Joanne Woodward
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. American Playhouse Season 1 Episode 7 - For colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf
    8.1/10(91 votes)

    #7 - For colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf

    S1:E7

    No description available

    Director:Oz Scott
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. American Playhouse Season 1 Episode 8 - Echoes and Silences
    7.4/10(17 votes)

    #8 - Echoes and Silences

    S1:E8

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. American Playhouse Season 1 Episode 9 - Fifth of July
    8.0/10(156 votes)

    #9 - Fifth of July

    S1:E9

    No description available

    Director:Kirk Browning
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. American Playhouse Season 1 Episode 10 - The Great American Fourth of July and Other Disasters
    7.6/10(268 votes)

    #10 - The Great American Fourth of July and Other Disasters

    S1:E10

    The Great American Fourth of July and Other Disasters is a 1982 comedy drama TV movie written by Jean Shepherd and directed by Richard Bartlett.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. American Playhouse Season 1 Episode 11 - Pilgrim Farewell
    7.8/10(49 votes)

    #11 - Pilgrim Farewell

    S1:E11

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. American Playhouse Season 1 Episode 12 - Northern Lights
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #12 - Northern Lights

    S1:E12

    No description available

    Director:Rob Nilsson
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. American Playhouse Season 1 Episode 13 - Medal of Honor Rag
    7.6/10(18 votes)

    #13 - Medal of Honor Rag

    S1:E13

    No description available

    Director:Lloyd Richards
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. American Playhouse Season 1 Episode 14 - Working
    7.2/10(79 votes)

    #14 - Working

    S1:E14

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. American Playhouse Season 1 Episode 15 - Weekend
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #15 - Weekend

    S1:E15

    Weekend is a TV episode of American Playhouse directed by Paul Bogart.

    Director:Paul Bogart
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. American Playhouse Season 1 Episode 16 - Private Contentment
    7.7/10(19 votes)

    #16 - Private Contentment

    S1:E16

    No description available

    Director:Vivian Matalon
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. American Playhouse Season 1 Episode 17 - My Palikari
    7.7/10(50 votes)

    #17 - My Palikari

    S1:E17

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. American Playhouse Season 1 Episode 18 - Oppenheimer (1)
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #18 - Oppenheimer (1)

    S1:E18

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. American Playhouse Season 1 Episode 19 - Oppenheimer (2)
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #19 - Oppenheimer (2)

    S1:E19

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. American Playhouse Season 1 Episode 20 - Oppenheimer (3)
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #20 - Oppenheimer (3)

    S1:E20

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. American Playhouse Season 1 Episode 21 - Oppenheimer (4)
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #21 - Oppenheimer (4)

    S1:E21

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. American Playhouse Season 1 Episode 22 - Oppenheimer (5)
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #22 - Oppenheimer (5)

    S1:E22

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. American Playhouse Season 1 Episode 23 - Oppenheimer (6)
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #23 - Oppenheimer (6)

    S1:E23

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. American Playhouse Season 1 Episode 24 - Oppenheimer (7)
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #24 - Oppenheimer (7)

    S1:E24

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. American Playhouse Season 1 Episode 25 - The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez
    7.0/10(1123 votes)

    #25 - The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez

    S1:E25

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"The Shady Hill Kidnapping" is the best rated episode of "American Playhouse" season 1. It scored 7.8/10 based on 22 votes. Directed by Paul Bogart and written by Unknown, it aired on 1/12/1982. This episode is rated 3.6 points higher than the second-best, "King of America".