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The Worst Episodes of Eight Is Enough

Every episode of Eight Is Enough ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Eight Is Enough!

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Eight Is Enough is an American television comedy-drama series that ran on ABC from March 15, 1977, until August 29, 1981. The show was modeled after syndicated newspaper columnist Thomas Braden, a real-life parent with

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  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Eight Is Enough Season 3 Episode 27 - Marriage and Other Flights of Fancy (2)
    5.3/10(37 votes)

    #1 - Marriage and Other Flights of Fancy (2)

    S3:E27

    Tom finally realizes his dream of being a published author when a magazine prints his short story, but finds it published in a man's magazine more famous for its ""illustrations"" than its literature. David and Janet announce their engagement but David leaves Janet and takes off on a cross-country trip when he gets cold feet. Elizabeth is paired with a real nerd for a make-believe marriage assignment at school.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Eight Is Enough Season 5 Episode 7 - Maltese Airline Bag
    5.5/10(34 votes)

    #2 - Maltese Airline Bag

    S5:E7

    Nicholas and his friend, Melvin, start a messenger service to earn money and get more than they bargained for. One of their first deliveries turns out to be an airline bag full of money to be used for political bribes. David is frustrated when another construction company keeps underbidding him. Abby and Donna plan a surprise party for Tom.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Eight Is Enough Season 2 Episode 23 - Long Night's Journey into Day
    5.9/10(36 votes)

    #3 - Long Night's Journey into Day

    S2:E23

    Abby suffers a concussion when she falls off a ladder. Tha Bradfords take turns keeping Abby awake by telling her stories and sharing memories, which are flashbacks from previous episodes.

    Director:Philip Leacock
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Eight Is Enough Season 5 Episode 8 - Strike
    5.9/10(31 votes)

    #4 - Strike

    S5:E8

    Caught up in a newspaper strike and laid-off, Tom tries to bring the feuding parties together thanks to something Nicholas says about giving and compromise. To save everyone money, Nicholas starts a barter system for the family. The Bradford's have a five car pile-up in their driveway.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Eight Is Enough Season 5 Episode 12 - David's Rib
    6.0/10(32 votes)

    #5 - David's Rib

    S5:E12

    Joannie involves David in the renovation of an old opera house. However, Janet is the legal counsel for the developer who wants to build low-income housing on the site. Nicholas gets a horse from Joe Simons and Abby help him find a way to keep it. Merle returns home from the New York Mets, but Susan is too tired from taking care of Sandra Sue to enjoy his visit.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Eight Is Enough Season 4 Episode 25 - Roll Over Bradford
    6.1/10(41 votes)

    #6 - Roll Over Bradford

    S4:E25

    Tom is upset that Tommy hasn't sent in any college applications but Tommy wants to be a musician and is not interested in college. Auntie V brings her new fiance to meet the Bradfords. Auntie V encourages Tommy to pursue his musical dreams. Tommy wants to be a professional musician rather than go to college. Though Tom disagrees, he still is able to encourage him, which brings them closer.

    Director:Stan Lathan
    Writer:Gil Grant

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  7. Eight Is Enough Season 5 Episode 9 - Bradfordgate
    6.1/10(32 votes)

    #7 - Bradfordgate

    S5:E9

    Tom is nominated for a political post by the governor. A political appointment for him ends up more than he can live with. Joannie goes undercover to do a story on a video dating service. Nicholas tries to get rid of his ""cute"" image.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Eight Is Enough Season 3 Episode 9 - Fast and Loose
    6.2/10(45 votes)

    #8 - Fast and Loose

    S3:E9

    David starts living gangerously after a close friend dies oif a heart attack at a young age. The kids try to help and eventually David cleans up his act. Nicholas tries to help by offering David a kitten from a litter of a stray cat he has taken kn. He soon discovers that the cat is pregnant.

    Director:Stan Lathan
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Eight Is Enough Season 5 Episode 22 - Father Knows Best
    6.3/10(33 votes)

    #9 - Father Knows Best

    S5:E22

    Finally ready to be a father, Jeremy's father returns for a visit and wants to take him back to Los Angeles. David relives old memories when four of his old high school buddies return to Sacramento for their 10 year high school reunion. Tom and Abby fight with Jeremy's dad for custody of Jeremy.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Eight Is Enough Season 5 Episode 18 - Idolbreaker (1)
    6.5/10(38 votes)

    #10 - Idolbreaker (1)

    S5:E18

    Just as Tommy's career is about to take off, his old girlfriend returns to tell Tommy she is pregnant after it is announced that his band has been booked for a national tour. Nicholas wins a girl's heart by standing up to a bully. Mary, Nancy, Elizabeth, and Joannie adopt a bum named Max, and bring him home for dinner.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Eight Is Enough Season 4 Episode 22 - Memories
    6.6/10(33 votes)

    #11 - Memories

    S4:E22

    Abby needs time to deal with memories of her late husband after a fellow prisoner of war shows up in Sacramento. She works out her feelings and returns to the family. Nicholas goes steady for the first time, and finds going steady is not all fun when the girl is more interested in the bracelet he gives her than in him. Nancy gets tired of loaning money to the other Bradford children.

    Director:Vincent McEveety
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Eight Is Enough Season 5 Episode 6 - Holly
    6.6/10(33 votes)

    #12 - Holly

    S5:E6

    Ernie introduces Tommy to a slightly older songwriting woman who has a 4-year old son. When he falls for her, she has second thoughts. The Bradford's convert the garage into an apartment for Susan and Merle. Nicholas supervises the conversion job. Jeremy begins to feel like part of the family when Abby enrolls him in school and Tom makes him follow the household rules.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Gil Grant

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  13. Eight Is Enough Season 5 Episode 20 - Starting Over
    6.6/10(30 votes)

    #13 - Starting Over

    S5:E20

    Jeremy is suspicious when he finds a skull while digging in the garden. David and Janet consider getting back together. Nicholas assumes he's a shoo-in for the basketball team when Elizabeth dates the coach.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Eight Is Enough Season 3 Episode 25 - The Final Days
    6.7/10(34 votes)

    #14 - The Final Days

    S3:E25

    Abby and the children are frustrated when they are trying to study for finals and a youth-oriented article Tom wrote in his column runs into trouble with a senior citizen and inspires a picket line in their front yard. Elizabeth panics when she discovers she has to take an algebra final. Tommy puts a band together after hearing that the prom committee will pay $300 for a band.

    Director:Vincent McEveety
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Eight Is Enough Season 5 Episode 3 - Jeremy
    6.7/10(39 votes)

    #15 - Jeremy

    S5:E3

    Abby goes to a funeral in San Francisco and returns with her nephew, Jeremy, who has nowhere else to go. His behavior upsets the family, referring the Bradfords as that other family (The Brady Bunch), but all ends well as he becomes the newest member of the Bradfords. Joannie is promoted to sports anchor. Nicholas gets into trouble for selling peeks at Mary's medical books.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Eight Is Enough Season 5 Episode 14 - The Way We Were
    6.7/10(32 votes)

    #16 - The Way We Were

    S5:E14

    Tommy and Ernie, back from college with a ""preppy"" look, run into Jill, Tommy's old girlfriend. When Jill picks Ernie over Tommy, David helps him realize that reliving the past is not the real world. David moves into a singles-only apartment building. Upset by Tom's refusal to give him money, Nicholas gets a job delivering a rival newspaper

    Director:Vincent McEveety
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Eight Is Enough Season 2 Episode 12 - The Return of Auntie V
    6.8/10(55 votes)

    #17 - The Return of Auntie V

    S2:E12

    Tom's eccentric sister Auntie V returns for another visit with the Bradfords. She surprises Tom and Abby with a new house as a wedding present. The kids are excited, but as they fix up the house for sale they begin to fall in love with it again. Nancy wants to expand her horizons by going on a cruise with Auntie V. Nancy falls for the estate agent who is trying to sell the Bradford house.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Eight Is Enough Season 3 Episode 23 - The Better Part of Valour
    6.8/10(45 votes)

    #18 - The Better Part of Valour

    S3:E23

    While substitute teaching at the high school, Abby refuses to pass the star basketball player, and troubles begin for Tommy. It's an awkward meeting when Tom meets Janet's parents. Tommy is pressured by the basketball player to get the answers to Abby's test. Tommy learns to stand up for what is right.

    Director:Vincent McEveety
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Eight Is Enough Season 5 Episode 10 - Darlene Dilemma
    6.8/10(34 votes)

    #19 - Darlene Dilemma

    S5:E10

    Abby is proud of the progress one of her students has made and invites her to the house for dinner. Jeremy falls for 16-year-old Darlene, who likes to flirt and cause trouble (shades of Melrose Place), and he refuses to listen to Abby's advice about her. Nancy gets a modeling job as the spokesperson for a shady heating and cooling company. Nicholas tries to impress a 12-year-old girl with his cooking ability.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Eight Is Enough Season 5 Episode 11 - Second Thoughts
    6.8/10(31 votes)

    #20 - Second Thoughts

    S5:E11

    Joannie is tired of not getting any serious assignments at work and Abby encourages her to take a leave of absence to evaluate her career, and falls for a co-worker. Nancy finds out fame has a price when she becomes the ""Sunshine Soda Girl."" Tommy needs a ticket to a rock concert and Nicholas has one to sell.

    Director:Harry Harris
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Eight Is Enough Season 5 Episode 16 - The Best Little Telethon in Sacramento
    6.8/10(34 votes)

    #21 - The Best Little Telethon in Sacramento

    S5:E16

    Jeremy wants to manage Tommy's band and tries to get him a gig. Joannie is chosen to organize a charity telethon and tries to get celebrities to appear on the show. She recruits the family to perform and Nicholas saves the day with his on-the-air speech and performance. David gets a new roommate to save money on the rent.

    Director:Irving J. Moore
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Eight Is Enough Season 3 Episode 24 - Dads, Daughters, Different Drummers
    6.9/10(35 votes)

    #22 - Dads, Daughters, Different Drummers

    S3:E24

    Tom and Abby are surprised to learn that Nicholas is musically talented but Abby is upset when Tom gets him a drum set. Joannie falls for the local drama critic who gave her a good review. Tom thinks he is a phony and tries to break up their romance. An unemployed David decides to open his own construction business and the whole family pitches in to help him

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Eight Is Enough Season 4 Episode 24 - A Matter of Mentors
    6.9/10(31 votes)

    #23 - A Matter of Mentors

    S4:E24

    Joannie gets an important assignment at work but Jeffrey believes that the boss will be expecting a favor in return. Joannie blows her chance at a big story. An experienced reporter makes her his partner and the result is an important scoop. Nicholas has a problem with a bully that he can't hit back. Fed up with the way that Tom divvies up the family's discretionary funds, Tommy takes over budgeting for it.

    Director:Vincent McEveety
    Writers:Chris Manheim, Patricia Green

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  24. Eight Is Enough Season 5 Episode 15 - If The Glass Slipper Fits
    6.9/10(30 votes)

    #24 - If The Glass Slipper Fits

    S5:E15

    Nancy's modeling career is about to take off but she needs to make an important decision as she later finds out she has to pose topless for a jeans ad. Elizabeth is trying to attract Alan Anderson, who only sees her as a friend. David hires Nicholas to find him a new apartment.

    Director:Stan Lathan
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Eight Is Enough Season 5 Episode 17 - Yet Another Seven Days in February
    6.9/10(41 votes)

    #25 - Yet Another Seven Days in February

    S5:E17

    This year it's the boys' turn to meet new women. Tommy dates the daughter of a radio station owner in order to get his band some air time. Jeremy runs himself ragged trying to keep up with a beautiful sports athelete. David dates an older woman, Tommy's date's divorced mother.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Marriage and Other Flights of Fancy (2)" is the worst rated episode of "Eight Is Enough". It scored 5.3/10 based on 37 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 5/9/1979. This episode scored 0.2 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Maltese Airline Bag".