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The Best Episodes of The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1

Every episode of The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1!

Binge this in 10h 25m•Peaking at 8.7/10

Bud and Lou are unemployed actors living in Mr. Fields’ boarding house. Lou’s girlfriend Hillary lives across the hall. Many situations arise leading to slapstick and puns.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 24 - The Actors' Home
    8.7/10(89 votes)

    S1:E24

    Bud is taken away to an old actors' home where he and Lou perform their famous "Who's on first?" routine.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Sid Fields

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  2. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 14 - Hungry
    8.4/10(69 votes)

    S1:E14

    Bud and Lou visit a couple of restaurants. In one they become involved with twin waitresses. In the other, Lou has a battle with an oyster.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Sid Fields

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  3. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 15 - The Music Lovers
    8.4/10(75 votes)

    S1:E15

    Lou attempts to impress Hillary and her father with his musical abilities. While pretending to perform, Bud falls asleep and ruins the scheme.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Sid Fields

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  4. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 16 - The Politician
    8.3/10(68 votes)

    S1:E16

    Bud coaches Lou on running for public office, a political campaign that ends with Lou delivering a disastrous speech in a neighborhood park.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Sid Fields

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  5. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 18 - Getting a Job
    8.3/10(74 votes)

    S1:E18

    Bud and Lou are hired to deliver hats to the Susquehanna Hat Company on Floogle Street and encounter several lunatics on the way. Also, Stinky attempts to kill Lou by backing him into traffic. The "Loafing" routine is performed.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Sid Fields

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  6. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 8 - The Army Story
    8.2/10(81 votes)

    S1:E8

    Bud and Lou join the Army, where they recreate their routines from the feature film 'Buck Privates.' "Drill Routine" and "Dice Game" are performed.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Sid Fields

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  7. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 10 - The Charity Bazaar
    8.2/10(78 votes)

    S1:E10

    Bud and Lou participate in Hillary's charity bazaar, raising money with the "shell game." Lou blows his money at the kissing booth.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Sid Fields

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  8. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 3 - Jail
    8.1/10(103 votes)

    S1:E3

    Lou damages Mrs. Crumbcake's waterpail and she drags him into court claiming .79 cents in damages. In jail, Lou's crazed cellmate becomes enraged whenever he hears "Niagara Falls."

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Eddie Forman

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  9. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 7 - The Vacuum Cleaner Salesman
    8.1/10(88 votes)

    S1:E7

    Bud and Lou visit an employment agency run by Mr. Fields' brother, who gives Lou a job selling vacuum cleaners door to door.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Sid Fields

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  10. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 9 - Pots and Pans
    8.1/10(75 votes)

    S1:E9

    Working as a door-to-door cookware salesman, Lou prepares a dinner for his friends in hopes of moving some product. However, his honest culinary efforts are met with disaster.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Sid Fields

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  11. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 22 - Las Vegas
    8.1/10(64 votes)

    S1:E22

    Bud and Lou pay $90 for a car and head for Las Vegas, where Lou takes part in a violent game of billiards. The "mudder/fodder" routine is performed.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Sid Fields

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  12. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 12 - The Haunted House
    8.0/10(89 votes)

    S1:E12

    Hillary will inherit a castle if she spends one night there. Bud and Lou come along with her for protection and Lou is scared out of his mind by frightful encounters.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writers:Eddie Forman, Sid Fields

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  13. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 13 - Peace and Quiet
    8.0/10(76 votes)

    S1:E13

    Lou sleeps all day but can't sleep at night. Bud takes him to see a psychiatrist. Eventually Bud checks him into a sanitarium for a night's rest. "Crazy House" is performed.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Eddie Forman

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  14. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 17 - The Wrestling Story
    8.0/10(77 votes)

    S1:E17

    Lou and Stinky agree to settle their differences with a wrestling match. When Stinky becomes ill, his little brother Ivan the Terrible takes his place.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Sid Fields

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  15. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 21 - The Television Show
    8.0/10(73 votes)

    S1:E21

    Lou is a contestant on a TV quiz show where he wins a pack of bubblegum. Their neighbor slips on a piece of gum and takes them to court.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Sid Fields

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  16. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 23 - Little Old Lady
    8.0/10(60 votes)

    S1:E23

    Bud and Lou attempt to help an old lady who has been evicted. They raise $300 and she uses the money to bet on a racehorse.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Sid Fields

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  17. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 26 - Safari
    8.0/10(60 votes)

    S1:E26

    When Bingo gets sick, the whole gang travels to Africa to find his parents.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Sid Fields

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  18. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 19 - Bingo the Chimp
    7.9/10(69 votes)

    S1:E19

    Mike the Cop tells Lou that he must have a license for his pet chimp. But Lou accidentally applies for a marriage license.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Sid Fields

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  19. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 20 - Hillary's Birthday
    7.9/10(72 votes)

    S1:E20

    While shopping for Hillary's birthday present, Lou nearly destroys a grocery store. Later, at her party, Mr. Fields becomes upset about the noise.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Sid Fields

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  20. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 6 - Alaska
    7.8/10(90 votes)

    S1:E6

    When news arrives that Lou's uncle has struck gold in Alaska, Bud and Lou plan to help him spend it.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Eddie Forman

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  21. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 11 - The Western Story
    7.8/10(75 votes)

    S1:E11

    Bud and Lou accept Hillary's invitation to visit her uncle's B-Bar-Bop ranch.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writers:Eddie Forman, Sid Fields

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  22. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 25 - Police Rookies
    7.8/10(61 votes)

    S1:E25

    Mike the Cop helps Bud and Lou enroll in the Police Rookie School, where Lou blows up the gymnasium while playing with a hand grenade.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Sid Fields

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  23. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 1 - The Drug Store
    7.7/10(142 votes)

    S1:E1

    Bud and Lou find jobs in Fields' drugstore and nearly wreck the place. This episode opens with the famous "Jonah and the Whale" routine.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Sid Fields

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  24. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 2 - The Dentist's Office
    7.7/10(119 votes)

    S1:E2

    When Lou gets a toothache he attempts to get arrested so he can receive free treatment while incarcerated.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Sid Fields

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  25. The Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 Episode 5 - The Birthday Party
    7.6/10(93 votes)

    S1:E5

    Lou throws a birthday party for himself, but nearly poisons his guests when he puts ant paste on his hors d'oeurves instead of anti pasto. Bud throws him out and Lou consoles himself by ordering a giant decorated cake.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writer:Eddie Forman

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"The Actors' Home" is the best rated episode of "The Abbott and Costello Show" season 1. It scored 8.7/10 based on 89 votes. Directed by Jean Yarbrough and written by Sid Fields, it aired on 5/15/1953. This episode is rated 0.3 points higher than the second-best, "Hungry".