Growing Pains (1985–1992)

1. S01E01PilotSeptember 24, 1985—Maggie goes back to work as a journalist, prompting psychologist Jason to move his office into their home so he can keep his eye on the kids
2. S01E02SpringsteenOctober 1, 1985—Jason embarrasses Mike at a Bruce Springsteen concert when they are interviewed together.
3. S01E03JealousyOctober 8, 1985—Jason fumes when Maggie spends long hours on a toxic waste story with handsome co-worker Fred.
4. S01E04Carol's ArticleOctober 15, 1985—Maggie gives an honest assessment of Carol's writing of an article for her school magazine; Mike and Ben discover track betting.
5. S01E05Superdad!October 29, 1985—Maggie accuses Jason of monopolizing the children.
6. S01E06Mike's Madonna StoryNovember 5, 1985—Mike's infatuation with a Madonna look-alike worries Maggie.
7. S01E07Weekend FantasyNovember 12, 1985—Jason and Maggie want to go to a mountain lodge for a weekend, but are reluctant to leave the kids alone.
8. S01E08Slice of LifeNovember 19, 1985—Coming across a compatibility test in Jason's office, Maggie decides she and Jason should fill it out, but her answers don't tab with his. M
9. S01E09Carol's CrushNovember 26, 1985—Carol develops a crush on a family friend, who thinks of her as his little sister.
10. S01E10Dirt BikeDecember 3, 1985—Mike hurts more than his pride when he takes a nasty fall off a dirt bike that he promised his parents he wouldn't go near.
11. S01E11Standardized TestDecember 10, 1985—Mike doodles on his aptitude test and winds up with an IQ score of 27.
12. S01E12A Christmas StoryDecember 17, 1985—A depressed department store Santa consulting Jason decides to commit suicide by leaping down the Seavers' chimney.
13. S01E13The Love Song of M. Aaron SeaverJanuary 7, 1986—Mike backs out of the family-bowling match so he can date a snobbish girlfriend.
14. S01E14First BloodJanuary 14, 1986—Jason faces off against Ben's hockey coach, who's teaching the boys to play dirty; Mike learns ballroom dancing.
15. S01E15Slice of Life IIJanuary 21, 1986—Maggie casually mentions to Jason that she might be pregnant; Mike acts as a weekend servant to Ben; and Carol wants to divorce her class-pr
16. S01E16The Seavers vs. the CleaversJanuary 28, 1986—The PTA head rejects the Seavers as dance chaperones.
17. S01E17Charity Begins at HomeFebruary 18, 1986—Ben gives Jason a very expensive birthday present, causing speculation on how he can possibly afford it.
18. S01E18ReputationFebruary 25, 1986—Mike writes test answers on his shoe soles.
19. S01E19The Anniversary That Never WasMarch 4, 1986—Maggie's assignment interferes with anniversary plans.
20. S01E20Be a ManMarch 11, 1986—Custodian Mike watches a wild party explode in his home.
21. S01E21Career DecisionMay 6, 1986—Reporter Maggie and psychiatrist Jason both face important career decisions.
22. S01E22Extra LapMay 13, 1986—Mike's practical-joker uncle Bob visits from the hereafter.

Season 1 ranked & reviewed

1. S02E01Jason and the CruisersSeptember 30, 1986—Maggie plans a surprise reunion for Jason's college rock band.
2. S02E02Fast Times at Dewey HighOctober 21, 1986—A new school year brings boredom, bullies, and romantic mix-ups.
3. S02E03Long Day's Journey Into NightOctober 28, 1986—A cheerleader befriends Carol solely to meet Mike.
4. S02E04Call MeNovember 11, 1986—Ben has been calling an X-rated phone service.
5. S02E05Employee of the MonthNovember 18, 1986—Fired Mike hides the truth from his parents.
6. S02E06Dream LoverNovember 25, 1986—Carol spreads rumors about herself and a "hunk".
7. S02E07Do You Believe in Magic?December 2, 1986—A con man sells Mike a "magic" rock.
8. S02E08Jason's RibDecember 9, 1986—A proposed school dress code puts Maggie and Jason at odds.
9. S02E09The KidDecember 16, 1986—Ben invites a street girl home for the holidays.
10. S02E10The Breakfast ClubJanuary 6, 1987—Grounded liar Mike hears Maggie fibbing to her boss.
11. S02E11ChoicesJanuary 13, 1987—Carol has the chance to skip a high-school grade.
12. S02E12Higher EducationJanuary 20, 1987—A girl raises a grade for Mike, then demands payment.
13. S02E13Some Enchanted EveningJanuary 27, 1987—The winter formal causes opposite problems for Carol and Mike.
14. S02E14Thank You, Willie NelsonFebruary 3, 1987—Maggie's quarreling parents come to visit the Seavers.
15. S02E15Thank God It's FridayFebruary 10, 1987—Mike and his friends go to a college party and have to decide whether to use drugs or not.
16. S02E16My Brother, MyselfFebruary 24, 1987—Mike plays Cupid for smitten Ben and his baby sitter.
17. S02E17Jimmy Durante Died for Your SinsMarch 3, 1987—Carol wants to use radio-contest winnings on a nose job.
18. S02E18CarnivalMarch 10, 1987—Maggie's busy schedule leaves Ben feeling neglected.
19. S02E19The Awful TruthMarch 17, 1987—A genealogy assignment unearths a dark family secret.
20. S02E20Born FreeMarch 31, 1987—Airlines passengers Jason and Mike must deliver a baby.
21. S02E21The Long GoodbyeMay 5, 1987—Maggie wants Jason to fire the elderly handyman he hired to fix the furnace, but he refuses because the man is a friend.
22. S02E22Confidentially YoursMay 19, 1987—Jason knows the editor offering Maggie a dream job is a notorious womanizer.

Season 2 ranked & reviewed

1. S03E01AlohaSeptember 18, 1987—The family is stranded in Maui. Ben videotapes Mike and Carol's Hawaiian romances.
2. S03E02Taking Care of BusinessSeptember 22, 1987—Mike uses double talk to sell stereos.
3. S03E03Not Necessarily the NewsSeptember 29, 1987—The family scrambles to help find an out-of-work Maggie a job after she turns into Super Mom, preparing oversize meals and assigning new cho
4. S03E04MichaelgateOctober 6, 1987—Mike is unaware that he's been nominated for student-body president because he's "a sure loser."
5. S03E05Big Brother is Not WatchingOctober 13, 1987—Ben asks Carol's advice on getting a new bike from their parents.
6. S03E06A Star is BornOctober 27, 1987—A star is born when Mike lands a leading role in the school play opposite the lovely Monica.
7. S03E07Gone But Not ForgottenNovember 3, 1987—Burglars hit the Seaver home.
8. S03E08Who's Zoomin' Who?November 10, 1987—Bobby's annoying habits make Carol look elsewhere for the man of her dreams -- just in time for her to notice a new student.
9. S03E09This is Your LifeNovember 17, 1987—During a tonsillectomy, Ben has an out-of-body experience, dreaming that he escapes with a friendly cabbie, only to find a new Ben has repla
10. S03E10Broadway BoundNovember 24, 1987—After their success in the school play, Mike and Monica set their sights on a Broadway audition for ""Our Town.""
11. S03E11The Scarlet LetterDecember 1, 1987—An unearned "A" makes Carol doubt her academic record.
12. S03E12A Reason to LiveDecember 8, 1987—A troubled student named Jill volunteers to work on a school project with Mike and Boner. This, however, is a subterfuge: Jill has been cont
13. S03E13Nasty HabitsDecember 15, 1987—Maggie and Jason try to keep Mike in his room to complete an English paper, but Mike's mind is of course elsewhere.
14. S03E14The Marrying KindJanuary 5, 1988—Reason flies out the window when Bobby and his parents arrive at the Seavers' for dinner and a special announcement -- that Bobby and Carol
15. S03E15State of the UnionJanuary 12, 1988—Maggie fumes over the many irritants that seem to be driving her and Jason apart -- until unexpected news sheds light on the situation.
16. S03E16The Mom Who Knew Too MuchJanuary 26, 1988—Maggie and Carol share confidences at the beauty salon, but later Carol learns to her chagrin that a secret isn't safe with Maggie.
17. S03E17Great ExpectationsFebruary 9, 1988—A letter from the girl he met in Hawaii has Mike scheming to fly to Los Angeles to see her without his parents' knowing.
18. S03E18Dance Fever (1)March 1, 1988—At the school dance, Mike gets a girl and Carol gets raked over the coals. Meanwhile, Ben's adventure goes awry.
19. S03E19Dance Fever (2)March 2, 1988—Great expectations turn sour at the Dewey High dance after Mike hears Lydia's voice; and Ben and Stinky find themselves in a seedy diner eye
20. S03E20Bringing Up BabyMarch 9, 1988—The Seavers begin to make room for baby, relegating Ben to the guest quarters and making the others lament the changes bound to come. Meanwh
21. S03E21The Obscure Objects of Our DesireMarch 30, 1988—Spring-cleaning breathes new life into the family's household objects, and each has a story to tell.
22. S03E22How the West Was Won (1)April 20, 1988—Mike and Boner learn that Coach Lubbock has been fired, prompting them to organize a protest.
23. S03E23How the West Was Won (2)April 26, 1988—Jason, Carol, Mike and Boner are arrested in the demonstration over the dismissal of Coach Lubbock.
24. S03E24Graduation DayMay 4, 1988—At Mike's high-school graduation, family members recall moments when it seemed like his graduation would never take place.

Season 3 ranked & reviewed

1. S04E01Fool for LoveOctober 19, 1988—Ben gets spooked at the prospect of asking a girl to a Halloween party; Jason becomes a disruptive force at Lamaze class.
2. S04E02Season's bestBirth of a SeaverOctober 26, 1988 10.0Maggie goes into labor on Ben's 12th birthday and Ben confesses to a patient at the hospital that he's already feeling crowded.
3. S04E03Family Ties (1)November 2, 1988—Mike has a showdown with Jason over his rights as an 18-year-old college student, and declares his freedom from parental rule.
4. S04E04Family Ties (2)November 9, 1988—Landlord-tenant problems abound when Mike (Kirk Cameron) moves into the storage area over the family garage
5. S04E05Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?November 16, 1988—Jason sends his mother on a cruise to get her mind off her dead husband, but when she returns with a fiancé in tow, Jason finds it hard to a
6. S04E06Homecoming QueenNovember 23, 1988 10.0Carol is chosen for homecoming court.
7. S04E07Nude PhotosNovember 30, 1988—Mike's photography course includes nude studies.
8. S04E08Ben's First KissDecember 7, 1988—Ben throws a party to get to know a girl.
9. S04E09The NannyJanuary 4, 1989—The Seavers hire a nanny for Chrissy.
10. S04E10MandingoJanuary 11, 1989—A travel snafu strands Julie with Mike.
11. S04E11In Carol We TrustJanuary 18, 1989 10.0Carol sneaks out of the house for a date.
12. S04E12Mom of the YearJanuary 25, 1989—Maggie prepares her "Working Mother of the Year" acceptance speech.
13. S04E13Semper FidelisFebruary 1, 1989—Boner flunks out of college and joins the Marines.
14. S04E14Feet of ClayFebruary 8, 1989—Maggie arranges for Ben to meet his favorite rock musician.
15. S04E15Anniversary from HellFebruary 15, 1989—Guests bicker at the Seavers' 20th-anniversary party.
16. S04E16Fortunate SonFebruary 22, 1989—When Mike takes a job at a convenience store, his mother is worried about him working the dangerous night shift; but Mike is more concerned
17. S04E17Double StandardMarch 1, 1989—Jason punishes Carol and Ben unequally for the same offense when they are both caught after sneaking out for dates without permission.
18. S04E18The RecruiterMarch 15, 1989—Carol doesn't want to attend her parents' alma mater.
19. S04E19Show Ninety -- Who Knew?March 22, 1989—Jason intervenes when Mike gets bad grades in psychology.
20. S04E20Second ChanceApril 12, 1989—After Carol disobeys Maggie and Jason by sneaking out to a bar with her college-aged boyfriend Sandy, she learns a valuable lesson when Sand
21. S04E21The Looooove Boat (1)April 26, 1989—Jason's mother plans to wed aboard a cruise ship.
22. S04E22The Looooove Boat (2)May 3, 1989 1.0Jason tries to mend his mother's broken wedding plans.

Season 4 ranked & reviewed

1. S05E01Anger With LoveSeptember 20, 1989—Maggie opposes Mike and Julie's wedding plans.
2. S05E02Mike and Julie's WeddingSeptember 27, 1989—Julie and Mike suffer prenuptial jitters.
3. S05E03Carol Meets the Real WorldOctober 4, 1989—Jason tells Carol to get a job.
4. S05E04Fish BaitOctober 11, 1989—His drama teacher and classmates intimidate Mike.
5. S05E05Teach MeOctober 18, 1989—Carol brings a bogus boyfriend to a family party.
6. S05E06Carol's PapersOctober 25, 1989—An angry Jason confronts Ben and Mike, who gives conflicting versions of how Ben came to sell Carol's old term papers to students at Dewey H
7. S05E07Coughing BoyNovember 1, 1989—Mike is over the moon when he attends an open casting session and wins a part on a TV cop show -- and crushed when his single line is cut in
8. S05E08The New Deal (1)November 8, 1989—Jason gets a promising job offer.
9. S05E09The New Deal (2)November 15, 1989—Jason can't tell Maggie about the job offer.
10. S05E10Paper RouteNovember 22, 1989—Ben assumes Mike's paper route for half the money.
11. S05E11Five GrandNovember 29, 1989—Their grandparents give Mike, Carol and Ben $5,000 each.
12. S05E12Carol's PromotionDecember 6, 1989—Promoted at work, Carol decides against college.
13. S05E13Ben and Mike's Excellent AdventureDecember 13, 1989—Mike takes Ben girl chasing.
14. S05E14The TriangleJanuary 3, 1990—Mike falls for his leading lady.
15. S05E15The Return of the TriangleJanuary 10, 1990—David turns to Mike for help with Kate.
16. S05E16The Home ShowJanuary 17, 1990—The Seavers' reception to raise money for a free mental-health clinic spells disaster when they forget the date of the party and must scramb
17. S05E17Jason vs. MaggieJanuary 24, 1990—Ben asks permission to get his ear pierced, which leads to a serious argument between his parents.
18. S05E18Mike, Kate and JulieJanuary 31, 1990—While on a Valentine's Day dinner date with Kate, Mike runs into Julie at the restaurant.
19. S05E19Mike, the TeacherFebruary 7, 1990—Mike goes to work as a substitute teacher.
20. S05E20Carol in JailFebruary 14, 1990—Carol lands in jail after a minor traffic violation.
21. S05E21Future ShockFebruary 21, 1990—Chrissy becomes a teenager in Maggie's dream, which is influenced by her fear of being an older parent in a sea of youngsters taking their k
22. S05E22CheatingMarch 14, 1990—Ben weighs the pros and cons of cheating after he learns the tricks of the test-passing trade from sly schoolmate Vito.
23. S05E23Mike the DirectorMarch 21, 1990—In a moment of introspection as he prepares to graduate, Mike wrestles with self-doubt about his ability as a director.
24. S05E24Weekend at Mike'sApril 4, 1990—With Jason's wallet missing, the Seavers must rely on others to provide them with room and board while their house is being fumigated.
25. S05E25Ben's MovieApril 25, 1990—Ben casts a girl he likes as the lead in his home movie.
26. S05E26Where There's a WillMay 2, 1990—Jason and Mike head off together to inspect the mountain cabin Jason has inherited from his Uncle George.

Season 5 ranked & reviewed

1. S06E01Mike's ChoiceSeptember 19, 1990—When Mike lands a role in an off-Broadway play, he leaves college to pursue acting full-time in New York City.
2. S06E02Midnight CowboySeptember 26, 1990—Mike is broke and homeless in New York City.
3. S06E03RoommatesOctober 3, 1990—Mike becomes roommates with sister Carol, now a Columbia University student.
4. S06E04Daddy MikeOctober 10, 1990—Mike and his friend Eddie schemingly join "Parents Without Mates" to meet women.
5. S06E05Ben's Sure ThingOctober 17, 1990—At the school's Parents Night, the Seavers learn Ben's been telling his friends that the girl he's dating is promiscuous.
6. S06E06Jason Flirts, Maggie HurtsOctober 24, 1990—A flirty Jason gets jealous when Maggie turns the tables.
7. S06E07Happy HalloweenOctober 31, 1990—The Seavers spend a rainy Halloween night telling ghost stories.
8. S06E08Let's Go Europe (1)November 7, 1990—Jason buys an anniversary trip to Paris from travel agent Mike, who himself wins a European tour that falls apart; Maggie, in Paris, is stru
9. S06E09Let's Go Europe (2)November 14, 1990—Maggie is hospitalized in Paris, while Mike finds himself stuck on the road with an angry customer.
10. S06E10Let's Go Europe (3)November 28, 1990—Mike and Amy continue to bicker their way toward Paris.
11. S06E11Divorce StoryDecember 5, 1990—Jason, happy to see his mother's second marriage crumbling, doesn't want to provide her with professional help.
12. S06E12The World According to ChrissyDecember 19, 1990—Chrissy starts spending much time with her imaginary friend, a six-foot-tall mouse named Ike.
13. S06E13How Could I Leave Her Behind?January 2, 1991—Mike's friend Eddie shows up for a double date with Mike's ex-girlfriend.
14. S06E14Like Father, Like SonJanuary 9, 1991—An an intrafamily communications seminar, Mike and Jason discover just how alike they are.
15. S06E15Ben's Rap GroupJanuary 23, 1991—Jason becomes Ben's business partner in the management of a rap group, but uses the money he's invested to control Ben.
16. S06E16Eddie, We Hardly Knew YeJanuary 30, 1991—Maggie's dad drops in for an unexpected visit, with news of his imminent death.
17. S06E17Maggie Seaver's: The Meaning of LifeFebruary 6, 1991—Jason takes Maggie on a tropical getaway to lift her spirits after her father's death, trusting Chrissy to Mike and Carol.
18. S06E18All the World is a StageFebruary 13, 1991—Mike competes with a well-established actor for a role in a soap opera, learning how tenuous an acting career can be.
19. S06E19Not With My Carol You Don'tFebruary 20, 1991—Though Jason had an insensitive Carol pitch in at the clinic, he objects to her dating an ex-con she meets there.
20. S06E20Meet the SeaversMarch 6, 1991—In an homage to The Twilight Zone, Ben awakens to discover he's Jeremy Miller, an actor on the set of ""Meet the Cleavers"".
21. S06E21Carol's CarnivalMarch 27, 1991—On a blind date shaping up as a disaster, Carol goes to the carnival, and finds unexpected fun and excitement.
22. S06E22Home SchoolingApril 17, 1991—Maggie teaches Ben at home after he is suspended from school.
23. S06E23Viva Las VegasApril 24, 1991—Mike and Kate accompany the eloping Eddie and a hat-check bimbette to Las Vegas, giving Mike and Carol the wrong idea.

Season 6 ranked & reviewed

1. S07E01Back to SchoolSeptember 18, 1991—Mike teaches at an urban high school.
2. S07E02Stop, Luke, and ListenSeptember 25, 1991—Mike gets involved when he learns his prize pupil Luke is homeless.
3. S07E03In Vino VeritasSeptember 28, 1991—Mike persuades Jason and Maggie to let Luke stay with them temporarily; then Jason's wine cellar goes missing.
4. S07E04Paper TigersOctober 5, 1991—Jason and Maggie compete to write a newspaper column; Ben hates his glasses.
5. S07E05The Young and the HomelessOctober 12, 1991—Mike gears up for his big day as a TV soap opera star just as Luke gears up to move out of the Seavers'.
6. S07E06Jason Sings the BluesOctober 19, 1991—Luke is afraid to visit the doctor, so Jason accompanies him -- but it's Jason who turns out to need surgery.
7. S07E07The Kid's Still Got ItOctober 26, 1991—Carol accompanies Maggie to a resort, which turns out to be hosting a singles convention; meanwhile, the all-male weekend planned at home is
8. S07E08There Must Be a PonyNovember 2, 1991—Nouveau riche neighbors move in next door; Ben is forced to look after Luke on his first day of high school; Jason's scheme to let Chrissie
9. S07E09The Big FixNovember 9, 1991—Consumer advocate Maggie raps a vacuum cleaner that Ben broke without telling her.
10. S07E10Home MaloneNovember 14, 1991—The ghost of Maggie's father oversees the Seavers' visit to her childhood home.
11. S07E11Bad Day CafeNovember 23, 1991—While Jason and Maggie are away, the principal informs Mike that Luke's birth father is back in town -- and wants him back.
12. S07E12B=MC²November 30, 1991—Ben crams for a college entrance exam, but gets no help from Jason.
13. S07E13It's Not Easy Being GreenDecember 21, 1991—Christmas brings anger and angst to the Seavers.
14. S07E14The Call of the WildJanuary 4, 1992—Penniless Mike schemes to give Kate a skiing trip.
15. S07E15Honest AbeJanuary 17, 1992—Luke's homeless friend steals a Seaver momento.
16. S07E16Vicious CycleFebruary 1, 1992—Maggie and Jason put Mike on the spot for Luke's curfew problems.
17. S07E17Ménage à LukeFebruary 8, 1992—A love triangle involves Ben, Luke and a classmate.
18. S07E18The Five Fingers of BenFebruary 22, 1992—Tired of being bullies, Ben takes karate lessons.
19. S07E19Don't Go Changin'February 29, 1992—Mike thinks his friend is a bad influence on Luke.
20. S07E20The Truck Stops HereMarch 21, 1992—Luke's father George visits the Seavers hoping that Luke has mellowed a little and would like to spend some time with him but Luke doesn't.
21. S07E21Maggie's Brilliant CareerApril 4, 1992—Maggie wants to fulfill a dream by climbing a mountain.
22. S07E22The Wrath of Con EdApril 11, 1992—A power failure causes dissensions in the Seaver household.
23. S07E23The Last Picture ShowApril 25, 1992—Maggie is offered a plum job in Washington, D.C. The Seavers move to Washington, D.C., but share a final meal and memories in the empty hou

Season 7 ranked & reviewed