thirtysomething

1. S01E01PilotSeptember 29, 1987—Hope and Michael Steadman are still adjusting to parenthood while struggling with money problems and best-friend crises.
2. S01E02The Parents Are Coming, the Parents Are ComingOctober 6, 1987—Hope's anxiety over her parents' impending visit taxes everyone's patience.
3. S01E03HousewarmingOctober 13, 1987—Michael and Hope race to renovate their crumbling mansion for a huge housewarming party.
4. S01E04CouplesOctober 27, 1987—A night out with friends degenerates as Nancy and Elliot's marital woes become apparent.
5. S01E05But Not for MeNovember 3, 1987—Gary and Melissa rekindle their affair; Michael and Hope's first date in months is a disaster.
6. S01E06We Gather TogetherNovember 17, 1987—Hope and Michael plan a quiet Thanksgiving but learn friends are counting on being invited.
7. S01E07Nice Work If You Can Get ItDecember 1, 1987—Before a deadline, Michael and Elliot wrestle with a creativity block; Ellyn develops a crush on an associate.
8. S01E08WeaningDecember 8, 1987—Sensing baby Janey's decreasing dependency on her, depressed Hope decides to go back to work.
9. S01E09I'll Be Home for ChristmasDecember 15, 1987—Michael and Hope argue about whether their infant's first holiday should be Christmas or Hanukkah. A famous photographer shows interest in M
10. S01E10South by SoutheastJanuary 5, 1988—It's a Hitchcockian nightmare as Gary falls in love; as the romance progresses, he begins receiving a series of threats against his life.
11. S01E11TherapyJanuary 12, 1988—Elliot and Nancy seek professional help for their troubled marriage; Michael finds it hard to keep it a secret.
12. S01E12CompetitionJanuary 19, 1988—Michael's jealousy is aroused when an important client make it clear he prefers Elliot. Meanwhile, Hope and Nancy try to come to terms with
13. S01E13SeparationJanuary 26, 1988—Elliot temporarily moves in with Michael and Hope after separating from Nancy.
14. S01E14I'm in Love, I'm in Love, I'm in Love with a Wonderful GynecologistFebruary 2, 1988—Competing for the attention of the same man jeopardizes the new found friendship between Ellyn and Melissa.
15. S01E15Business as UsualFebruary 9, 1988—Michael's hopes for a joyous reunion with his father are destroyed when he discovers the real reason for the visit.
16. S01E16Accounts ReceivableMarch 1, 1988—A rocky relationship between Michael and his brother Brad is further strained when Michael learns the family business is almost bankrupt.
17. S01E17Whose Forest Is This?March 15, 1988—Nancy and Elliot's separation takes its toll on their son; Elliot prepares for a blind date with a chiropractor.
18. S01E18Nancy's First DateMarch 22, 1988—Melissa's burgeoning romance slows when she learns he doesn't want any more kids. Nancy has her first date since the separation.
19. S01E19UndoneApril 12, 1988—Michael's old girlfriend from college pays a visit.
20. S01E20TenureMay 3, 1988—Gary evaluates the fate of his academic career as he undergoes tenure review at the college. Ellyn learns her building is going co-op, leavi
21. S01E21Born to Be MildMay 10, 1988—Ellyn and Woodman's weekend is ruined when they are forced to babysit Janey.

Season 1 ranked & reviewed

1. S02E01We'll Meet AgainDecember 6, 1988—As she and Michael argue about her working and having another child, Hope learns about some previous tenants of their house. Hope is making
2. S02E02In Re: the Marriage of WestonDecember 13, 1988—Things get complicated between Elliot and Nancy as they moved toward finalizing their divorce. They both try to establish new relationships.
3. S02E03The Mike Van Dyke ShowDecember 20, 1988—As Christmas and Hanukkah near, Hope suffers a minor injury and an unknown illness. Michael has a crisis of faith and imagines his life as a
4. S02E04Trust MeJanuary 3, 1989—Melissa and Gary consider having a child together. Gary volunteers his time at a social services center, where he is irritated by and attrac
5. S02E05No PromisesJanuary 10, 1989—Ellyn tries to deal with the shock of her parents' divorce and her growing estrangement from Woodman. Ellyn is shocked to receive a call fr
6. S02E06PoliticsJanuary 17, 1989—CAPSULE: Michael takes on a client that he, his wife and his friends find repugnant. Gary and Susannah's odd relationship continues to grow.
7. S02E07SuccessJanuary 31, 1989—Melissa gets a job working with Carly Simon. Michael and Elliot face losing their business. Melissa is excited--Russell has shown some of h
8. S02E08First Day / Last DayFebruary 7, 1989—Flashback scenes of Michael and Elliot meeting, working together, and forming their own company are interspersed with the present-day dissol
9. S02E09About Last NightFebruary 14, 1989—Gary and Susannah try to figure out what to do when they finds out that she's pregnant. Nancy misses a publishing deadline for her book.
10. S02E10Elliot's DadFebruary 28, 1989—CAPSULE: Elliot gets involved with his wayward father. Ethan suffers an injury. Elliot goes to see his divorced father Charlie who is in to
11. S02E11Payment DueMarch 7, 1989—CAPSULE: Ellyn's work and personal life take a great toll on her, both physically and emotionally. Ellyn has been suffering from an unknown
12. S02E12DeliveranceMarch 21, 1989—CAPSULE: Ellyn, Nancy, Hope and Melissa go on a cathartic camping trip. Melissa gets some camping equipment as a payoff for a photo shoot a
13. S02E13Michael Writes a StoryApril 4, 1989—Michael takes a creative writing class, as does Nancy. Michael incurs Nancy's wrath when he writes about something he heard about her in con
14. S02E14New JobApril 11, 1989—CAPSULE: Hope suffers a miscarriage just as Michael and Elliot begin work for Miles Drentell at DAA. Elliot and Michael are in Miles Drente
15. S02E15Be a Good GirlApril 25, 1989—CAPSULE: Melissa must deal with her aging grandmother who wants her to take over her business. Melissa is preparing to go to her parents fo
16. S02E16Courting NancyMay 2, 1989—CAPSULE: Nancy pursues her relationship with Matt, but Elliot makes a concerted effort to win her back. Elliot returns the kids to Nancy an
17. S02E17Best of EnemiesMay 16, 1989—CAPSULE: Hope is writing an article that could affect Susannah's Race St. Project, driving a wedge between her and Gary. Gary and Susannah

Season 2 ranked & reviewed

1. S03E01Nancy's MomSeptember 19, 1989—CAPSULE: Nancy's and Elliot move closer to a reconciliation, to the disapproval of her visiting mother Eleanor. Elliot and Nancy are spendi
2. S03E02Love and SexOctober 3, 1989—CAPSULE: While she and Michael are having problems of their own, Hope gets involved in the love life of her teenaged babysitter. Hope and M
3. S03E03Mr. RightOctober 10, 1989—CAPSULE: Ellyn and Melissa try using a video dating service. Melissa is unexpectedly attracted to a younger man she meets. Ethan must kiss a
4. S03E04New BabyOctober 24, 1989—CAPSULE: Susannah and Gary become new parents after a difficult delivery. Melissa has a hard time accepting Gary's new status. In a story t
5. S03E05LegacyOctober 31, 1989—Elliot and Michael have a close encounter with disaster on an airplane. Hope's employer, the magazine Synergy, is being taken over and will
6. S03E06StrangersNovember 7, 1989—CAPSULE: Melissa must come to terms with the problems she has over the age difference with Lee. Their relationship is paralleled by a new on
7. S03E07PilgrimsNovember 21, 1989—CAPSULE: Elliot reunites with his family, but Ethan is still full of anxiety which manifests itself as fear for his safety. Elliot moves ba
8. S03E08The Burning BushNovember 28, 1989—CAPSULE: Ellyn takes steps toward starting an affair with Jeffrey Milgrom. Hope begins work on an environmental project. Ellyn and Hope's pr
9. S03E09New ParentsDecember 5, 1989—CAPSULE: Gary's decision to quit teaching and stay at home with his new baby causes a conflict between him and his mother. Gary and Susanna
10. S03E10Michael's CampaignDecember 12, 1989—CAPSULE: Michael crosses swords with the creative director at DAA. Hope gets more involved with her environmental project. At DAA, Michael
11. S03E11Pulling AwayJanuary 9, 1990—CAPSULE: Michael is given more responsibility at DAA, causing friction between him and Elliot. Hope also has to take some responsibility wit
12. S03E12Another CountryJanuary 16, 1990—CAPSULE: Just as her children's book is published, Nancy is diagnosed with ovarian cancer. On a typical madhouse morning at the Weston hous
13. S03E13Post-OpJanuary 23, 1990—CAPSULE: Nancy, family and friends deal with the aftermath of her cancer surgery. Nancy has come out of surgery and Elliot calls the Steadm
14. S03E14Once a MermaidFebruary 6, 1990—CAPSULE: Ellyn restarts her affair with Richard, this time in earnest. Ellyn seems to be putting her flirtation with Jeffrey behind her, as
15. S03E15Fathers and LoversFebruary 13, 1990—CAPSULE: Melissa has conflicts with Lee over finding him a new job and with her father over his plans to buy her building. At a dinner with
16. S03E16Her Cup Runneth OverFebruary 20, 1990—CAPSULE: Richard leaves his wife and takes his daughter and moves in with Ellyn. This new instant family experiences some rough times right
17. S03E17Good Sex, Bad Sex, What Sex, No SexFebruary 27, 1990—CAPSULE: Against the background of an examination of the characters' sex lives, Melissa and Lee break up. Melissa and Lee's sex life is goi
18. S03E18The Other ShoeMarch 20, 1990—CAPSULE: Nancy finds new support from another cancer patient, but their relationship threatens her closeness with her own family. Nancy has
19. S03E19The Three Year ItchApril 3, 1990—CAPSULE: While in Washington, DC about a possible job, Hope almost cheats on Michael with John Dunaway. While Michael has gotten a big rais
20. S03E20I'm Nobody, Who Are You?April 10, 1990—
21. S03E21ArizonaApril 17, 1990—CAPSULE: Michael and Hope's relationship is deteriorating as they gather to attend her parents' anniversary celebration. Hope informs Micha
22. S03E22Going LimpMay 1, 1990—CAPSULE: Elliot gets a chance to direct a public service announcement, but is he capable of doing the job? Ellyn comes to DAA with a reques
23. S03E23Towers of Zenith Part 1: The Go-BetweenMay 15, 1990—CAPSULE: As Elliot grows more dissatisfied with DAA, Michael finds out something that could change everything about the company. Miles plan
24. S03E24Towers of Zenith Part 2: Samurai AdmanMay 22, 1990—CAPSULE: Michael's career is on the line as the hostile takeover attempt of DAA heats up. As Minnesota Brands plots its hostile takeover of

Season 3 ranked & reviewed

1. S04E01Prelude to a BrisSeptember 22, 1990—CAPSULE: The decision whether or not to circumcise the newborn Leo brings up larger questions: is he Jewish and what does that mean? Hope g
2. S04E02Life ClassOctober 2, 1990—CAPSULE: Nancy feels that the hysterectomy has adversely affected her sex drive. Shots of Nancy teaching a class at the art center are inte
3. S04E03ControlOctober 9, 1990—CAPSULE: Melissa starts a fledgling relationship with Miles. Ellyn and Jeffrey look for a new apartment. Melissa gets a job photographing f
4. S04E04The DistanceOctober 16, 1990—CAPSULE: An offer of a new job for Susannah leads to her and Gary taking a bold and unexpected step in their relationship. Ellyn finds out t
5. S04E05The Haunting of DAAOctober 30, 1990—CAPSULE: Amidst a big company layoff, Michael is visited by a mystery man. It's Halloween time and Ethan is fighting with his mother. He wa
6. S04E06The Guilty PartyNovember 13, 1990—CAPSULE: Hope tries to do it all, including throwing a surprise birthday party for Michael. Her relentless perfectionism might be rubbing of
7. S04E07Photo OpportunityNovember 27, 1990—CAPSULE: Melissa gets a big photo assignment at the same time that her mother breaks her leg. Melissa is ecstatic about a job she's up for,
8. S04E08Never BetterDecember 4, 1990—CAPSULE: The ""friends of friends"" Gary and Ellyn become closer, but it's Billy Sidel that Ellyn is really interested in. Ellyn haltingly
9. S04E09Guns & RosesDecember 11, 1990—CAPSULE: Nancy's continuing treatment for her cancer places more and more of a strain on her and her family. Nancy gets a phone call one mo
10. S04E10Happy New YearDecember 18, 1990—CAPSULE: Everyone gathers at the Steadman house for a New Year celebration. Gary and Melissa help Hope prepare for the night's New Year's E
11. S04E11Melissa and MenJanuary 8, 1991—As she prepare for a gallery exhibit devoted to her work, Melissa examines her past relationships with the men in her life and wonders why t
12. S04E12Advanced BeginnersJanuary 22, 1991—While Ellyn and Billy are living together temporarily, an old girlfriend of Billy's arrives upon the scene, causing some problems.
13. S04E13Sifting the AshesFebruary 5, 1991—On a business trip to Baltimore, Elliot confronts issues with his mother and with his religious faith. Ethan too is wondering if religious f
14. S04E14A Second LookFebruary 12, 1991—Amidst the celebration over the success of Nancy's cancer surgery, a terrible and unexpected tragedy strikes another member of the group.
15. S04E15Fighting the ColdFebruary 19, 1991—Susannah returns for Gary's funeral. Melissa is an emotional wreck in the aftermath. She and Susannah come to terms with each other.
16. S04E16The Difference Between Men and WomenFebruary 26, 1991—Bachelor and bachelorette parties for Billy and Ellyn provide the backdrop for a look at the various couples' relationships with each other
17. S04E17The WeddingApril 9, 1991—Ellyn and Billy get married. Predictably, all does not go smoothly, as Ellyn gets a bad case of pre-wedding jitters.
18. S04E18Closing the CircleApril 16, 1991—Michael tries to come to terms with Gary's passing. Among the living, he has problems with Susannah and with Miles and Peter at work.
19. S04E19Out the DoorApril 30, 1991—Michael's fortunes seem to be rising at DAA, but Elliot is more dissatisfied than ever and is ready to quit the job, leading to conflict bet
20. S04E20HopelessMay 7, 1991—Hopr volunteers at a shelter for the homeless and gets personally involved in the life of a woman and her daughter there. She accuses Michae
21. S04E21A Stop at WilloughbyMay 14, 1991—The stress of working at DAA becomes too much for Michael.
22. S04E22Melissa in WonderlandMay 21, 1991—Melissa goes to Hollywood to photograph a sitcom star who comes to rely on her advice.
23. S04E23CaliforniaMay 28, 1991—Michael gets a job offer in California. While out there, he runs into Elliot and they talk about forming another partnership. But Hope is ad

Season 4 ranked & reviewed