The Best Worst

The Best Worst

Welcome to Night Vale's Meg Bashwiner and Joseph Fink consider the Golden Age of Television, at its best and its worst. Each episode, we consider a classic show by watching first its worst IMDB user rated episode, and then its best. What can we learn by watching the best and worst of classic TV? Let's find out together.

Episodes

December 16, 2025 7 mins
Full House 1987-1995 193 episodes Middlest episode: s2 e4 D.J.'s Very First Horse We'd be very mad if Iris snuck a horse into the house but also kind of impressed? To support the show and get access to ad free versions of our episodes and access to our biweekly "The Middlest" episodes, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/TheBestWorst⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ A production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Night...
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Full House 1987-1995 193 episodes Worst episode: s8 e15 My Left and Right Foot Best episode: s4 e11 Secret Admirer Turns out the show with all the kids on it is a kids show. To support the show and get access to ad free versions of our episodes and access to our biweekly "The Middlest" episodes, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/TheBestWorst⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ A production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...
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December 2, 2025 7 mins
The Wire 2002-2008 60 episodes Middlest episode: s2 e9 Stray Rounds The middlest episode of the best show. To support the show and get access to ad free versions of our episodes and access to our biweekly "The Middlest" episodes, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/TheBestWorst⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ A production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Night Vale Presents⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Hosts are ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Me...
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November 25, 2025 54 mins
The Wire 2002-2008 60 episodes Worst episode: s2 e1 Ebb Tide Best episode: s3 e11 Middle Ground When you walk through the garden... To support the show and get access to ad free versions of our episodes and access to our biweekly "The Middlest" episodes, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/TheBestWorst⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ A production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Night Vale Presents⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Hosts ...
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Friends 1994-2004 235 episodes Middlest ep: s8e22 The One Where Rachel Is Late The way we count weeks in a pregnancy is so weird. To support the show and get access to ad free versions of our episodes and access to our biweekly "The Middlest" episodes, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/TheBestWorst⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ A production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Night Vale Presents⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Hosts are...
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November 11, 2025 42 mins
Friends 1994-2004 235 episodes Worst episode: s1 e21 The One with the Fake Monica Best episode: s5 e14 The One Where Everybody Finds Out Oh it turns out this beloved and incredibly popular sitcom is funny. To support the show and get access to ad free versions of our episodes and access to our biweekly "The Middlest" episodes, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/TheBestWorst⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ...
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The West Wing 1999-2006 155 episodes Middlest ep: s2 e15 Ellie Sorry we're late with this one! I blame election day! Which fits with this week's show! To support the show and get access to ad free versions of our episodes and access to our biweekly "The Middlest" episodes, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/TheBestWorst⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ A production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Night Vale Presents⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ...
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October 28, 2025 57 mins
The West Wing 1999-2006 155 episodes Worst episode: s6 e19 Ninety Miles Away Best episode: s2 e10 Noël We can defeat Republicans once and for all if we just say smart things fast enough. To support the show and get access to ad free versions of our episodes and access to our biweekly "The Middlest" episodes, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/TheBestWorst⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ A production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠N...
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Happy Days 1974-1984 255 episodes Middlest episode: s7 e15 Ah, Wilderness You know what's cool is sound stages and live audiences. To support the show and get access to our biweekly "The Middlest" episodes (as well as ad free versions of our main episodes), ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/TheBestWorst⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ A production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Night Vale Presents⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Hosts are ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Me...
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October 14, 2025 44 mins
Happy Days 1974-1984 255 episodes Worst episode: s7 e2 Chachi Sells His Soul Best episode: s2 e11 Guess Who's Coming to Christmas Hey remember how good things were in the 50s if you don't count a bunch of stuff that happened in the 50s To support the show and get access to our biweekly "The Middlest" episodes (as well as ad free versions of our main episodes), ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/The...
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The Twilight Zone 1959-1964 156 episodes Middlest Episode: s3 e4 The Passersby You know, if you really think about it.... To support the show and get access to our biweekly "The Middlest" episodes (as well as ad free versions of our main episodes), ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/TheBestWorst⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ A production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Night Vale Presents⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Hosts are ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Meg Bashwiner⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...
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September 30, 2025 50 mins
The Twilight Zone 1959-1964 156 episodes Worst episode: s4 e18 The Bard Best episode: s2 e6 Eye of the Beholder At one point in this episode I refer to Leonard Cohen as being from the eastern half of the United States when I meant the eastern half of North America. My deepest regrets to all Canadians. To support the show and get access to our biweekly "The Middlest" episodes (as well as ad free versions of our main epi...
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The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air 1990-1996 148 episodes Middlest episode: s2 e16 Geoffrey Cleans Up Can I borrow a cup of Lysol? To support the show and get access to our biweekly "The Middlest" episodes (as well as ad free versions of our main episodes), ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/TheBestWorst⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ A production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Night Vale Presents⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Hosts are ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Meg Bashwiner⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...
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September 16, 2025 49 mins
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air 1990-1996 148 episodes Worst episode: s3 e16 Bundle of Joy Best episode: s4 e24 Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse In which Will Smith's tax bill results in him eventually becoming a movie star. To support the show and get access to our biweekly "The Middlest" episodes (as well as ad free versions of our main episodes), ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/TheBestWorst⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ...
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September 9, 2025 36 mins
We have unlocked this week's Middlest episode so you can hear what they're like. If you like it, please join the Patreon to hear the rest! The Sopranos 1999-2007 86 episodes Middlest episode: s5 e4 All Happy Families I'm just here having my normal snack of wine and peaches. To support the show and get access to the rest of our biweekly "The Middlest" episodes (as well as ad free versions of our main episodes), ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...
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September 2, 2025 59 mins
The Sopranos 1999-2007 86 episodes Worst episode: s4 e3 Christopher Best episode: s5 e12 Long Term Parking Because tramps like us, baby we were born to run To support the show and get access to our biweekly "The Middlest" episodes (as well as ad free versions of our main episodes), ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/TheBestWorst⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ A production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Night Vale Presents⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Hosts are ⁠⁠⁠⁠...
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Sex and the City 1998-2004 94 episodes Middlest ep: s4 e16 Ring a Ding Ding Don't be too proud to accept help!! To support the show and get access to our biweekly "The Middlest" episodes (as well as ad free versions of our main episodes), ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/TheBestWorst⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ A production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Night Vale Presents⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Hosts are ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Meg Bashwiner⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Joseph Fin...
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August 19, 2025 47 mins
Sex and the City 1998-2004 94 episodes Worst episode: s3 e4 Boy Girl Boy Girl Best episode: s4 e2 The Real Me When kissing Alanis Morissette makes you biphobic. To support the show and get access to our biweekly "The Middlest" episodes (as well as ad free versions of our main episodes), ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/TheBestWorst⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ A production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Night Vale Presents⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Hosts are ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...
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Star Trek: The Next Generation 1987-1994 176 episodes Middlest episode: s6 e6 True Q There's a new Q in town, and she's a teen. To support the show and get access to our biweekly "The Middlest" episodes (as well as ad free versions of our main episodes), ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/TheBestWorst⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ A production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Night Vale Presents⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Hosts are ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Meg Bashwiner⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Joseph Fin...
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August 5, 2025 46 mins
Star Trek: The Next Generation 1987-1994 176 episodes Worst episode: s7 e14 Sub Rosa Best episode: s5 ep 25 The Inner Light Ghost sex in Space Scotland. To support the show and get access to our biweekly "The Middlest" episodes (as well as ad free versions of our main episodes), ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/TheBestWorst⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ A production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Night Vale Presents⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Hosts are ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Meg Bashwiner⁠...
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