9 Best Clip Show Episodes On TV, Ranked According To IMDb

Back when TV shows had 2o+ episodes in a season, writers had to get creative with their storylines to ensure that they didn’t run out of ideas. This led to the rise of special episodes, bottle episodes, holiday episodes, and the somewhat less popular clip show episode. As the name suggests, clip show episodes utilize past clips from previous episodes of the show that are edited together, often with characters reminiscing on memories or telling a story from the past.

In recent years, clip show episodes have died off, both because of their lack of popularity amongst fans and also because television seasons are much shorter. Still, there are a handful of shows that nailed the clip show episode and made audiences reminiscence alongside their beloved characters.

9 Scrubs – “My Night To Remember” (Season 6, Episode 11) – 5.5

Scrubs is iconic for several reasons, including being one of the only sitcoms to take place in a hospital and still be funny. The series also had a historic run, lasting nine seasons and earning 17 Emmy nominations during that time.

During season 6, Scrubs ventured into clip show territory with the episode, “My Night to Remember.” The episode centers around the staff reminiscing about their time at Sacred Heart while trying to help a patient regain his own memory. While not one of the higher-rated episodes of the series, it was still nice for fans to reflect back on past moments.

8 Malcolm In The Middle – “Clip Show #2” (Season 4, Episode 17) – 6.6

While single-cam comedies are the norm now, Malcolm in the Middle is largely credited for starting the trend back in 2000. The show went on to earn seven Emmy Awards over its seven-year run.

While there were two clip show episodes in Malcolm in the Middle, the best was the second one, which aired during season 4. In the episode, Lois and Hal reminiscence on raising their four children as they prepare for the birth of their fifth child. The flashbacks are framed around Lois and Hal updating their will, and although it also wasn’t the best episode of Malcolm in the Middle, it was memorable.

7 The Office – “The Banker” (Season 6, Episode 14) – 6.8

The Office might have pioneered the format and been the funniest mockumentary-style TV show, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t utilize old TV trends like the clip show episode. During season 6, The Office borrowed the trend, framing the episode around a potential buyer who is sent to interview the H.R. department.

Instead of letting Toby conduct the interview and lead the clip segments, Michael Scott has Dwight pretend to be the HR rep leading the banker on an interesting interview that includes some of The Office’s funniest clips.

6 The Golden Girls – “Golden Moments” (Season 3, Episode 18 & 19) – 6.9

Over the course of The Golden Girls’ seven-year run, the show featured 11 clip show episodes, sometimes with multiple in a season. Despite having 11, there was only one clip show episode that fans actually loved and that was the season 3 episode, “Golden Moments.”

Themselves In, Ranked

The two-part episode centers around the ladies reminiscing about their time together after Sophia decides that she’s going to move out to live with her son, Phil. The episode featured clips from 19 episodes, including ones from “The Pilot” and the Christmas episode.

5 The Simpsons – “So It’s Come To This: A Simpson Clip Show” (Season 4, Episode 18) – 7.0

With 33 seasons under its belt, it’s no surprise that The Simpsons has aired six clip show episodes. In fact, it’s shocking that the number isn’t higher, since it’s one of the longest-running television shows to date. Despite the 33 seasons, the most popular clip show episode happened early on, in season 4.

After Homer falls into a coma from an April Fools’ prank gone wrong, the family gathers around him and reminiscences about the happy memories they have about their loveable, idiot father. The episode featured clips from the first three seasons of the show.

4 Friends – “The One With The Invitation” (Season 4, Episode 21) – 7.1

With 10 seasons and 62 Emmy Award nominations, Friends has gone down as one of the best sitcoms of all time. The series also goes down in history for having several extremely popular clip show episodes, like the season 4 episode, “The One With The Invitation.”

As the invitations get sent out for Ross’s wedding to Emily, the gang finds themselves caught in the middle between Rachel and Ross. The clip section of the episode centers around Ross and Rachel both reminiscing about their will-they won’t-they relationship.

3 Seinfeld – “The Chronicle” (Season 9, Episode 21) – 7.3

Seinfeld waited for its final season to lean into the clip show episode, despite having plenty of opportunities to utilize it sooner. However, waiting let them reminisce about their historic nine-season run a week before the finale episode aired to millions of viewers.

The two-part episode starts with the gang getting ready to go to the movies, but Jerry has other plans, breaking the fourth wall to talk to the audience and introduce the clips from the last nine seasons.

2 Friends – “The One With Joey’s Interview” (Season 8, Episode 19) – 7.4

Friends revisited the clip show format in season 8 with the episode, “The One With Joey’s Interview.” The episode revolved around Joey sitting down with a soap opera journalist to discuss the highs and lows of his acting career.

The gang gathers in Central Perk to listen in on the interview upon Joey’s request so they can intervene if things go awry. The episode features over 20 clips from season 1 to season 6, most of them centered around Joey’s acting and how his friends helped him along the way.

1 Friends – “The One Where Chandler Gets Caught” (Season 10, Episode 10) – 8.0

During Friends’ historic tenth and final season, the writers had no choice but to give the fans one last epic clip show episode. The episode starts out ordinarily, with Rachel and Phoebe thinking Chandler is cheating on Monica. However, they soon realize that Chandler was talking to a real estate agent because Chandler and Monica are thinking of moving.

The news sends the friends on a bittersweet trip down memory lane as they share memories about their time together in Monica’s apartment. Despite being the final clip show episode, it only features nine clips from seasons 1 through 6.

About The Author

Danielle Bruncati
(299 Articles Published)

Danielle Bruncati was born and raised in Southern California and has been a story-teller for as long as she can remember. She is currently a freelance writer for ScreenRant and is also pursuing a Master’s Degree in Television Writing and Producing from a top 10 film school. When she’s not writing, Danielle can be found binging the latest sitcom or teen tv series with her dog by her side or walking around Disneyland with a Mickey-shaped snack in hand.

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