The following is a list of episodes for the American television sitcom The Partridge Family. All four seasons have been released on DVD by Sony Pictures.
When their mother (Shirley Jones) fills in for a sick singer, The Partridge Family is born. Danny (Danny Bonaduce) persuades Reuben Kincaid (Dave Madden) to manage them and they play their first performance, which might also be their last.
Shirley's dad is having a mid-life crisis and decides to hit the road with the band to pursue his long-lost dream of being a star, but will his act appeal to the new generation?
Shirley begins dating an old flame but the kids are suspicious of him, especially when they see him leave a jewelry store with a beautiful young woman.
Now that their record is out, Keith finds himself with major girl trouble: he cannot keep them away from him! But his troubles really begin when he falls for the one who doesn't care who he is.
Guest stars: Lane Bradbury as Janet, Claire Wilcox as Cathy
While performing in Las Vegas, Danny tutors the beautiful girlfriend of a mob boss in finances so she can leave town and finds himself with a new hit but one that has nothing to do with music.
The Partridge Family is about to leave a different kind of lasting impression on their audience after a skunk hitches a ride on their bus and leaves them . . . and all their clothes . . . covered with the unpleasant scent.
After a mishap onstage leaves the audience laughing, Danny takes it upon himself to provide a little comic relief to their show. Unfortunately, he's not as funny as he thinks he is.
Songs: "Somebody Wants to Love You", "All of the Things"
10
10
"Go Directly to Jail"
Claudio Guzmán
Dale McRaven
November 27, 1970 (1970-11-27)
The Partridge Family find themselves with a captive audience when they perform at a prison, but then find themselves being held captive by a prisoner who wants them to hear his songs.
While Keith struggles with a creative dry spell, Danny attempts to write his first hit. Their sibling rivalry peaks when Danny writes a great song just as Keith has a breakthrough with the exact same tune.
Keith promises his feminist girlfriend that the Partridge Family will perform at an upcoming rally, which puts them under attack from the morality watchdog group in their neighborhood.
When Danny gets singled out in a review by a prominent journalist, the praise goes to his head and he decides to go solo. But he changes his mind when he sees his family happily auditioning for his replacement.
During a stopover in a small town, the Partridges offer to revive the career of a folk legend who's been out of circulation for twenty years, but find that he would rather sing in church than be in the spotlight.
Songs: "I Can Feel Your Heartbeat", "Find Peace in Your Soul"
15
15
"Mom Drops Out"
Harry Falk
Peter Meyerson
January 8, 1971 (1971-01-08)
Reuben books a European tour but there's one condition: the groovy promoter thinks Shirley's too old. She quits the band, but discovers she has fans there after all.
Laurie gets braces right before a television show comes to film the band. As if that isn't bad enough, when they begin to play, her braces pick up radio signals and all she can hear is The Rolling Stones!
Shirley has doubts about what being on the road is doing to the Partridges' lives so she suggests they take a break and start living like a normal family again. But she forgets one thing: they're not a normal family.
Songs: "There's No Doubt in My Mind"; "Umbrella Man"
20
20
"They Shoot Managers, Don't They?"
Peter Baldwin
Gordon Mitchell, Lloyd Turner
February 12, 1971 (1971-02-12)
The Partridges are happy for Reuben when he falls in love and decides to marry, even though his new life doesn't include managing the band – but the band quickly finds they can't manage without him.
Danny forces Keith to put the brakes on his spending when his car drains his finances and he realizes he may not be able to afford to take his girlfriend to the prom.
The Partridges find themselves in the middle of a domestic squabble when they give a ride to a teenage girl—who turns out to be a serial runaway, with the police hot on her trail.
Guest Stars: Laurie Prange as Maggie Newton, Sandy Kenyon as Maggie's Father, Ian Wolfe as Grandpa
Song: "Point Me in the Direction of Albuquerque"
23
23
"Not with My Sister, You Don't!"
Mel Swope
Dale McRaven
March 5, 1971 (1971-03-05)
The rumor mill starts buzzing at school when a hot new guy arrives on campus. Keith initially sees him as a rival until Laurie, who doesn't believe the rumors, accepts a date with the alleged Lothario.
Note: Susan Dey and Michael Ontkean would work together again in the 1993 made-for-TV movie "Whose Child is This? The War for Baby Jessica", based on the then-recent custody fight over a young girl named Jessica DeBoer.
24
24
"A Partridge by Any Other Name"
Harry Falk
Ron Friedman
March 12, 1971 (1971-03-12)
A series of coincidences leads Danny to believe he was adopted and there doesn't seem to be anything anyone can say to convince him he's a natural-born Partridge.
When the Partridges introduce a hip, multi-talented musician to a square, tone-deaf poet, no one expects them to score a hit—but somehow they manage to do just that.
Guest Stars: Bobby Sherman as Bobby Conway and Wes Stern as Lionel Poindexter
Song: "Stephanie"
Notes: This was Jeremy Gelbwaks' final episode as Chris Partridge.
Back-door pilot for the short-lived series Getting Together. An unaired version of this episode, titled "Words And Music", runs 33 minutes, and guest-stars Farrah Fawcett and Pat Boone.
The Partridges learn that Reuben has booked them as backup for a beautiful 18-year-old girl...whose singing voice makes Jean Stapleton sound like Judy Garland.
Guest stars: Robyn Millan as Dora Kelly, Jack Burns as Stillman Kelly
Notes: Brian Forster's first episode as Chris Partridge. This episode debuts "Come On, Get Happy" (which used the same tune as "When We're Singing") as the new opening theme.
In order to boost publicity for the family, Reuben stages a contest in which the winner will spend a week with the Partridges. Unfortunately, the winner is a 60-year-old Jewish mother.
Danny has to have his tonsils out and as the operation approaches, he believes he is going to die. Afterward, he believes he has lost his singing voice.
Guest star: Gary Dubin in his first of several appearances as Danny's best friend Punky Lazaar
Songs: "24 Hours A Day"; "I Woke Up In Love This Morning"
Note: Brian Forster's Chris Partridge is seen autographing a copy of the family's debut LP, "The Partridge Family Album", although it is the first Chris (Jeremy Gelbwaks) in the group photo on the back cover.
When their bus breaks down in a ghost town, it looks like the family will miss Christmas, so a prospector entertains them with a Christmas tale set in the Old West.
A free-spirited girl leaves the Partridges one million dollars, and suddenly their lives are turned upside down as they deal with their newfound wealth.
Danny is in love for the first time. But the 11-year-old girl he would like to ask to the sixth grade dance would rather go with Keith.
Guest Star: Patti Cohoon as Gloria Hickey
Song: "I Would Have Loved You Anyway"
47
22
"The Partridge Papers"
Jerry London
William S. Bickley
March 3, 1972 (1972-03-03)
Danny donates Laurie's diary to the school auction by mistake, and the editor threatens to publish it in the high school paper.
This includes a Mission: Impossible send-up.
A former psychic whose business is in trouble cons Danny and Keith into lending him money by predicting bad luck during an upcoming Partridge Family concert.
Shirley is chosen as "Mother of The Year" by a magazine, but she and the family experience a not-so-smooth journey to the award ceremony in Sacramento.
Guest stars:
Edgar Buchanan as Judge McElwreath, Rick Hurst as Deputy Haynie, Yvonne Wilder as Sheila, Mitzi Hoag as Mrs. Halfussi, Jack Lukes as Driver
Guest stars: Season Hubley as Princess Jennie, Laurie Main as Frederic La Forge, Cecil Turnbow as Hal Buckley, John Bernard as Valentine, Sheldon Lee as Photographer
A days-long rainstorm strands the Partridges in a remote cabin. Tempers flare as the family compete over who will get the two small beds and the meager supply of food.
Guest Stars: Charles Shull as E.J. Whacker
Song: "It Means I'm In Love With You"
59
10
"Ain't Loveth Grand?"
Herb Wallerstein
William S. Bickley
November 17, 1972 (1972-11-17)
Laurie falls for a minister. Her mother fears their relationship is moving too fast.
Notes: This episode saw The Partridge Family surpass the number of episodes of a previous sitcom from Screen Gems concerning a made-for-TV rock band: The Monkees.
Guest Stars: Shelley Morrison as Mrs. Kornegge, Robert B. Williams as Otis Butrum, Mark Lambert as Dale, Jim Connell as Gus Gorney, Ray Buktenica as Assistant Director, Pat Peterson as Guard, Cindy Cassell as Kitty, Claire Wilcox as Cindy
Guest stars: Bert Freed and Lurene Tuttle as Mr. and Mrs. Sharp, Gordon Jump as Father, Donna Lynne as Girl, Marilyn Childs as Mrs. Gibson, Bobby Baum as Ed Hoffsteader, Sari Price as Mother, Susan Neher as Gwen, Robin Raymond as The Woman
Shirley tries to ditch an ardent suitor and his mother.
Guest stars: Gerald Hiken as Dr. Bernie Applebaum, Nancy Walker as Mrs. Applebaum, Donald Phelps as Maitre'D
Song: "One Day At a Time"
64
15
"For Whom the Bell Tolls . . . and Tolls . . . and Tolls"
E. W. Swackhamer
Dale Mcraven
January 12, 1973 (1973-01-12)
After the Partridge home is burglarized, Reuben has a security alarm installed . . . with disastrous results when the alarm keeps getting set off accidentally.
Guest star: Arte Johnson as Morris Dinkler, Nelson D. Cuevas as Officer Metscur, Mel Gallagher as Sam Barner
Laurie is dragged into student court at school when she's caught unwittingly returning a copy of a stolen math test to her teacher.
Guest Stars: Dana Elcar as Mr. Felcher, Noah Keen as Mr. Brown, Eric Laneuville as Judge, Tannis G. Montgomery as Cindy Brown, Jim Wakefield as Brad, Scott Ehrlich as Student, Michelle Cook as Melinda
Song: "It's You"
66
17
"I Left My Heart in Cincinnati"
Bob Claver
Dale McRaven
January 26, 1973 (1973-01-26)
At a gig at the Kings Island amusement park outside Cincinnati, Keith finds himself falling for a PR agent, an older woman; before long, Danny also falls for her.
Danny finds himself in trouble when his friend Punky coerces him into shoplifting.
Guest stars: Henry Jones as Mr. Phelps, Gary Dubin as Punky, Joseph Perry as Police Sergeant, Jack Collins as M.C., Angela Clarke as Myra Fromacher
Song: "I Don't Care"
72
23
"The Selling of the Partridges"
Lee Philips
Steve Zacharias, Michael Leeson
March 9, 1973 (1973-03-09)
Keith finds himself in a hotly contested battle for student-body president with a shy girl for whom Laurie is campaign manager. He finally comes to realize she is more qualified.
Guest star: Holly Near as Phyllis Goldberg, David Dominguez as Ted, Geri Berger as Girl #1, Lori Farrow as Girl #2, Jason Wingreen as Principal, Bobby Kramer as Myron, Ann Carol Pearson as Band Member
Song: "There'll Come A Time"
After becoming a pest tagging along after Keith and Laurie, Danny is encouraged by Shirley to make friends his own age by trying out for the baseball team.
Shirley encourages the kids to be a little nicer to Reuben, but the plan backfires when Reuben mistakes the show of appreciation for bad news from the doctor. Reuben's middle name is revealed to be Clarence.
Keith pulls the classic boner by having two dates for the same night: one of them is the prettiest girl in school, the other a friend of Laurie's.
Guest stars: Elaine Giftos as Bonnie Kleinschmidt, Bobby Kramer as Wally Benton, Cheryl Ladd as Johanna Houser and Cindy Cassell as Sally Winkler
Songs: "Oh No, Not My Baby", "A Little Bit Of Lovin'"
Note: This marks the third appearance by a Charlie's Angels alumna on the series, following up earlier guest roles by Farrah Fawcett and Jaclyn Smith. Cheryl Ladd is shown in the end credits under her maiden name, "Cheryl Stoppelmoor".
Songs: "I Heard You Singing Your Song", "A Secret In My Heart"
84
10
"A Day of Honesty"
Ross Bowman
Lloyd Turner, Gordon Mitchell
November 17, 1973 (1973-11-17)
After Danny gets caught sneaking into a movie theater, Shirley tries teaching him a lesson by enforcing 24 hours of total honesty for the whole family.
Songs: "Roller Coaster", "If I Were A Monkey"
85
11
"Al in the Family"
Charles Rondeau
Bernard Slade, William Bickley
November 24, 1973 (1973-11-24)
Reuben's nephew, an aspiring comedian, tries to fill in for the absent manager, with nightmarish results for the Partridges.
Guest stars: Alan Bursky as Alan Kincaid, Gino Conforti as Maître D'
Reuben's latest discoveries, a twin singing act, split up because of a crush on a girl, Laurie.
Guest stars: Andy and David Williams (nephews of singer Andy Williams), Henry Olek as Skip Radnitz
Songs: "Crying In The Rain", "Say It Again"
89
15
"Danny Drops Out"
Roger Duchowny
Dick Bensfield, Perry Grant
January 26, 1974 (1974-01-26)
Danny decides to drop out of school, and focus on songwriting as a career.
Guest stars: James Gregory as Claude Tubbles, Mitzi Hoag as Miss Farrow, Gary Durbin as Punky Lazaar
Song: "Lookin' For A Good Time"
90
16
"Queen for a Minute"
Ernest Losso
Lloyd Turner, Gordon Mitchell
February 2, 1974 (1974-02-02)
When Laurie's girlfriend is denied a spot on the boys' basketball team, Laurie decides to run for homecoming queen so that people might listen to what she has to say. When Keith and Danny get wind of it, they convince a male friend to challenge her for homecoming queen.
Guest stars: Tracy Brooks Swope (daughter of producer Mel Swope) as Frankie, Ken Swofford as Coach, Chris Beaumont as Jerry Bishop
To impress a Jewish girl, Danny pretends he's Jewish, but when her father, a rabbi, mistakenly believes him, the lie begins to spiral out of control.
Guest stars: Noam Pitlik as Rabbi Ben Stern, Lark Geib as Renee Stern, Gary Durbin as Punky Lazaar
Song: "I Heard You Singing Your Song"
92
18
"Miss Partridge, Teacher"
Roger Duchowny
Art Baer, Ben Joelson
February 23, 1974 (1974-02-23)
Laurie becomes a student-teacher for Danny's class, but becomes more than anyone bargained for when she overcompensates in class to not look like she's favoring him.
Guest stars: Maxine Stuart as Miss Halstead, Gary Durbin as Punky Lazaar
Song: "I Wouldn't Put Nothin' Over You"
93
19
"Keith and Lauriebelle"
Roger Duchowny
Dick Bensfield, Perry Grant
March 2, 1974 (1974-03-02)
Dueling dilemmas come together: Laurie needs to get out of babysitting in order to go skiing, and Keith needs someone to make a girl he's interested in jealous.
Guest stars: Sherry Miles as Karen Bailey, Jack Stauffer as George Parkington
Song: "How Long Is Too Long"
94
20
"Morning Becomes Electric"
Richard Kinon
Lloyd Turner, Gordon Mitchell
March 9, 1974 (1974-03-09)
In an attempt to become a model family for conserving electricity, Danny suggests printing the names of "energy hogs" in the news, but when the Partridge electric meter is read incorrectly, they risk being called "hogs" themselves.
Danny gives his mother a found brooch for her birthday, but when the rightful owner of the brooch turns out to be his teacher, he must try to find a way to give it back.
Guest stars: Liam Dunn as Salesman, Kathryn Reynolds as Mrs. Bullock, Gary Durbin as Punky Lazaar
When an old flame sails into town from the navy, Shirley is smitten, and everyone approves . . . except for Danny, who suspects the sailor has a girl in every port.
A one-hour celebration featuring the casts of The Partridge Family and My Three Sons discussing their current lives and memorable moments from their past shows.