List of Recess episodes
Recess is an American animated television series created by Paul Germain and Joe Ansolabehere (credited as "Paul and Joe") and produced by Walt Disney Television Animation. The series focuses on six elementary school students and their interaction with other classmates and teachers. Recess first aired on ABC from 1997 through to 2001, and reruns aired on Disney Channel in the United States.
The show premiered on August 31, 1997 with the first season spanning 26 episodes. The second season premiered on Saturday, April 11, 1998. Disney brought the show back for a third season of 8 episodes which began on April 10, 1999 premiering on ABC as part of Disney's One Saturday Morning while the fourth season premiered at the same time, but airing on UPN as part of Disney's One Too. Season three was notably shorter than the previous ABC seasons. This was because the staff were busy with Recess: School's Out. Outside of the U.S., the individual 11 minute episodes of season three and season four were weaved together to create one long season. Season five premiered on April 8, 2000 while season six premiered on October 31, 2001 concluding the series with the last episode airing June 30, 2002.
It had a crossover with Lilo & Stitch: The Series in 2006.
Series overview
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season premiere | Season finale | |||
| 1 | 26 | August 31, 1997 | January 17, 1998 | |
| 2 | 25 | April 11, 1998 | February 27, 1999 | |
| 3 | 16 | April 10, 1999 | January 22, 2000 | |
| 4 | 46 | September 12, 2000 | July 17, 2001 | |
| 5 | 9 | September 9, 2000 | January 6, 2001 | |
| 6 | 5 | October 31, 2001 | June 30, 2002 | |
Episodes
Season 1 (1997–1998)
| # |
Title |
Directed by |
Written by |
Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (1a) | "The Break In" | Chuck Sheetz | Paul Germain & Joe Ansolabehere | August 31, 1997 |
| T.J. is punished with no recess after an unsuccessful attempt of the gang to raid the kitchen's "good food"; seeing how deranged he has become, the rest of the gang try to break him out by enlisting the help of the other students in the playground. | ||||
| 2 (1b) | "The New Kid" | Chuck Sheetz | Paul Germain & Joe Ansolabehere | August 31, 1997 |
| Gustav "Gus" Griswald, the new student at Third Street, arrives in school to no fanfare during a plan done by the gang. After giving him a brief tour around the school, King Bob declares Gus as the "new kid", being the newest student on the playground, which means nobody is supposed to talk to him and refer to him only as the "new kid" | ||||
| 3 (2a) | "The Experiment" | Chuck Sheetz | Lesa Kite | September 20, 1997 |
| The gang hear a chilling story of what older students like to do with their time, and the only solution is for two of the six to disprove it in the world's most 'unusual' experiment: kissing. | ||||
| 4 (2b) | "The Great Jungle Gym Standoff" | Chuck Sheetz | Joseph Purdy | September 20, 1997 |
|
Principal Prickly wants to replace the school jungle gym, 'Ol Rusty, but not if T.J. and the whole school can stop him. NOTE: Gus is only in this episode for a few seconds and doesn't speak; he can be seen on 'Ol Rusty when all the kids climb on and refuse to get down. | ||||
| 5 (3a) | "Jinxed" | Chuck Sheetz | Scott Shelley | September 27, 1997 |
| Gus is unable to speak after being jinxed by the Ashleys; he can only talk again if someone says his name, which the Ashleys try to prevent. | ||||
| 6 (3b) | "Officer Mikey" | Chuck Sheetz | Lesa Kite | September 27, 1997 |
| Mikey wants to become a safety ranger, which causes the gang to get help from others. | ||||
| 7 (4a) | "First Name Ashley" | Chuck Sheetz | Holly Huckins | October 4, 1997 |
| After Randall reveals that Spinelli's first name is Ashley, she is forced to join The Ashleys. | ||||
| 8 (4b) | "To Finster with Love" | Chuck Sheetz | Jeffrey Wright From an Idea by: Nahnatchka Khan | October 4, 1997 |
| Miss Finster is attracted to Hank the janitor and begins dating him. This distraction affects their usual job performance, which in turn causes imbalance in the schoolyard. | ||||
| 9 (5a) | "King Gus" | Chuck Sheetz | Peter Gaffney | October 11, 1997 |
| When King Bob comes down with tonsilitis, he appoints Gus as the new King Of The Playground; the power goes to Gus's head, and he starts ordering people about. | ||||
| 10 (5b) | "Big Brother Chad" | Chuck Sheetz | Jon Greenberg | October 11, 1997 |
| Vince is concerned about whether his big brother Chad is as cool as he thinks. | ||||
| 11 (6a) | "My Fair Gretchen" | Chuck Sheetz | Holly Huckins | October 18, 1997 |
| Principal Prickly plans to move Gretchen to a school for the gifted (after scoring exceptionally well on a test), but she worries she might not see her friends again. | ||||
| 12 (6b) | "Speedy, We Hardly Knew Ye" | Chuck Sheetz | Bruce Rubin | October 18, 1997 |
| Speedy, the class hamster, dies, so the kids decide to throw a funeral, which doesn't go as expected. | ||||
| 13 (7a) | "I Will Kick No More Forever" | Chuck Sheetz | Michael Kramer | October 25, 1997 |
| After getting outplayed in a kickball game by Ashley Q., Vince decides to never play kickball again. | ||||
| 14 (7b) | "The Kid Came Back" | Chuck Sheetz | Holly Huckins Based on a Story by: Rachel Lipman | October 25, 1997 |
| A stranger called the Peanut Butter Kid tries to follow the gang everywhere, and it drives them crazy after being convinced he brings bad luck. | ||||
| 15 (8a) | "The Pest" | Chuck Sheetz | Rachel Lipman | November 1, 1997 |
| Gretchen is bothered by Geoffrey, who has fallen in love with her. | ||||
| 16 (8b) | "The Legend of Big Kid" | Chuck Sheetz | Peter Gaffney | November 1, 1997 |
| After T.J. is kidnapped by the Kindergarteners, he lives among them and adapts to their ways; it is then up to the rest of the gang to rescue him before he forgets how to be a 10-year-old. | ||||
| 17 (9a) | "The Box" | Susie Dietter | Jeff Wright | November 8, 1997 |
| After getting tired of everyone disobeying playground rules, Miss Finster plans to put anyone who breaks playground rules into "The Box", starting with T.J.; he goes crazy and becomes terrified of doing anything, forcing the others to resort to drastic measures to help him get back to normal. | ||||
| 18 (9b) | "The Trial" | Chuck Sheetz | Scott Shelley | November 8, 1997 |
| In a parody of a court trial, Spinelli and Randall battle it out in court after Randall accuses her of throwing a rock during a dirt-clod war; the episode is in the style of the film Roshomon, different points of view of the same event. The trial loosely parodies A Few Good Men. | ||||
| 19 (10a) | "Teacher's Lounge" | Chuck Sheetz | Jon Greenberg | November 15, 1997 |
| Intrigued by its secrecy, the kids try to find out what the teacher's lounge looks like, only to be astonished at what they find inside. | ||||
| 20 (10b) | "Randall's Reform" | Chuck Sheetz | Rachel Lipman | November 15, 1997 |
| T.J. and the gang finally accept Randall into their group, but could it be a trap? | ||||
| 21 (11a) | "Rainy Days" | Chuck Sheetz | Lane Raichert | November 22, 1997 |
| It's a rainy day and recess is canceled; when the rain won't seem to stop after day three, the kids start to turn on each other... will the kids survive five days of indoor recess? | ||||
| 22 (11b) | "The Great Can Drive" | Chuck Sheetz | Michael Kramer Based on Idea by: Gary Glasberg | November 22, 1997 |
| Mikey is the only one in Mrs. Grotke's class who decides to collect cans for the annual Can Drive after the other kids drop out, not wanting to lose against the Ashleys again; this eventually results in a massive rivalry escalating between the classes over who collects the most cans. | ||||
| 23 (12a) | "The Voice" | Chuck Sheetz & Susie Dietter | Jon Greenberg | January 10, 1998 |
| When Principal Prickly discovers that Mikey sings like Robert Goulet (who portrays Mikey's singing voice), he appoints a beautiful, young music teacher, Ms. Salamone (voiced by Glenne Headly), to help him prepare for the school concert. | ||||
| 24 (12b) | "Kids in the Mist" | Chuck Sheetz | Holly Huckins & Joe Ansolabehere Based on Idea by: Yule E. Caise | January 10, 1998 |
| A researcher named Dr. Quilty wants to research by video about recess. When she first tries it, she fails, and T.J. and the gang decide to help her out. How will it turn out? | ||||
| 25 (13a) | "Parents' Night" | Chuck Sheetz | Holly Huckins | January 17, 1998 |
| Spinelli is apprehensive about her parents attending Parent's Night because they embarrass her. (Note: It is verified that Spinelli has a crush on T.J.) | ||||
| 26 (13b) | "Swing on Thru to the Other Side" | Chuck Sheetz | Joe Ansolabehere Story by: Rachel Lipman | January 17, 1998 |
| Spinelli creates a pseudo-religious philosophy after she comes to the belief that fourth grader Swinger Girl (aka Laura Jameson), 'went over the top' on the swing, passing into another 'higher state of being', making Spinelli's friends concerned. The name of the episode is a play on the title of the song Break on Through by The Doors. | ||||
Season 2 (1998–1999)
| # |
Title |
Directed by |
Written by |
Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 (14a) | "The Break-up" | Chuck Sheetz | Michael Kramer | April 11, 1998 |
| The gang breaks up when a report to write about their best friend prompts division as all five of the others write about T.J., prompting T.J. to realize that he has five best friends, not just one. | ||||
| 28 (14b) | "The Hypnotist" | Susie Dietter | David Shane | April 11, 1998 |
| Principal Prickly is hypnotized into thinking he is a little kid again and spends recess with the kids. | ||||
| 29 (15a) | "Mama's Girl" | Chuck Sheetz | Mark Drop Based on an Idea by: C.D. Payne | April 18, 1998 |
| Spinelli accidentally calls Miss Grotke "Mama" in front of the whole playground and is teased about it. | ||||
| 30 (15b) | "Outcast Ashley" | Chuck Sheetz | Doria Biddle | April 18, 1998 |
| Ashley A. is kicked out of The Ashleys for forgetting the tradition of Purple Day; she befriends Gretchen, with disastrous results from T.J. and the gang. | ||||
| 31 (16a) | "The Game" | Chuck Sheetz | Peter Gaffney | April 25, 1998 |
| A new craze called 'Ajimbo' sweeps across the playground, brainwashing all the kids at recess. Can T.J. resist and bring back his friends, or will he be swept in as well? | ||||
| 32 (16b) | "The Lost Ball" | Chuck Sheetz | Holly Huckins | April 25, 1998 |
| A kickball falls into the mysterious back garden of a mansion and it's up to Gus to retrieve it. | ||||
| 33 (17a) | "Gus' Last Stand" | Chuck Sheetz | Jonathan Rosenthal | May 2, 1998 |
| Gus stands up to Gelman the bully. | ||||
| 34 (17b) | "Operation Field Trip" | Chuck Sheetz | Michael Kramer | May 2, 1998 |
| The school is going on a field trip, but T.J.'s class bus breaks down leaving them stranded. | ||||
| 35 (18a) | "The Challenge" | Chuck Sheetz | Jon Greenberg | May 9, 1998 |
| Principal Prickley's brother (voiced by Martin Mull) is principal of a rival elementary school. The siblings square off over a bet based on a game of kickball with the gang playing off against their doubles. | ||||
| 36 (18b) | "Wild Child" | Chuck Sheetz | Mark Drop | May 9, 1998 |
| In the "Pee Wee Pals" program, the main kids each have to take care of a kindergartener during recess. | ||||
| 37 (19a) | "The Substitute" | Susie Dietter | Phil Walsh | May 31, 1998 |
| A mysterious substitute by the name of Mr. E takes over Miss Grotke's class while she is away. | ||||
| 38 (19b) | "Gretchen and the Secret of Yo" | Chuck Sheetz | Doria Biddle Based on an Idea by: Julie Forte | May 31, 1998 |
| Gretchen discovers a new talent in yo-yos. | ||||
| 39 (20a) | "The Girl Was Trouble" | Chuck Sheetz | Mark Drop | June 1, 1998 |
| When Gretchen is called into the principal's office for committing a string of offenses. She recounts the story of how she committed those crimes to get her Galileo handheld computer back. | ||||
| 40 (20b) | "Copycat Kid" | Chuck Sheetz | Holly Huckins | June 1, 1998 |
| Mikey starts to copy Vince after Vince saves Mikey's life. | ||||
| 41 (21a) | "Operation Stuart" | Chuck Sheetz | Katy Ballard | June 13, 1998 |
| Mikey rescues Stuart, a stray cat, who wreaks havoc at 3rd Street School. | ||||
| 42 (21b) | "Pharaoh Bob" | Chuck Sheetz | Jonathan Rosenthal | June 13, 1998 |
| King Bob orders the Kids of the Playground to make a monument in his name when he fears he will not be remembered after he leaves. | ||||
| 45 (23a) | "Economics of Recess" | Howy Parkins | Rick Gittleson, Mark Drop, & Phil Walsh | July 18, 1998 |
| T.J. discovers that while he was out sick, the school has undergone a currency implementation, Monster Stickers. At first, T.J. is broke, but through hard work and investments, he becomes the richest kid in school and grows mad with power. | ||||
| 46 (23b) | "Omega Kids" | Chuck Sheetz | Steve Bannos | July 18, 1998 |
| All the kids at 3rd Street School have fallen ill after eating Tuna Fish Tacos, leaving T.J. and the gang as the only students in school. | ||||
| 47 (24) | "Yes, Mikey, Santa Does Shave" | Susie Dietter | Mark Drop, Holly Huckins, & Phil Walsh | December 26, 1998 |
| (Christmas Special: One twenty-minute episode) Mikey is ridiculed when it is discovered he still believes in Santa Claus. Will he still play Santa in the school's Christmas pageant? | ||||
| 43 (22a) | "The Story of Whomps" | Chuck Sheetz | Mark Drop | November 21, 1998 |
| The word T.J. uses, "whomps," comes under fire as an actual swear word. | ||||
| 44 (22b) | "Weekend at Muriel's" | Chuck Sheetz | Michael Kramer & Phil Walsh | November 21, 1998 |
| Spinelli is forced to spend a weekend with Miss Finster while her parents are away. | ||||
| 48 (25a) | "Bad Hair Day" | Chuck Sheetz | Jeff Haber, Phil Walsh, & Mark Drop | January 16, 1999 |
| Mikey is given a bad haircut after getting gum stuck in it, and Vince and T.J. lie and say it's a trendy new cut, leading every kid on the playground to want their hair styled the same way. | ||||
| 49 (25b) | "Dance Lessons" | Chuck Sheetz | Phil Walsh | January 16, 1999 |
| After getting in trouble for fighting at school, Spinelli is forced to take ballet lessons -- and finds Mikey in the same class. | ||||
| 50 (26a) | "Principal for a Day" | Chuck Sheetz | Steve Bannos | February 27, 1999 |
| T.J. is made principal for a day, and the students are afraid that the power will change him. | ||||
| 51 (26b) | "The Beauty Contest" | Chuck Sheetz | Libby Bideau & Sandy Adomaitis | February 27, 1999 |
| Spinelli is entered into a beauty contest by the Ashleys as a joke, but sticks around so she can beat them. | ||||
Season 3 (1999–2000) (ABC)
| # |
Title |
Directed by |
Written by |
Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52 (27a) | "One Stayed Clean" | Chuck Sheetz | Bart Jennett & Gregg Taylor | April 10, 1999 |
| It's Gus's first-ever Picture Day, but can his friends help him stay clean until the end of the day? | ||||
| 53 (27b) | "A Genius Among Us" | Chuck Sheetz | Brian Hamill | April 10, 1999 |
| Gretchen discovers that Hank the janitor is a math genius. | ||||
| 54 (28a) | "Dodgeball City" | Howy Parkins | Gil Evans, Mark Drop, & Phil Walsh | April 17, 1999 |
| T.J. and the gang discover something shocking from Gus's past when dodgeball season hits the playground. | ||||
| 55 (28b) | "A Career to Remember" | Brenda Piluso | Leslie Wolff, Mark Drop, & Phil Walsh | April 17, 1999 |
| The Gang ponder on what they want to be when they grow up, and Spinelli fears she may not have a future. | ||||
| 56 (29a) | "Kindergarten Derby" | Chuck Sheetz | Jonathan Rosenthal & Steve Viksten | April 24, 1999 |
| The Kindergarteners compete in a race to win a wish from King Bob, which Mikey objects to because of how it exploits them. | ||||
| 57 (29b) | "The Bet" | Chuck Sheetz | David Pitlik | April 24, 1999 |
| T.J bets Vince that he cannot go without winning every game he plays for one day. | ||||
| 58 (30a) | "Space Cadet" | Chuck Sheetz & Howy Parkins | David Pitlik | May 1, 1999 |
| Gretchen gets a letter from NASA, telling her that she will be involved in the next space shuttle mission. Buzz Aldrin voices himself. | ||||
| 59 (30b) | "Stand Up Randall" | Chuck Sheetz | Libby Bideau, Sandy Adomaitis, Mark Drop, & Phil Walsh | May 1, 1999 |
| Randall becomes popular as the playground comedian, but the gang isn't laughing when they find that all the jokes are about Mikey. | ||||
| 60 (31a) | "The Shiner" | Chuck Sheetz | Steve Bannos | June 12, 1999 |
| T.J. comes in to school with a black eye and lies that he got it for doing something heroic. | ||||
| 61 (31b) | "Lord of the Nerds" | Chuck Sheetz & Howy Parkins | Story by: David Stone Screenplay by: Ford Riley | June 12, 1999 |
| When T.J. breaks his arm during a football game, he's forced to stay in a room full of nerds who don't go outside for recess. | ||||
| 62 (32a) | "That Stinking Feeling" | Howy Parkins | Chad Einbinder | June 19, 1999 |
| Johnny "Baby Tooth" V. leaves an imprint on Spinelli's heart. | ||||
| 63 (32b) | "My Funny Valentines" | Howy Parkins | Gregg Taylor | June 19, 1999 |
| T.J. creates prank valentines and complications ensue. | ||||
| 64 (33a) | "The Barnaby Boys" | Howy Parkins & Chuck Sheetz | Rocket Rabinowitz & Phil Walsh | January 15, 2000 |
| T.J. and Vince try to uncover the mystery of the temporary janitor. | ||||
| 65 (33b) | "Buried Treasure" | Chuck Sheetz | Peter Gaffney & Jonathan Rosenthal | January 15, 2000 |
| The Gang find a treasure map and go on a quest to find the treasure. | ||||
| 66 (34a) | "The Library Kid" | Howy Parkins & Chuck Sheetz | Doria Biddle & Holly Huckins | January 22, 2000 |
| The gang investigates an urban legend of a kid who stays in the library for recess. | ||||
| 67 (34b) | "The Ratings Game" | Howy Parkins | Ilana Wernick & Holly Huckins | January 22, 2000 |
| The Ashleys instigate a ratings system to crush the self-esteem of the kids on the playground, leading to chaos. | ||||
Season 4 (2000–2001) (UPN and syndication)
| # |
Title |
Directed by |
Written by |
Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 68 (35a) | "The First Picture Show" | Chuck Sheetz | Richard Whitley | April 1, 2000 |
| T.J. finds out about the first Señor Fusion movie and vows to see the first show, but the first showing happens to be during school hours. | ||||
| 69 (35b) | "The Big Prank" | Chuck Sheetz | Gregg Taylor | April 1, 2000 |
| T.J. tries to prank King Bob so he can win the King's old title of Prankster Prince. | ||||
| 70 (36a) | "Hustler's Apprentice" | Chuck Sheetz | Katy Cooper & Ned Teitelbaum | April 1, 2000 |
| Gus joins the Hustler Kid but causes trouble. | ||||
| 71 (36b) | "The Spy Who Came in from the Playground" | Chuck Sheetz | Michael Kramer | April 8, 2000 |
| The gang make a friend of new kid James Stone (voiced by Jason Marsden) and show him all their tricks, but soon regret that. | ||||
| 72 (37a) | "Gus' Fortune" | Howy Parkins | Ron Birnbach & Phil Walsh | April 8, 2000 |
| After playing with a paper fortune teller, Gus is told he will die the next day. | ||||
| 73 (37b) | "Rumor Mill" | Chuck Sheetz | David Pitlik | April 8, 2000 |
| Mikey is the subject of a vicious rumor that terrifies the whole school, but who started it? | ||||
| 74 (38a) | "Recess is Canceled" | Chuck Sheetz | Jeff Haber, Mark Drop, & Phil Walsh | April 15, 2000 |
| The Government officially cancels recess as part of an experiment, but things go wrong when the kids become slow-minded and depressed as a result. | ||||
| 75 (38b) | "Tattletale Heart" | Brenda Piluso | Matt Rosenberg | April 15, 2000 |
| Gus knows who started a savage food fight and refuses to tell Miss Finster. But will she force him to tattle? | ||||
| 76 (39a) | "The Madness of King Bob" | Chuck Sheetz | Gregg Taylor | April 22, 2000 |
| Continuing from "The Big Prank". King Bob becomes obsessed with getting revenge on T.J.. | ||||
| 77 (39b) | "Call Me Guy" | Brenda Piluso | Ford Riley | April 22, 2000 |
| Gus loses his glasses and becomes cool as a swingin' boy named "Guy". | ||||
| 78 (40a) | "Prickly is Leaving" | Chuck Sheetz | Julie Ann Sipos & Bart Jennett | May 6, 2000 |
| Principal Prickly gets his wish of being a middle school principal but his replacements, an evil man named Dr. Slicer and his assistant Gilda, are even worse. Tim Curry is the voice of Dr. Slicer. | ||||
| 79 (40b) | "Randall's Friends" | Howy Parkins | Milton Chassman | May 6, 2000 |
| Randall gets the gang to act as his friends after lying to his father about his friendships. His father later visits in honor of Randall's birthday. | ||||
| 80 (41a) | "The Biggest Trouble Ever" | Howy Parkins | Steve Bannos, Mark Drop, & Phil Walsh | June 1, 2000 |
| T.J. and the gang are deemed criminals because of an accident involving a statue of the school's namesake. Only the grandson of the school's namesake can save them. Ed Asner provides the voice of Thaddeus T. Third V. | ||||
| 81 (41b) | "The Rules" | Howy Parkins | Etan Cohen & Bart Jennett | June 1, 2000 |
| The old King Morty's rules are reinstated after Vince and Lawson have a disagreement regarding a kickball landing in a dumpster. | ||||
| 82 (42a) | "Gus and Misdemeanors" | Chuck Sheetz | Holly Huckins | July 8, 2000 |
| The bad kids from "The Girl Was Trouble" trick Gus into shoplifting candy from Kelso's. | ||||
| 83 (42b) | "A Science Fair to Remember" | Howy Parkins | Libby Bideau, Sandy Adomaitis, & Bart Jennett | July 8, 2000 |
| Little Becky Benson idolizes Gretchen...or does she? | ||||
| 84 (43a) | "Mikey's Pants" | Chuck Sheetz & Howy Parkins | Scott Redman & Phil Walsh | July 15, 2000 |
| Mikey's pants split, but will the gang be able to help him avoid Finster and her needle? | ||||
| 85 (43b) | "Here Comes Mr. Perfect" | Chuck Sheetz | Ron Birnbach & Phil Walsh | July 15, 2000 |
| Jared Smith, a new kid, comes to Third Street and isn't as average as the gang hopes when he is better than all the students at the things they are good at. | ||||
| 86 (44a) | "Good Luck Charm" | Chuck Sheetz | David Pitlik | August 20, 2000 |
| Spinelli borrows Vince's lucky marble to pass a math test on the day Vince needs it most. | ||||
| 87 (44b) | "Diggers Split Up" | Chuck Sheetz | Cary Okmin | August 20, 2000 |
| The diggers have a fight and split up. Can the gang get them back together? | ||||
| 88 (45a) | "Schoolworld" | Howy Parkins | Scott Shelley | November 21, 2000 |
| The school gets a new technology system installed called the SAL 3000 which controls everything. | ||||
| 89 (45b) | "Bachelor Gus" | Chuck Sheetz | Sandy Adomaitis & Libby Bideau | November 21, 2000 |
| Gus moves into 'Ol Rusty at school after overhearing his parents' unfortunate plans to move again. | ||||
| 90 (46a) | "The Dude" | Howy Parkins | Richard Whitley | November 28, 2000 |
| A school legend, T.J.'s idol comes back as a teacher. | ||||
| 91 (46b) | "Partners in Crime" | Chuck Sheetz | Written by: Bart Jennett Story by: Phil Walsh | November 28, 2000 |
| Menlo and Randall plan to take over the school after everyone ignores them. | ||||
| 92 (47a) | "The Candidates" | Chuck Sheetz & Howy Parkins | Etan Cohen & Mark Drop | November 29, 2000 |
| Vince and Gretchen run against each other for class president. | ||||
| 93 (47b) | "This Brain for Hire" | Chuck Sheetz | Nancylee Myatt & Phil Walsh | November 29, 2000 |
| Gretchen does other people's homework to get the money for a new bike. | ||||
| 94 (48a) | "Spinelli's Masterpiece" | Brenda Piluso | Story by: Brian Hamill Teleplay by: Ford Riley | February 6, 2001 |
| Spinelli lets off some steam by creating a chalk drawing and T.J. does everything he can to keep Miss Finster from erasing it. | ||||
| 95 (48b) | "Nobody Doesn't Like T.J." | Howy Parkins | Milton Chassman & Phil Walsh | February 6, 2001 |
| T.J. finds out that Gordie is the only kid on the playground who doesn't like him, and sets out to make him his friend. | ||||
| 96 (49a) | "A Great State Fair" | Howy Parkins | Gail Glaze & Bart Jennett | February 13, 2001 |
| Gus gets left behind, along with Gelman and Finster when Gus's dad forgets to give him his permission slip to his first great state fair. | ||||
| 97 (49b) | "The A.V. Kid" | Howy Parkins | Mark Archuleta | February 13, 2001 |
| A.V. Kid must choose a successor because he's leaving Third Street for Portugal. T.J. and Vince would both like the position. | ||||
| 98 (50a) | "Yope from Norway" | Howy Parkins | Bob Illes | February 20, 2001 |
| Gus becomes jealous of Yope, a Norwegian transfer student. | ||||
| 99 (50b) | "Bonky Fever" | Chuck Sheetz | Bart Jennett | February 20, 2001 |
| Worried over growing older, Mikey decides to regress by becoming obsessed with Bonky the Dinosaur. | ||||
| 100 (51a) | "Don't Ask Me" | Howy Parkins | Sandy Adomaitis & Libby Bideau | February 21, 2001 |
| Spinelli takes the place of the Guru Kid. | ||||
| 101 (51b) | "The Secret Life of Grotke" | Howy Parkins | Ford Riley | February 21, 2001 |
| The gang believe that Miss Grotke is a spy. But is she spying for or against America? | ||||
| 102 (52a) | "The Fuss Over Finster" | Howy Parkins | Milton Chassman | February 27, 2001 |
| Miss Finster hurts her leg and can't keep up with the kids during recess. | ||||
| 103 (52b) | "Soccer Boy" | Howy Parkins | Scott Redman & Bart Jennett | February 27, 2001 |
| Vince refuses to let Mikey join his five-a-side soccer team for the King Bob Classic, so Mikey becomes the goalkeeper for Lawson's team. | ||||
| 104 (53a) | "Fort Tender" | Howy Parkins | Nick Dubois | February 29, 2001 |
| T.J. and the gang make a fort, only to have Lawson and his gang ruin their plans. | ||||
| 105 (53b) | "Germ Warfare" | Howy Parkins | David Pitlik & Phil Walsh | February 29, 2001 |
| Gus and Mikey are at war after Gretchen catches a cold. | ||||
| 106 (54a) | "More Like Gretchen" | Howy Parkins | Bart Jennett | March 1, 2001 |
| After a visit to a beauty museum with Gretchen, Spinelli's parents seem to be a little "unsatisfied" with their daughter. | ||||
| 107 (54b) | "Prince Randall" | Howy Parkins | Bob Illes & Phil Walsh | March 1, 2001 |
| Randall blackmails King Bob into giving him the throne. | ||||
| 108 (55a) | "Me No Know" | Howy Parkins | Gail Glaze & Ford Riley | April 30, 2001 |
| Vince feels left out of the loop when everyone on the playground begins quoting lines from the latest screwball comedy, Me No Know and sets out to see the film, but Vince's parents refuse to let their son see the movie because it's too immature, so Vince decides to sneak out and see the movie anyway. | ||||
| 109 (55b) | "Good Ole T.J." | Howy Parkins | Libby Bideau & Sandy Adomaitis | April 30, 2001 |
| T.J. and Gretchen are finally partners for a project. Will it work? | ||||
| 110 (56a) | "Chez Vince" | Howy Parkins | Milton Chassman | May 7, 2001 |
| Vince becomes one of the greatest chefs in the history of the playground and making 'Chez Vince' and possibly even the world. | ||||
| 111 (56b) | "Tucked in Mikey" | Howy Parkins | Jack Monaco | May 7, 2001 |
| Menlo teaches Mikey to be more "organized", and Mikey starts changing | ||||
| 112 (57a) | "Old Folks Home" | Howy Parkins | Ford Riley | July 17, 2001 |
| The gang take a visit to the Old Folks' Home, only to be surprised. | ||||
| 113 (57b) | "Some Friend" | Howy Parkins | Mark Archuleta | July 17, 2001 |
| T.J. has a mysterious friend that appears to be Menlo. | ||||
Season 5 (2000-2001)
| # |
Title |
Directed by |
Written by |
Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 114 (58a) | "The Coolest Heatwave Ever" | Howy Parkins | Jack Monaco | September 9, 2000 |
| The gang try to find the school's back-up water valve on the hottest day of the year. | ||||
| 115 (58b) | "No Strings Attached" | Howy Parkins | Milton Chassman | September 9, 2000 |
| The gang is suspicious when The Ashleys give Spinelli six wrestling tickets. | ||||
| 116 (59a) | "Beyond a Reasonable Scout" | Howy Parkins | Catherine Lieuwen & Bart Jennett | September 16, 2000 |
| Mikey and Gus want to join the Woodchuck Scouts. | ||||
| 117 (59b) | "The C Note" | Howy Parkins | Steve Ochs | September 16, 2000 |
| When T.J. finds a $100 bill, the gang wants to spend it, but T.J. wants to give it back to the rightful owner. | ||||
| 118 (60a) | "The Army Navy Game" | Howy Parkins | Ford Riley | September 23, 2000 |
| When Gus's father finds out that Cornchip Girl's father is his archenemy who worked for the Navy, Gus and Cornchip Girl aren't allowed to see each other anymore, but they decide to share a secret friendship that their fathers won't know about. | ||||
| 119 (60b) | "Big Ol' Mikey" | Howy Parkins | Bart Jennett & David Pitlik | September 23, 2000 |
| Gretchen and Galileo conduct a test to find out how tall everyone will be when they are older—Vince will be 6'2, T.J will be 5'9, Spinelli will be 5'6, and Gus will be 6'4 and Galileo says that Mikey will be 50 feet, which causes Mikey to worry that he will be taller than he is now. | ||||
| 120 (61a) | "The Principals of Golf" | Howy Parkins | Ford Riley | November 4, 2000 |
| The kids think Vince is getting special treatment when he becomes Prickly's golf partner. | ||||
| 121 (61b) | "All the Principal's Men" | Howy Parkins | Jack Monaco | November 4, 2000 |
| The gang tries to find out who removed all the balls from the playground. | ||||
| 122 (62) | "Lawson and his Crew" | Howy Parkins | Phil Walsh | January 6, 2001 |
|
Tired of TJ and his friends getting all the glory from King Bob, Lawson decides to get a new gang of his own together. 20 minute special Note: Before the commercial break, T.J. breaks the fourth wall, saying "Recess will never be the same." After the commercial break, a shortened version of the intro to Recess plays, but, breaking the fourth wall, it abruptly stops when Miss Finster put her hand on the ball. Lawson shouts to stop, and said "I got an idea". The intro plays again, but Lawson's gang takes the role of T.J.'s gang. Note: This episode is the last episode to air on ABC. After this, the show would air reruns on ABC, while new episodes would air on syndication and UPN. | ||||
Season 6 (2002–2003) (UPN and syndication)
| # |
Title |
Directed by |
Written by |
Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 123 (63) | "Terrifying Tales of Recess" | Howy Parkins | Children of the Cornchip: Mark Archuleta When Bikes Attack!: Jack Monaco Night of the Living Finsters: Bart Jennett | October 31, 2001 |
|
In this episode, Butch tells viewers three terrifying tales of Recess.
| ||||
| 124 (64a) | "Kurst the Not So Bad" | Howy Parkins | Catherine Lieuwen | November 4, 2001 |
| Mikey's new friendship with Kurst the Worst doesn't sit well with their friends. | ||||
| 125 (64b) | "League of Randalls" | Howy Parkins | Mark Archuleta | November 4, 2001 |
|
Randall recruits the Tylers, the Ashleys' little brothers, to help him snitch. Note: The Ashleys' brothers the Tylers make their first and only appearance. | ||||
| 126 (65a) | "Mundy, Mundy" | Howy Parkins | Mark Archuleta | November 5, 2001 |
| Bad-guy Mundy becomes very popular after he prevents a ball from hitting a little kid. | ||||
| 127 (65b) | "Lost Leader" | Howy Parkins | Bart Jennett & Randy Fechtor | November 5, 2001 |
| TJ loses his confidence after a series of failed plans and refuses to lead the group. | ||||
Films
Recess Trilogy
| # |
Title |
Directed by |
Written by |
Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Recess Christmas: Miracle on Third Street" | Chuck Sheetz Susie Dietter | Paul Germain & Joe Ansolabehere | November 6, 2001 |
| 2 | "Recess: Taking the Fifth Grade" | How Parkins | Paul Germain & Joe Ansolabehere | December 9, 2003 |
| 3 | "Recess: All Growed Down" | How Parkins Brenda Piluso | Paul Germain & Joe Ansolabehere | December 9, 2003 |
References
- Recess at the Internet Movie Database
- Recess Trilogy
External links
W* List of Recess episodes at TV.com
- List of Recess episodes at Imdb.com
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