Baker's Dozen - TV Episodes

13 of the Saddest Sitcom Episodes (Subjective):[/div]

01. THE OFFICE - Season 7 / Episode 22 "Goodbye, Michael"
Michael (Steve Carell) is secretly leaving his position as office manager but doesn't tell anyone, just spending quality time with each coworker on his last day. An extra layer of sadness is that this was also Carell's finale episode too.

02. M*A*S*H - Season 3 / Episode 24 "Abyssinia, Henry"
Lt. Col. Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson) gets his official notice that he's been discharged from the Army and is going home. There are parties, celebration, and sometimes tearful good-byes. He leaves on a helicopter and disappears into the horizon. Later, as everyone is in the middle of surgery, Radar comes in with the tragic news that Henry's plane was shot down on the way back - and there were no survivors.

03. GREEN ACRES - Season 5 / Episode 11 "Ralph's Nuptials"
Ralph Monroe, the lady plumber, gets to marry her dream man Hank Kimball. After they leave on their honeymoon, Justice of the Peace Sam Drucker realizes his license has expired and the couple isn't legally married. Before they can sleep together, Hank ends up in the hospital. Lisa Douglas tells Ralph she can get married later, but it never happens. She goes back to flirting with him and he to ignoring her for the rest of the series and even a reunion movie. That's what makes the episode so sad; I thought they made a cute and funny couple.

04. THE LAST MAN ON EARTH - Season 4 / Episode 18 "Cancun, Baby!"
After saying goodbye to his brother Mike, again, Tandy and the head out to find yet another new home when they discover dead bodies in the walls of their Mexican mansion. Tandy gets emotional when they find a seemingly perfect spot but no one wants to stay there. Also sad because it wasn't a proper ending and the show was canceled on a cliffhanger.

05 FRIENDS - Season 3/ Episode 16 "The One with the Morning After" After almost 2 year of regulars Ross and Rachel trying to get together, their relationship was finally blossoming. But halfway through Season 3, Rachel decides she wants more in life and tells Ross they should take a break. He gets drunk that night and ends up sleeping with a girl he barely knows. This episodes shows him waking up with her and then trying to keep Rachel from finding out. She does anyway. The rest of the show has them arguing about what happened, while the other friends are trapped in the next room listening. It ends with Rachel deciding they are breaking up. It is sad then, and in further episodes, when it's obvious the 2 belong together. It takes many years, but they eventually get back together and have a baby - though not in that order. But this episode, and the ensuing breakup, is why I would never watch this show from start to finish again.

06. THE GOLDEN GIRLS - Season 6 / Episode 12 "Ebbtide's Revenge" - Sophia deals with the death of her son Phil. Dorothy and the rest of the family are in shock, as he died unexpectedly of a heart attack while trying on a dress at Big Gals Payless. Sophia and Angela, Phil's widow, aren't talking, carrying on a feud for 26 years, exacerbated by Phil being buried in a black teddy. Rose paraphrases a story of a cousin that was different, and his mother was ashamed to the point that it ruined their relationship. Rose encourages Sophia not to let that happen to her, that it was okay that she loved him. Sophia admits that she did love Phil, but always wondered what she did that made Phil who he was. Angela insists that what Phil was, was a good man. Sophia cries "my baby is gone!" and Angela gives her a consoling hug while the other girls look on in tears. The ending of this episode is very heartbreaking for me to watch and I cry every time I see it. A rare vulnerable moment for Sophia.

13 of the Saddest Sitcom Episodes (Subjective):[/div]

01. THE OFFICE - Season 7 / Episode 22 "Goodbye, Michael"
Michael (Steve Carell) is secretly leaving his position as office manager but doesn't tell anyone, just spending quality time with each coworker on his last day. An extra layer of sadness is that this was also Carell's finale episode too.

02. M*A*S*H - Season 3 / Episode 24 "Abyssinia, Henry"
Lt. Col. Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson) gets his official notice that he's been discharged from the Army and is going home. There are parties, celebration, and sometimes tearful good-byes. He leaves on a helicopter and disappears into the horizon. Later, as everyone is in the middle of surgery, Radar comes in with the tragic news that Henry's plane was shot down on the way back - and there were no survivors.

03. GREEN ACRES - Season 5 / Episode 11 "Ralph's Nuptials"
Ralph Monroe, the lady plumber, gets to marry her dream man Hank Kimball. After they leave on their honeymoon, Justice of the Peace Sam Drucker realizes his license has expired and the couple isn't legally married. Before they can sleep together, Hank ends up in the hospital. Lisa Douglas tells Ralph she can get married later, but it never happens. She goes back to flirting with him and he to ignoring her for the rest of the series and even a reunion movie. That's what makes the episode so sad; I thought they made a cute and funny couple.

04. THE LAST MAN ON EARTH - Season 4 / Episode 18 "Cancun, Baby!"
After saying goodbye to his brother Mike, again, Tandy and the head out to find yet another new home when they discover dead bodies in the walls of their Mexican mansion. Tandy gets emotional when they find a seemingly perfect spot but no one wants to stay there. Also sad because it wasn't a proper ending and the show was canceled on a cliffhanger.

05 FRIENDS - Season 3/ Episode 16 "The One with the Morning After"
After almost 2 year of regulars Ross and Rachel trying to get together, their relationship was finally blossoming. But halfway through Season 3, Rachel decides she wants more in life and tells Ross they should take a break. He gets drunk that night and ends up sleeping with a girl he barely knows. This episodes shows him waking up with her and then trying to keep Rachel from finding out. She does anyway. The rest of the show has them arguing about what happened, while the other friends are trapped in the next room listening. It ends with Rachel deciding they are breaking up. It is sad then, and in further episodes, when it's obvious the 2 belong together. It takes many years, but they eventually get back together and have a baby - though not in that order. But this episode, and the ensuing breakup, is why I would never watch this show from start to finish again.

06. THE GOLDEN GIRLS - Season 6 / Episode 12 "Ebbtide's Revenge"
Sophia deals with the death of her son Phil. Dorothy and the rest of the family are in shock, as he died unexpectedly of a heart attack while trying on a dress at Big Gals Payless. Sophia and Angela, Phil's widow, aren't talking, carrying on a feud for 26 years, exacerbated by Phil being buried in a black teddy. Rose paraphrases a story of a cousin that was different, and his mother was ashamed to the point that it ruined their relationship. Rose encourages Sophia not to let that happen to her, that it was okay that she loved him. Sophia admits that she did love Phil, but always wondered what she did that made Phil who he was. Angela insists that what Phil was, was a good man. Sophia cries "my baby is gone!" and Angela gives her a consoling hug while the other girls look on in tears. The ending of this episode is very heartbreaking for me to watch and I cry every time I see it. A rare vulnerable moment for Sophia.

07. FAMILY TIES - Season 2 / Episode 14 "Say Uncle"
When Elise’s brother Ned (played by Tom Hanks) pays a visit, his newly developed drinking problem is played for laughs at first—Alex encounters Ned late at night in the kitchen draining the last of the liquor and then watches him guzzle vanilla extract and a bottle of maraschino cherries. When he shows up sozzled for a job interview it’s still pretty funny (for the audience, at least). But when Ned turns into a mean drunk and smacks Alex in the face, things take a serious turn. Hanks turns in a heartbreaking performance when he phones Alcoholics Anonymous and slowly goes from clowning around to admitting his problem.

08. NIGHT COURT (1984) - Season 4 / Episode 1 "The Next Voice You Hear"
Harry learns that his mother, who abandoned him as a child, has died. It also deals with the passing of Florence.

13 of the Saddest Sitcom Episodes (Subjective):[/div]

01. THE OFFICE - Season 7 / Episode 22 "Goodbye, Michael"
Michael (Steve Carell) is secretly leaving his position as office manager but doesn't tell anyone, just spending quality time with each coworker on his last day. An extra layer of sadness is that this was also Carell's finale episode too.

02. M*A*S*H - Season 3 / Episode 24 "Abyssinia, Henry"
Lt. Col. Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson) gets his official notice that he's been discharged from the Army and is going home. There are parties, celebration, and sometimes tearful good-byes. He leaves on a helicopter and disappears into the horizon. Later, as everyone is in the middle of surgery, Radar comes in with the tragic news that Henry's plane was shot down on the way back - and there were no survivors.

03. GREEN ACRES - Season 5 / Episode 11 "Ralph's Nuptials"
Ralph Monroe, the lady plumber, gets to marry her dream man Hank Kimball. After they leave on their honeymoon, Justice of the Peace Sam Drucker realizes his license has expired and the couple isn't legally married. Before they can sleep together, Hank ends up in the hospital. Lisa Douglas tells Ralph she can get married later, but it never happens. She goes back to flirting with him and he to ignoring her for the rest of the series and even a reunion movie. That's what makes the episode so sad; I thought they made a cute and funny couple.

04. THE LAST MAN ON EARTH - Season 4 / Episode 18 "Cancun, Baby!"
After saying goodbye to his brother Mike, again, Tandy and the head out to find yet another new home when they discover dead bodies in the walls of their Mexican mansion. Tandy gets emotional when they find a seemingly perfect spot but no one wants to stay there. Also sad because it wasn't a proper ending and the show was canceled on a cliffhanger.

05 FRIENDS - Season 3/ Episode 16 "The One with the Morning After"
After almost 2 year of regulars Ross and Rachel trying to get together, their relationship was finally blossoming. But halfway through Season 3, Rachel decides she wants more in life and tells Ross they should take a break. He gets drunk that night and ends up sleeping with a girl he barely knows. This episodes shows him waking up with her and then trying to keep Rachel from finding out. She does anyway. The rest of the show has them arguing about what happened, while the other friends are trapped in the next room listening. It ends with Rachel deciding they are breaking up. It is sad then, and in further episodes, when it's obvious the 2 belong together. It takes many years, but they eventually get back together and have a baby - though not in that order. But this episode, and the ensuing breakup, is why I would never watch this show from start to finish again.

06. THE GOLDEN GIRLS - Season 6 / Episode 12 "Ebbtide's Revenge"
Sophia deals with the death of her son Phil. Dorothy and the rest of the family are in shock, as he died unexpectedly of a heart attack while trying on a dress at Big Gals Payless. Sophia and Angela, Phil's widow, aren't talking, carrying on a feud for 26 years, exacerbated by Phil being buried in a black teddy. Rose paraphrases a story of a cousin that was different, and his mother was ashamed to the point that it ruined their relationship. Rose encourages Sophia not to let that happen to her, that it was okay that she loved him. Sophia admits that she did love Phil, but always wondered what she did that made Phil who he was. Angela insists that what Phil was, was a good man. Sophia cries "my baby is gone!" and Angela gives her a consoling hug while the other girls look on in tears. The ending of this episode is very heartbreaking for me to watch and I cry every time I see it. A rare vulnerable moment for Sophia.

07. FAMILY TIES - Season 2 / Episode 14 "Say Uncle"
When Elise’s brother Ned (played by Tom Hanks) pays a visit, his newly developed drinking problem is played for laughs at first—Alex encounters Ned late at night in the kitchen draining the last of the liquor and then watches him guzzle vanilla extract and a bottle of maraschino cherries. When he shows up sozzled for a job interview it’s still pretty funny (for the audience, at least). But when Ned turns into a mean drunk and smacks Alex in the face, things take a serious turn. Hanks turns in a heartbreaking performance when he phones Alcoholics Anonymous and slowly goes from clowning around to admitting his problem.

08. NIGHT COURT (1984) - Season 4 / Episode 1 "The Next Voice You Hear"
Harry learns that his mother, who abandoned him as a child, has died. It also deals with the passing of Florence.

09. THE KING OF QUEENS - Doug & Carrie are caught unprepared when Carrie turns up pregnant. Doug gets extra jobs, they begin to like the idea and become enthusiastic. Then Carrie has a miscarriage. They decide to try again someday.

10. GOOD TIMES - Season 4 / Episode 3 "The Big Move"
James has died and the whole family is grieving except Florida who is in denial and cannot bring herself to cry.

13 of the Saddest Sitcom Episodes (Subjective):

01. THE OFFICE - Season 7 / Episode 22 "Goodbye, Michael"
Michael (Steve Carell) is secretly leaving his position as office manager but doesn't tell anyone, just spending quality time with each coworker on his last day. An extra layer of sadness is that this was also Carell's finale episode too.

02. M*A*S*H - Season 3 / Episode 24 "Abyssinia, Henry"
Lt. Col. Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson) gets his official notice that he's been discharged from the Army and is going home. There are parties, celebration, and sometimes tearful good-byes. He leaves on a helicopter and disappears into the horizon. Later, as everyone is in the middle of surgery, Radar comes in with the tragic news that Henry's plane was shot down on the way back - and there were no survivors.

03. GREEN ACRES - Season 5 / Episode 11 "Ralph's Nuptials"
Ralph Monroe, the lady plumber, gets to marry her dream man Hank Kimball. After they leave on their honeymoon, Justice of the Peace Sam Drucker realizes his license has expired and the couple isn't legally married. Before they can sleep together, Hank ends up in the hospital. Lisa Douglas tells Ralph she can get married later, but it never happens. She goes back to flirting with him and he to ignoring her for the rest of the series and even a reunion movie. That's what makes the episode so sad; I thought they made a cute and funny couple.

04. THE LAST MAN ON EARTH - Season 4 / Episode 18 "Cancun, Baby!"
After saying goodbye to his brother Mike, again, Tandy and the head out to find yet another new home when they discover dead bodies in the walls of their Mexican mansion. Tandy gets emotional when they find a seemingly perfect spot but no one wants to stay there. Also sad because it wasn't a proper ending and the show was canceled on a cliffhanger.

05 FRIENDS - Season 3/ Episode 16 "The One with the Morning After"
After almost 2 year of regulars Ross and Rachel trying to get together, their relationship was finally blossoming. But halfway through Season 3, Rachel decides she wants more in life and tells Ross they should take a break. He gets drunk that night and ends up sleeping with a girl he barely knows. This episodes shows him waking up with her and then trying to keep Rachel from finding out. She does anyway. The rest of the show has them arguing about what happened, while the other friends are trapped in the next room listening. It ends with Rachel deciding they are breaking up. It is sad then, and in further episodes, when it's obvious the 2 belong together. It takes many years, but they eventually get back together and have a baby - though not in that order. But this episode, and the ensuing breakup, is why I would never watch this show from start to finish again.

06. THE GOLDEN GIRLS - Season 6 / Episode 12 "Ebbtide's Revenge"
Sophia deals with the death of her son Phil. Dorothy and the rest of the family are in shock, as he died unexpectedly of a heart attack while trying on a dress at Big Gals Payless. Sophia and Angela, Phil's widow, aren't talking, carrying on a feud for 26 years, exacerbated by Phil being buried in a black teddy. Rose paraphrases a story of a cousin that was different, and his mother was ashamed to the point that it ruined their relationship. Rose encourages Sophia not to let that happen to her, that it was okay that she loved him. Sophia admits that she did love Phil, but always wondered what she did that made Phil who he was. Angela insists that what Phil was, was a good man. Sophia cries "my baby is gone!" and Angela gives her a consoling hug while the other girls look on in tears. The ending of this episode is very heartbreaking for me to watch and I cry every time I see it. A rare vulnerable moment for Sophia.

07. FAMILY TIES - Season 2 / Episode 14 "Say Uncle"
When Elise’s brother Ned (played by Tom Hanks) pays a visit, his newly developed drinking problem is played for laughs at first—Alex encounters Ned late at night in the kitchen draining the last of the liquor and then watches him guzzle vanilla extract and a bottle of maraschino cherries. When he shows up sozzled for a job interview it’s still pretty funny (for the audience, at least). But when Ned turns into a mean drunk and smacks Alex in the face, things take a serious turn. Hanks turns in a heartbreaking performance when he phones Alcoholics Anonymous and slowly goes from clowning around to admitting his problem.

08. NIGHT COURT (1984) - Season 4 / Episode 1 "The Next Voice You Hear"
Harry learns that his mother, who abandoned him as a child, has died. It also deals with the passing of Florence.

09. THE KING OF QUEENS - Doug & Carrie are caught unprepared when Carrie turns up pregnant. Doug gets extra jobs, they begin to like the idea and become enthusiastic. Then Carrie has a miscarriage. They decide to try again someday.

10. GOOD TIMES - Season 4 / Episode 3 "The Big Move"
James has died and the whole family is grieving except Florida who is in denial and cannot bring herself to cry.

11. JENNIFER SLEPT HERE Season 1 / Episode 11 "Life with Grandfather"
Joey's grandfather comes to visit, but he is old-fashioned and Joey has plans for the day so he doesn't want to spend any time with him and goes off with his friends instead. While alone, his grandfather does an old science experiment, and ends up causing an explosion that kills him. Afterward, the family watches some old home movies and Joey remembers the good times he'd had with his grandfather. He goes to Jennifer [the premise of the series is that only he can see the ghost of an old movie star named Jennifer who used to live there] and tells he he'd like to talk to his grandfather now. She has to give him the bad news that their connection only allows him to see her and people from her past. She can't connect him with his grandfather. He is devastated by the news. A sad reminder to appreciate the people we have while they are still here.

12. ARCHIE ALONE Part 1 & 2; Season 2 / Episodes 1 & 2 "Archie Bunker's Place" - Archie struggles to cope with the death of his beloved wife, Edith. A month earlier, Edith had suffered a fatal stroke in her sleep. A stunned Archie rebuffs efforts from his friends to help him grieve. Archie's refusal to grieve over Edith's sudden death continues to take its toll on his friends and family ... until one day he happens to go into their bedroom and sees Edith's slippers.