The Partridge Family - Season 1

First aired: 9/25/1970 25 episodes

Episodes

1. What? and Get Out of Show Business?

Aired: 9/25/1970

Recently widowed mother, Shirley Partridge who's struggling to raise her five children who are playing in a band and, Shirley works a bank teller. Older brother and sister Keith (Lead vocals and guitar) and Laurie (Keyboards). Younger brothers and sister Danny (Bass guitar), Chris (Drums) and, Tracy (Tamborine and percussion) are playing in a band called "The Partridge Family". Ruben Kincaid, a kid hater was signed as their manager. Finally, the kids asked their mother to join the band. Reluctantly, she agreed but, for a single condition: if she faints the kids have to assist her.

2. The Sound of Money

Aired: 10/2/1970

A minor fender bender turns into a major pain for the Partridges when they decide to fight a fraudulent lawsuit from Whiplash Willie. Guest Stars: Harry Morgan as 'Whiplash' Willie Larkin and Farrah Fawcett Song: "I'll Leave Myself a Little Time"

3. Whatever Happened to the Old Songs

Aired: 10/9/1970

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? Guest Stars: Ray Bolger and Rosemary DeCamp as Fred and Amanda Renfrew Songs: "Baby I Love Love, I Love You"; "Together (Havin' a Ball)"; "On the Road"; "Bye Bye Blackbird"

4. See Here, Private Partridge!

Aired: 10/16/1970

Just as they're about to record their first album, the Partridges have a bomb dropped on them: ten-year-old Danny's been drafted into the Army. Guest stars: Jack Riley as Corporal Wrzesinski, Jonathan Daly as Officer Moody Song: "On the Road"

5. When Mother Gets Married

Aired: 10/23/1970

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. Guest Stars: John McMartin as Larry, Jaclyn Smith as Tina Songs: "I Really Want to Know You"

6. Love at First Slight

Aired: 10/30/1970

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 Song: "Somebody Wants To Love You"

7. Danny and the Mob

Aired: 11/6/1970

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. Guest Stars: Pat Harrington Jr. as Harry, Barbara Rhoades as LaVon LaVerne, Richard Bakalyan as Skee, Vic Tayback as Rocco Song: "That'll Be the Day"

8. But the Memory Lingers On

Aired: 11/13/1970

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. Songs: "I Think I Love You", "Brand New Me"

9. Did You Hear the One About Danny Partridge?

Aired: 11/20/1970

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. Guest Stars: Morey Amsterdam as Ziggy Shnurr, Jackie Coogan as Max Pepper Songs: "Somebody Wants to Love You", "All of the Things"

10. Go Directly to Jail

Aired: 11/27/1970

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. Guest Star: Stuart Margolin as Hank Songs: "Singin' My Song", "Only a Moment Ago

11. This Is My Song

Aired: 12/4/1970

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. Songs: "To Be Lovers"

12. My Son, the Feminist

Aired: 12/11/1970

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. Guest Star: Jane Actman as Tina Song: "I Think I Love You"

13. Star Quality

Aired: 12/18/1970

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. Guest Stars: Dick Clark as himself, Mitzi Moag as Sheila Faber Song: "Singin' My Song"

14. The Red Woodloe Story

Aired: 12/25/1970

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. Guest Star: William Schallert as Red Woodloe Songs: "I Can Feel Your Heartbeat", "Find Peace in Your Soul"

15. Mom Drops Out

Aired: 1/1/1971

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. Guest Star: Gino Conforti as Logan Mays Songs: "Baby I Love Love, I Love You"; "I Can Feel Your Heartbeat"

16. Old Scrapmouth

Aired: 1/8/1971

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! Guest Star: Mark Hamill as Jerry Song: "The Love Song"

17. Why Did the Music Stop?

Aired: 1/15/1971

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. Guest Star: Richard Mulligan as Dr. Jim Lucas Songs: "I'm Here, You're Here"; "I Can Feel Your Heartbeat"

18. Soul Club

Aired: 1/22/1971

Due to a booking mix-up, two Detroit club owners expecting the Temptations get the Partridge Family instead. Can they find an audience in Motown? Guest Stars: Richard Pryor as A.E. Simon, Louis Gossett Jr. as Sam Simon Song: "Bandala"

19. To Play or Not to Play

Aired: 1/29/1971

Laurie jumps on the anti-establishment bandwagon when the hotel workers where they're scheduled to perform go out on strike and she refuses to cross the picket line and play. Guest Stars: Harvey Lembeck as Marino, Michael Lembeck as Marc Songs: "There's No Doubt in My Mind"; "Umbrella Man"

20. They Shoot Managers, Don't They?

Aired: 2/5/1971

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. Guest Star: Nancy Malone as Cathleen Song: "She'd Rather Have the Rain"

21. Partridge up a Pear Tree

Aired: 2/12/1971

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. Guest Stars: Annette O'Toole as Carol, Carl Ballantine as Pitchman Song: "You Are Always on My Mind"

22. Road Song

Aired: 2/19/1971

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. Not with My Sister, You Don't!

Aired: 2/26/1971

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. Guest Star: Michael Ontkean as Lester Braduck Song: "I'll Meet You Halfway"

24. A Partridge by Any Other Name

Aired: 3/5/1971

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. Guest Stars: Bernard Fox as Marty Burnes, Ned Glass as Detective Harry Klein, Art Metrano as Mike Young Songs: "Doesn't Somebody Want to Be Wanted"; "I Can Feel Your Heartbeat"

25. A Knight in Shining Armor

Aired: 3/12/1971

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"