Recess: Season 1

1997 · 26 episodes

What Season 1 of Recess

At Third Street Elementary, six fourth graders spend their class hours in the classroom, but their real territory is the playground. There they have built their own society, with a government, a pecking order and unwritten rules. TJ, Vince, Spinelli, Mikey, Gretchen and Gus move through this little country like citizens. Each episode pits the kids' freedom against the order the adults want to impose, such as teacher Finster or principal Prickly. The main characters try to balance being themselves with following the group's rules. Among this season's conflicts are a plan to sneak into the cafeteria kitchen, a punishment called the box, and an attempt to tear down the old jungle gym.

26episodes

Sep 13, 1997premiered

Jan 17, 1998Latest episode

4.8 hrtotal runtime

Season 1 Episodes

1x01 The Break In
Sep 13, 1997 · 11 min
The main kids try to get all the other kids to help rescue T.J. when Miss Finster punishes him by making him miss recess.
Directing: Chuck Sheetz · Writing: Paul Germain, Joe Ansolabehere · Starring: Sam McMurray, Mayim Bialik, Katey Sagal, Erik von Detten
1x02 The New Kid
Sep 13, 1997 · 11 min
New kid Gus arrives at Third Street Elementary, but has to endure the indignities that a new kid must undergo.
Directing: Chuck Sheetz · Writing: Paul Germain, Joe Ansolabehere · Starring: Sam McMurray, Katey Sagal, Erik von Detten, April Winchell
1x03 The Experiment
Sep 20, 1997 · 11 min
The kids carry out a crucial experiment to see if it's really true that kissing each other is an inevitable part of their future.
Directing: Chuck Sheetz · Writing: Lesa Kite · Starring: Ryan O'Donohue, Kath Soucie
1x04 The Great Jungle Gym Stand Off
Sep 20, 1997 · 11 min
The kids stage a protest when Principal Prickly plans to tear down Ol' Rusty to replace it with a new jungle gym.
Directing: Chuck Sheetz · Writing: Joe Purdy · Starring: Ryan O'Donohue, Allyce Beasley, Dabney Coleman
1x05 Jinxed
Sep 27, 1997 · 11 min
The Ashleys jinx Gus according to the playground rules so that he can't talk until his friends say his name.
Directing: Chuck Sheetz · Writing: Scott Shelley · Starring: April Winchell, Rachel Crane, Francesca Marie Smith, Lane Toran
1x06 Officer Mikey
Sep 27, 1997 · 11 min
The others try to help out when Mikey wants to be a safety ranger.
Directing: Chuck Sheetz · Writing: Lesa Kite · Starring: Francesca Marie Smith, Rachel Crane, Lane Toran, Anndi McAfee
1x07 First Name Ashley
Oct 4, 1997 · 11 min
The Ashleys try to force Spinelli to be just like them when Spinelli's first name is revealed.
Directing: Chuck Sheetz · Writing: Holly Huckins · Starring: Camille Winbush, April Winchell, Ryan O'Donohue, Francesca Marie Smith
1x08 To Finster with Love
Oct 4, 1997 · 11 min
The kids help bring Miss Finster together with Hank the janitor when they find out she has a crush on him.
Directing: Chuck Sheetz · Writing: Jeff Wright · Starring: April Winchell, Jeff Wright
1x09 King Gus
Oct 11, 1997 · 11 min
Bob installs Gus as a substitute king while he has a tonsilectomy, figuring Gus will be easy to control - but Gus turns into a despot instead.
Directing: Chuck Sheetz · Writing: Peter Gaffney · Starring: Riley Brock, Lane Toran
1x10 Big Brother Chad
Oct 11, 1997 · 11 min
The kids, and Vince himself, come to the awful realization that Vince's once popular older brother Chad has grown up into a geek.
Directing: Chuck Sheetz · Writing: Jonathan Greenberg · Starring: Lane Toran, Anndi McAfee
1x11 My Fair Gretchen
Oct 18, 1997 · 11 min
The kids come up with a plan to keep Gretchen from being transferred to Oppenheimer Elementary for the Incredibly Extremely Gifted.
Directing: Chuck Sheetz · Writing: Holly Huckins · Starring: Dabney Coleman
1x12 Speedy, We Hardly Knew Ye
Oct 18, 1997 · 11 min
The kids stage an elaborate funeral for the 4th grade class's beloved hamster, wherein they learn about how many lives the hamster has touched.
Directing: Chuck Sheetz · Writing: Bruce Rubin · Starring: Erik von Detten, Ryan O'Donohue, Allyce Beasley, Lane Toran
1x13 I Will Kick No More Forever
Oct 25, 1997 · 11 min
Vince completely loses his confidence at playing kickball when Ashley Q. beats him in a game.
Directing: Chuck Sheetz · Writing: Michael L. Kramer
1x14 The Kid Came Back
Oct 25, 1997 · 11 min
A weird little boy keeps tagging along behind the kids, apparently causing a streak of bad luck.
Directing: Chuck Sheetz · Writing: Holly Huckins
1x15 The Pest
Nov 1, 1997 · 11 min
Jeffrey, an annoying jerk of a boy, insists that Gretchen will be his girlfriend.
Directing: Chuck Sheetz · Writing: Rachel Lipman · Starring: Kath Soucie
1x16 The Legend of Big Kid
Nov 1, 1997 · 11 min
What do the kindergarteners have planned for T.J. when they capture him?
Directing: Chuck Sheetz · Writing: Peter Gaffney · Starring: E. G. Daily
1x17 The Box
Nov 8, 1997 · 11 min
Miss Finster comes up with a new punishment that reduces T.J. to a vegetable.
Directing: Susie Dietter · Writing: Jeff Wright
1x18 The Trial
Nov 8, 1997 · 11 min
Randall accuses Spinelli of hitting him with a rock during a dirt clod war so the kids put her on trial.
Directing: Chuck Sheetz · Writing: Scott Shelley · Starring: Justin Shenkarow, Ryan O'Donohue, Lane Toran, Anndi McAfee
1x19 Teachers Lounge
Nov 15, 1997 · 11 min
The kids dream about what the teachers' lounge must be like.
Directing: Chuck Sheetz · Writing: Jonathan Greenberg · Starring: Rob Paulsen, Tress MacNeille, April Winchell, Dabney Coleman
1x20 Randall's Reform
Nov 15, 1997 · 11 min
Loneliness compels Randall to want to make friends with the other kids.
Directing: Chuck Sheetz · Writing: Rachel Lipman · Starring: Blake McIver Ewing, Tress MacNeille, Ryan O'Donohue, April Winchell
1x21 Rainy Days
Nov 22, 1997 · 11 min
The kids grow increasingly frustrated when rain keeps then indoors for recess days on end.
Directing: Chuck Sheetz · Writing: Lane Raichert · Starring: Ryan O'Donohue, April Winchell, Allyce Beasley
1x22 The Great Can Drive
Nov 22, 1997 · 11 min
At first only Mikey wants to participate in the Thanksgiving can drive competition against the unbeatable Ashleys. But then the other kids join in to beat the Ashleys.
Directing: Chuck Sheetz · Writing: Michael L. Kramer · Starring: Allyce Beasley, Dabney Coleman, Rachel Crane, Francesca Marie Smith
1x23 The Voice
Jan 10, 1998 · 11 min
Principal Prickly needs Mikey to sing the National Anthem at the PTA Spring Fling, but Mikey only sings well in the bathroom. So he brings in a music teacher to bring the Robert Goulet out of Mikey.
Directing: Susie Dietter, Chuck Sheetz · Writing: Jonathan Greenberg · Starring: Robert Goulet, Glenne Headly, Lane Toran, Anndi McAfee
1x24 Kids in the Mist Season Finale
Jan 10, 1998 · 11 min
The kids deal with a pompous expert on child research who wants to study them as they play.
Directing: Chuck Sheetz · Writing: Holly Huckins, Joe Ansolabehere · Starring: John Astin, Cathy Moriarty
1x25 Parents' Night
Jan 17, 1998 · 11 min
Spinelli will do anything to keep her parents from attending parents' night and meeting the others.
Directing: Chuck Sheetz · Writing: Holly Huckins · Starring: Sam McMurray, Katey Sagal, Paul Willson, April Winchell
1x26 Swing on Thru to the Other Side
Jan 17, 1998 · 11 min
Spinelli is inspired to form a cult based on the Swinger Girl when she thinks she's seen her swing over the top into another dimension.
Directing: Chuck Sheetz · Writing: Joe Ansolabehere · Starring: Katey Sagal, Paul Willson, Lane Toran, Anndi McAfee