The 25 most famous episodes in TV history

The aforementioned beginning of the “Who shot J.R.?” cliffhanger and arc. The eventual “Dallas” revival (2012-2014) tried to replicate the magic with a “Who killed J.R.?” arc after Larry Hagman’s real-life death, but for as much fun as that revival could be, it could never capture the original “Dallas’” spirit in that same sense.

While “Who shot J.R.?” was important, if we’re talking “Dallas,” we’ve also got to talk the Bobby Ewing shower scene. After being killed off in the Season 8 finale, Patrick Duffy’s Bobby Ewing made a miraculous return in the Season 9 finale, as though nothing had happened. Because Season 9 was all a dream. Oh yeah.

Obviously, this was a riff on the “Dallas” “Who shot J.R.?” arc that’s the inspiration for this entire list. But it was able to become a phenomenon in its own right, with far more attention to detail and the mystery itself than the original series ever had.

“It was all a dream” is enough to make any television show ending memorable. But “It was all a dream taking place in the mind of an autistic boy and his snow globe” makes it even more memorable. Plus, thanks to the way “St. Elsewhere” ended, it led the way for the “Tommy Westphall Universe,” which has been recorded for posterity. (Unfortunately, it hasn’t been updated since 2016.)

Sure, there was the episode of “Game of Thrones” that was too dark (Season 8’s “The Long” Night”) and the episode with the Starbucks cup (Season 8’s “The Last of the Starks”) — wow, those episodes were literally back-to-back — but those are more infamous than anything else. “The Rains of Castamere,” however… It was better known as “The Red Wedding” episode, the anticipation for it was palpable and it delivered.

It was between this and the series finale (“Remember the Monsters”), but the former changed the game for the series completely…for better or worse. It was also the last moment the show was part of pop culture conversations for good reasons...not bad. John Lithgow’s Trinity Killer is finally taken down, but at the ultimate price for Dexter. If only the series had ended there.

The Super Bowl episode of “Alias” and the one that changed absolutely everything. SD-6 is finally taken down, Sydney and Vaughn can finally be together and then that final Francie twist.

Mmm whatcha say… ‘Nuff said.

Well, this is all thanks to Conan O’Brien. During his “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” Conan debuted his “Walker, Texas Ranger” lever. There were numerous “Walker, Texas Ranger” clips shown during this bit, but the most remembered one — in turn, making this the most remembered “Walker, Texas Ranger” episode — featured a young Haley Joel Osment reciting the line, “Walker told me I have AIDS.” (“So here it is: The one Walker clip we’ve never shown. Once you see it, you’ll understand why.”) Conan did this.

There’s a good argument to be made that “No soup for you!” was the catchphrase of the ‘90s. Even children were saying it. The ‘90s were a weird time.

The final episode of “M*A*S*H” and an episode that surpassed the single-episode ratings record set by the conclusion to the “Who shot J.R.?” cliffhanger. Until 2010 — thanks, football— this was the most-watched television broadcast in American history. It’s still the most-watched episode and finale of any television series ever. Not too bad, huh?

Sorry for the spoilers, but the time has passed: Dan Humphrey is "Gossip Girl." Every woman still on the show ends up with her abuser. (Seriously: Serena/Dan, Blair/Chuck, and Lily/William were somehow all endgame.) Rufus Humphrey ends up with Lisa Loeb, after that one time Lisa Loeb showed up back in the first season. Dan Humphrey… Gossip Girl. Luckily for “Gossip Girl,” the “Dexter” series finale aired the following year to be an even worse ending for a show. But still, an awful series finale. (Frustrated “Lost” heads honestly have no leg to stand on when you compare its finale to those other two.)

That final scene of “The Sopranos” will drive people crazy forever. Congratulations, David Chase — you did it!

It’s the musical episode of “Buffy!” and an episode that inspired other shows to do musical episodes, whether we wanted them to or not. And not only is it a good — great, even —episode of television and “Buffy,” in general, but it’s also one that doesn’t just stop the plot to do the musical things. It’s not a filler episode, which is the natural inclination for this type of thing. Plot and catchy tunes.

Yes, this is the “Narm!” episode. For some people, that’s literally all they know about “Six Feet Under.” And that’s… Guys, watch “Six Feet Under.”

There are plenty of "Friends" episodes to choose from, but to narrow it down to one, you can’t get more “This is the one 'Friends' episode everyone knows” than the one where the guys and girls face off in personal trivia against each other.

Gotta love a covert episode title. This is when Ellen DeGeneres’ character came out as a lesbian (a couple of weeks after DeGeneres came out as a lesbian in real life). A critical, awards and ratings success of an episode, “Ellen” was still canceled not too long after for being “too gay.” Ellen herself (and episode guest star Laura Dern) has since bounced back though.

The school shooting episode of “Degrassi" is, of course, best remembered for how it led to cast member Aubrey “Drake” Graham fulfilling his true destiny as “Wheelchair Jimmy.”

“I’m so excited! / I’m so excited! / I’m so…. SCARED!” Everyone remembers Jessie Spano getting high and then crashing and burning on caffeine pills. But please: Everyone needs to remember the initial Hot Sundaes (the girl group of Jessie, Kelly, and Lisa) music video. It’s so long. It has no reason to be so long…but it is.

The first season of “Melrose Place” and the second season of “Melrose Place” are like day and night, but it wasn’t until near the end of the latter that it was truly solidified as what the show would be moving forward. “The B***h Is Back” is the episode in which Dr. Kimberly Shaw (Marcia Cross) officially returns from her coma/presumed death…and eventually has the wig reveal that all wig reveals are judged against.

Shonda Rhimes knew that one way to capitalize on the post-Super Bowl bump (for the first part) was by making new viewers have to wait until the next regularly scheduled episode for the thrilling conclusion. And they did. And Kyle Chandler went boom. It was a great time for TV and the musical stylings of Anna Nalick. That’s for sure.

Even if you haven’t seen this episode of television, you probably have seen a riff on it somewhere. Specifically the emotional “Damn, damn, damn!” moment.

And with this episode, the term “jumping the shark” was coined.

Sammy Davis Jr. visits noted bigot Archie Bunker and gives him a kiss on the cheek, leading to one of the most memorable moments in TV history.

“I think we’re fighting a losing game!” Just like Sammy Davis Jr. kissing Archie Bunker and Fonzie jumping the shark, Lucy and Ethel working at the candy factory, dealing with the conveyor belt, is simply one of those classic television moments that just won’t be forgotten.