Join a group of six fourth-grade best friends at Third Street Elementary School on their fun-filled adventures in their school playground. Through the ups-and-downs of adolescence, they must wrestle with authority, avoid the school snitch, and try their best to win at kick-ball.
Recess (Season 1)
The Break In (Episode 1)
Writer: Paul Germain
Air date: 1997-09-13
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: 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.
The New Kid (Episode 2)
Writer: Paul Germain
Air date: 1997-09-13
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: New kid Gus arrives at Third Street Elementary, but has to endure the indignities that a new kid must undergo.
The Experiment (Episode 3)
Writer: Lesa Kite
Air date: 1997-09-20
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: 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.
The Great Jungle Gym Stand Off (Episode 4)
Writer: Joe Purdy
Air date: 1997-09-20
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: The kids stage a protest when Principal Prickly plans to tear down Ol' Rusty to replace it with a new jungle gym.
Jinxed (Episode 5)
Writer: Scott Shelley
Air date: 1997-09-27
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: The Ashleys jinx Gus according to the playground rules so that he can't talk until his friends say his name.
Officer Mikey (Episode 6)
Writer: Lesa Kite
Air date: 1997-09-27
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: The others try to help out when Mikey wants to be a safety ranger.
First Name Ashley (Episode 7)
Writer: Holly Huckins
Air date: 1997-10-04
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: The Ashleys try to force Spinelli to be just like them when Spinelli's first name is revealed.
To Finster with Love (Episode 8)
Writer: Jeff Wright
Air date: 1997-10-04
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: The kids help bring Miss Finster together with Hank the janitor when they find out she has a crush on him.
King Gus (Episode 9)
Writer: Peter Gaffney
Air date: 1997-10-11
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: 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.
Big Brother Chad (Episode 10)
Writer: Jonathan Greenberg
Air date: 1997-10-11
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: The kids, and Vince himself, come to the awful realization that Vince's once popular older brother Chad has grown up into a geek.
My Fair Gretchen (Episode 11)
Writer: Holly Huckins
Air date: 1997-10-18
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: The kids come up with a plan to keep Gretchen from being transferred to Oppenheimer Elementary for the Incredibly Extremely Gifted.
Speedy, We Hardly Knew Ye (Episode 12)
Writer: Bruce Rubin
Air date: 1997-10-18
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: 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.
I Will Kick No More Forever (Episode 13)
Writer: Michael L. Kramer
Air date: 1997-10-25
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Vince completely loses his confidence at playing kickball when Ashley Q. beats him in a game.
The Kid Came Back (Episode 14)
Writer: Holly Huckins
Air date: 1997-10-25
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: A weird little boy keeps tagging along behind the kids, apparently causing a streak of bad luck.
The Pest (Episode 15)
Writer: Rachel Lipman
Air date: 1997-11-01
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Jeffrey, an annoying jerk of a boy, insists that Gretchen will be his girlfriend.
The Legend of Big Kid (Episode 16)
Writer: Peter Gaffney
Air date: 1997-11-01
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: What do the kindergarteners have planned for T.J. when they capture him?
The Box (Episode 17)
Writer: Jeff Wright
Air date: 1997-11-08
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Miss Finster comes up with a new punishment that reduces T.J. to a vegetable.
The Trial (Episode 18)
Writer: Scott Shelley
Air date: 1997-11-08
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Randall accuses Spinelli of hitting him with a rock during a dirt clod war so the kids put her on trial.
Teachers Lounge (Episode 19)
Writer: Jonathan Greenberg
Air date: 1997-11-15
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: The kids dream about what the teachers' lounge must be like.
Randall's Reform (Episode 20)
Writer: Rachel Lipman
Air date: 1997-11-15
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Loneliness compels Randall to want to make friends with the other kids.
Rainy Days (Episode 21)
Writer: Lane Raichert
Air date: 1997-11-22
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: The kids grow increasingly frustrated when rain keeps then indoors for recess days on end.
The Great Can Drive (Episode 22)
Writer: Michael L. Kramer
Air date: 1997-11-22
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: 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.
The Voice (Episode 23)
Writer: Jonathan Greenberg
Air date: 1998-01-10
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: 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.
Kids in the Mist (Episode 24)
Writer: Holly Huckins
Air date: 1998-01-10
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: The kids deal with a pompous expert on child research who wants to study them as they play.
Parents' Night (Episode 25)
Writer: Holly Huckins
Air date: 1998-01-17
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Spinelli will do anything to keep her parents from attending parents' night and meeting the others.
Swing on Thru to the Other Side (Episode 26)
Writer: Joe Ansolabehere
Air date: 1998-01-17
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: 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.
Seasons
Episodes 26
Episodes 25
Episodes 16
Episodes 44
Episodes 11
Episodes 5
Episodes 4