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 4)
The First Picture Show (Episode 1)
Writer: Richard Whitley
Air date: 1999-09-12
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Señor Fusion: the Movie finally opens and T.J. vows to be there at its first screening.
The Big Prank (Episode 2)
Writer: Gregg Taylor
Air date: 1999-09-12
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: The kids rope T.J. into a challenge to play a prank on King Bob before the end of the school day.
Hustler's Apprentice (Episode 3) 7.0
Writer: Ned Teitelbaum
Air date: 1999-09-13
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Gus winds up working for the Hustler Kid to pay off a debt, and soon he himself becomes the biggest hustler in the playground.
The Spy Who Came In from the Playground (Episode 4)
Writer: Michael L. Kramer
Air date: 1999-09-13
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: The main kids make a friend of new kid James Stone and show him all their little schemes, but soon regret that.
Gus' Fortune (Episode 5) 7.0
Writer: Phil Walsh
Air date: 1999-09-19
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: The kids find a paper fortune teller on the ground that predicts doom for Gus.
Rumor Mill (Episode 6)
Writer: David Pitlik
Air date: 1999-09-19
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: The kids want to find out who started a rumor that a boy knocked over Mikey's popcorn at the movies and Mikey then threw the boy into the girl's bathroom.
Recess is Cancelled (Episode 7)
Writer: Mark Drop
Air date: 1999-09-22
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Secretary of Schools Garrison chooses 3rd Street School as the place to test his program to bring test scores up by cancelling recess.
Tattletale Heart (Episode 8)
Writer: Matt Rosenberg
Air date: 1999-09-22
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: The kids warn Gus not to break the code by telling Miss Finster who started a food fight.
The Madness of King Bob (Episode 9) 7.0
Writer: Gregg Taylor
Air date: 1999-09-26
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: King Bob abandons his throne in his obsessive pursuit of pulling a prank on T.J. in this sequel to The Big Prank
Call Me Guy (Episode 10)
Writer: Ford Riley
Air date: 1999-09-26
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Gus takes a new identity when he discovers that people think he's a different cool kid when he doesn't wear them. Too bad "Guy" can't see a thing.
Prickly is Leaving (Episode 11)
Writer: Bart Jennett
Air date: 1999-10-03
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Prickly finally gets his appointment to Spiro T. Agnew Middle School. But the kids try to make him stay after they meet the new Principal Slicer.
Randall's Friends (Episode 12)
Writer: Milton Chassman
Air date: 1999-10-03
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Randall gets the main kids to pretend that they're his friends when his father, Leonard, visits the school on Randall's birthday.
The Biggest Trouble Ever (Episode 13) 7.0
Writer: Steve Bannos
Air date: 1999-11-07
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: The gang gets busted when they accidentally break a statue of a famous hero.
The Rules (Episode 14)
Writer: Etan Cohen
Air date: 1999-11-07
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: The original 1935 edition of The Rules of the Playground is discovered in the library.
Gus and Misdemeanors (Episode 15)
Writer: Holly Huckins
Air date: 1999-11-08
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: The bad kids from The Girl was Trouble trick Gus into shoplifting candy from Kelso's.
A Science Fair to Remember (Episode 16)
Writer: Sandy Adomaitis
Air date: 1999-11-08
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Second grade prodigy Becky Benson befriends Gretchen to get help for her science fair project. But she has an ulterior motive.
Mikey's Pants (Episode 17) 8.0
Writer: Phil Walsh
Air date: 1999-11-14
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: The gang tries to cover up Mikey's ripped pants so Finster won't catch him.
Here Comes Mr. Perfect (Episode 18)
Writer: Phil Walsh
Air date: 1999-11-14
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Jared, the new student, appears to be perfect, making the rest of the school very jealous.
Good Luck Charm (Episode 19)
Writer: David Pitlik
Air date: 1999-11-19
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Spinelli gets too attached to the lucky marble that Vince loans her.
Diggers Split Up (Episode 20) 7.0
Writer: Cary Okmin
Air date: 1999-11-19
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Digger Dave quits digging and then bosses everyone around.
Schoolworld (Episode 21)
Writer: Scott Shelley
Air date: 1999-11-21
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: The school gets a new technology system installed called the SAL 3000 which controls everything.
Bachelor Gus (Episode 22)
Writer: Sandy Adomaitis
Air date: 1999-11-21
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Thinking his family is moving away again, Gus moves under the jungle gym to avoid leaving his friends and school
The Dude (Episode 23)
Writer: Richard Whitley
Air date: 1999-11-28
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: T.J. and the gang meet Mr. Dudicoff, a student teacher who was a legend at 3rd Street School back in the day.
Partners in Crime (Episode 24)
Writer: Bart Jennett
Air date: 1999-11-28
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Menlo and Randall team up to manipulate the entire playground.
The Candidates (Episode 25) 7.0
Writer: Etan Cohen
Air date: 1999-11-29
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Gretchen and Vince both run for president.
This Brain for Hire (Episode 26) 7.0
Writer: Phil Walsh
Air date: 1999-11-29
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: People start paying Gretchen for doing their homework so she can buy herself a new bike
Spinelli's Masterpiece (Episode 27) 7.0
Writer: Ford Riley
Air date: 2000-02-06
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Spinelli channels her anger into a playground chalk drawing.
Nobody Doesn't Like T.J. (Episode 28) 8.0
Writer: Phil Walsh
Air date: 2000-02-06
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: T.J. can't figure out why Gordy doesn't like him.
Yope from Norway (Episode 29)
Writer: Bob Illes
Air date: 2000-02-20
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: When a new kid from Norway comes to 3rd Street School, Gus befriends the kid by making him think that Gus is the hottest kid in the school.
Bonky Fever (Episode 30) 8.0
Writer: Bart Jennett
Air date: 2000-02-20
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Scared of turning 10 on his soon-to-be bithday, Mikey develops an obssession of becoming a little kid again so he won't have to grow up.
Don't Ask Me (Episode 31) 7.0
Writer: Sandy Adomaitis
Air date: 2000-02-21
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Spinelli becomes popular as an advice giver when she sits in for Guru Kid.
The Secret Life of Grotke (Episode 32)
Writer: Ford Riley
Air date: 2000-02-21
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Ms. Grotke's strange behavior makes the kids think that she's a spy.
The Fuss Over Finster (Episode 33) 7.0
Writer: Milton Chassman
Air date: 2000-02-27
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Miss Finster hurts her leg and can't keep up with the kids during recess.
Soccer Boy (Episode 34)
Writer: Bart Jennett
Air date: 2000-02-27
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Mikey makes the other kids regret not letting them play on their team for the playground's soccer tourney.
Fort Tender (Episode 35)
Writer: Nick DuBois
Air date: 2000-02-29
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: The bored main kids build their own fort. But then Lawson takes it over.
Germ Warfare (Episode 36)
Writer: Phil Walsh
Air date: 2000-02-29
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Gus starts an obsessive crusade to kill all the germs in the world, while Mikey will do anything to save them.
More Like Gretchen (Episode 37)
Writer: Bart Jennett
Air date: 2000-03-01
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Spinelli gets peeved with her parents heap so much praise for Gretchen at her expense.
Prince Randall (Episode 38)
Writer: Phil Walsh
Air date: 2000-03-01
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Randall uses an embarrassing photo to blackmail King Bob into making him Playground Prince.
Me No Know (Episode 39)
Writer: Ford Riley
Air date: 2000-04-30
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Vince feels like an outsider after he misses the must-see movie of the weekend.
Good Ole T.J. (Episode 40)
Writer: Sandy Adomaitis
Air date: 2000-04-30
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Gretchen is worried when she's partnered with T.J. on a class project.
Chez Vince (Episode 41)
Writer: Milton Chassman
Air date: 2000-05-07
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Disgusted by the horrible cafeteria food, Vince becomes the new school cook when the other kids try his cooking.
Tucked In Mikey (Episode 42)
Writer: Jack Monaco
Air date: 2000-05-07
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Needing to prepare himself for a poet laureate ceremony, Mikey decides to listen to Menlo to learn how to organize himself.
Old Folks Home (Episode 43)
Writer: Ford Riley
Air date: 2000-07-17
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: Mikey badgers the gang into a trip to senior citizens home.
Some Friend (Episode 44)
Writer: Mark Archuleta
Air date: 2000-07-17
Runtime: 11 min
Overview: T.J. has a mysterious new friend.
Seasons
Episodes 26
Episodes 25
Episodes 16
Episodes 44
Episodes 11
Episodes 5
Episodes 4