Top 10 Cinderella Themed TV Episodes
The classic fairytale that is too good to be told just once. Join MsMojo as we countdown our picks for the Top Cinderella Themed TV Episodes.
For this list, we're taking a look at episodes of TV series that put their own unique spin on the famous “happily ever after” tale. It could be live-action or animated, just as long as it captures the spirit of the original story in one sitting – so entire series based on Cinderella are ruled out.
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#10: “Someday Your Prince Will Be in Effect”
“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” (1990-96)
Starting off our list is one of the comedy highlights of the 90’s. The Banks family is having a Halloween party, and Will and Carlton try to impress the same girl into being their date by fabricating stories about themselves, while trying to embarrass the other. Sadly for Will, it's actually Carlton that ends up with the girl. However, Will DOES end up with a date – a nice waitress named Cindy, dressed as Cinderella. With the song “Someday My Prince Will Come” adding to this fairytale scene, the Fresh Prince and his Fresh Princess dance the night away until she has to go; leaving Will with a certain surprise.
#9: “Scarecrowella”
“Magic Adventures of Mumfie” (1994-98)
From the creator of Thomas & Friends comes this beautifully animated series about a little elephant with a great big heart and his good friend, the Scarecrow. After reading a certain little fairy tale, Scarecrow has a dream that he and Mumfie are invited to the Queen of Night’s ball… but he has nothing nice to wear. Luckily, his fair-EEL godmother is there to get him all dressed up for his dance with the queen. This episode offers viewers a unique look at a male Cinderella scenario without any wicked stepsiblings, yet still captures the spirit of the original tale through a hot chocolate-induced dream.
#9: “Scroogerello”
“DuckTales” (1987-90)
If you didn’t grow up with this iconic Disney show, let us introduce you to Huey, Dewie, Louie and their wealthy great-uncle Scrooge. The ducks’ take on this fairy tale starts with a sick Scrooge dozing off during a bedtime reading of Cinderella, continuing the story in a dream. The story is flipped on its head as Scrooge, in the role of Scroogerello, has to stop his con artist stepfather and stepbrothers from stealing Princess Goldie’s fortune. The romance of the classic tale is kept as the Princess searches for the owner of a golden hat that was left behind, but a healthy dose of humor is added as well. Though it was all a dream, it does give us hope in finding Mr. Right.
#7: “Lindapendent Woman”
“Bob’s Burgers” (2011-)
Love works in strange ways, especially for a cartoon as wickedly funny as Bob’s Burgers. At the grocery store, Tina has a momentous encounter with a stock boy in the milk aisle. She doesn’t see his face, but she manages to snag the bandage from his finger. Determined to find the man of her dreams, Tina tries the bandage on other boys’ fingers until she finds her dairy prince. This scenario is awkward and weird, but that’s what makes it so enjoyable – Tina is a hopeless romantic still learning about how love really works. If she can find her “Cinderella” in a milk aisle, then she is well on her way.
#6: “The Best Night Ever”
“My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic” (2010-)
At the start of this program’s rise to fame, we were treated to one of its very first story arcs. When Twilight Sparkle and her friends get invited to the Grand Galloping Gala at Canterlot Castle, they head off for what they hope to be the best night ever. Rarity’s goal for the evening is to find her prince charming; unfortunately, like the others’, her plans turn south when her “prince charming” is anything but charming. When chaos breaks out and the ponies start to leave, Rarity departs with one of the funniest Cinderella parodies. Though her fairytale dream didn’t come true, Rarity still gets a happy ending – finishing her night with her friends at a donut shop.
#5: “Grimm Job”
“Family Guy” (1999-2003; 2005-)
Family Guy has done some bizarre, hilarious tributes and parodies during its run; giving each one that special brand of humor that audiences love about Seth MacFarlane’s world. This episode is no exception, as Peter reads Stewie a collection of bedtime stories – including... As Peter reads the book, we see the Quahog cast reenacting the famous folk tale – with Lois as Cinderella, Meg and Stewie as the wicked stepsisters, and –naturally- Peter as the prince. While this version stays faithful to the original fable, the characters spice it up with their own humorous quirks and Peter’s blunt–but entertaining– narration.
#4: “Kimmy Goes to a Party!”
“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” (2015-)
When you’ve been locked in a bunker for 15 years, there’s only one thing to do when you get out – enjoy life to the fullest. That’s what Kimmy plans to do when her boss invites her to a dinner party. She gets all dressed up and has the time of her life – pretending to fit in with the other partygoers, and even meeting a nice guy she can spend the night with. Unfortunately, her little ruse is found out, and she has to leave the party… in a rather sad twist of the “losing the glass slipper” moment. Her “Cinderella-ing” may have been a bust, but there’s always a brighter tomorrow for Netflix’s favorite mole woman.
#3: “Finsterella”
“Rugrats” (1999-2004)
One of the deepest storylines of Rugrats was the fate of Chuckie Finster’s mother. But after a trip to Paris, Chuckie not only gets a new mom, but also a new little stepsister, Kimi. However, after he supposedly isn’t invited to a party, and thanks to a little teasing from Angelica, Chuckie starts to worry that his new family will make him a real life Finsterella. So much so, that he even has a nightmare about it. Fortunately, Kimi is there to take him to the party …that was in his backyard the whole time. This sweet reimagining reminds us that not all stepfamilies are as wicked as the stories say. Sometimes they ARE the happy ending.
#2: “Lovey’s Secret Admirer”
“Gilligan’s Island” (1964-67)
Mrs. Lovey Howell wakes up one morning to find a note from a secret admirer under her pillow – much to HER excitement and Mr. Howell’s annoyance. The Professor builds a lie detector to use on every man on the island; but the “glass slipper” fits neither him nor the others. Turns out it was her own husband writing those letters… awkward. Sad about her lack of a secret admirer, Mrs. Howell falls asleep and dreams that she is Cinderella. When she arrives at the ball, she shares a dance with her own Prince Charming – Mr. Howell. She may not have a secret admirer, but her Thurston is the only prince she’ll ever need.
Before we unveil our number one pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Yarnbenders”
“Rocko’s Modern Life” (1993-96)
“Scroogerello”
“DuckTales” (1987-90)
“Sapsorrow”
“The Storyteller” (1988-90)
“Finger Lenting Good”
“American Dad!” (2005-)
“Pigerella”
“Muppet Babies” (1984-91)
#1: “The Price of Gold”
“Once Upon a Time” (2011-)
As Emma Swan tries to restore the memories of fairytale counterparts, we are treated to two sides of the same fable with some creative deviations. For example, it turns out Cinderella’s happily ever after came from a Rumpelstiltskin deal instead of a fairy godmother. However, magic doesn’t come without a price, and Rumple’s is her first-born baby. Her Storybrooke counterpart, Ashley, isn’t faring any better when Rumple’s parallel tries to collect HER baby as well. While Cinderella’s endeavors end tragically, Ashley is the one with the happy ending thanks to Emma. Though their tales end differently, they both result in one of the best interpretations of the timeless fable – made possible only by one of the best modern fantasy dramas.
Do you agree with our list? What series do you think had the best Cinderella-based episode? For more dream-fulfilling Top 10’s posted everyday, be sure to subscribe to MsMojo.
