Let’s be real for a second. If you grew up in the mid-2000s, your Saturday nights weren't complete without the chaotic energy of a skinny, guitar-wielding Drake Bell and a manic, GameSphere-obsessed Josh Peck. It’s been nearly two decades since the show wrapped up, but Drake and Josh all episodes still hold this weird, unbreakable grip on pop culture. You see the memes everywhere—the "spherical" jokes, the "Hug me, brotha!" screams, and of course, Megan’s devious little face. But there is a lot more to these 56 episodes than just nostalgia.
The weird math of the four seasons
Most people think this show ran for a decade. It didn't. It only had four seasons, totaling 56 episodes and two TV movies. The first season was basically a test run with only six episodes. Nickelodeon wasn't even sure if it would work! They took two kids from The Amanda Show, threw them into a house in San Diego, and hoped the "Odd Couple" dynamic would stick.
The growth between Season 1 and Season 4 is actually insane. If you go back and watch the pilot, Josh is basically a different human. He’s wearing sweater vests and trying way too hard to be the "responsible" one, while Drake is... well, Drake. By the time they hit the series finale, "Really Big Shrimp," the chemistry was so natural it didn't even feel like acting anymore.
What most people get wrong about the series finale
Speaking of "Really Big Shrimp," did you know it wasn't actually the last episode to air? This is one of those things that drives fans crazy. Even though "Really Big Shrimp" was written and produced as the grand finale—bringing back Mindy, giving Josh the assistant manager job at the Premiere, and featuring that iconic callback to their Amanda Show shrimp fight—Nickelodeon aired two more episodes afterward.
✨ Don't miss: Cuba Gooding Jr OJ: Why the Performance Everyone Hated Was Actually Genius
"Helicopter" and "Dance Contest" actually premiered after the big finale. It totally messed up the timeline. In "Really Big Shrimp," everything is resolved. Then, a week later, they’re back to their usual bickering as if the big emotional moments never happened. If you’re bingeing Drake and Josh all episodes today on a streaming service, it’s honestly better to watch the finale last, regardless of the air date.
The episodes that actually changed the show
While the slapstick stuff like the "Tree House" or "The Demonator" gets all the love, there are a few episodes that actually gave the show its heart.
- Josh Is Done: This is widely considered the best-acted episode in the whole series. Drake messes up big time, causing Josh to miss an exam. Instead of yelling, Josh just... stops. He stops being Drake's brother. He stops doing his homework. He stops caring. Watching Drake's life fall apart while Josh thrives is both hilarious and surprisingly deep. It showed that Drake actually needed Josh more than the other way around.
- Blues Brothers: This gave us the first real taste of the musical talent that would define the show's vibe. That performance of "Soul Man" is still a banger.
- The Bet: The "pink vs. brown" dye job. It was the first time we saw them really go head-to-head in a way that felt like actual siblings. Plus, the chocolate milk pool scene was apparently freezing cold in real life, and the actors were miserable filming it.
The "before they were famous" cameos
If you keep your eyes peeled during a rewatch, you'll see a staggering amount of future stars.
🔗 Read more: Greatest Rock and Roll Singers of All Time: Why the Legends Still Own the Mic
Vanessa Hudgens pops up before her High School Musical days. Lucy Hale (from Pretty Little Liars) shows up as one of Drake's dates. Even a tiny Dylan Minnette—long before 13 Reasons Why—is the little kid in the "The Demonator" line. It’s like a time capsule of 2005 Hollywood.
Why it still feels "human" despite the chaos
A lot of modern sitcoms feel too polished. Drake and Josh was messy. Drake Bell actually got into a serious car accident during the production of Season 4, which is why filming stalled for months. When he came back for the episode "My Dinner with Bobo," you can actually see he looks a bit different because his jaw was still healing. They didn't hide it; they just kept going.
The show worked because it captured that specific, annoying, wonderful feeling of having a sibling you want to kick but also can't live without. Whether they were trying to sneak a Mexican robot into the house or getting stuck in a bathroom with a goat, it was always about the two of them against the world (and Megan).
💡 You might also like: Ted Nugent State of Shock: Why This 1979 Album Divides Fans Today
How to actually watch it today
If you want to revisit the madness, most people head to Paramount+ or Hulu. But a word of warning: some of the music has been swapped out due to licensing issues, which kinda sucks if you remember the original songs.
Your Drake and Josh Checklist:
- Watch chronologically: Don't trust the air dates for Season 4; make sure "Really Big Shrimp" is your second-to-last stop before the Christmas movie.
- Look for the "Pear" products: The show famously used "Pear Computers" and "PearPhones" to avoid using Apple logos, a trend that Dan Schneider carried into iCarly and Victorious.
- Catch the movies: Drake & Josh Go Hollywood is essential for the transition into the later seasons, and Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh is the true, final goodbye to the characters.
Honestly, the best way to enjoy it is to just embrace the absurdity. It’s a show where a teenager can accidentally buy an orangutan or get "steered straight" by a real criminal named Blaze. It doesn't make sense, and that's exactly why it's great.
Next time you’re scrolling for something to watch, put on "The Storm" or "Theater Thug." You’ll realize pretty quickly that the jokes still land, the timing is still perfect, and the "GameSphere" is still the greatest fictional console ever made. Just don't forget to watch out for Megan. She's always watching.