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This is a complete list of episodes for the popular American sitcom The Cosby Show.
Contents |
Season 1: 1984-1985
24 Episodes
The first season opening credits featured the Huxtable family playing sports in Central Park. Two versions of the show's theme song were used in this sequence. A long version of the show's theme was heard in the first two episodes, but a shortened version with a few bars taken out and with a different, though similar, style was used for the rest of the season. The show's theme, titled "Kiss Me", was composed by Stu Gardner and Bill Cosby.
| Episode | Production | Airdate | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0101 | September 20, 1984 | Pilot Presentation | Cliff and Clair deal with the daily pressures of having children. Denise goes on a date with an older boy, while Theo gets four D's on his report card. Cliff illustrates the cost of living to Theo using Monopoly money. When he tries to reason with his father about loving him regardless of his grades, Cliff responds by saying, "That's the dumbest thing I ever heard in my life!" Theo resolves to do better in school. Meanwhile Vanessa and Rudy can't sleep because Rudy claims she heard the wolf man growling in her closet. |
| 2 | 0102 | September 27, 1984 | Goodbye Mr. Fish | When Rudy's pet fish, Lamont, dies, Cliff tries to bring the family together for a funeral in the bathroom. The festivities end when Rudy gets bored and leaves to watch TV. |
| 3 | 0103 | October 4, 1984 | Bad Dreams | Vanessa claims that she is old enough to watch a scary movie, but Cliff still forbids it. Vanessa sneaks out anyway, but ends up having nightmares as a result. |
| 4 | 0105 | October 11, 1984 | Is That My Boy? | Freshman Theo tries out for the football team and makes it. Cliff is overjoyed, but his pride falters when he discovers his son will never be a star. Theo, however, is just happy being on the team. |
| 5 | 0108 | October 18, 1984 | A Shirt Story | Theo wants to impress a girl by wearing an expensive shirt by designer Gordon Gartrelle. Since Cliff and Clair will not pay for it, Denise offers to make a copy of the shirt for him. Guest appearance by Kadeem Hardison, who years later would portray Dwayne Wayne on the Cosby Show spinoff, A Different World. (NOTE: The real Gordon Gartrelle is a writer/producer for The Cosby Show.) |
| 6 | 0106 | October 25, 1984 | Breaking With Tradition | Cliff's father, Russell, pays a visit and begins questioning Cliff about the kids' college choices. He asks Denise about Hillman, his and Cliff's alma mater. Denise is dead-set against it at first, until Russell tells her that the males outnumber the females there. Also Cliff reveals that he went to hilman beacause of a young woman who later will be his wife. First appearance of Earle Hyman as Russell Huxtable, Cliff's father. |
| 7 | 0107 | November 1, 1984 | One More Time | While Clair cares for a friend's baby, she begins to consider having another. Cliff desperately tries to talk her out of it, claiming that babies are "false advertising." Clair's mother, Carrie, then reminds her that the older you are when you have kids, the older you'll be if they end up having to come back and live at home. First appearance of Ethel Ayler as Carrie Hanks, Clair's mother. |
| 8 | 0109 | November 8, 1984 | Play It Again, Vanessa | Vanessa plays clarinet in the school's orchestra. Though she tries her best and practices daily, she simply cannot play the instrument. She plays an embarrassing solo at the school concert, but her parents support her anyway. Guest Dizzy Gillespie as Mr. Hampton, Vanessa's music teacher. |
| 9 | 0110 | November 15, 1984 | How Ugly Is He? | Denise has a new boyfriend, David, but is reluctant to bring him home. She fears that Cliff will, like always, make fun of the boy and ruin her chances with him. Cliff and Clair are initially impressed with David until he expresses some unwanted opinions about medicine and the law at dinner. Kristoff St. John plays boyfriend David. |
| 10 | 0111 | November 22, 1984 | Bon Jour, Sondra | Sondra, the eldest Huxtable child makes her first appearance when she visits home for Thanksgiving. She plans on going to Paris for the summer, and hopes that her parents will support the decision. |
| 11 | 0104 | December 6, 1984 | You're Not A Mother Tonight | Clair is exhausted from constantly caring for the children. Cliff decides to take her out on the town for "You're Not a Mother Night." They go to a fancy restaurant and hotel. While there, some of Clair's motherly instincts start kicking in-but they stop in time for a romantic evening. |
| 12 | 0113 | December 13, 1984 | Rudy's Sick | Clair could be named partner at her law firm if an interview goes well-but Rudy is sick! Cliff vows to take care of her while Clair works, and engages in some unique doctoring methods. Clair is named partner and Rudy is fine by the end. |
| 13 | 0112 | December 20, 1984 | Father's Day | Cliff complains about the poor quality of his annual Father's Day gifts. He challenges the children to find some better presents for a December Father's Day. They give him thoughtful-if not quite attractive-presents. |
| 14 | 0114 | January 10, 1985 | Independence Day | Theo gets his ear pierced to impress a girl, but Denise thinks it might be infected. She is correct, and Theo must go to Cliff. Cliff hopes that Grandpa Huxtable will punish Theo, but the old man instead relates the story of how Cliff tried to slick back his hair to impress Clair, but ended up burning it off! Russell brags, and Anna reminds him of the time that he had a tattoo of her name placed on his chest, but ended up with a huge scar on his chest when he tried to remove it after Anna found out he was actually trying to impress another girl! First appearance of Clarice Taylor as Anna Huxtable, Cliff's mother. |
| 15 | 0115 | January 17, 1985 | Physician of the Year | Cliff is set to receive an important award, but a woman goes into labor right before the ceremony. Theo delivers his speech for him. Aleta Mitchell as Mrs. Randall, Elisa de la Roche as Nurse, Sheldon Leonard as Dr. Wexler |
| 16 | 0116 | January 31, 1985 | Jitterbug Break | Cliff tries to impress Denise's friends by teaching them how to jitterbug. Some of Clair's friends also show off their dance moves. Soon, the whole house is full of dancers. Blair Underwood as Denise's boyfriend (uncredited), Judith Jamison as Marie, Donald McKayle as Ralph, Gerard Cooper as Guy, Christine Langner as Girl |
| 17 | 0117 | February 7, 1985 | Theo and the Joint | Clair discovers a marijuana joint in one of Theo's school books. She and Cliff confront him about it, and accept his explanation—another boy slipped it in. Theo confronts the boy and brings him home to confess in order to remove any uncertainty from his parents about his telling the truth. Theo and the boy actually start to become friends. Stephen Thompson as Anthony Braxton, Iman as Mrs. Montgomery. Rudy says her full name in this episode, Rudith Lillian Huxtable. |
| 18 | 0118 | February 14, 1985 | Vanessa's New Class | Vanessa is placed in an advanced science class. She creates a model of the solar system, but learns that she will have to work harder than ever if she hopes to succeed. First appearance of Pam Potillo as Vanessa's friend Janet Meisner. William Christian as Mr. Robertson), Kim Hauser as Girl #1, Audrey Wong as Girl #2, Rado Randriamamonjy as Leon Haywood. |
| 19 | 0119 | February 21, 1985 | Clair's Case | A sneaky mechanic tries to swindle Sondra. It's Clair to the rescue as the two battle in court. David Langston Smyrl as the man in court, Shawn Elliott as Mr. Wilson, Alan North as Judge |
| 20 | 0120 | February 28, 1985 | Back to the Track, Jack | Cliff's college track coach contacts him and asks to run in a charity event between Hillman and its rival, Norton College. Heathcliff "Combustible Huxtable" trains, but soon learns that he is not the runner he was all those years ago. Al Freeman, Jr. as Coach Ernie Scott, 1956 Olympic medalist Joshua Culbreath as Col. Sanford B. "Tailwind" Turner, Dhamiri Abayomi as Himself |
| 21 | 0121 | March 14, 1985 | The Younger Woman | Cliff and Clair receive a visit from an old friend-and he has a new girlfriend that is half his age. They are initially suspicious, but learn that judging by appearances isn't always right. Terry Farrell as Nicki Phillips, Robert King as Dr. Mike Newcomb |
| 22 | 0122 | March 28, 1985 | Slumber Party | Rudy invites all of her friends over for a slumber party. It's Cliff's job to watch over them, and he demonstrates some unique games to wrangle the youngsters. In the end, Russell drops by and demonstrates the perfect way to deal with kids-bribe them! First appearance of Peter Costa as Peter. Earle Hyman as Russell. With Dana Bryant, Kyle Bryant, Alicia Keys (billed under her given name of Alicia Cook), Naoka Nakagawa, Desiree Scott, Sing Smith-Stewart as Rudy's friends. The show opened with a brief voiceover from Keshia Knight Pulliam explaining that this episode was meant specifically for kids. |
| 23 | 0125 | May 2, 1985 | Mr. Quiet | Cliff, Clair, and the Huxtable clan volunteer at a local community center. There, a battered boy tries to find help, and the owner—Tony Castillo—does his best to lend assistance. David Langston Smyrl as Chester, Alexis Cruz as Enrique Tarron, Tony Orlando as Tony Castillo, Ada Maris as Selena Cruz, Pearl Tama as Sonia Tarron, Emmet O'Sullivan as Old Man, Raymond Rosario as Kid, Angela Bassett as Mrs. Mitchell, Olga Merediz as Mrs. Rodriguez, Lisa Mordente as Expectant Mother #1, Alva Chinn as Expectant Mother #2. This episode was a pilot for a proposed spin-off series featuring Tony Orlando's character and the community center, which never came to fruition. Also the first episode in which Clair is shown to be fluent in Spanish. |
| 24 | 0124 | May 9, 1985 | Cliff's Birthday | Cliff is turning 48, and as usual, he is trying to find out what his birthday present is ahead of time. Clair, with the help of the kids, orchestrates a huge trick. Cliff is fooled, and doesn't find about what is birthday surprise is: a visit to Lena Horne's private club. Lena Horne as herself, Clarence Williams III as Clarence Thornehill. In episode 12, Cliff says his birthday is in October. |
Season 2: 1985-1986
25 Episodes
For the second season, the opening credits changed from the Huxtables in the park to a gray room with the cast dancing. The song was changed for the first time keeping the show's theme signature and featured a sort of jazz tone. Each cast member, in descending age of their characters, dances alongside Cosby as his/her name is shown in the credits. Bill Cosby is seen at the end of the credits "dancing" to the music as the producer credits appear and at the end, he quickly turns his head and looks into the camera before the sequence cuts to black. Two versions of this theme were also used. Much like the season one theme, both versions of season two's theme song were completely different in sound than the other. The long version featured more of a synth beat than the short. Midway through the season, following her marriage to NBC sportscaster Ahmad Rashād, Phylicia Ayers-Allen's name in the opening credits is changed to "Phylicia Rashād". Producer Caryn Sneider's (who also got married) credit was also changed to read "Produced by Caryn Sneider Mandabach."
| Episode | Production | Airdate | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 0201 | September 26, 1985 | First Day of School | Cliff and Clair are overjoyed with the arrivial of the new school year, as their children are finally out of the house. |
| 26 | 0204 | October 3, 1985 | The Juicer | Cliff, who has a penchant for electronic appliances, buys a juicer. Rudy and Peter, bored from Vanessa's inattentive baby-sitting, decide to use it even though they are not allowed to use appliances. David Langston Smyrl as Mr. Lucas. Peter Costa as Peter. |
| 27 | 0203 | October 10, 1985 | Happy Anniversary | For Russell and Anna's 49th wedding anniversary, the family commissions a portrait of the couple as newlyweds and offers them a cruise to Europe. Later in the evening, the whole family performs Ray Charles' "Night Time Is the Right Time", with Theo, Rudy and Cliff each lip-synching a solo. Earle Hyman as Russell. Clarice Taylor as Anna. |
| 28 | 0205 | October 17, 1985 | Cliff in Love | Sondra breaks up with her boyfriend Elvin and is depressed, taking it out on the family. Cliff and Clair aren't exactly unhappy; they find Elvin rather annoying. Later, he appears at the house with flowers and tries to apologize. While there, he offers some of his sexist rhetoric to Clair, who quickly becomes annoyed. First appearance of Geoffrey Owens as Elvin. Joseph C. Phillips appears as Daryl (Phillips joins the cast in Season 6 as Denise's new husband, Navy Lt. Martin Kendall). |
| 29 | 0202 | October 24, 1985 | Theo and the Older Woman | When friend Suzanne accompanies Denise to observe the Huxtables' normal behavior, a smitten Theo behaves far from normally. Robin Givens as Suzanne. Blair Underwood as Mark. |
| 30 | 0206 | October 31, 1985 | Halloween | Vanessa has a Halloween party. Vanessa has a crush on Robert Forman, daydreaming about her love she drops an entire tray of glasses and embarrasses herself in front of the guests. Pam Potillo as Janet. Dondre Whitfield as Robert. Akili Prince as Scott. (Years later, Prince would originate the role of Terrence Frye on All My Children. Upon leaving that series, he was replaced by Whitfield.) |
| 31 | 0208 | November 7, 1985 | Rudy Suits Up | Rudy plays football and becomes a star, much to the chagrin of Clair, who worries she'll get hurt. But reluctance turns to excitement when Rudy is the star of her first game. Ethel Ayler as Carrie Hanks. Peter Costa as Peter. |
| 32 | 0207 | November 14, 1985 | Denise Drives | Denise wants to buy a car. She plans to use her savings to do so, but Cliff and Clair quickly point out flaws in her plan. The answer to everyone's problems comes from friend Mr. Lucas, who has an old car he is willing to sell. Denise proves herself a good driver, and the car is hers. David Langston Smyrl as Mr. Lucas. |
| 33 | 0209 | November 21, 1985 | Clair's Sister | Clair's sister Sarah gets engaged. First appearance of Joe Williams as Clair's father Al Hanks. Ethel Ayler as Carrie Hanks. Mario Van Peebles as Garvin. |
| 34 | 0211 | December 5, 1985 | Clair's Toe | While preparing to go out on a proposal anniversary dinner, Clair breaks her toe, but tries not to let it upset her routine. In the end, she develops a unique piece of footwear to hide her cast. |
| 35 | 0213 | December 12, 1985 | Denise's Friend | Denise asks Cliff to talk to her friend, who has a medical problem. Cliff diagnoses the girl as having a mild bladder infection, but learns that she was wary of telling her parents without certainty. Cliff and Clair decide to show the kids that they can tell them anything, but the children quickly point out that their parents will just get angry. Cliff admits that anger is part of problems, but tells the children that no matter what, they will be loved. |
| 36 | 0210 | January 2, 1986 | Mrs. Westlake | Theo's math teacher comes for dinner, to Theo's extreme consternation. He thinks she plans to tell his parents of a bad grade on a math test. To his surprise, Mrs. Westlake comes to dinner looking young, attractive, and even with a sense of humor; and she has a very good surprise! Mrs. Westlake also gives Theo his test-he actually gets an 89, and he proceeds to embrace her, much to his shock. Sonia Braga as Mrs. Westlake. |
| 37 | 0214 | January 9, 1986 | The Auction | Clair bids on a painting by her great-uncle that her grandmother had once owned. Attempting to win her favor, Elvin tries to bake her a cake but fails miserably; he then gets advice from Cliff on how to pass himself off as a good cook. In real life, the painting used in the episode is Funeral Procession by Ellis Wilson. |
| 38 | 0212 | January 16, 1986 | Vanessa's Bad Grade | Vanessa steals a sweater from Denise. The two soon begin to fight. In the end, Rudy's choice of television viewing, the "I Have A Dream" speech, reminds the whole family of what a real problem is. Excerpt from Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech featured at the end of the episode (Originally aired four days before the first observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a U.S. federal holiday). |
| 39 | 0215 | January 30, 1986 | Theo and Cockroach | Theo and his friend Cockroach scheme to pass a test on William Shakespeare's "Macbeth", which neither one has read. First appearance of Carl Anthony Payne II as Cockroach. Phylicia Ayers-Allen changes her professional name to Phylicia Rashād, after marrying NBC sportscaster Ahmad Rashād. |
| 40 | 0216 | February 2, 1986 | The Dentist | Peter goes to the dentist, but has Rudy come along for moral support so Peter won't be afraid of the dentist anymore. Danny Kaye (in one of his last appearances) as Dr. Burns, who is also Cliff's dentist. |
| 41 | 0217 | February 13, 1986 | Play It Again, Russell | The jazz group that Russell played with years ago reunites for a tribute show. Guest appearances by jazz musicians Tito Puente, Art Blakey, Percy Heath, Jimmy Heath, Tommy Flanagan, Eric Gale, Joe Wilder, Carlos Valdes ("Patato"), Bootsie Barnes, and Jimmy Oliver. Slide Hampton provided the audio track for Russell's trombone solos. |
| 42 | 0218 | February 20, 1986 | A Touch of Wonder | After his limo collides with Denise's car, Stevie Wonder (appearing as himself) invites the Huxtables to a recording session. Wonder performs "I Just Called to Say I Love You" with Clair and the family.
Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf as Sondra Huxtable. |
| 43 | 0219 | February 27, 1986 | Full House | After an exhausting late shift at the hospital and a night's sleep, all Cliff wants is to read his paper in peace - but the children have taken over every room in the house. Classic scene: Denise's boyfriend sings reggae in front of the living room TV. |
| 44 | 0220 | March 13, 1986 | Close to Home | A close friend of Cliff's, played by Samuel E. Wright, is overcome with sadness due to his daughter's recurring drug addiction. His feelings are set off as he observes the close relationship between Cliff, Clair, and Denise, who is his daughter's age. |
| 45 | 0222 | March 20, 1986 | An Early Spring | Theo's math teacher has a baby and Cockroach shows a different side. Carl Anthony Payne II as Cockroach. Sonia Braga as Mrs. Westlake. Cockroach's real name, Walter Bradley, is revealed in this episode. |
| 46 | 0221 | April 3, 1986 | Theo's Holiday | After Theo claims that he'll have no problem making it in the "real world", the Huxtables convert their house in the "Real World Apartments" and teach him a lesson about the real world; i.e., needing employment and references to get an apartment, income to get a bank loan, having to pay for his meals, etc. Carl Anthony Payne II as Cockroach. |
| 47 | 0224 | April 10, 1986 | The Card Game | Cliff plays pinochle with his father, a former teacher, and a friend. Theo buys a cheap ring for his girlfriend Tanya. Earle Hyman as Russell. Roscoe Lee Browne as Dr. Foster. |
| 48 | 0225 | May 8, 1986 | Off to the Races | In a charity run, Cliff races at the Penn Relays with "Tailwind" Turner and -- as apparent payback for the race a year prior -- ends up having to run the final leg against Olympic gold medalist Valerie Brisco-Hooks. Josh Culbreath as Col. Sanford "Tailwind" Turner. Valerie Brisco-Hooks appears as herself. Cameo appearance by Bill Cosby's real wife, Camille Cosby (uncredited). Portions filmed at the Penn Relays, held in Philadelphia at the University of Pennsylvania's Franklin Field. |
| 49 | 0223 | May 15, 1986 | Denise's Decision | After much deliberation, Denise chooses the college that she will attend in the fall. Earle Hyman as Russell. Clarice Taylor as Anna. |
Season 3: 1986-1987
25 Episodes
Season three's opening sequence featured the cast dancing to Latin jazz in a gray/blue room. Once again, Bill Cosby is seen at the end of the credits dancing to the music as the producer credits appear and at the end, he quickly turns his head and looks into the camera before the sequence cuts to black. Two versions of this theme were used. However, the season three theme's long version had some parts cut, instead of a differently composed version of that theme. Phylicia Rashad was also pregnant throughout much of this season; so the crew hid her stomach for most of the season.
| Episode | Production | Airdate | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 0301 | September 25, 1986 | Bring 'Em Back Alive | The Huxtable house is thrown into chaos after Rudy finds a snake in the basement. Carl Anthony Payne II as Cockroach. Peter Costa as Peter. |
| 51 | 0302 | October 2, 1986 | Food for Thought | Clair challenges Cliff to not eat any salty food for the day. Denise leaves for her freshman year at Hillman College. |
| 52 | 0303 | October 9, 1986 | Golden Anniversary | Russell and Anna's 50th wedding anniversary. The family performs James Brown's "I Got the Feelin' " in this sequel to Season 2's "Happy Anniversary". Earle Hyman as Russell. Clarice Taylor as Anna. Geoffrey Owens as Elvin. Appearance by Frank Foster and the Count Basie Orchestra. First mention of Rudy's desire to have a husband named "Bud" when she grows up. |
| 53 | 0305 | October 16, 1986 | Man Talk | Although he has a steady girlfriend, Theo wants to start dating someone else. Carl Anthony Payne II as Cockroach. |
| 54 | 0304 | October 23, 1986 | Mother, May I? | After Clair specifically forbids her from wearing make-up, Vanessa does it anyway behind her mother's back. |
| 55 | 0306 | October 30, 1986 | The March | Theo writes a report on the March on Washington, but gets a poor grade and is asked to redo his project. Much to his surprise he learns more about the march from his family than he did from books. Meanwhile Vanessa is worried about asking a boy to the turn-around dance. Earle Hyman as Russell. Clarice Taylor as Anna. Joe Williams as Al Hanks. Ethel Ayler as Carrie Hanks. |
| 56 | 0307 | November 6, 1986 | Theo's Flight | Theo and Cockroach decide they want to learn to fly, but Cliff doesn't want to waste his money on another dream of his son's. Carl Anthony Payne II as Cockroach. First appearance of Deon Richmond as Kenny, a.k.a. "Bud". |
| 57 | 0308 | November 13, 1986 | Vanessa's Rich | Friends call Vanessa a stuck-up rich girl at school. Guest appearance by Essence Atkins. |
| 58 | 0309 | November 20, 1986 | Denise Gets a D | Denise's college career starts with a D, but Denise is to scared to show her parents. Clair needs to rest in bed because of a pinched nerve. Rudy portrays "the wind" in a school play. Rosalind Cash as Dr. Hughes (The episode is preceded by a 30-second anti-drug public service announcement featuring Bill Cosby). |
| 59 | 0312 | December 4, 1986 | A Girl and Her Dog | Rudy and Peter find a dog and attempt to take care of it without her parents knowing. Peter Costa as Peter. |
| 60 | 0310 | December 11, 1986 | War Stories | Cliff and his father's friend play a challenging game of cards. Vanessa prepares to go to a skating party with date Robert Forman, but soon finds a very cute guy crossing her path. Earle Hyman as Russell. |
| 61 | 0311 | December 18, 1986 | Cliff in Charge | Cliff is in charge when Clair leaves for 10 days. |
| 62 | 0313 | January 8, 1987 | Monster Man Huxtable | Elvin helps Theo with some wrestling moves, although he and Sondra have made plans for the weekend, and reveals that he is thinking of marrying her. Geoffrey Owens as Elvin. |
| 63 | 0314 | January 15, 1987 | Rudy Spends the Night | Cliff establishes the Huxtable Men's Club when the women are away to help Theo get over his sadness of a lost date. Vanessa is very excited that big sister Denise is letting her go to the Village with Denise's college friends. |
| 64 | 0315 | January 22, 1987 | Say Hello to a Good Buy | Cliff buys a new car. Rudy cuts some animal pictures out of Cliff's expensive books for school. Guest appearance by Sinbad, who would later portray Walter Oakes on the Cosby Show spinoff, A Different World. Watched by almost 65 million viewers when it originally aired, "Say Hello to a Good Buy" was the series' highest rated episode. |
| 65 | 0316 | February 5, 1987 | Denise Gets an Opinion | Denise has a blind date, but is really scared. So she asks Theo to grade him for her. But this soon leads to a big hilarious mix up. Dondre Whitfield as Robert.
Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf as Sondra Huxtable. |
| 66 | 0317 | February 12, 1987 | Calling Doctor Huxtable | Cliff is called to the hospital for three deliveries, Malinda Williams appearance, Patricia Richardson appearance. |
| 67 | 0318 | February 19, 1987 | You Only Hurt the One You Love | Rudy gets hurt from Theo's rough games. Rudy cries. Theo gets punished. Clair goes to a doctor and gets the same advice that Cliff gave her. Cliff learns that the woman who cleans up the Doctor's Lounge at the hospital (Rita Moreno) has been fired.
Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf as Sondra Huxtable and Lisa Bonet as Denise Huxtable. |
| 68 | 0319 | February 26, 1987 | The Shower | Denise holds a bridal shower for her pregnant and bride-to-be friend Veronica, but finds out some disturbing information.
Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf as Sondra Huxtable, although mentioned. |
| 69 | 0320 | March 12, 1987 | Cliff's 50th Birthday | Cliff's 50th birthday has all kinds of surprises. |
| 70 | 0321 | March 19, 1987 | I Know That You Know | When Sondra and Elvin announce their engagement, Clair and the children use the news to play a practical joke on Cliff, who launches a counter-offensive of his own. Geoffrey Owens as Elvin. |
| 71 | 0322 | April 2, 1987 | Andalusian Flu | While Cliff and Clair have the flu, Theo tries to keep the house going. |
| 72 | 0324 | April 9, 1987 | Bald and Beautiful | Cliff's Navy friend comes to visit. Cockroach shaves his head to be in a rock video. Robert Culp (Bill Cosby's co-star from the 1960s TV series I Spy) appears as Scott Kelly. |
| 73 | 0326 | April 30, 1987 | Planning Parenthood | Clair's sister decides she wants to be a mother. Cliff takes Rudy and her friends out to eat at a fancy restaurant. |
| 74 | 0325 | May 7, 1987 | Hillman | The Huxtable family goes to Hillman College to attend a ceremony in honor of its president's retirement. Guest appearance by Joe Seneca. Filmed at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. The episode serves as a backdoor pilot for the spinoff series A Different World, which premieres in the fall of 1987. |
Season 4: 1987-1988
24 Episodes
In the fourth season, the opening sequence featured the cast dancing happily to vocal funk/jazz. The vocals were sung by Bobby McFerrin. Bill Cosby is seen at the end of the credits dancing to the music as the producer credits appear and at the end, he quickly turns his head, takes off his top hat and looks into the camera before the sequence cuts to black. Unlike the first three seasons, the opening credits featured the cast wearing some formal '30s-style clothing with Bill Cosby wearing a top hat and tails, Tempestt Bledsoe wearing a Navy uniform similar to what performers would wear when performing to the troops in the USO. Malcolm-Jamal Warner wore a business suit and is seen looking at his watch then starts tapping his feet, and etc. Geoffrey Owens (Elvin Tibideaux) is introduced to the regular cast by Cosby leading him into Sabrina LeBeauf's credit scene, symbolizing Heathcliff Huxtable "giving away" his daughter Sondra to her new husband. Before the producer credits appear, Bill Cosby is briefly seen holding a picture of Lisa Bonet (Denise). Bonet does not appear as a regular this season since starring in the spinoff series, A Different World. This theme was the theme meant to represent this show when released in 1996 as part of Television's Greatest Hits: Volume 7: Cable Ready.
| Episode | Production | Airdate | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75 | 0402 | September 24, 1987 | Call of the Wild | The newlywed Sondra and Elvin return from their honeymoon with shocking news for Cliff and Clair: they want to abandon their dreams of being a lawyer and doctor and open an outdoorsman's "wilderness store." Geoffrey Owens (Elvin) becoms a regular cast member. |
| 76 | 0401 | October 1, 1987 | Theogate | Theo and Cockroach come home unusually late from a track meet, and the Huxtables got a phone message earlier from the track coach. They both deny anything out of the ordinary happened, but attorney Clair knows better. A mock trial is held for Theo and Cockroach at the Huxtables' for Clair to get to the bottom of the situation. Carl Anthony Payne II as Cockroach. Bill Cosby and Keshia Knight Pulliam appear on the episode of A Different World which airs later that evening. |
| 77 | 0408 | October 8, 1987 | It's Not Easy Being Green | Rudy wants to wear summer clothes in fall to a party, while Cliff tries to get rid of an old water heater. |
| 78 | 0405 | October 15, 1987 | Cliff's Mistake | While setting up the house as a "haunted house" for Halloween, Cliff discover's he's lost a power drill that his neighbor loaned to him. First appearance of Wallace Shawn as Jeffrey Ingalls. |
| 79 | 0323 | October 22, 1987 | Shakespeare | Christopher Plummer and Roscoe Lee Browne appear. Theo must read Julius Caesar for school, but complains that it is boring. Russel and his friends read scenes from the play aloud, and Theo is enthralled. Later, the men read from a different work of literature-a story Rudy wrote! |
| 80 | 0403 | October 29, 1987 | That's Not What I Said | Cliff and Clair have a marital argument after Theo gets detained by police for riding in a car with an unlicensed driver. |
| 81 | 0404 | November 5, 1987 | Autumn Gifts | Rudy goes to an older widowed lady's house each afternoon to have tea and play cards, but notices that she refuses to take her daily medication for diabetes. She tells Cliff, who devises a plan to try to convince her that she needs the meds to live. Eileen Heckart appearance. Keshia Knight Pulliam appears on the episode of A Different World which airs later that evening. |
| 82 | 0413A | November 12, 1987 | Looking Back (1) | Sondra and Elvin have their first marital fight, and Elvin comes to the Huxtable house for comfort and support. Clair shares about the difficulties in their house as flashbacks are shown. |
| 83 | 0413B | November 12, 1987 | Looking Back (2) | Flashbacks are shown while history is shared with Elvin. |
| 84 | 0409 | November 19, 1987 | Where's Rudy? | Theo and Vanessa lose track of Rudy in a mall while Clair enters a squash exhibition. Earle Hyman (Russell) appears on the episode of A Different World which airs later that evening. |
| 85 | 0410 | December 3, 1987 | Dance Mania | Theo and Cockroach have tickets to appear on television on the dance show "Dance Mania", but are told that only one of them can enter the studio during the filming because of fire laws. Theo miscalculates by offering to let Cockroach go in (thinking he'll refuse) and gets angry when Cockroach takes him up on the offer. First appearances of Troy Winbush as Denny, and Adam Sandler as Smitty. Final appearance of Carl Anthony Payne II as Cockroach. Bill Cosby appears on the episode of A Different World which airs later that evening. |
| 86 | 0406 | December 10, 1987 | The Locker Room | Theo and his classmates brag about their dates with girls in the locker room, but Theo's mood changes when one of the guys goes out with Vanessa and brags about it the next day. Troy Winbush as Denny. Adam Sandler as Smitty. |
| 87 | 0414 | December 17, 1987 | The Show Must Go On | Vaudeville is shown to Rudy and her friends, who are unimpressed. Deon Richmond as Kenny. |
| 88 | 0411 | January 7, 1988 | Bookworm | Clair drags Cliff to her book club meeting, and he's the lone male there. Much to Clair's surprise, Cliff knows quite a bit about the book in question! Meanwhile, the kids attempt a sleepover at Sondra and Elvin's run-down studio apartment, but are overwhelmed by the noise and lack of utilities. Appearances by Angela Bassett and S. Epatha Merkerson. |
| 89 | 0407 | January 14, 1988 | Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star | Rudy has to play the violin in music class at school, but gets jealous because she thinks her classmates' instruments are more fun. Deon Richmond as Kenny. Naoka Nakagawa as Kim. |
| 90 | 0416 | January 21, 1988 | The Visit | Theo visits a friend in the hospital who has cancer. Troy Winbush as Denny. Adam Sandler as Smitty. Special appearance by Armand Hammer. |
| 91 | 0412 | February 4, 1988 | The Drum Major | Vanessa tries out for the drum major at school. Theo playfully mocks her efforts, but learns from friends that Vanessa is the target of sexism and intervenes on her behalf. Meanwhile, Cliff cooks up a batch of extremely spicy chili as Russell tries to pay off a loan from an old friend. Deon Richmond as Kenny. Troy Winbush as Denny. Guest appearance by Dub Taylor. |
| 92 | 0417 | February 11, 1988 | Waterworks | Clair tries to stop Cliff from fixing a leaky pipe by hiring a team of professionals: friends of Sondra and Elvin from Princeton. |
| 93 | 0415 | February 18, 1988 | Once Upon a Time | Rudy writes a fairy tale, and the colorful story is acted out in her fantasy. Members of the family play the roles of a village full of happy people and a mean group that ruins their fun. At the end of the episode, Rudy declares that when she becomes "president of the world", she will put a stop to all mean people. Cliff and Clair proceed to watch news reports of weapons' testing and bombings, and urge her to "hurry, because we need you right now." Earle Hyman as Russell. |
| 94 | 0418 | February 25, 1988 | Petanque | Cliff and a friend play pétanque. First appearance of Sullivan Walker as Dr. James Harmon. |
| 95 | 0420 | March 3, 1988 | Trust Me | A friend of Clair's has marital problems; Cliff takes a "mini-vacation" in the house as Theo, Rudy, and Vanessa try to stump each other with riddles. |
| 96 | 0421 | March 17, 1988 | Home for the Weekend | Denise comes home from college, but seems to have more time for her friends than for the family. |
| 97 | 0422 | March 24, 1988 | The Prom | Theo, Denny and Smitty go to great lengths to impress their dates for the senior prom but fail disastrously; Cliff and Clair relive their own prom. Troy Winbush as Denny. Adam Sandler as Smitty. First appearance of Michelle Thomas as Justine. Phylicia Rashād appears on the episode of A Different World which airs later that evening. |
| 98 | 0419 | April 28, 1988 | Gone Fishin' | When the Huxtable men go fishing, Theo catches a dead body, and soon attracts attention from the media. This success goes to his head, while Rudy and Kenny find a nest of baby birds, but the mother bird is missing. The two stories eventually cross in a surprising-and rather humiliating-lesson for Theo. Deon Richmond as Kenny. |
Season 5: 1988-1989
26 Episodes
The opening sequence in the fifth season featured the cast dancing on a veranda in Hawaiian-style clothing, to music performed by the Oregon Symphony Orchestra. This opening credit sequence, choreographed by Geoffrey Holder, is the only one during the series' entire run that featured the whole cast dancing together.
| Episode | Production | Airdate | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99 | 0501 | October 6, 1988 | Together Again and Again | As Theo begins his freshman year at New York University, Denise announces that she is dropping out of Hillman College. Sondra is revealed to be pregnant. First mention of Cliff's theory that the children keep returning home because "they want the house." |
| 100 | 0502 | October 13, 1988 | The Physical | Cliff prepares for a physical. John Amos as Dr. Bradley Herbert, Jr. |
| 101 | 0505 | October 20, 1988 | Rudy's All-Nighter | Rudy's friend sleeps over. |
| 102 | 0503 | October 27, 1988 | Move It (a.k.a. The Baby Game) | Everyone wants pregnant Sondra and Elvin to find a new house. Elvin's surname, Tibideaux, is revealed. |
| 103 | 0504 | November 3, 1988 | Out of Brooklyn | Denise leaves Brooklyn for a job in Africa (Lisa Bonet's last appearance of Season 5). |
| 104 | 0506A | November 10, 1988 | The Birth (1) | Sondra goes into labor, and Elvin is a nervous wreck. Deon Richmond as Kenny. Michelle Thomas as Justine. First appearances of Reno Wilson as Howard, and Elizabeth Narvaez as Kara. Guest appearance by Naomi Campbell. |
| 105 | 0506B | November 10, 1988 | The Birth (2) | Sondra gives birth to twins -- a boy and a girl -- who are named after Nelson Mandela and his then-wife Winnie. Elvin decides to return to medical school. |
| 106 | 0507 | November 17, 1988 | Cyranoise de Bergington | Theo wants to date his friend Howard's ex-girlfriend, but he is stunned upon learning who she wants to date. Troy Winbush as Denny. Reno Wilson as Howard. |
| 107 | 0508 | December 1, 1988 | How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall? | Vanessa, Janet and Kara want to be professional singers; Russell wins a prize in a sweepstakes, which turns out to be a toaster. Pam Potillo as Janet. Elizabeth Narvaez as Kara. Guest appearance by singer Betty Carter. |
| 108 | 0509 | December 8, 1988 | If the Dress Fits, Wear It | Clair secretly goes on a crash diet and exercise program to lose five pounds in a week so she can fit into a dress. Appearance by Debbie Allen; voice-over by Ahmad Rashād (Phylicia Rashād's sister and husband). |
| 109 | 0510 | December 15, 1988 | Is There a Hamster in the House? | Rudy takes care of a friend's hamster for the weekend. |
| 110 | 0512 | January 5, 1989 | Truth or Consequences | Rudy lies to cover for Vanessa, who secretly goes out on a date with her older boyfriend. |
| 111 | 0511 | January 12, 1989 | Cliff Babysits | While the family attends a Michael Jackson concert, Cliff babysits his grandchildren Nelson and Winnie. First mention of Cliff's younger brother James, who died of rheumatic fever as a child (Bill Cosby's actual brother James died of the same illness at the age of six). |
| 112 | 0514 | January 26, 1989 | Mrs. Huxtable Goes to Kindergarten | Clair appears as a panelist on a local Sunday morning talk show entitled "Retrospective". Clair buys a new couch and Cliff tries to keep the old one. Clair's law firm is identified as Greentree, Bradley & Dexter. |
| 113 | 0513 | February 2, 1989 | The Lost Weekend | With the rest of the family gone for the night, Theo throws a "small" party that gets out of control. Troy Winbush as Denny. Reno Wilson as Howard. First appearance of Alex Ruiz as Lou. Cameo appearance by Joie Lee. Phylicia Rashād (Clair), Malcolm-Jamal Warner (Theo), Tempestt Bledsoe (Vanessa), and Elizabeth Narvaez (Kara) appear on the episode of A Different World which airs later that evening. |
| 114 | 0517 | February 6, 1989 | No Way, Baby | Cliff tracks down the grandfather of one of his patients: an expectant teenage mother with no other family. Clair deduces that the charming man is illiterate. Guest appearance by Sammy Davis, Jr. |
| 115 | 0516 | February 9, 1989 | Can I Say Something, Please? | Rudy wants to change some of her rules. Voice-over by Ed McMahon (from The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson). |
| 116 | 0515 | February 16, 1989 | The Dead End Kids Meet Dr. Lotus | Theo consults a voodoo shopkeeper for advice on winning his girlfriend back. Troy Winbush as Denny. Reno Wilson as Howard. Alex Ruiz as Lou. Michelle Thomas as Justine. Guest appearances by Moses Gunn and Harold Perrineau. |
| 117 | 0519 | February 23, 1989 | The Boys of Winter | Cliff's old basketball friend comes to visit. Guest appearance by U.S. Senator (and former NBA basketball player) Bill Bradley. |
| 118 | 0518 | March 9, 1989 | It Comes and It Goes | Sondra bemoans taking care of the twins. |
| 119 | 0520 | March 16, 1989 | Theo's Women | After catching Theo kissing another woman in the lounge of her dormitory, Justine breaks up with him. Desperate to win her back, Theo turns to Cliff for advice. Michelle Thomas as Justine. First appearance of Vanessa A. Williams as Jade. |
| 120 | 0521 | March 30, 1989 | Birthday Blues | Clair's 46th birthday. |
| 121 | 0522 | April 13, 1989 | A Room With No View | Vanessa and Rudy argue and fight. After the sisters do physical damage to the house, Cliff exiles them to the basement. |
| 122 | 0523 | April 27, 1989 | What He Did for Love | Theo's friend Denny finds an expensive watch and gives it to his girlfriend, but it is soon revealed to be stolen merchandise. Troy Winbush as Denny. Alex Ruiz as Lou. Vanessa A. Williams as Jade. |
| 123 | 0524 | May 4, 1989 | Day of the Locusts | Sondra comes down with strep throat, prompting her mother Clair and Elvin's mother Francine to "steal" the babies. |
| 124 | 0525 | May 11, 1989 | 57 Varieties | Theo wants to go to Egypt for an archaeological dig. Reno Wilson as Howard. Alex Ruiz as Lou. Deon Richmond as Kenny. |
Season 6: 1989-1990
26 Episodes
In the opening sequence for Seasons 6 and 7, the cast danced on a stage whose backdrop displayed the marquee of the Apollo Theater in Harlem. A classical jazz arrangement, featuring Craig Handy on saxophone, was used for the theme. When the credits ended, instead of looking at the camera, Cosby walked off the stage and commented, "This is the best elevator music I've ever heard!" This line was cut out of the credits when they were re-used the following year. Also for Season 7, Erika Alexander, who joined the cast as Cousin Pam, was added to the credits but did not appear in the sequence herself since they were filmed before she started appearing on the show.
| Episode | Production | Airdate | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 125 | 0601 | September 21, 1989 | Denise: The Saga Continues | Denise returns from Africa, with a new husband and stepdaughter in tow. Joseph C. Phillips and Raven-Symoné join the cast as Martin and Olivia Kendall. Last appearance of Peter Costa as Peter. |
| 126 | 0602 | September 28, 1989 | Surf's Up | After recreating one of Cliff's stories, Theo and his roommates are kicked out of their apartment. First appearance of Keith Diamond as Danny. Guest appearance by Anthony Quinn. |
| 127 | 0603 | October 5, 1989 | I'm 'In' With the 'In' Crowd | Vanessa and her friends get drunk playing a drinking game. Pam Potillo as Janet. Elizabeth Narvaez as Kara. Guest appearance by Bill Cosby's real-life daughter Ensa Cosby, upon whom the character Vanessa is loosely based. |
| 128 | 0605 | October 12, 1989 | Denise Kendall: Navy Wife | Denise forgets to respond to a letter from the Navy and confirm that she and Martin want housing on the naval base in Rhode Island. |
| 129 | 0604 | October 19, 1989 | Theo's Gift | Theo is diagnosed with dyslexia, a learning disability which contributed to the academic problems he has had over the years. Michelle Thomas as Justine. |
| 130 | 0606 | October 26, 1989 | Denise Kendall: Babysitter | Denise and Olivia babysit Winnie and Nelson (Sondra and Elvin's twins). |
| 131 | 0607 | November 2, 1989 | Shall We Dance? | Rudy and one of her classmates have a crush on each other, but peer pressure could ruin things. Guest appearance by Elaine Stritch. (Phylicia Rashād, Lisa Bonet, Joseph C. Phillips and Raven-Symoné appear on the episode of A Different World which airs later that evening.) |
| 132 | 0608 | November 9, 1989 | The Day the Spores Landed | Cliff dreams that men worldwide have become pregnant -- including his son Theo, his sons-in-law Elvin and Martin, and himself. Voice-over by NBC News correspondent John Palmer. |
| 133 | 0610 | November 16, 1989 | Cliff's Wet Adventure | Denise invites Martin's ex-wife Paula for Thanksgiving dinner. Clair continues to send Cliff to the store for last-minute groceries, despite the fact that it is a cold and rainy Thanksgiving Day. Victoria Rowell as Paula. |
| 134 | 0609 | November 30, 1989 | Grampy and Nu-Nu Visit the Huxtables | Martin's parents (Olivia's grandparents) come for a visit. Actor Moses Gunn and jazz singer Nancy Wilson guest star as Martin's parents. |
| 135 | 0611 | December 7, 1989 | Cliff la Dolce | Cliff is in charge while Clair and Denise are out of town. Guest: Elaine Stritch as Mrs, McGee |
| 136 | 0612 | December 14, 1989 | Getting to Know You | As Christmas approaches, Cliff and Martin get to know each other better. Denise and Martin recreate their wedding ceremony, which allows Cliff to give his daughter away. |
| 137 | 0613 | January 4, 1990 | Elvin Pays for Dinner | Elvin takes two female college friends to dinner to reminisce and Sondra becomes very upset. |
| 138 | 0526 | January 11, 1990 | Cliff's Nightmare | Guest appearance by The Muppets (Performed by Jerry Nelson, Dave Goelz, Richard Hunt, and Kevin Clash.) Voice-over by Cliff's friend Jeffery Engels (Wallace Shawn). |
| 139 | 0614 | January 18, 1990 | Denise Kendall: Singles Counselor | Denise causes trouble while trying to help Vanessa get a date. |
| 140 | 0615 | January 25, 1990 | The Birthday Party | Olivia's 4th birthday. |
| 141 | 0616 | February 1, 1990 | Not Everybody Loves the Blues | Theo thinks about proposing to Justine. Kenny, who was "born to sing the blues," gets the chance to sing with a legendary blues singer/guitarist. Deon Richmond as Kenny. Michelle Thomas as Justine. Guest appearance by B.B. King |
| 142 | 0617 | February 8, 1990 | Rudy's Walk on the Wild Side | Rudy steals money from Clair to buy a sweatshirt (Rudy and her friend Kim do the Electric Slide). Deon Richmond as Kenny. |
| 143 | 0618 | February 15, 1990 | Mr. Sandman | Rudy is forced to take tap dancing lessons for a school project. Cliff is presented with a "challenge" he cannot resist. Guest appearances by Howard "Sandman" Sims and Elaine Stritch. |
| 144 | 0619 | February 22, 1990 | Isn't It Romantic? | Cliff, Elvin and Martin secretly compete to determine who is the most romantic husband in the Huxtable family. |
| 145 | 0620 | March 15, 1990 | Theo's Dirty Laundry | Cliff and Clair discover that Theo has moved in with Justine. Last Appearance Of Michelle Thomas as Justine. Victoria Rowell as Paula. |
| 146 | 0621 | March 22, 1990 | What's It All About? | Clair is burned out from work and family pressures and hurries off to the woods. |
| 147 | 0622 | April 5, 1990 | Night of the Wretched | Vanessa and her friends sneak out of town to attend a concert in Baltimore, but encounter huge problems along the way. Afterwards, she must face the wrath of Cliff and an infuriated Clair. Pam Potillo as Janet. Elizabeth Narvaez as Kara. Directed by Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Carl Lauten. |
| 148 | 0623 | April 19, 1990 | The Moves | The Huxtables' nerdy neighbor (Wallace Shawn) reinvents himself after a divorce. |
| 149 | 0624 | April 26, 1990 | Live and Learn | Denise wants to become a teacher . . . without finishing college. Guest appearance by Max Roach. |
| 150 | 0625 | May 3, 1990 | The Storyteller | "Gram Tee", Cliff's 98 year old great aunt, comes to visit the family. Guest appearances by Minnie Gentry and Mavis Staples. Portions filmed at St. James Presbyterian Church in Harlem, New York City. |
Season 7: 1990-1991
26 Episodes
The seventh season's credit sequence was to use a mural entitled "Street of Dreams," painted by inner-city youth from the Creative Arts Workshop in Harlem, for the opening credits. The producers wound up discarding the idea when their lawyers said that in order to use the mural they would have to get permission from all 63 young artists first. Instead, the show developed its own mural which combined some of the elements and used many of the colors of the actual one. The owners of the mural threatened to sue and denounced the show for ripping off the children. Carsey-Werner tried to negotiate a settlement with Creative Arts Workshop, but Bill Cosby decided to replace the theme with the 6th season's opening credits. Only four episodes featured the original opening credits, and only a few cities saw this version.[1] In all other areas in first-run and repeats as well as in syndication, only the replaced sequence was used. Lisa Bonet and Joseph C. Phillips were in the credits still but they only appeared in less than a handful of episodes during the season. New cast member Erika Alexander was featured in the original Season 7 sequence, but only her name and role is listed in the replacement sequence.
Throughout this season, Cosby was often seen wearing a small black button with the letters "SD Jr." - a tribute to Sammy Davis, Jr., who died in May 1990.
Tempestt Bledsoe missed 2 episodes.
Erika Alexander, Sabrina Le Beauf, Joseph C. Phillips and Geoffrey Owens missed 1 episode.
Bill Cosby, Phylicia Rashad, Malcolm Jamal-Warner, Keshia Knight Pulliam, and Raven-Symone didn't miss any episodes.
| Episode | Production | Airdate | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 151 | 0701 | September 20, 1990 | Same Time Next Year | Denise takes classes locally at Medgar Evers College, while Vanessa enrolls at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. Rudy starts sixth grade. Olivia starts preschool. In a scene prior to the opening credits, Olivia enters Cliff's bedroom wearing a Bart Simpson mask. It is a nod to FOX's decision to move The Simpsons to Thursdays at 8:00 pm Eastern/Pacific, presenting The Cosby Show with its first true ratings challenge. |
| 152 | 0702 | September 27, 1990 | Bird in the Hand | Cliff tries to win a classic jazz record at an auction, while filling in for Denise as volunteer parent at Olivia's preschool. Sullivan Walker as Dr. James Harmon. |
| 153 | 0704 | October 4, 1990 | The Last Barbecue | The Huxtable family erupts in a battle of the sexes after Theo suggests having a stripper at Martin's post-wedding bachelor party.
Absent: Tempestt Bledsoe as Vanessa Huxtable and Erika Alexander as Pam. |
| 154 | 0703 | October 11, 1990 | Period of Adjustment | Clair's teenage second cousin moves in with the family. Erika Alexander joins the cast as Pam. First appearances of Karen Malina White as Charmaine, Allen Payne as Lance, and Mushond Lee as Slide. |
| 155 | 0706 | October 18, 1990 | It's All in the Game | After Vanessa gets into a minor car accident and tries to cover it up, Cliff and Clair complain about the various small disasters the children have caused them, and the children fight back by complaining about ways Cliff and Clair have embarrassed them. |
| 156 | 0705 | October 25, 1990 | Getting the Story | Rudy and Kenny do a video project. |
| 157 | 0707 | November 1, 1990 | Just Thinking About It (1) | Under pressure from her boyfriend to become sexually active, Pam considers using birth control. Karen Malina White as Charmaine. Allen Payne as Lance. Mushond Lee as Slide. |
| 158 | 0708 | November 1, 1990 | Just Thinking About It (2) | Pam and Slide argue over whether they should become sexually active. |
| 159 | 0712 | November 8, 1990 | The Infantry Has Landed (and They've Fallen Off the Roof) | Rudy gets her first period. Clair plans "Women's day" where she goes out alone with Rudy and answers any questions she has, but Rudy refuses to talk. Keith Diamond as Danny. |
| 160 | 0709 | November 15, 1990 | You Can Go Home Again | Seeking privacy, Denise and Martin decide to look for their own apartment. |
| 161 | 0710 | November 29, 1990 | It's a Boy | The husband of one of Cliff's patients worries that he will be a poor father because he has no athletic ability. After Pam breaks up with Slide, she and the class brain are attracted to each other. Karen Malina White as Charmaine. First appearance of Seth Gilliam as Aaron. |
| 162 | 0713 | December 6, 1990 | Clair's Liberation | Clair enters menopause. She takes the news fine, but the kids treat her as if she's losing her mind. Karen Malina White as Charmaine. Allen Payne as Lance. Seth Gilliam as Aaron. |
| 163 | 0714 | December 13, 1990 | It's Your Move | Elvin and Sondra help friends move during a football game. Voice over by Ahmad Rashad. |
| 164 | 0715 | December 20, 1990 | Theo's Final Final | Theo will make the dean's list if he gets an A on his final, but a beautiful exchange student planning to leave in 1-day for Barbados distracts him. Vanessa A. Williams appears (now portraying Cheryl). Keith Diamond as Danny. |
| 165 | 0717 | January 10, 1991 | Attack of the Killer B's | Pam's grades have improved, but she worries that she will not be able to afford college. Karen Malina White as Charmaine. Allen Payne as Lance. Mushond Lee as Slide.
Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf as Sondra Huxtable Tibideaux, Geoffrey Owens as Elvin Tibideaux, Joseph C. Phillips as Martin Kendall, and Tempestt Bledsoe as Vanessa Huxtable. |
| 166 | 0718 | January 31, 1991 | Total Control | Cliff's patient and her husband are convinced that they are prepared for every scenario ... and then labor begins. Guest appearances by John Ritter and his future wife Amy Yasbeck. |
| 167 | 0719 | February 7, 1991 | Adventures in Babysitting | Rudy begs Martin to let her babysit Olivia. Cliff and Dr. Harmon enter a pinochle tournament as partners . . . and so do their wives. Sullivan Walker as Dr. James Harmon. Guest appearance by Bern Nadette Stanis. |
| 168 | 0716 | February 14, 1991 | 27 and Still Cooking | To celebrate his 27th wedding anniversary with Clair, Cliff recreates the Callaloo Pot, a Caribbean restaurant where the couple dined on their honeymoon. |
| 169 | 0720 | February 21, 1991 | The Return of the Clairettes | An old friend of Clair visits, along with her husband. Rudy prepares for her first date. Guest appearance by Leslie Uggams. |
| 170 | 0711 | February 28, 1991 | No More Mr. Nice Guy | Theo's friend Denny thinks his girlfriend is cheating on him. Troy Winbush as Denny. Vanessa A. Williams as Cheryl. |
| 171 | 0722 | March 7, 1991 | Home Remedies | When Olivia comes down with a cold, everyone (except Cliff) has a different home remedy to offer as a cure. Russell and Anna celebrate another wedding anniversary. Cliff, Rudy and Olivia perform Koko Taylor's "I'm A Woman". Karen Malina White as Charmaine. Allen Payne as Lance. Seth Gilliam as Aaron. |
| 172 | 0723 | March 21, 1991 | Nightmare on Stigwood Avenue | Rudy has a nightmare about Olivia always getting her way. Karen Malina White as Charmaine. Directed by Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Carl Lauten. |
| 173 | 0721 | April 4, 1991 | There's Still No Joy in Mudville | Cliff goes bowling with his friends. Cricket Vs. Baseball. Last appearance of Sullivan Walker as Dr. James Harmon. Voice-over by Ahmad Rashad. Guest appearances by former Major League Baseball players Joe Black and Frank Robinson. |
| 174 | 0626 | April 11, 1991 | Cliff and Jake | Clair tries to prevent Cliff from buying a new appliance from his friend Jake (Lost episode from Season 6). Guest appearances by Red Buttons and E. G. Marshall. Last appearance of Lisa Bonet as Denise. |
| 175 | 0724 | April 25, 1991 | Theo and the Kids (1) | Theo, who is majoring in pediatric psychology, begins an internship as a junior counselor at the community center; he soon suspects that one of the children there is dyslexic. First appearances of Merlin Santana as Stanley and Eugene Byrd as Eugene. Guest appearance by Lynne Thigpen. |
| 176 | 0725 | May 2, 1991 | Theo and the Kids (2) | Theo continues his attempts to help Stanley and the other children at the community center. |
Season 8: 1991-1992
25 Episodes
The mural "Street of Dreams," painted by inner-city youth from the Creative Arts Workshop in Harlem, was finally used full-time in season eight. The cast now danced in the sequence to a Hip-Hop blend that featured Lester Bowie on trumpet. The scenes of Bonet and Phillips in the original opening sequence were removed. After the controversy from the previous season, the producers gave recognition to the painters of the original mural in the closing credits. Malcolm-Jamal Warner wore glasses in this set of opening credits, but not in any episodes. At the end of the sequence, like he did in other seasons, Cosby turns his head and looks into the camera. A few episodes from season 7 used this opening, albeit with Lisa Bonet and Joseph C. Philips in the opening credits, and at the end of the sequence, Bill Cosby would walk off and say, "Yo, chill out! Don't put your face in the mud, Pally!"[1]
The final episode "And So We Commence" features an extended sequence, with clips of each cast member dancing from the opening credits of every season (except Season 1, which did not have dancing in the opening credits).
A running gag throughout this season involves the house's front doorbell, which malfunctions in a variety of bizarre ways despite Cliff's attempts to fix it.
| Episode | Production | Airdate | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 177 | 0801 | September 19, 1991 | With This Ring? | 18 year old Vanessa reveals that she is engaged to a 29 year old Head Caretaker of her University . . . and has been for six months. First appearance of William Thomas, Jr. as Dabnis Brickey. |
| 178 | 0802 | September 26, 1991 | There's No Place Like This Home | Cliff announces plans to add a new room to the house for Clair . . . and only Clair. Sondra and Elvin are on the verge of purchasing their first house. |
| 179 | 0803 | October 3, 1991 | Particles in Motion | During his first parent-counselor meeting, Theo and a single mother discover mutual attraction. Rudy meets Stanley and the two are immediately smitten with each other, much to the chagrin of a jealous Kenny. Deon Richmond as Kenny. Merlin Santana as Stanley. Guest appearance by Saundra Quarterman. First mention of Cliff's season-long project: fixing the front doorbell. |
| 180 | 0804 | October 10, 1991 | Pam Applies to College | Pam begins to realize that, because of her below average grades earlier in high school, she will not be able to attend the same college as her best friend.
Absent: Keshia Knight Pulliam as Rudy Huxtable, Tempestt Bledsoe as Vanessa Huxtable, Malcolm Jamal Warner as Theo Huxtable, Sabrina Le Beauf as Sondra Huxtable Tibideaux and Geoffrey Owens as Elvin Tibideaux. Guest Stars: Karen Malina White as Charmaine. Allen Payne as Lance. |
| 181 | 0805 | October 17, 1991 | Warning: A Double-Lit Candle Can Cause a Meltdown | Anxious to see a famous rapper, Rudy and her friends lie to their parents in order to get into a club for 16 year olds and up. Cliff and Clair secretly send Pam, Lance and Charmaine to keep an eye on them.
Absent: Raven-Symone as Olivia Kendall,Tempestt Bledsoe as Vanessa Huxtable, Malcolm Jamal Warner as Theo Huxtable, Sabrina Le Beauf as Sondra Huxtable Tibideaux and Geoffrey Owens as Elvin Tibideaux. Guest Stars: Karen Malina White as Charmaine. Allen Payne as Lance. Guest appearances by rapper Special Ed and actor/rapper Daryl "Chill" Mitchell. Directed by Malcolm-Jamal Warner. |
| 182 | 0806 | October 24, 1991 | It's Apparent to Everyone | Winnie and Nelson drive Cliff and Clair crazy around the house while Elvin and Sondra wait to move into their new house.
Absent: Tempestt Bledsoe as Vanessa Huxtable, Malcolm Jamal Warner as Theo Huxtable, Keshia Knight Pulliam as Rudy Huxtable and Erika Alexander as Pam. |
| 183 | 0807 | October 31, 1991 | The Iceman Bricketh | Vanessa's grandparents Russell Huxtable and Carrie Hanks are desperate to meet her fiancé Dabnis, who bonds with Cliff over a plumbing job. William Thomas, Jr. as Dabnis. |
| 184 | 0808 | November 7, 1991 | Olivia's Field Trip | Cliff chaperones Olvia's field trip to the museum; Theo falls victim to a scammer while ordering T-shirts for the community center. Wallace Shawn as Jeffrey Ingalls. |
| 185 | 0809 | November 14, 1991 | For Men Only | Cliff teaches a class "for men only" at the community center. |
| 186 | 0810 | November 21, 1991 | Olivia Comes Out of the Closet | Olivia tries to delay Martin's return to Asia. Last appearance of Joseph C. Phillips as Martin. Miriam Makeba appears as herself. |
| 187 | 0811 | December 5, 1991 | Two Is a Crowd | Vanessa and Dabnis have relationship problems, as do Rudy and Stanley. William Thomas, Jr. as Dabnis. Merlin Santana as Stanley. Deon Richmond as Kenny. |
| 188 | 0812 | December 19, 1991 | Clair's Place | As Christmas approaches, Clair gets a wonderful present: the completion of her special room. |
| 189 | 0813 | January 2, 1992 | Theo's Future | Theo is accepted to graduate school at NYU, but faces a tough decision when he is unexpectedly offered a chance to interview for a corporate job in San Francisco. Eugene Byrd as Eugene. |
| 190 | 0814 | January 9, 1992 | The Price Is Wrong | Pam, Lance, Charmaine, and a group of senior citizens protest a grocery chain that gives preferential treatment to customers in wealthier neighborhoods. Karen Malina White as Charmaine. Allen Payne as Lance. Directed by Malcolm-Jamal Warner. |
| 191 | 0816 | January 16, 1992 | Bring Me the Lip Gloss of Deirdre Arpelle | Kenny pretends that he is dating another girl, in order to make Rudy jealous and force Stanley out of the picture. Deon Richmond as Kenny. Merlin Santana as Stanley. First appearance of Gabrielle Carmouche as Deirdre. |
| 192 | 0726 | January 30, 1992 | Eat, Drink and Be Wary | Rudy and her friends want to go on the subway. Karen Malina White as Charmaine. Guest appearance by Debbi Morgan. Directed by Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Carl Lauten. |
| 193 | 0817 | February 6, 1992 | The Getaway | Sondra, Elvin, and the twins finally move into their own house in New Jersey. Guest appearances by NCAA basketball coaches Jim Valvano and Dick Vitale. |
| 194 | 0818 | February 6, 1992 | Cliff Gets Jilted | Vanessa and Dabnis announce that they have broken their engagement . . . and would-be father-in-law Cliff is devastated. William Thomas, Jr. as Dabnis. |
| 195 | 0819 | February 13, 1992 | Cliff and Theo Come Clean | Theo decides to turn down the corporate job in San Francisco and attend graduate school in New York. One of the students at the community center finds $600. Merlin Santana as Stanley. Last appearance of Eugene Byrd as Eugene. Gabrielle Carmouche as Deirdre. |
| 196 | 0820 | February 20, 1992 | Clair's Reunion | Clair and her college friends plan a retirement party for one of their former professors from Hillman. Vanessa brings home a Senegalese exchange student. Guest appearances by Margaret Avery, CCH Pounder, and Daphne Maxwell Reid. |
| 197 | 0821 | February 27, 1992 | Rudy's Retreat | Cliff and Clair see Rudy changing. While preparing their wills, Sondra and Elvin try to determine who should be the twins' legal guardian if the couple should both die. Charmaine and Lance prepare to visit Hillman College. Karen Malina White and Allen Payne appear on the episode of A Different World which airs later that evening. In the fall of 1992, White becomes a regular cast member of that series. |
| 198 | 0811 | March 26, 1992 | You Can't Stop the Music | Cliff and Clair go to a local radio station for a live salsa performance. Kenny babysits Olivia. Deon Richmond as Kenny. Graciela, Willie Colón, and Mario Bauza and His Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra appear as themselves. |
| 199 | 0822 | April 23, 1992 | Some Gifts Aren't Deductible | Kenny turns to Rudy and Cliff for help after lying to his girlfriend about plans for her birthday party. Cliff and Clair work on their income tax return. Deon Richmond as Kenny. Last appearances of Merlin Santana as Stanley and Gabrielle Carmouche as Deirdre. The Uptown String Quartet performs James Brown's "I Feel Good". |
| 200 | 0823 | April 30, 1992 | And So We Commence (1) | Series finale, part 1. Theo prepares to graduate from New York University. An elated Cliff continues to invite additional people to the ceremony, despite the fact that Theo only has a limited number of tickets. |
| 201 | 0824 | April 30, 1992 | And So We Commence (2) | Series finale, part 2. As Theo graduates from NYU, Cliff remembers how a 14 year old Theo received D's in 9th grade and had no desire to attend college at all (features flashbacks to scenes from the very first episode in 1984). Denise telephones and reveals that she is pregnant. Olivia leaves to join Denise and Martin in Singapore. In the final scene, Bill Cosby (Cliff) gets the front doorbell to work properly at last; he and Phylicia Rashād (Clair) share a dance and then break the fourth wall, walking off the set to the thunderous applause of the studio audience. The scene is immediately followed by a 3-minute "thank you" tribute from NBC. |
References
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