The Cosby Show is an American television sitcom created by (along with Ed. Weinberger and Michael J. Leeson) and starring Bill Cosby that originally aired on NBC from September 20, 1984 to April 30, 1992. A total of 201 original episodes and one best-moments special were produced, spanning eight seasons.
The opening credits show the Huxtable family arriving at Central Park and playing various sports there, in a series of still images. The show's theme song, titled "Kiss Me", was composed by Stu Gardner and Bill Cosby. Two different versions of the theme song were used in this season: a longer version in the pilot and one other episode, and a shorter version with a slightly different arrangement for the rest of the episodes.
The pilot was recorded in May 1984.[2] Regular production began in July 1984, with the episode "Goodbye Mr. Fish" (#0102), which was recorded during the first week of August.[3]
Sabrina LeBeauf appeared as Sondra Huxtable in only four episodes: the 10th, 19th, 21st, and 24th of the season.
Clair (Phylicia Rashad) is furious when Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) brings home a report card with four D's. He tells Cliff (Bill Cosby) that he has no intention of going to college, as he feels that he is destined to be a "regular person." Cliff uses Monopoly money to teach him about the economic realities that many blue-collar workers must face. He assures Theo that he only wants him to try his best. Cliff is alarmed to meet Denise's (Lisa Bonet) latest beau, a former merchant marine who once spent time in a Turkish prison.
Note: In 1996, TV Guide included this episode as part of its "100 Most Memorable Moments in TV History", ranking it No. 31.
When Rudy's (Keshia Knight Pulliam) pet goldfish Lamont dies, Cliff tries to bring the family together for a funeral in the bathroom. The ceremony ends when Rudy gets bored and leaves to watch TV.
Note: In 2009, TV Guide ranked this episode #15 on its list of the 100 Greatest Episodes.[5]
Vanessa (Tempestt Bledsoe) claims that she is old enough to watch a scary movie, but Cliff still forbids it. Vanessa sneaks out anyway, and ends up having nightmares as a result.
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.
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.
Notes: Guest appearance by Kadeem Hardison, who years later would portray Dwayne Wayne on the Cosby Show spinoff, A Different World. The name "Gordon Gartrelle" was taken from a staff member, who eventually became a writer/producer for the series in its final two seasons.
Cliff's father, Russell (Earle Hyman), 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 males outnumber females there.
Note: Russell mentions that the only reason Cliff attended Hillman was because Clair went there, but in a later episode from the fourth season, Clair tells Vanessa and Rudy that Cliff was at Hillman while she was in high school. This is also the first appearance of Earle Hyman as Russell Huxtable.
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 (Ethel Ayler), 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.
Note: This is the first appearance of Ethel Ayler as Carrie Hanks, Clair's mother.
Vanessa plays the 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.
Denise has a new boyfriend, David James, but is reluctant to bring him home. She fears that Cliff will, as 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.
Sondra (Sabrina LeBeauf), the eldest Huxtable child, makes her first appearance when she comes home for Thanksgiving. She plans on going to Paris for the summer, and hopes that her parents will support the decision.
Note: This is the first appearance of Sabrina LeBeauf in the role of Sondra Huxtable. Her existence contradicts information given in the pilot episode that Clair and Cliff have four children.
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.
Clair could be named a partner at her law firm if an interview goes well, but Rudy is sick. Cliff vows to take care of the child while Clair works, and engages in some unique doctoring methods. In the end, Rudy is fine and Clair becomes a partner.
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.
Theo gets his ear pierced to impress a girl. After Denise warns him that it might be infected, he goes to Cliff for treatment. Cliff hopes that Grandpa Huxtable will lecture Theo, but he instead relates the story of how Cliff tried to slick back his hair to impress Clair but ended up burning it off. Then Cliff's mother Anna (Clarice Taylor) reminds Russell of the time that he chose to get her name tattooed across his chest but ended up with a scar when he tried to remove it upon realizing that the artist had accidentally written another girl's name.
Note: This episode marks the first appearance of Clarice Taylor as Anna Huxtable.
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 house is full of dancers.
Clair discovers a marijuana joint in one of Theo's school books. She and Cliff confront him about it and accept his explanation that another boy slipped it into his book without his knowledge. Theo confronts the boy and brings him home to confess in order to remove any doubt about whether he was telling the truth. Theo and the boy start to become friends.
Guest star:Iman as Mrs. Montgomery, one of Cliff's patients
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.
Guest stars:William Christian as Mr. Robertson; the first appearance of Pam Potillo as Vanessa's friend Janet Meiser
A mechanic tries to cheat Sondra, prompting Clair to confront him. Cliff and Clair also pretend to hit on each other in court.
Guest stars:Shawn Elliott as Mr. Wilson, Alan North as Judge and David Smyrl as the man in court - his first of three different characters he portrayed on the show.
Note: This is the only episode where Clair Huxtable is seen in a courtroom.
Cliff's college track coach contacts him and asks him to run in a charity event between Hillman and its rival, Norton College. "Combustible Huxtable" begins training, but soon learns that he is not the runner he was all those years ago.
Guest stars:Al Freeman Jr. as Coach Ernie Scott; 1956 Olympic medalist Joshua Culbreath as Colonel Sanford B. "Tailwind" Turner; Dhamiri Abayomi as himself
Cliff and Clair receive a visit from an old friend and discover that he has a new girlfriend that is half his age. They are initially suspicious, but learn that judging by appearances isn't always right.
Guest stars:Terry Farrell as Nicki Phillips; Robert King as Dr. Mike Newcomb.
Rudy invites all her friends over for a slumber party. It's Cliff 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.
Guest stars: First appearance of Peter Costa as Peter, the Huxtables' neighbor; Earle Hyman as Russell; Alicia Keys (billed under her given name of Alicia Cook)
Note: This episode opened with a brief voiceover from Keshia Knight-Pulliam explaining that this episode was meant specifically for kids.
Notes: This episode was a backdoor pilot for a proposed spin-off series featuring Tony Orlando's character and the community center, which never came to fruition. This is the first episode in which Clair is shown to be fluent in Spanish.
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 ruse that fools him. In the end, he is surprised when he receives a visit from Lena Horne.
For this season, the opening credits were changed to a series of clips of the cast dancing in a gray, featureless room. Each cast member, in descending age of their characters, dances alongside Cosby as his/her name is shown in the credits. Then as the production credits appear, Cosby is seen alone, stiffly "dancing" to the music. On the last note of the music, he quickly turns his head and looks into the camera before the image fades to black.
A new musical arrangement of the theme song was used, but it did not depart significantly from the general "jazzy" feel of the first season. As before, two different versions of the theme were used, with the longer version featuring more of a synth beat than the shorter. Midway through the season, following her marriage to NBC sportscaster Ahmad Rashad, Phylicia Ayers-Allen's name in the opening credits was changed to Phylicia Rashād. (The diacritic was dropped in season five, when her credit was changed to Phylicia Rashad.) After producer Caryn Sneider got married, her credit was also changed to use her married name, Caryn Sneider Mandabach.
Sabrina Le Beauf (as Sondra) became a regular cast member in this season, appearing in 9 of the 25 episodes.
Cliff, who has a fetish for electric 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.
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.
Note: In 1997, TV Guide ranked this episode number 54 on its '100 Greatest Episodes of All Time' list.[31]
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 him annoying. Elvin arrives with flowers and tries to apologize, but he ends up annoying Clair with more of his sexist rhetoric.
Note: This is the first appearance of Geoffrey Owens as Elvin. Joseph C. Phillips, who appears in a minor guest role as Daryl, will later (starting season 6) play Navy Lt. Martin Kendall, Denise's new husband.
Vanessa has a crush on Robert Forman, who comes to her Halloween party. Daydreaming about her love, she drops an entire tray of glasses and embarrasses herself in front of the guests.
Guest stars: Akili Prince as Scott; the first appearance of Dondre Whitfield as Robert
Denise wants to buy a car. She plans to use her savings to do so, but her parents 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 to be a good driver, and the car is hers.
Guest stars:David Langston Smyrl as Mr. Lucas, his third different character portrayed on The Cosby Show.
Rudy plays football and becomes a star, much to the chagrin of Clair, who worries she will get hurt. But reluctance turns to excitement when Rudy is the star of her first game.
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.
Denise asks her dad 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 for fear she was pregnant. 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 dealing with problems, but tells the children that no matter what, they will be loved.
Guest star:Stacey Dash as Michelle, Denise's friend
Note: This episode won the 1986 Emmy for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
Theo's math teacher Mrs. Westlake (Sônia Braga) is coming to dinner. He thinks she plans to tell his parents how poorly he scored on a math test. To his surprise, Mrs. Westlake comes to dinner looking young, attractive, and even with a sense of humor. It turns out that she came with good news: she gives Theo his test, which reveals he actually got an 89. In his excitement, he inadvertently embraces her.
Clair bids on a painting by her great-uncle that her grandmother had once owned, hoping to bring it back into the Huxtable family after 30 years. 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.
Vanessa tries to hide a poor test grade from her parents, then gets into a fight with Denise after borrowing a sweater from her without asking. In the end, Rudy's choice of television viewing, Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech, reminds the whole family of what a real problem is.
Note: This episode originally aired four days before the first observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a U.S. federal holiday.
Theo and his friend Cockroach scheme to pass a test on Shakespeare's "Macbeth", which neither one has read. They instead rent a recording of the play, which comes with its own consequences. Their savior comes in the form of "Cleveland Notes" (a reference to CliffsNotes).
Notes: Phylicia Ayers-Allen changes her professional name to Phylicia Rashād, after marrying NBC sportscaster Ahmad Rashad. This is the first appearance of Carl Anthony Payne II as Cockroach.
Note: This was a special Sunday telecast, instead of the usual Thursday timeslot, to lead into NBC's initial airing of the Peter the Great mini-series.
Stevie Wonder invites the Huxtables to a recording session after his limo collides with Denise's car. Wonder performs "I Just Called to Say I Love You" with Clair and the family.
After an exhausting midnight shift at the hospital and a night's sleep, all Cliff wants is to read his paper in peace. However, the children have taken over every room in the house.
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.
After Theo claims that he will have no problem making it in the "real world", the Huxtables convert their house to the "Real World Apartments" to teach him a lesson.
After much deliberation, Denise chooses the college that she will attend in the fall.
Season 3 (1986–1987)
This season's opening credits featured the cast dancing to Latin jazz in a bluish gray room. As in the previous season, Cosby dances alone as the production credits appear and quickly turns his head to look into the camera on the final musical note. Again, two versions of the sequence were used, however, unlike in previous seasons, the long and short versions differed only in their editing, not in the sound of the music.
Phylicia Rashad was pregnant throughout much of this season, so the crew hid her stomach for most of the season using such devices as kitchen counters or bed covers. She did not appear in the 13th and 14th episodes of the season.
Despite continuing to be credited as series regulars, Sabrina Le Beauf (Sondra) did not appear in 17 of the season's 25 episodes and Lisa Bonet (Denise) in 14 of the episodes.
Saving face takes on a whole new meaning for Vanessa, when she's torn between honoring Clair (who opposes the girl's experimenting with makeup at such an early age) and pleasing her classmates (none of whose families, it seems, have any problem with such issues). Meanwhile, Theo organizes a home fire-drill which results in a worse disaster than any fire.
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.
Note: This is the first episode in the series not to be directed by Jay Sandrich.
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. Meanwhile, Rudy comes home with a new friend apparently named "Bud."
Note: This is the first appearance of Deon Richmond as Kenny, a.k.a. "Bud."
Vanessa invites the captains of her school's pep squad to her house, but after she tells them how much Clair spent on a painting, the girls at school begin to call Vanessa a stuck-up rich girl. Meanwhile, Rudy asks Theo to teach her how to play checkers, and Cliff pays a visit to the local electronics store just for a new remote, or so Clair thinks.
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.
Elvin helps Theo with some wrestling moves, although he and Sondra have made plans for the weekend. Elvin reveals that he is thinking of marrying Sondra.
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.
Note: This is the second of five episodes that Phylicia Rashad (Clair) did not appear in.
Rudy gets hurt from Theo's rough games. Rudy cries, and 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.
When Sondra and Elvin announce their engagement, Clair and the children use the news to play a practical joke on Cliff, who launches a counteroffensive of his own.
This season's opening sequence features the cast dancing to a vocal jazz rendition of the theme performed 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. Unlike the first three seasons, the opening credits featured the cast wearing formal 1930s-style clothing. Cosby wears a top hat and tails, Tempestt Bledsoe an outfit styled after a WAVES uniform, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner a business suit. Geoffrey Owens (Elvin) is introduced to the regular cast by Cosby leading him into Sabrina LeBeauf's shot (neither Owens nor LeBeauf appeared in the majority of episodes in this season). Before the producer credits, Cosby briefly holds a picture of Lisa Bonet. Bonet did not appear as main cast this season, having departed for the spinoff series, A Different World; instead, she made three guest appearances.
The newlywed Sondra and Elvin return from their honeymoon with shocking news for Cliff and Clair: They want to abandon their dreams of being lawyer and doctor and open an outdoorsman's "wilderness store."
Theo and Cockroach come home unusually late from a track meet, and they both deny anything out of the ordinary happened. Theo continuously lies about what happened, especially after a call from his principal comes while he's not home. A suspicious Clair, attorney at law, holds a mock trial against Theo and Cockroach in order to get to the bottom of what happened.
Note: Bill Cosby and Keshia Knight Pulliam appeared on the episode of A Different World that aired later that evening.
Theo must read Julius Caesar for school but complains that it is boring. Russell and his friends read scenes from the play aloud, and Theo is enthralled. Later, the men read from a story that Rudy wrote.
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 meds to live.
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.
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.
Note: This is the first appearances of Troy Winbush as Denny and Adam Sandler as Smitty, and the final appearance of Carl Anthony Payne II as Cockroach. Bill Cosby appeared on the episode of A Different World that aired later that evening.
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.
Cliff takes Rudy and her friends to see a vaudeville show, but they are less than impressed.
Guest stars:Bill Irwin, vaudeville performer Carl Ballantine ("The Great Ballantine"), and Cosby Show writer Carmen Finestra portrays stand-up comedian Andy Witherspoon.
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.
Vanessa tries out for 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.
To stop Cliff from trying to fix a leaky pipe and tearing up the bathroom, Clair hires a team of plumbers who are friends of Sondra and Elvin from Princeton.
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."
Theo, Danny, and Smitty go to great lengths to impress their dates for the senior prom but fail disastrously; Cliff and Clair relive their own prom.
Notes: This is the first appearance of Michelle Thomas as Justine. Phylicia Rashād appeared on the episode of A Different World that aired later that evening.
When the Huxtable men go fishing, Theo catches a dead body, and soon attracts attention from the media. The 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.
Season 5 (1988–1989)
The opening sequence in this season featured the cast in Caribbean-style clothing dancing on a veranda to an orchestral version of "Kiss Me" arranged by James DePreist, and performed by the Oregon Symphony Orchestra. This sequence, choreographed by Geoffrey Holder, was the only one to show the cast dancing together instead of separately; it ended with the other members fluttering their hands in front of Cosby's face and pulling them away to show him looking into the camera with a smile. The first seven episodes included a closing-theme version of this orchestration that was identical to the one used to open the show. The remaining fifteen episodes closed with a funk/jazz version of the theme.
In this season Lisa Bonet continued to guest star occasionally as Denise. Series regulars Sabrina Le Beauf and Geoffrey Owens again appeared in fewer than half of the season's episodes.
With Denise returning to Hillman for her junior year and Theo moving into the dorms at NYU, Cliff and Clair's goal of zero children living at home by the year 2000 begins to look attainable. But they receive a severe setback when Denise decides to drop out of Hillman and Theo forgets to mail in his dorm check to NYU. Fearing that their nest will never be empty, a melancholy Cliff proposes that he and Clair leave the house, let the children have it and, unlike General MacArthur, never return.
Cliff follows up his "lost weekend" food binge with a day of emergency fasting for his annual blood test and physical. Despite his yeoman performance on the treadmill, the results indicate that his overindulgence in hoagies, chocolate soda and strawberry cheesecake must cease. Meanwhile, Denise is not fazed in the least by her firing from the record company. She picks herself up, dusts herself off, orders a large cheese pie – and then gets hired on as a waitress in the pizza parlor.
Guest star:John Amos as Dr. Bradley Herbert, Jr. and Lisa Bonet as Denise Huxtable
Theo gets a "D" on his first freshman English composition and worries that he is not "college material." When he rewrites it, using simple words to communicate his feelings rather than fancy ones to impress his professor, things improve dramatically. Rudy's friend Carolyn sleeps over, but their late-night fighting disrupts Cliff's sleep – and jeopardize his sanity. The girls soon discover that making up is not hard to do, especially when you are really sleepy.
Cliff and Clair visit Elvin and Sondra for dinner, but find life in the couple's cramped apartment sorely lacking: inedible food, unclean tap water, malfunctioning appliances, and noise and distractions from the neighbors. With their first grandchild due to be born into this environment, Cliff and Clair try to persuade Elvin and Sondra to accept some help in finding a larger, safer apartment.
Vanessa falls victim to a rumor circulating around school that her boyfriend Roy has broken off their romance. Rudy offers her some sisterly advice. As her anxiety builds, Vanessa becomes increasingly clumsy. Meanwhile, Denise's prospective employer, a photojournalist who is preparing a book on pygmy tribes, persuades Cliff and Clair to allow Denise to accompany her to Africa.
Guest star: Lisa Bonet as Denise Huxtable
Note: This is Bonet's last appearance in season five and the first appearance of Elizabeth Narvaez as Kara.
Bedlam erupts in the Huxtable kitchen when Sondra goes into labor. In his confusion, Elvin drives off to the hospital without her. When he and Sondra drive to the hospital, Sondra is forced to drive the car. Everyone gathers in the hospital waiting room to hear the surprise news – Sondra has delivered twins! Named Winnie and Nelson. Also, Elvin will be going back to medical school. Meanwhile, on the Huxtable's residence, Theo has second thoughts about his girlfriend, Justine, when he meets Julia, the beautiful co-ed who is dating his friend Howard. When Cliff and Clair returned home, she is trying to figure out what a "Grandma" is. Also, they enjoy the Spaghetti and meatballs, cooked by Theo and Howard.
Theo's friend Howard breaks up with the beautiful Julia. Theo sees this as an opportunity to date her himself, even though he is already dating Justine. To make sure Julia likes him, he asks his friend Denny to put in a good word for him. Although Julia falls for Denny, Theo is not discouraged and decides to try his luck anyway. His two-timing plans fall through, however, when Justine finds out and warns Julia. Both ladies drop Theo the same day, leaving Cliff to piece together his son's shattered ego. Meanwhile, at home Rudy asks Cliff to advance her the money to buy Claire a birthday present and does chores around the house to pay off the advance.
When Vanessa and her two friends Janet and Kara make a demo video of The Loco-Motion at a local department store, visions of MTV stardom dance in their heads. Cliff and Clair tactfully suggest that some singing lessons might be in order, so the girls seek out a teacher (Betty Carter). But learning to sing is a time-consuming step that they decide to bypass in favor of selecting hip, new outfits. The Lipsticks' career is brought to a grinding halt, however, when Cliff and Clair get an eyeful of their suggestive gyrations and skimpy costumes.
Clair hopes an exercise instructor, known as "The Bonecrusher", will help her fit into her new evening gown. Clair throws herself into the workouts, but her efforts are undermined by a mischievous Cliff. It seems he is so upset that she has not told him about her plan to lose five pounds in a week that he will pull every underhanded trick in his book to "test" her willpower – including the ultimate temptation: guacamole and corn chips.
Guest stars:Debbie Allen, voice-over by Ahmad Rashad (Phylicia Rashād's sister and husband, respectively)
Cliff bends his iron rule against pets in the house when he lets Rudy "baby-sit" her friend's hamster. When the little fellow develops a bad cold, Cliff and Rudy take him to the veterinary hospital's emergency room. There they witness a wee hours parade of strange animals with even stranger maladies. Despite all efforts, the hamster dies, prompting Cliff to finally tell the truth about his anti-pet stand. It seems when he was a boy, he sat on his pet finch, Charlie. And although he did not kill him, the resultant trauma (for both boy and bird) brought Cliff's penchant for pets to a complete end.
Vanessa's new boyfriend, Jeremy, wants to see more of her, so she sneaks out to meet him, lying to Cliff and Clair in the process. When they find out, Vanessa's grounded for a month and Jeremy is invited into the kitchen for a man to man talk with Cliff. The conversation conducted by Cliff is an ingenious one and also becomes a hilarious inquisition when Cliff uses a pair of apples, designated "Jeremy" and "Vanessa," to discern just how close the two of them were when they were parked in Jeremy's car!
Babymania grips the Huxtable household, with Elvin videotaping every waking moment of his children's lives. It turns out that Elvin can't stop to shoot a video. When Russell shows up with eight tickets to a Michael Jackson concert, Sondra convinces the paranoid papa that it is okay to leave the twins with "strangers" like Clair and Cliff for a few hours. Clair gets called away suddenly on a case, leaving Cliff to act as sole baby-sitter. Eventually, caring for two infants takes its toll, and Clair returns to find three slumbering cherubs in the living room.
Clair's television career gets off to a rousing start when she is invited to be a guest panelist on a Sunday morning current events talk show. She is a big hit with the producers, but cannot stand the three insufferable chauvinists on the panel with her. Meanwhile, poor Cliff is suffering prewithdrawal pains; Clair has purchased a beautiful new sofa for the living room and his favorite old sofa and chair are to be banished from the house. In a moving finale, Cliff bids a sentimental farewell to his "old friends".
Cliff and Clair take a well-earned break from kids and chores, depositing Rudy at Grandma's, dropping Vanessa at a friend's house and heading for the Poconos. That leaves Theo alone in the house for the weekend. When his friends hear about it, they organized a party. But, somehow, the "intimate gathering" of close friends turns into an open house for hundreds, most of them strangers. The house is soon trashed, leaving Theo to face the wrath of Cliff, who wonders why there is "no place in America to get rid of your kid".
Note: This is the 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) appeared on the "Risky Business" episode of A Different World which aired later that evening.
Cliff tracks down the only living relative of his unmarried patient, who is about to deliver her first child. Her grandfather, a 67-year-old former boxer named Ray Palomino is reluctant to get involved because he is afraid that his secret of being illiterate will be discovered. But thanks to an emotional delivery room meeting with his lovely granddaughter, some prodding from Cliff and a waiting room encounter with a retired English teacher who offers to coach him, the ex-fighter vows to make a "comeback".
Time marches on, but some things never change. Cliff rents his favorite children's movies for Rudy's party, but Rudy prefers more contemporary titles. Rudy patiently explains the facts of life, "It's a New Age. Dad – get with it!" and asks for permission to go to bed when she feels like it, instead of at 9:30. Crafty Cliff agrees, knowing full well that Rudy's enthusiasm for staying awake all night will wane in a week. She actually lasts four days, but not without first seeing (and borrowing hard-boiled dialogue from) every late night 1930s gangster movie on the tube.
Theo wants the freedom to date other women, but when his girlfriend Justine shows up at the college hangout with another guy, Theo's attitude turns her off. He tries turning to a voodoo expert, Dr. Lotus, for help in removing Scott from the picture, but he cannot afford the doctor's hefty fee. When Theo asks Dad for the money, Cliff has a much better (and cheaper) idea. He applies an old (and unbelievably messy) Huxtable family concoction to Theo's hands and face that is guaranteed to get Justine back – and teach Theo a valuable lesson.
Cliff proudly introduces Elvin and Theo to his former basketball coach. The boys ask the coach why Cliff is so "sour on basketball." The coach is intrigued, but Cliff will not tell him – until Clair pulls out a videotape of his last "game." This charity game at the hospital between a team of male doctors and a team of female lab technicians shows Cliff at his winded, flat-footed worst on the court and at his most underhanded and devious between whistles. Nancy Lieberman heads the women's team, while Walt Hazzard, Dave DeBusschere and Senator Bill Bradley lead the men. Also, Rudy and Vanessa admire an athletic Cliff in an old photo album and Cliff and Clair reminisce about his "glory days".
Elvin comes home from med school to find an exhausted and snappish Sondra complaining about her life and his insensitivity. They bundle up the babies and head for the Huxtables, joined by Cliff and Elvin's parents, for dinner and an evening of stimulating "adult conversation." But when they arrive, baby talk, Elvin's medical school tribulations and Russell's report of Elvis having been seen in the local mall are the main subjects, leaving a morose and unhappy Sondra to wonder when (if ever) it will be "her turn" again. As a result, the elder-generation mothers and fathers welcome Sondra and Elvin to their respective clubs.
When Rudy interferes with Theo and Justine's chocolate mousse-making in the kitchen, Theo complains to Cliff that they are constantly being interrupted and are never alone. Cliff suggests that Theo take Justine to a long foreign film with subtitles if he really wants to be alone with her. When they cannot find one, Justine decides to work to pick up extra money and Theo agrees to help a beautiful drama student rehearse a play. But he gets carried away during a love scene and Justine breaks off their romance. Cliff advises Theo to beg, plead and then "go to the next level" if he wants to get her back. But even Theo's howling like a dog and groveling at her feet fails to change Justine's mind.
The kids launch Clair's 46th birthday with a candle in her morning grapefruit and a litany of references to how good she "still" looks. Cliff continues the assault with a description of how 50 is "right around the corner" and with a big sign that wishes her an (oops) "Happy 64th Birthday." Plácido Domingo provides one bright spot as he sings Bésame Mucho to her, but later, she must sit through an irreverent serenade from Cliff and a family "tribute" called When Mom Was My Age. The final indignity: Cliff tempts her to abandon her diet for not one but three calorie-laden whipped cream cakes. Overwhelmed at last, Clair plunges hungrily into one of the cakes – without a fork!
Cliff's enjoyment of the warm spring air and the music of birds chirping is interrupted by the sounds of Vanessa and Rudy's non-stop bickering. The slamming of their bedroom doors causes part of the kitchen ceiling to collapse, and they start fighting again once Cliff makes them clean up the mess. Finding that Vanessa and Rudy have wrecked their rooms, Cliff and Clair take the repair cost out of their allowances and send them to live in the basement. They can come upstairs to eat, use the bathroom, and watch television, but the slightest hint of bad behavior gets them exiled again. By the time repairs are completed and they are allowed to move back into their rooms, Vanessa and Rudy have begun to act civilly toward one another.
When Theo's friend Denny finds an expensive watch on the street, Theo and the gang suggest he give it to Jade, his new high-class girlfriend, to impress her. It works like a charm until the police show up and reveal that the watch was stolen days earlier. When Jade refuses to give up this "symbol of Denny's love," the police haul her into the station for questioning. Denny is forced to admit that he found the watch and Jade dumps him so Denny, Theo and the gang find themselves dateless on Saturday night. They take refuge in the Huxtable basement, pretending to be having a good time without their women, until Cliff's rambling non-sequiturs finally drive them out into the night.
Guest stars:Don Reed as Theo's friend Mitchell. Reed previously appeared as Chip St. Charles in four episodes of A Different World.
Note: This is the third episode of the series in which Phylicia Rashad did not appear.
When Sondra gets strep throat, Clair and Elvin's mother, Francine, remove the babies from the apartment, under the pretense of protecting them from Sondra's germs. In reality, the babies are protected because both Sondra and Elvin are wearing surgical masks, but Clair and Francine cannot resist an opportunity to have their grandchildren all to themselves. At first, Sondra's grateful. But later, high fever and Elvin's thoughtless comments about "letting our mothers take our babies" send Sondra into an escalating spiral of suspicion and revenge. When she finally tracks them down, Clair and Francine experience the full onslaught of Hurricane Sondra, much to Cliff's delight.
Theo wants to go to Egypt for an archaeological dig, so he brings the hosting professor to dinner to help convince his parents to spend $1,500.
Note: This is the only episode of the fifth season to include the introductory "stinger" of the funk/jazz arrangement of "Kiss Me" that plays over the credits.
Season 6 (1989–1990)
In the opening sequence for seasons 6 and 7, the cast danced on a stage with a backdrop that displayed the marquee of the Apollo Theater in Harlem. A classical jazz arrangement of "Kiss Me," featuring Craig Handy on saxophone, was used for the theme. When the credits end, instead of looking at the camera, Cosby walks off the stage, commenting, "This is the best elevator music I've ever heard!" This line was cut out of the credits when they were used in season 7.
Denise surprises Cliff and Clair by returning home a week early from Africa. But even more surprisingly, she brings with her a new husband, naval officer Martin Kendall, and his 3-year-old daughter, Olivia. Not only has she neglected to tell her parents about her marriage, she never even told them about Martin's existence. It doesn't take Cliff long to figure out where the newlyweds plan to live until Martin's naval housing is approved.
Cliff's story about how he and his roommates cleaned their floors in college inspires Theo and his buddies to strap soapy sponges to their butts and slide across the kitchen floor. Unfortunately, their landlord (who lives directly beneath them) is not amused by their ingenuity. Theo and his friends are evicted, spurring Cliff to persuade their landlord to reconsider so that Theo will not end up moving back into the Huxtables' already-crowded house.
Vanessa and her girlfriends are asking for trouble when they play the alphabet game with a bottle of bourbon. Vanessa chug-a-lugs her way to a miserable night of sickness and through a nasty hangover the next day. But Cliff and Clair decide to hammer the lesson home even further. They devise an alphabet game of their own that includes Rudy, four shot glasses, a bottle of booze (really tea) and a confused and extremely reluctant Vanessa.
Guest appearance: Bill Cosby's real-life daughter Ensa Cosby, upon whom the character Vanessa is loosely based.
Denise and Martin visit the Rhode Island naval base where they are expecting to be housed. There is just one little hitch: Denise has neglected to confirm the reservation for the housing. And although the Navy puts the Kendalls on a waiting list, for the next six months they will have to stay with Cliff and Clair. Meanwhile, Cliff desperately attempts to explain what he does for a living to Olivia.
Theo proudly answers all of Cliff's questions as Theo practices for an upcoming mythology exam. But when he scores low on a test where he knew all the answers but could not always understand the questions, Cliff and Clair take him to a learning specialist, who tells them that Theo has dyslexia. And although Theo's diagnosed condition is manageable, his and Vanessa's litany of accusations (about Theo's years of suffering parental criticism for laziness and bad study habits) prove to be unbearable for Cliff and Clair.
Sondra and Elvin get a well-deserved night out when an overconfident Denise boasts that caring for two children should be as easy as looking after one. After a long evening of twin mayhem, complicated by a recurring local blackout, the exhausted family members wind up on the Huxtables' doorstep. Cliff and Clair wisely retreat to the basement for a good night's sleep.
Even after raising three daughters, Cliff's in over his head when Rudy reports her first "boy trouble." Clarence, the boy she likes, likes her. But his friends taunt him about it, so he treats Rudy badly to quiet them. Clarence and Rudy's relationship quickly deteriorates from a love match to teasing, name-calling and a knock-down, drag-out fight. Cliff tries to give Rudy his facts-of-life speech (the one about boys being like helicopters and girls being like geraniums). But at the school dance, the wise Mrs. McGee pairs Rudy and Clarence and they mend fences all on their own.
Note: Phylicia Rashād, Lisa Bonet, Joseph C. Phillips and Raven-Symoné appeared on the "Forever Hold Your Peace" episode of A Different World which aired later that evening.
Cliff's ingestion of a sausage hero immediately before bedtime brings on a dream in which spores contaminate the U.S. water supply (except in New Jersey) and impregnate thousands of men, including Cliff, Elvin and Martin. Theo, the only unwed mother-to-be, soon joins them. They commiserate and console each other, but their solace is short-lived. Contractions send them all to the hospital and into the most bizarre delivery room.
When Martin's ex-wife Paula (Victoria Rowell) calls Olivia from the airport after her departure is delayed, Denise impulsively invites the woman she has never met to join the Huxtables for Thanksgiving dinner. Amid the spying of curious family members and acute nervousness from Martin, Denise gets a chance to have an enlightening conversation with the woman whose child she is raising. In the meantime, Clair keeps sending Cliff out into the rain for last-minute Thanksgiving groceries.
Chocoholics Cliff and Olivia do a hatchet job on the cake that Clair's baked for Denise's in-laws (Moses Gunn and Nancy Wilson), extracting a large circle from its middle. The two culprits quickly cover up their defacement of the dessert but to no avail – Clair discovers the icing over the hole they have stuffed with paper towels. Meanwhile, Denise frets over her upcoming meeting with the woman who has reportedly said to Martin about Denise, "I can't stand her". When Clair asks Lorraine, Martin's mother, to clarify the remark, it becomes clear that Martin's the culprit here. And it is three against one when Denise, Clair, and Lorraine give Martin a hard time for being so hard of hearing.
Clair's in Washington on a case and Cliff's in charge – but just barely. Rudy follows Cliff's advice on how to deal with her on-again, off-again friends – only to succeed in alienating all of them. Even when Cliff gets himself into trouble with Rudy's teacher for ghost-writing Rudy's history composition, he remains determined to handle the household on his own. But when Vanessa pulls the wool almost far enough over Cliff's eyes to get away with going to a college party, it falls on Clair to inform him. Also, Theo tries to use Olivia to get a bunch of girls' phone numbers, but gets caught by Justine.
Martin and Cliff spend some time together and develop a new, warm appreciation for each other. When Cliff confesses his secret regret about not having given Denise away at her wedding, Martin stages an informal ceremony in the Huxtable living room, so Cliff can see his wish come true. Elsewhere, Elvin slowly warms up to his elf's makeup and costume for a Christmas show at the hospital. And Denise tries to explain what Santa Claus looks like to a suspicious and highly skeptical Olivia, who counters with "If Santa Claus has a little bit of everyone inside him, is that why he's so fat?"
Sondra decides to stay home to work on her law school application, happily forfeiting a chance to go out to dinner with Elvin, his old college chum Judy and Judy's sister. Elvin gallantly offers to stay home with Sondra, but she insists that he go. However, when he pays for the dinner, Sondra's so angry, she refuses to speak to him. Meanwhile, Sondra, who expects Clair to side with her after hearing the whole story, gets a shocking surprise when Clair tells her that she is just as much to blame for the whole situation as Elvin and probably even more because she was not honest with him or herself to begin with.
Cliff's late-night eating habits finally bite back. His nightmare is filled with such Muppet characters as overstuffed talking sandwiches, back-talking refrigerator denizens and a bloodthirsty mob of creatures in the operating theater of Cliff's hospital. It seems that Cliff is scheduled to perform a delicate operation for their viewing pleasure, but he somehow winds up on the table as the patient, before waking up safe and sound in his own bed.
Note: This episode was originally produced for season 5, but did not air until season 6. Coincidentally, following Jim Henson's death five months after this first aired, an in-memory note of Henson was added after the closing credits when the episode reaired the following summer, and is utilized on all subsequent prints.
When Denise's snappy repartee gives Vanessa the courage to approach handsome Elliott in a cafe, all looks promising. But later on, as Denise envisions a career as a single's counselor, Vanessa storms in to announce that Denise has ruined her life: Elliott already has a girlfriend named Shana. Elliott, a weakling who is attached to Shana but smitten with Vanessa, then shows up to ask Dr. Denise for her advice on how to handle the situation. Finally, Shana (Malinda Williams) arrives to give Denise a piece of her mind.
Will cultures and tastes clash? Denise plans a healthful, fully organic menu for Olivia's birthday party. Cliff and Clair contend that kids expect chocolate cake and junk food – and will not settle for less. So they agree to offer the children both kinds of food and monitor which cake the kids actually prefer. During the day, Cliff is pressed into child-sitting and it takes all his ingenuity to keep the party going.
Elvin and Theo catch blues great Riley Jackson (B.B. King) at a local club and Theo is blown away by his singing. Coincidentally, the next day, Jackson is at the Huxtable house when Theo drops by to rave about his "discovery" of this great singer. Jackson is an old friend of Grandpa Russell's and he has invited the whole Huxtable family to hear him play that night. Everyone but the jaded, world-weary Vanessa is excited about the concert.
Eagerness to purchase a sweatshirt that lights up overshadows better judgment when Rudy "borrows" $2.30 from the money Clair's left on the counter to pay the dry cleaning bill. Rudy's attempts to replace the money before Clair finds it missing lead her further into misery and duplicity. Cliff finally adds it all up and pulls Rudy aside for a heart-to-heart talk. It yields some truths for both of them. Rudy realizes that she was wrong and must confess to Clair. And Cliff learns why Rudy was afraid to ask him for the money.
Phylicia Rashād, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Lisa Bonet, Tempestt Bledsoe, Keshia Knight Pulliam and Raven-Symoné host this special episode featuring bloopers from the past five seasons.
Note: Special appearance by Condola Phyleia Rashād, Phylicia Rashād's daughter. This episode was excluded from The Cosby Show regular syndication cycle, but is included as a bonus feature in the Season 1 DVD set. It is not, however, included in the Season 6 DVD set released by First Look Studios and Millennium Entertainment, but is included in the Season 6 DVD set released by Mill Creek Entertainment.
Rudy's down in the dumps because she has been partnered with the best male dancer in school for an upcoming show. Cliff and Clair intensify her tap dancing lessons in an effort to boost her confidence for the big day. But it is Cliff who is most inspired. Overconfident, he puts on a pair of taps and faces off against Rudy's teacher, Sandman Sims. The tap-stepping marathon leaves Cliff beaten and bowed. Rudy, on the other hand, shines on the big night with her partner George.
Theo throws Cliff, Elvin, and Martin a challenge they cannot ignore: prove that they are not living in "the marriage graveyard." Cliff devises a secret competition that will not only resurrect the romance in their lives but will determine which of the husbands is the most romantic. According to his plan, the reactions of their wives to some specially selected presents will be the barometer for determining "The Emperor of Romance." But Olivia informs the women just before the big event, leaving the three wives to plot revenge for being used as pawns in their husbands' macho game.
Theo and Justine take a big step without telling either set of parents, and it all comes out, literally, in the wash. When Cliff finds Justine's undergarments in Theo's wash load, Theo comes clean and admits that he and Justine have been living together ever since her roommate moved out. When Cliff and Clair refuse to support him unless he returns to his own apartment, Theo takes a bold and defiant stand. But level-headed Justine brings reality back into focus for Theo, and together they make a wise decision for their future.
Exhausted, overworked and with patience worn thin, Clair wonders if she has "anything left to give." Cliff insists that she get away for a few days and sends her off to a secluded cabin in the woods for some rest and relaxation. But the hideaway is drafty, cold, and barely functional. Clair longs to come home to the relative comfort of noise and chaos in the Huxtable house.
Vanessa and her girlfriends display extremely bad judgement when they sneak off to a rock concert in Baltimore behind their parents' backs, but the trip ends in disaster as their car, tickets, and spending money are all stolen. After Cliff and Clair discover the deception and retrieve Vanessa in the wee hours of the morning, Clair rages at Vanessa over the latter's betrayal of trust and sends her to bed in tears. Meanwhile, Olivia tests her stand-up comedy skills on Cliff, first by getting jokes from a pay-per-minute phone service and then by making up some of her own.
Note: This episode marks Malcolm-Jamal Warner's Cosby Show directorial debut. His character did not appear in the episode.
Clair brings her friend and rival attorney, Bernice (Mercedes Ruehl), home to visit while Cliff's entertaining a recently divorced Jeffrey Engels (Wallace Shawn). Despite their physical disparity, Jeffrey and Bernice really hit it off. But Jeffrey is so self-conscious about his new toupee that he can't concentrate on Bernice and blows what Cliff and Clair hoped might be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Denise wants to become a teacher but is frustrated over the prospect of having to restart college in order to earn the needed degree. Seeing that Olivia's preschool teacher (Max Roach) uses music and rap as part of his lessons, she insists that she is ready to take on the job but gets a reality check from a friend (Suzzanne Douglas) who teaches elementary school. The humbling experience prompts her to enroll in Medgar Evers College and pursue a degree in education.
Note: This episode was dedicated to Ryan White, who died of AIDS, with an in-memory note after the closing credits.
Cliff's great aunt, Harriet "Gramtee" McCutcheon (Minnie Gentry), comes to visit from Norfolk, Virginia for her 98th birthday. The family plans to go to church on Sunday, but Olivia would rather go to the zoo with her friend Kai. But after spending some time with Gramtee, Olivia decides that she would rather go to church instead of the zoo. The church service concludes with Mavis Staples leading the choir in a spirit-filled rendition of Marvin Gaye's "Wholy Holy" as a tribute to Gramtee.
Note: The church service was filmed at St. James Presbyterian Church in Harlem.
Season 7 (1990–1991)
This season's opening credits sequence originally was to use a mural entitled "Street of Dreams," painted by inner-city youth from the Creative Arts Workshop in Harlem. The producers discarded the idea when their lawyers said that in order to use the mural, they would have to get permission from all 63 young artists. Instead, a new mural was produced that combined some of the elements of the original and used many of the same colors. 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 opening credits with the version from the previous season. Only four episodes featured the original season-seven opening credits.[152] In all other episodes in the show's original run, and in all repeats as well as in syndication, only the replacement sequence was used. However, some international prints use the original sequence for the first four episodes.
New cast member Erika Alexander was featured in the original season-seven sequence, but only her name and role are listed in the replacement sequence. The spoken phrase "This is the best elevator music I've ever heard!" was also removed, except for one episode in 1991.
Throughout this season, Cosby was often seen wearing a small black button with the letters "SD Jr." as a tribute to Sammy Davis Jr., who died in May 1990.
Cliff and Clair look forward to reclaiming the house as another school year begins. Vanessa is on her way to college, and Rudy is rushed off to school. But Rudy's afraid that her prepubescent body will not measure up with the other sixth-graders, and Olivia is starting her first day of pre-school. Finally, Cliff and Clair's peaceful afternoon is shattered when a weary Theo returns from his whirlwind, 17-day European tour.
Note: In a scene prior to the opening credits, Olivia enters Cliff's bedroom wearing a Bart Simpson mask. It is a reference to Fox's decision to move The Simpsons to Thursdays at 8:00 pm Eastern, presenting The Cosby Show with its first significant ratings challenge. This is the only episode in the series that has a cold open.
Cliff plans to attend an auction where he hopes to outbid his friendly nemesis, Dr. Harmon, to add a rare Charlie Parker record to his jazz collection. Instead, he gets recruited into helping out at Olivia's preschool. Undaunted, Cliff arranges to bid by phone. But when Harmon drops out and Claire shows up to the auction, the couple unknowingly begins bidding against each other.
Theo's plan to hire a stripper for brother-in-law Martin's belated bachelor party sets off sparks in the Huxtable house and ignites a fight between the men and women in the family. While the men call the striptease "traditional," the women consider it sexist and demeaning. Grandma and Grandpa Huxtable show up later and get involved in the quarreling. But by the time the battle wanes, its participants are in a romantic mood again. Is it the influence of reason or, as Cliff claims, the secret ingredient in his barbecue sauce?
Notes: This episode was removed from syndication after Bill Cosby admitted to purchasing quaaludes with the intent to give them to women with whom he wanted to have sex.
Clair's teenage cousin Pam Tucker moves into the Huxtable home, triggering a period of adjustment for all concerned. Although she appreciates the upscale surroundings, Cliff and Clair's rules cause difficulty for the lifestyle she is accustomed to. Pam has already accepted an invitation from her boyfriend Slide, but is blocked by the Huxtables' curfew. However, while testing the waters, she begins to appreciate the value of the curfew and the wisdom of its enforcers.
The Huxtables return from a romantic weekend in Vermont to find the household in chaos. Olivia has "cleaned" her crayons in the new washing machine; Vanessa has hit a parked vehicle with Cliff's car; Theo has appropriated various Huxtable household items for use in his own apartment. It is time for one of Cliff's seminars on the hardships of being a parent. However, the Huxtable children turn the tables to deliver a discourse of their own: an expose of what it is like to be on the receiving end of one of Cliff's famous talks.
156
6
"Getting the Story"
Ellen Falcon
Story by : Mark St. Germain Teleplay by : Lore Kimbrough & Janet Leahy
Rudy and Kenny document Clair's job for a school video contest because Cliff's job is not "exciting enough." Their dreams of glory quickly fade as Clair's workday fails to deliver the criminals and excitement the students anticipate. In desperation, they turn to Cliff. At the hospital, they con an expectant father into taping his son's birth and make plans to pass the footage off as their own. When Cliff intervenes, all seems lost, but they later realize they can finish the film by simply documenting the truth.
Pam's boyfriend Slide wants to take their relationship to "the next level" but Pam has reservations. Cliff and Clair's advice strengthens Pam's resolve to take things at her own speed. But caught between his friends and his hormones, Slide keeps pressing until Pam explodes in indignation. Still, she does not want to lose him to another girl. Meanwhile, Olivia introduces the family to Dwayne, an invisible Saint Bernard who becomes a most convenient scapegoat for all of Olivia's escapades.
Psychology major Theo prepares a personality profile on Cliff, who is so secretive, Theo dubs the syndrome "Fugitive fantasy fear." When Rudy gets her first period, the event elicits a spate of myths from her girlfriends and a disagreement with Clair about how to celebrate Rudy's special day. Having already read a book on menstruation, Rudy is able to dispel her friends' outlandish claims. But, in a late night heart-to-heart talk with Clair, Rudy's real concerns about womanhood finally surface.
Inspired by a rare weekend alone together in the Huxtable house, Denise and Martin go searching for affordable apartment. Rudy, tired of sharing sleeping space with Olivia, launches a determined campaign for their soon-to-be-vacated room. When Martin and Denise come home tired, frustrated, and empty-handed, Theo tells them about a one-bedroom opportunity. However, where the ever-optimistic Denise sees minimalist charm and efficiency in the offbeat space, practical-minded Martin sees only a cramped trailer. And when they get back home, they must face the wrath of a still-roomless Rudy.
Having broken up with Slide, Pam sets her sights on Aaron, a new student whose intelligence, compassion, and integrity are all exceptional. Meanwhile, Alfred, a nervous expectant father, turns to Cliff for tips on how to play basketball with his future son. Alfred also gets some insights from Theo on how boys view their fathers when it comes to sports. And both Alfred and Cliff get an enlightening lesson from their wives. Finally, Olivia announces her intention of becoming a doctor as well as a professional football player.
Note: This is the first appearance of Seth Gilliam as Aaron.
Clair's announcement that she is beginning menopause triggers a series of bizarre misinterpretations of her behavior by her children. Since the kids expect the stereotypical indecision, mood swings, weeping, and hot flashes, Cliff and Clair decide to give them all the melodrama they can possibly handle. Pam and Aaron grow closer as he demonstrates that some of the best things in life are free – like a moonlight tour of their historic neighborhood.
It's playoff time, but Sondra upsets Elvin's football-watching plans by promising their help in moving two friends to a new apartment. Afraid he will miss the entire game, Elvin enlists the aid of his brothers Theo and Martin to hurry things along, which they do while bickering with Sondra and Nancy. Meanwhile, Clair demonstrates some impressive baton-twirling moves, while Olivia sticks to her original plan to become "Dr. Crusher, Middle Linebacker".
Theo is just one good grade away from the Dean's List. Fortified with devil's-food donuts and chocolate milk, he is determined to cram for tomorrow's economics final, until he lifts his head from the book in the college cafe and locks eyes with the girl of his dreams. Theo escorts Cheryl to a party instead of studying. Yet even while close dancing, his mind wanders to current indicators and the Gross National Product.
Theo helps Pam improve her grades – so much so that she starts thinking about college. Unfortunately, her Ivy League dreams are dashed by the nightmare of how much it will cost to get there. Her classmates are no help either, jealous of her improving grades. At home, Olivia announces her intention to become President, certain that will give her the power to create her own flag, eat turkey stuffed with french fries and stay up late.
Note: This was Lisa Bonet's final taping as Denise, who appears briefly in the first scene of the episode. In airdate order, Bonet appears in two more episodes.
Basketball coach Ray Evans (John Ritter) and his wife Alicia (Amy Yasbeck) have devised the perfect plan for the birth of their first child. Their practice sessions run like clockwork, but when the first contractions begin, Ray falls apart. Three hours into labor, a stressed-out Alicia turns on him – blaming Ray for "her condition." After being thrown out of the room, it falls on Cliff to raise Ray's spirits.
Note: This is the only episode in which none of the Huxtable children appear. Phylicia Rashad also does not appear. Bill Cosby and Raven-Symoné are the only main cast members to appear in this episode. The set used for the expectant couple's home is the same one used for the Huxtable home in the pilot episode.
When Cliff and Dr. Harmon ditch their wives to team up for the charity pinochle tournament, the rejected spouses decide to enter the tournament themselves. But when the wives defeat the defending champions, suddenly only Cliff and Jim stand between them and the coveted trophy. Meanwhile, with Rudy as baby-sitter, Olivia pouts her way into staying up late and watching a horror movie. But when their imaginations detect monsters in the house, the girls take measures to protect themselves.
Cliff has an elaborate 27th wedding anniversary surprise for Clair – a dining room re-creation of the tiny Caribbean restaurant where they dined during their honeymoon. He tracks down the original chef and orders a calypso band to entertain for the evening. But when the special day arrives, the chef, now a gourmet prima donna, balks at re-creating a menu from 27 years ago; the calypso band arrives two hours early; Theo, Pam, and Rudy, the volunteer decoration committee, have difficulty honoring their commitment; and on top of everything, Cliff is coming down with a case of the flu.
Rudy plans to go to the movies with two girls and three boys. But her first date is jeopardized when the other two girls cancel. Clair offers to double date with Rudy and Scott, but that means Scott must face Cliff's interrogations. Meanwhile, a visit from Clair's old friend Kris (Leslie Uggams) sparks an evening of over-the-top songs and camp that leaves the husbands feeling left out.
With everyone else out of the house, Theo prepares for a romantic evening with his girlfriend, Cheryl. But his plans are thwarted by a serious of interruptions: Theo's friend Ellen drops by just as she starts to come down with an illness, followed by her boyfriend Denny who has his own paranoia about his girlfriend's recent activities; Cliff and Clair return home, their ski weekend rained out; Grandma and Grandpa Huxtable drop by to borrow a table saw, and Elvin arrives to transport it to their house in his van.
Olivia, in bed with a cold and laryngitis, is miserable because she will not be able to sing at Russell and Anna Huxtable's 55th wedding anniversary. Despite the exotic home remedies suggested by the steady stream of would-be-doctors in the house, it is Cliff who actually saves the day by finding a way for Olivia to voice her feelings at the party. Meanwhile, Lance and Charmaine reminisce about the high points of their romance, but their fuzzy memories are no match for Aaron's total recall of even the most obscure events in his and Pam's recent relationship.
A special dream episode is a nightmare for Rudy, who cannot escape the evil plots of Olivia. As a modern Greek chorus (Pam, Charmaine, and Vanessa) comments on the action, Olivia demonstrates her uncanny ability to undermine Rudy at every turn, manipulate the Huxtables into getting what she wants, and Rudy seems to be the only person in the dream who can see through it.
It's bowling night: Cliff's team loses, and it falls on him to buy dinner. During the post-game Chinese meal, Carleton and Dr. Harmon – two cricket-playing Caribbean natives – must endure a walk down baseball's memory lane led by baseball greats (Frank Robinson and Joe Black).
Note: This is the final appearance of Sullivan Walker as Dr. James Harmon.
Everyone tries to keep Cliff from hearing about the 50%-off sale at Jake's, his favorite appliance store. But their efforts are to no avail: Cliff already has set his sights on an electric sander. While at the store, Cliff hears Jake recount the story of the damages he had to pay to Stanley Rappaport, his former friend (and now worst enemy), for a traffic accident. It does not mean much to Cliff until Jake's daughter Cookie introduces Cliff to her fiance, Jonathan Rappaport, and begs Cliff to reconcile Jake with Jonathan's father, Stanley.
Theo begins his internship in psychology as a counselor at a local community center. His new charges test him immediately. Wise to their tricks because he used to pull them himself, Theo is initially in control, then loses his cool. The next day, he is less concerned about his image and more interested in helping his kids. One student, Stanley, reminds him of himself when he was younger: defensive about his messy notebook, sloppy handwriting, and slow reading speed. Theo begins to suspect that Stanley has a learning disability, too.
Notes: This is the first appearance of Merlin Santana as Stanley and Eugene Byrd as Eugene. This is the first and only two-part episode in which the two parts of the episode premiered on separate nights and not back-to-back.
As he grows more confident in his abilities and judgment, Theo's personal involvement with his students at the community center deepens. He is anxious to persuade Stanley to be tested for dyslexia; he is concerned about another boy who may have to leave the after-school program to earn extra money for his family. Theo's growing realization that he cannot help everyone in his care hits hard, but leaves him with a new sense of maturity and renewed confidence in his chosen vocation.
Season 8 (1991–1992)
The mural inspired by "Street of Dreams", originally painted by inner-city youth from the Creative Arts Workshop in Harlem, was finally used full-time in season eight. The cast now danced to a hip-hop arrangement of "Kiss Me" that featured Lester Bowie on trumpet, while dressed in brightly colored clothing with a theme similar to the music. 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, Cosby turns his head and looks into the camera as he did in seasons two through four.
A few episodes from season seven used this opening, albeit with Bonet and Phillips 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!"
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 only showed the cast in a series of photographs). The finale was taped on Friday, March 6, 1992, under production codes 0823 and 0824.
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.
Vanessa, home from college, announces her engagement. She then reveals her year-long relationship and six-month engagement to Dabnis, a college maintenance supervisor who is almost 30 years old. Since Cliff and Clair did not know that Vanessa was even dating anyone, the news is a shock. Cliff and Clair take turns confronting their supposedly level-headed daughter. Clair voices concern about how far apart Vanessa and Dabnis are in age, while Cliff questions Vanessa's belated presentation of her fiance.
Note: This is the first appearance of William Thomas, Jr. as Dabnis Brickey.
On the eve of co-signing a loan that will enable Elvin and Sondra to purchase their own home, Cliff also reveals plans to build an extension on the house. But when Elvin and Sondra's closing is postponed indefinitely, they are left with no place to live. The Tibideaux's take Martin and Denise's old room, and Olivia moves in with Rudy. Cliff cheers up considerably, though, when Clair suggests that they expand the Huxtable kitchen and include that window herb-garden Cliff has always wanted.
179
3
"Particles in Motion"
John Bowab
Story by : Adriana Trigiani & Linda M. Yearwood Teleplay by : Adriana Trigiani
The Huxtable family's life is in a period of upheaval: expansion of the kitchen begins; Theo faces his first parent-counselor night at the community center, and gears up by rehearsing with Cliff and Clair; and, much to Kenny's consternation, Rudy encounters romance with one of Theo's students. Sparks fly between Stanley and Kenny after Kenny sabotages Rudy and Stanley's first date. Meanwhile, Theo feels romantic tension between him and young mother Lisa (Saundra Quarterman).
While construction on the Huxtable kitchen progresses, Pam laments her low grades. Now a senior, Pam wants to attend a college like Hillman with her best friend, Charmaine. Only two things are holding Pam back; her low GPA and her low SAT scores. Her guidance counselor, Mr. Bostic (Richard Lawson), advises her to apply to a community college, and Cliff casts doubt on her chances for acceptance at a major school. To Pam, it seems as if the whole world is against her; even her best friend will be leaving her.
181
5
"Warning: A Double-Lit Candle Can Cause a Meltdown"
Rudy and two girlfriends don makeup and trendy clothes to crash The Exchange, an over-16 dance club in New York City. Cliff and Clair overhear the plan and decide to let them go – with Pam, Lance, and Charmaine as secret chaperones. Since the teen club is a big step down for them, the three mature high schoolers are hoping that no one recognizes them. A clubgoer tries to hit on Rudy and her friends; Lance steers him away without blowing his cover. But when Pam wins a chance to dance with headline rapper J.T. Freeze, she completely loses her cool.
With Elvin, Sondra, and the twins living in the Huxtable home for several weeks, nerves have started to fray. When Cliff temporarily confines the twins in an overturned playpen while he vacuums up cookie crumbs, Sondra explodes, accusing him of cruelty. Tempers flare and recriminations fly between the four adults. When Cliff turns to Russell for help, his father is sympathetic, but firm. He will offer support, but not in the form of lodging.
Russell has heard that Vanessa is engaged, but to a 45-year-old janitor. Alarmed, Russell and Carrie confront Cliff and Clair, who confirm the engagement and try to set the record straight on Dabnis. But the anxious grandparents are not satisfied. So, on his second ever visit to the home, Dabnis gets confronted by the older generation of Huxtable, while Vanessa stays in the kitchen. She is disconcerted by Cliff and Clair's new, positive attitude toward Dabnis, and surprised to see Dabnis get resounding approval up from her grandparents. Suddenly, all the pressure is on Vanessa to set a wedding date.
When Rudy entered junior high, Cliff thought he was finally done with field trips. Olivia's class trip to the natural history museum lacks one chaperone; provided there is no singing on the bus, Cliff agrees. His fellow chaperone is know-it-all neighbor Jeffrey Engels (Wallace Shawn). Inside the museum, Jeffrey's high-brow explanations confuse the children. Cliff seizes the opportunity to impress them with his colorful storytelling; his description of the grizzly bear is so vivid, his young audience scatters in terror. Meanwhile, Clair steps in to help Theo get his money back from an unscrupulous vendor who sold him a batch of shoddy T-shirts intended for a community center fundraiser.
Cliff leads a "For Men Only" guidance class at the community center, giving the boys some plain talk about living, working, and surviving in the real world. Meanwhile, Russell's adventures in babysitting for Olivia include an introduction into the world of video games. Trying to wean Olivia from her addiction, Russell suggests a game of pick-up sticks. But, unimpressed by Russell's old-fashioned diversion, Olivia convinces him to give her pastime a try instead – and another videogame-maniac is born.
Olivia is upset because Martin is leaving for the Orient. After extracting a promise that he will not leave without saying goodbye, Olivia hides herself in the living room closet, hoping to delay his departure indefinitely. The rest of the family prepares to welcome legendary African singer Miriam Makeba to the Huxtable home. But Ms. Makeba almost gets lost in the shuffle when Martin comes downstairs to leave, Olivia is nowhere to be found and the whole family abandons their honored guest to search for the six-year-old.
Kenny arrives to console Rudy, with the word around school being that Rudy and Stanley are no longer dating. Kenny, Rudy's old friend, sees it as an opportunity to further his own chances. Stanley may not be as irrelevant as Kenny thinks. Meanwhile, Dabnis follows Vanessa to the Huxtable home, confused about a note she left him that described her "returning to her roots."
It's the Christmas season in the Huxtable household, but it will all have to happen without Clair. She is staying in the "Clair Hanks Huxtable Room" Cliff built for her, complete with private phone and secret security code access. As Cliff endeavors to learn the six-digit code "in case of emergencies," Clair says she will have to think it over. Family members who usually rely on Clair for everything must fend for themselves.
Even with his job at the community center, making ends meet is still hard for Theo. So when Tim tells him about a corporate mixer, Theo heads over. Once there, he expresses his opinions about corporate image and employee management to corporate recruiters from a large soup company. Impressed, they offer to fly him to their San Francisco headquarters for an interview. But as Theo packs, his young friend Eugene wonders how Theo could consider a job in San Francisco over graduate school and the community center.
When a group of senior citizens complain of the higher prices and poorer quality at the supermarket chain store in their neighborhood, Pam drives them to the chain's store a few blocks away where the conditions are better. Incensed at the local supermarket's exploitive practices, Pam, Lance, and Charmaine organize the seniors to protest; armed with thousands of pennies, they create a log-jam at the checkout counter.
Eager for extra cash, Pam fills in for Cliff's regular assistant. Everything is under control until Mrs. Minifield bypasses the hospital and arrives on Cliff's doorstep with contractions less than four minutes apart. Meanwhile, Kenny shows up to work on a school science project with Rudy and Stanley. Hoping to make Rudy jealous, Kenny has brought along his girlfriend of three days, Deirdre. Rudy sees through Kenny's plan, and so does Deirdre. Only after being abandoned by Deirdre does he realize that he actually likes her.
Note: This is the first appearance of Gabrielle Carmouche as Deirdre Arpelle. It is the fifth and final episode in which Phylicia Rashad did not appear.
Knowing Cliff's penchant for junk food, Clair searches Cliff's favorite hiding places for chips and cookies before she leaves for a business trip. All she finds are fruits, vegetables, and other healthful items. With the help of every condiment in the refrigerator, the girls manage to make palatable Cliff's dinner of boiled chicken, brown rice, and steamed broccoli. Later, Sondra intercepts a late-night delivery of Buffalo chicken wings, pizza, and ice cream.
Clair reports that Sondra, Elvin, and family are finally ready to move out. While Elvin and Sondra supervise the unloading in New Jersey, Winnie and Nelson remain under the supervision of Cliff, who would rather take a nap. A game of hide-and-seek ensues and Cliff knocks over the grandfather clock, breaking it. Elvin then returns to explain to Cliff that now he and Sondra have moved to New Jersey, Elvin's family needs a second car – Cliff's station wagon.
When their boiler expires, Sondra and Elvin move their housewarming party to the Huxtable house. Russell arrives with a rumor that, supposedly, Vanessa and Dabnis have finally set a wedding date. But then Vanessa announces that she and Dabnis have mutually agreed to separate.
Preparing for a school project, Olivia seeks out a more reliable source after Cliff tells her outrageous stories about himself at age six. Olivia talks to Russell, who relates some interesting (and true) stories about the young Cliff that even Cliff has forgotten. Meanwhile, Theo's students at the community center thrash out the moral and ethical dilemma presented by their discovery of a monogrammed money clip containing $600 in cash.
Note: This is the last appearance of Eugene Byrd as Eugene.
Clair hosts a group of Hillman College alumnae who have gathered to plan a testimonial for a much-loved professor. While trying to come up with a way to describe the colorful woman, Clair and her friends reminisce about their fun-filled college days. Meanwhile, Olivia persuades Cliff to get a beauty makeover in her new makeshift hair salon.
Sondra and Elvin want to provide for the twins in their will. After seeing a lawyer to draw up a will, they narrow the field of candidates for guardianship of the twins to Cliff, Clair, and Theo. After Rudy oversteps her bounds and Clair reminds her who's in charge, Rudy turns sullen and surly.
Note:Karen Malina White and Allen Payne appear on an episode of A Different World that aired later that evening. In the fall of 1992, White became a regular cast member of that series.
While Clair provides some last-minute legal aid for a public radio station, Cliff finds himself sitting in on a live radio broadcast with Latin Jazz stars Graciela, Willie Colón, and Mario Bauzá and his Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra. Meanwhile, Kenny gets his first job, babysitting Olivia.
Note: "Alan Smithee" is a pseudonym used to hide the identity of a director.
In her annual plea, Clair begs Cliff to just hand over his receipts and let her and the accountant work out the tax return. But Cliff wants to stake his claims first – to Elvin, Sondra, the twins, Olivia, and Pam as Huxtable dependents.
Caught without an appropriate gift for Deirdre's birthday, Kenny tells her he has planned a party for her at the Huxtables. When Deirdre realizes the party was planned last-minute, she dumps Kenny forever. Desperately, Kenny appeals to Stanley for help. Stanley helps as he knows that unless he can convince Deirdre to take Kenny back, Rudy and Kenny may start developing feelings for each other.
Note: This is the last appearance of Merlin Santana as Stanley and Gabrielle Carmouche as Deirdre. The Uptown String Quartet performs James Brown's "I Feel Good".
200
24
"And So We Commence"
Jay Sandrich
Courtney Flavin & Gordon Gartrelle & Janet Leahy & Hugh O'Neill
In the series finale, Cliff invites a long list of friends and relatives to Theo's graduation despite a scarcity of tickets, forcing Theo to scrounge up every spare ticket he can find. Denise calls from Singapore to tell the family that she and Martin are expecting a baby. Vanessa and Dabnis arrive, providing mixed signals to everyone about their current relationship. At the commencement ceremony, Cliff thinks back eight years to the day he used Monopoly money to illustrate the harsh realities of life to the then 13-year-old Theo. By the time Cliff emerges from his reverie, Theo is already a graduate. That evening, after the doorbell is finally fixed, Cliff and Clair dance intimately one last time in the Huxtable living room – and then dance off the set, walk past the audience, and leave the studio.
This episode was immediately followed by a three-minute 'thank you' tribute from NBC.
Note: The two-part series finale aired on the evening of day two of the 1992 Los Angeles riots. Bill Cosby appeared on KNBC in an attempt to end hostilities, asking viewers to stop what they were doing and instead watch the series finale of the show.
