The Cosby Show
"The Cosby Show" centers on the lives of the Huxtables: obstetrician Cliff and his lawyer wife Claire, their daughters Sondra, Denise, Vanessa and Rudy, and son Theo. Based on the standup comedy of Bill Cosby, the show focused on his observations of family life. Although based on comedy, the series also addresses some more serious topics, such as learning disabilities and teen pregnancy.
- 1984-1992
- 8 seasons
- NBC
- Comedy, Drama
- TV-G
"The Cosby Show" centers on the lives of the Huxtables: obstetrician Cliff and his lawyer wife Claire, their daughters Sondra, Denise, Vanessa and Rudy, and son Theo. Based on the standup comedy of Bill Cosby, the show focused on his observations of family life. Although based on comedy, the series also addresses some more serious topics, such as learning disabilities and teen pregnancy.
Season 3 Episode Guide
25 Episodes 1986 - 1987
Episode 1
Bring 'Em Back Alive
Thu, Sep 25, 1986 22 mins
Rudy sees a snake in the basement. Cliff and Theo cannot capture it, so Clair calls an exterminator. Theo and his friend plan a party with lots of girls attending.
Episode 2
Food for Thought
Thu, Oct 2, 1986 22 mins
Cliff has to go on a diet. Rudy does not want her own room.
Episode 3
Golden Anniversary
Thu, Oct 9, 1986 30 mins
Cliff, Clair, and the children plan an elaborate celebration for Cliff's parents 50th wedding anniversary. The Huxtable's perform a musical number for the parents and take them to a club for music and dancing.
Episode 4
Man Talk
Thu, Oct 16, 1986 30 mins
At school, a classmate starts flirting with Theo. Theo is flattered and interested, but he already has a girlfriend. Rudy wants to have a tea party and since her sisters are busy, she asks Cliff to the tea party.
Episode 5
Mother, May I?
Thu, Oct 23, 1986 21 mins
Vanessa starts wearing makeup without her parents' permission. Clair talks to Vanessa and reminds her she must wait until she's 15. Meanwhile, Theo is taking a fire-safety class at school and quizzes his parents on procedures.
Episode 6
The March
Thu, Oct 30, 1986 22 mins
Theo has to rewrite a school paper on the 1963 March on Washington. Cliff & Clair, and Cliff's parents, who were actually there during the march, tell Theo what really happened and how they experienced it. He gets to really feel the event.
Episode 7
Theo's Flight
Thu, Nov 6, 1986 21 mins
After a member of the Tuskegee Airmen makes a speech at Theo's school, Theo and Cockroach want to take flying lessons. Cliff and Clair agree, but then the reality of lessons and commitment hits Theo and Cockroach. Rudy has a new friend, Kenny.
Episode 8
Vanessa's Rich
Thu, Nov 13, 1986 21 mins
Vanessa mentions to the popular cheerleaders the amount of money her mother paid for an art painting. Vanessa is then accepted on the pep squad and starts being picked on for being rich.
Episode 9
Denise Gets a 'D'
Thu, Nov 20, 1986 30 mins
Clair has a pinched nerve and has to stay in bed. Cliff and the children try to make her day easier by doing chores around the house. At college, Denise gets a D in one of her classes and is afraid to tell her parents.
Episode 10
A Girl and Her Dog
Thu, Dec 4, 1986 21 mins
Cliff's left alone with the kids for a day before they go on a trip out to Washington. A dog follows Rudy home and she has trouble letting go when the dog's owner comes to get it.
Episode 11
War Stories
Thu, Dec 11, 1986 30 mins
Russel and his friends visit Cliff to play pinochle. Cliff's father and his friends reminisce about their days in military service.
Episode 12
Cliff in Charge
Thu, Dec 18, 1986 22 mins
Clair is asked to help plan a celebration that honors the retiring president of Hillman College in Atlanta. While she is gone for ten days, Cliff has to take care of the house and children.
Episode 13
Monster Man Huxtable
Thu, Jan 8, 1987 22 mins
Sondra comes home from college and brings Elvin along with her. Theo is written up in the school paper about his wrestling skills. Elvin helps him learn a few new moves and shares with Theo that he is going to propose marriage to Sondra.
Episode 14
Rudy Spends the Night
Thu, Jan 15, 1987 22 mins
Rudy is spending the night with her grandparents. Denise is going with friends to The Village and invites Vanessa to go with her. Theo is waiting for news to go out with a girlfriend. When that falls through, Cliff creates Mens Night.
Episode 15
Say Hello to a Good Buy
Thu, Jan 22, 1987 22 mins
It's time to replace the family's aging station wagon, and Cliff is given the task of picking out the new car. He takes Theo along, presumably to teach him how to haggle with a car salesman and get a good deal. Their task is a tough one: They're dealing with a very experienced salesman who has plenty of tricks up his sleeve to get people into a car they don't necessarily intend to buy. Cliff is hep to each tactic, forcing the salesman to work to secure a deal. However, the whole plan is nearly undermined when a loud-mouthed customer recognizes Cliff in his everyday clothing (Cliff had dressed this way and hoped to avoid talking about his profession, as he sees that as irrelevant to making a deal on a car). However, Cliff remains focused and eventually, the salesman makes an acceptable offer. A new car isn't the only thing that Cliff has to buy. He might have to replace his encyclopedias after Rudy cuts pictures of animals from them. Rudy, it seems, is doing a report for school and takes Vanessa's advice on illustrating the report. However, she doesn't know where to find suitable pictures until she starts reading the encyclopedias.
Episode 16
Denise Gets an Opinion
Thu, Feb 5, 1987 30 mins
After breaking up with Vanessa, Robert is having girl problems and talks to Cliff about it. Denise is nervous about meeting a blind date and asks Theo to check him out first. When a friend of Cliff's arrives, Theo mistakes him for the date.
Episode 17
Calling Doctor Huxtable
Thu, Feb 12, 1987 21 mins
Cliff goes to the hospital to deliver a baby and finds out three patients are ready to deliver. Theo is in charge at home, and Vanessa has a friend over who smokes a cigarette in Vanessa's room.
Episode 18
You Only Hurt the One You Love
Thu, Feb 19, 1987 21 mins
Theo talks Rudy into playing circus and when he tries to do the tumbling act, accidentally injures her.
Episode 19
The Shower
Thu, Feb 26, 1987 22 mins
Denise gives her friend Veronica a bridal shower. Denise finds out Veronica and her fiancé planned to get pregnant just so they could get married.
Episode 20
Cliff's 50th Birthday
Thu, Mar 12, 1987 21 mins
Cliff is turning 50 years old and the family plans a lot of surprises for him. He finds out all the things that are older than him, get a key chain that works for everyone except him, and has a party with some special friends.
Episode 21
I Know That You Know
Thu, Mar 19, 1987 22 mins
Sondra and Elvin announce their engagement. Since Cliff always says he knows everything that goes on, Clair and the kids decide to play a joke on Cliff about the engagement. He finds out before the joke and turns the tables on the others.
Episode 22
Andalusian Flu
Thu, Apr 2, 1987 21 mins
Both Cliff and Clair are sick in bed with the flu, leaving Theo in charge; Theo orders Vanessa and Rudy around to clean up the house while he takes the credit for it even though he's planning to go out with a girl.
Episode 23
Bald and Beautiful
Thu, Apr 9, 1987 21 mins
Cockroach shaves his head to audition for a music video and tries to convince Theo to shave his head also. Cliff's friend from the Navy visits.
Episode 24
Planning Parenthood
Thu, Apr 30, 1987 21 mins
Cliff takes Rudy & her friends to a fancy restaurant. All dressed up in their best clothes, they go to the restaurant. Chaos ensues despite Cliff's effort to show them elegance. Clair's sister visits and announces she wants to have a baby.
Episode 25
Hillman
Thu, May 7, 1987 21 mins
Cliff, Clair, Theo, Vanessa, and Rudy visit Denise at Hillman College and meet her friends.