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 5 Episode Guide
25 Episodes 1988 - 1989
Episode 1
Together Again and Again
Thu, Oct 6, 1988 22 mins
Theo is starting college and Denise is to return to Hillman. Cliff and Clair look forward to fewer children at home, but Theo does not have a room at college and has to commute while Denise drops out of college. Sondra announces she is pregnant.
Episode 2
The Physical
Thu, Oct 13, 1988 22 mins
The children tease Cliff about how much he eats as he prepares for his physical in the morning. Denise talks about the celebrities she meets at the record studio. Turns out she is not a great employee and does not really work with them.
Episode 3
Rudy's All-Nighter
Thu, Oct 20, 1988 22 mins
Rudy invites a friend over for a sleep-over party. Clair agrees to make baked apples; Cliff reluctantly agrees to performing a comedy routine. Rudy and her friend start the night with arguing. Theo gets a D grade on his first college paper.
Episode 4
Move It
Thu, Oct 27, 1988 21 mins
Cliff & Clair visit Sondra & Elvin's apartment and are surprised and shocked at the cramped space and state of disrepair. Clair does not want her grandchild to grow up there. Sondra & Elvin agree to borrow money to get a better place.
Episode 5
Out of Brooklyn
Thu, Nov 3, 1988 22 mins
Vanessa is having problems with her boyfriend Roy. Denise announces she quit her job and plans to move to Africa as a photographer's assistant. Despite objections and hardships she will endure, Denise is determined to go.
Episode 6
The Birth
Thu, Nov 10, 1988 60 mins
Sondra starts contractions; Elvin is nervous and Cliff and Clair are anxious.
Episode 7
Cyranoise de Bergington
Thu, Nov 17, 1988 22 mins
Rudy borrows money from Cliff to buy a birthday gift two months in advance for Clair. Theo's friend Howard breaks up with his girlfriend and Theo is interested in asking her out. Theo asks another friend, Denny, to talk to the girl for him.
Episode 8
How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall?
Thu, Nov 24, 1988 30 mins
Vanessa forms the "Lipsticks" singing group; Cliff's dad gets an envelope saying "You are a winner", instead of "You might be a winner".
Episode 9
If the Dress Fits, Wear It
Thu, Dec 8, 1988 21 mins
Clair goes on a crash diet and endures an exhaustive exercise program to lose enough weight to fit into an old dress to wear for an evening out with Cliff.
Episode 10
Is There a Hamster in the House?
Thu, Dec 15, 1988 21 mins
Rudy watches a hamster overnight for a friend but it dies. Feeling bad, Cliff and Rudy buy a replacement hamster. Rudy tells her friend what happened and is surprised how her friend takes the news.
Episode 11
Truth or Consequences
Thu, Jan 5, 1989 21 mins
Vanessa gets caught lying to her parents about staying out past her curfew with her boyfriend, Jeremy.
Episode 12
Cliff Babysits
Thu, Jan 12, 1989 21 mins
Cliff babysits Winnie and Nelson when the rest of the family goes to see a Michael Jackson concert.
Episode 13
Mrs. Huxtable Goes to Kindergarten
Thu, Jan 26, 1989 21 mins
Clair wants to replace the living room couch but Cliff is reluctant to let the old couch go. Also, Clair is invited on a television talk show. However, when she finds out she is only asked her thoughts as a black woman, she leaves the show.
Episode 14
The Lost Weekend
Thu, Feb 2, 1989 21 mins
Everyone has plans for the weekend: Cliff and Clair are traveling to the Poconos, Vanessa is staying with friends, and Rudy is staying with Russell and Anna. That leaves Theo home all alone. Well, not exactly: his buddies, Howard and Denny stop by. When they learn that he's home alone, they convince him to invite a few girls over. The gathering is supposed to be small, but soon spirals way out of control when the girls invite a few friends, then they invite a few friends ... and so on until the house is packed. When Theo sees people making out on his parents' bed, he puts his foot down and kicks everyone out. A huge mess is left behind, and Theo, Howard, and Denny begin to clean up. Everything seems to be repaired, but when Cliff places a briefcase on the coffee table, it falls apart. Theo is left with no alternative but to tell the truth. Cliff is upset at first and wants to take him to an Army recruiter, but (apparently satisfied that Theo is remorseful) he relents and allows him to do community service at the Mission.
Episode 15
No Way, Baby
Mon, Feb 6, 1989 22 mins
One of Cliff's patients is a young, unmarried teenager without other known family. Cliff finds the girl's grandfather so someone can be with her when she delivers. When Clair meets the grandfather, she realizes he cannot read or write.
Episode 16
Can I Say Something, Please?
Thu, Feb 9, 1989 21 mins
Rudy complains to her parents that she doesn't get to do what her friends can and she still has to follow so many rules. So Cliff and Clair allow Rudy to stay up as late as she wants to teach her a lesson.
Episode 17
The Dead End Kids Meet Dr. Lotus
Thu, Feb 16, 1989 30 mins
Theo's former girlfriend, Justine, is starting to date other men and Theo is upset. Theo consults a voodoo shopkeeper for a spell or potion that will help him win her back.
Episode 18
The Boys of Winter
Thu, Feb 23, 1989 21 mins
Theo & his friends meet Cliff's former basketball coach. The Huxtables invite Coach Barry & his wife to their house for dinner. They watch a taped old basketball game together where Cliff misses all his shots & the coach sent him to the bench.
Episode 19
It Comes and It Goes
Thu, Mar 9, 1989 22 mins
Sondra finds it difficult to be a stay-at-home mom with baby twins. When the Tibideaux visit Cliff, Clair and Cliff's parents, Sondra vents with her mother and grandmother who have been there and done that with young children.
Episode 20
Theo's Women
Thu, Mar 16, 1989 22 mins
Theo helps an acting student with her lines then gets caught kissing her by his girlfriend who dumps him on the spot.
Episode 21
Birthday Blues
Thu, Mar 30, 1989 21 mins
On Clair's birthday, Cliff & their kids surprise her with an act.
Episode 22
A Room with No View
Thu, Apr 13, 1989 30 mins
Rudy is constantly bothering her sister Vanessa and they always have a fight but their parents find the perfect way to teach them a lesson.
Episode 23
What He Did for Love
Thu, Apr 27, 1989 21 mins
Theo and his friends go to the cafeteria to impress a girl with a very expensive watch one of them found on the street. Unfortunately it appears that the watch was reported stolen and his friend gets in trouble.
Episode 24
Day of the Locusts
Thu, May 4, 1989 22 mins
Strep throat keeps Sondra from taking care of her babies, but she gets paranoid when Clair and Elvin's mom take the babies with them so she can recover.
Episode 25
57 Varieties
Thu, May 11, 1989 22 mins
Theo asks his parents to give him fifteen hundred dollars for an educational summer trip to Egypt. The Huxtables are not sure about giving him the money so he invites his teacher to the house to talk to his parents.