The Cosby Show Episode Rating Graph

After Theo claims that he'll have no problem making it in the "real world", the Huxtables convert their house in the "Real World Apartments" and teach him a lesson about the real world; i.e., needing employment and references to get an apartment, income to get a bank loan, having to pay for his meals, etc. Carl Anthony Payne II as Cockroach.

Cliff, Elvin and Martin secretly compete to determine who is the most romantic husband in the Huxtable family.

Cliff's 50th birthday has all kinds of surprises.

Clair discovers a marijuana joint in one of Theo's school books. She and Cliff confront him about it, and accept his explanation—another boy slipped it in. Theo confronts the boy and brings him home to confess in order to remove any uncertainty from his parents about his telling the truth. Theo and the boy actually start to become friends. Stephen Thompson as Anthony Braxton, Iman as Mrs. Montgomery. Rudy says her full name in this episode, Rudith Lillian Huxtable.

Martin's parents (Olivia's grandparents) come for a visit. Actor Moses Gunn and jazz singer Nancy Wilson guest star as Martin's parents.

When Sondra and Elvin announce their engagement, Clair and the children use the news to play a practical joke on Cliff, who launches a counter-offensive of his own. Geoffrey Owens as Elvin.

Denise wants to buy a car. She plans to use her savings to do so, but Cliff and Clair quickly point out flaws in her plan. The answer to everyone's problems comes from friend Mr. Lucas, who has an old car he is willing to sell. Denise proves herself a good driver, and the car is hers. David Langston Smyrl as Mr. Lucas.

The newlywed Sondra and Elvin return from their honeymoon with shocking news for Cliff and Clair: they want to abandon their dreams of being a lawyer and doctor and open an outdoorsman's "wilderness store." Geoffrey Owens (Elvin) becoms a regular cast member.

Sondra breaks up with her boyfriend Elvin and is depressed, taking it out on the family. Cliff and Clair aren't exactly unhappy; they find Elvin rather annoying. Later, he appears at the house with flowers and tries to apologize. While there, he offers some of his sexist rhetoric to Clair, who quickly becomes annoyed. First appearance of Geoffrey Owens as Elvin. Joseph C. Phillips appears as Daryl (Phillips joins the cast in Season 6 as Denise's new husband, Navy Lt. Martin Kendall)

Theo's math teacher comes for dinner, to Theo's extreme consternation. He thinks she plans to tell his parents of a bad grade on a math test. To his surprise, Mrs. Westlake comes to dinner looking young, attractive, and even with a sense of humor; and she has a very good surprise! Mrs. Westlake also gives Theo his test-he actually gets an 89, and he proceeds to embrace her, much to his shock. Sonia Braga as Mrs. Westlake.

Cliff tries to win a classic jazz record at an auction, while filling in for Denise as volunteer parent at Olivia's preschool. Sullivan Walker as Dr. James Harmon.

For Russell and Anna's 49th wedding anniversary, the family commissions a portrait of the couple as newlyweds, and offers them a cruise to Europe. Later in the evening, the whole family performs Ray Charles' "Night Time Is the Right Time", with Theo, Rudy and Cliff each lip-synching a solo. Earle Hyman as Russell. Clarice Taylor as Anna.

Theo and Cockroach come home unusually late from a track meet, and the Huxtables got a phone message earlier from the track coach. They both deny anything out of the ordinary happened, but attorney Clair knows better. A mock trial is held for Theo and Cockroach at the Huxtables' for Clair to get to the bottom of the situation.

When friend Suzanne accompanies Denise to observe the Huxtables' normal behavior, a smitten Theo behaves far from normally. Robin Givens as Suzanne. Blair Underwood as Mark.

When the Huxtable men go fishing, Theo catches a dead body, and soon attracts attention from the media. This success goes to his head, while Rudy and Kenny find a nest of baby birds, but the mother bird is missing. The two stories eventually cross in a surprising-and rather humiliating-lesson for Theo. Deon Richmond as Kenny.

Theo, Denny and Smitty go to great lengths to impress their dates for the senior prom but fail disastrously; Cliff and Clair relive their own prom. Troy Winbush as Denny. Adam Sandler as Smitty. First appearance of Michelle Thomas as Justine. Phylicia Rashād appears on the episode of A Different World which airs later that evening.

Cliff and his father's friend play a challenging game of cards. Venesa prepares to go to a skating party with date Robert Forman, soon find a very cute guy will cross her path Earle Hyman as Russell.

Rudy and Peter find a dog and attempt to take care of it without her parents knowing. Peter Costa as Peter.

Denise and Olivia babysit Winnie and Nelson (Sondra and Elvin's twins).

Cliff establishes the Huxtable Men's Club when the women are away to help Theo get over his sadnes of a lost date. Venessa is very excited that big sister Denise is letting her go to the Village with Denise's college friends.

Denise's college career starts with a D, but Denise is to scared to show her parents. Clair needs to rest in bed because of a pinched nerve. Rudy portrays "the wind" in a school play. Rosalind Cash as Dr. Hughes (The episode is preceded by a 30-second anti-drug public service announcement featuring Bill Cosby).

Theo is diagnosed with dyslexia, a learning disability which contributed to the academic problems he has had over the years. Michelle Thomas as Justine.

Clair bids on a painting by her great-uncle that her grandmother had once owned. Attempting to win her favor, Elvin tries to bake her a cake but fails miserably; he then gets advice from Cliff on how to pass himself off as a good cook. In real life, the painting used in the episode is Funeral Procession by Ellis Wilson.

Theo continues his attempts to help Stanley and the other children at the community center.

Clair's sister decides she wants to be a mother. Cliff takes Rudy and her friends out to eat at a fancy restaurant.

Rudy lies to cover for Vanessa, who secretly goes out on a date with her older boyfriend.

Sondra, the eldest Huxtable child makes her first appearance when she visits home for Thanksgiving. She plans on going to Paris for the summer, and hopes that her parents will support the decision.

Vanessa's grandparents Russell Huxtable and Carrie Hanks are desperate to meet her fiancé Dabnis, who bonds with Cliff over a plumbing job.

Vanessa steals a sweater from Denise. The two soon begin to fight. In the end, Rudy's choice of television viewing, the "I Have A Dream" speech, reminds the whole family of what a real problem is. Excerpt from Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech featured at the end of the episode (Originally aired four days before the first observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a U.S. federal holiday).

After his limo collides with Denise's car, Stevie Wonder (appearing as himself) invites the Huxtables to a recording session. Wonder performs "I Just Called to Say I Love You" with Clair and the family. Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf as Sondra Huxtable.

During his first parent-counselor meeting, Theo and a single mother discover mutual attraction. Rudy meets Stanley and the two are immediately smitten with each other, much to the chagrin of a jealous Kenny.

Theo gets his ear pierced to impress a girl, but Denise thinks it might be infected. She is correct, and Theo must go to Cliff. Cliff hopes that Grandpa Huxtable will punish Theo, but the old man instead relates the story of how Cliff tried to slick back his hair to impress Clair, but ended up burning it off! Russell brags, and Anna reminds him of the time that he had a tattoo of her name placed on his chest, but ended up with a huge scar on his chest when he tried to remove it after Anna found out he was actually trying to impress another girl! First appearance of Clarice Taylor as Anna Huxtable, Cliff's mother.

Theo prepares to graduate from New York University. An elated Cliff continues to invite additional people to the ceremony, despite the fact that Theo only has a limited number of tickets. As Theo graduates from NYU, Cliff remembers how a 14 year old Theo received D's in 9th grade and had no desire to attend college at all. Denise telephones and reveals that she is pregnant. Olivia leaves to join Denise and Martin in Singapore.

Rudy steals money from Clair to buy a sweatshirt (Rudy and her friend Kim do the Electric Slide). Deon Richmond as Kenny.

Sondra comes down with strep throat, prompting her mother Clair and Elvin's mother Francine to "steal" the babies.

Denise asks Cliff to talk to her friend, who has a medical problem. Cliff diagnoses the girl as having a mild bladder infection, but learns that she was wary of telling her parents without certainty. Cliff and Clair decide to show the kids that they can tell them anything, but the children quickly point out that their parents will just get angry. Cliff admits that anger is part of problems, but tells the children that no matter what, they will be loved.

Friends call Vanessa a stuck-up rich girl at school. Guest appearance by Essence Atkins.

Winnie and Nelson drive Cliff and Clair crazy around the house while Elvin and Sondra wait to move into their new house.

Cliff and Clair have a marital argument after Theo gets detained by police for riding in a car with an unlicensed driver.

Theo and his friend Cockroach scheme to pass a test on William Shakespeare's "Macbeth", which neither one has read.

Clair's sister Sarah gets engaged. First appearance of Joe Williams as Clair's father Al Hanks. Ethel Ayler as Carrie Hanks. Mario Van Peebles as Garvin.

Theo and Cockroach decide they want to learn to fly, but Cliff doesn't want to waste his money on another dream of his son's. Carl Anthony Payne II as Cockroach. First appearance of Deon Richmond as Kenny, a.k.a. "Bud".

Cliff and Clair are overjoyed with the arrivial of the new school year, as their children are finally out of the house.

Rudy and one of her classmates have a crush on each other, but peer pressure could ruin things. Guest appearance by Elaine Stritch.

Denise returns from Africa, with a new husband and stepdaughter in tow. Joseph C. Phillips and Raven-Symoné join the cast as Martin and Olivia Kendall. Last appearance of Peter Costa as Peter.

Everyone wants pregnant Sondra and Elvin to find a new house. Elvin's surname, Tibideaux, is revealed.

Cliff tries to impress Denise's friends by teaching them how to jitterbug. Some of Clair's friends also show off their dance moves. Soon, the whole house is full of dancers. Blair Underwood as Denise's boyfriend (uncredited), Judith Jamison as Marie, Donald McKayle as Ralph, Gerard Cooper as Guy, Christine Langner as Girl

Clair is furious when Theo brings home a report card with 4 D's. He tells Cliff 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 latest beau, a former merchant marine who once spent time in a Turkish prison.

Cliff tracks down the grandfather of one of his patients: an expectant teenage mother with no other family. Clair deduces that the charming man is illiterate.

Cliff is called to the hospital for 3 deliveries, Malinda Williams appearance, Patricia Richardson appearance.

Cliff announces plans to add a new room to the house for Clair ... and only Clair. Sondra and Elvin are on the verge of purchasing their first house.

Vanessa and Dabnis have relationship problems, as do Rudy and Stanley.

After recreating one of Cliff's stories, Theo and his roommates are kicked out of their apartment. First appearance of Keith Diamond as Danny. Guest appearance by Anthony Quinn.

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.

Cliff is in charge when Clair leaves for 10 days.

Rudy goes to an older widowed lady's house each afternoon to have tea and play cards, but notices that she refuses to take her daily medication for diabetes. She tells Cliff, who devises a plan to try to convince her that she needs the meds to live. Eileen Heckart appearance. Keshia Knight Pulliam appears on the episode of A Different World which airs later that evening.

Rudy gets hurt from Theo's rough games. Rudy cries. Theo gets punished. Clair goes to a doctor and gets the same advice that Cliff gave her. Cliff learns that the woman who cleans up the Doctor's Lounge at the hospital (Rita Moreno) has been fired. Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf as Sondra Huxtable and Lisa Bonet as Denise Huxtable.

Theo is accepted to graduate school at NYU, but faces a tough decision when he is unexpectedly offered a chance to interview for a corporate job in San Francisco.

Rudy plays football and becomes a star, much to the chagrin of Clair, who worries she'll get hurt. But reluctance turns to excitement when Rudy is the star of her first game. Ethel Ayler as Carrie Hanks. Peter Costa as Peter.

Guest appearance by The Muppets (Performed by Jerry Nelson, Dave Goelz, Richard Hunt, and Kevin Clash.) Voice-over by Wallace Shawn.

Pam's grades have improved, but she worries that she will not be able to afford college.

Rudy writes a fairy tale, and the colorful story is acted out in her fantasy. Members of the family play the roles of a village full of happy people and a mean group that ruins their fun. At the end of the episode, Rudy declares that when she becomes "president of the world", she will put a stop to all mean people. Cliff and Clair proceed to watch news reports of weapons' testing and bombings, and urge her to "hurry, because we need you right now." Earle Hyman as Russell.

Theo decides to turn down the corporate job in San Francisco and attend graduate school in New York. One of the students at the community center finds $600.

Clair enters menopause. She takes the news fine, but the kids treat her as if she's losing her mind.

Clair and her college friends plan a retirement party for one of their former professors from Hillman. Vanessa brings home a Senegalese exchange student.

Theo will make the dean's list if he gets an A on his final, but a beautiful exchange student planning to leave the next day for Barbados distracts him. Vanessa A. Williams appears (now portraying Cheryl).

The Huxtable family goes to Hillman College to attend a ceremony in honor of its president's retirement. Guest appearance by Joe Seneca. Filmed at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. The episode serves as a backdoor pilot for the spinoff series A Different World, which premieres in the fall of 1987.

Rudy takes care of a friend's hamster for the weekend.

Olivia tries to delay Martin's return to Asia.

Cliff and Clair go to a local radio station for a live salsa performance. Kenny babysits Olivia.

Cliff dreams that men worldwide have become pregnant -- including his son Theo, his sons-in-law Elvin and Martin, and himself. Voice-over by NBC News correspondent John Palmer.

Rudy begs Martin to let her babysit Olivia. Cliff and Dr. Harmon enter a pinochle tournament as partners ... and so do their wives.

Rudy's friend sleeps over.

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.

The husband of one of Cliff's patients worries that he will be a poor father because he has no athletic ability. After Pam breaks up with Slide, she and the class brain are attracted to each other.

Theo visits a friend in the hospital who has cancer. Troy Winbush as Denny. Adam Sandler as Smitty. Special appearance by Armand Hammer.

When Olivia comes down with a cold, everyone (except Cliff) has a different home remedy to offer as a cure. Russell and Anna celebrate another wedding anniversary. Cliff, Rudy and Olivia perform Koko Taylor's "I'm A Woman".

Rudy wants to change some of her rules.

Theo's friend Denny finds an expensive watch and gives it to his girlfriend, but it is soon revealed to be stolen merchandise.

In a charity run, Cliff races at the Penn Relays with "Tailwind" Turner and -- as apparent payback for the race a year prior -- ends up having to run the final leg against Olympic gold medalist Valerie Brisco-Hooks. Josh Culbreath as Col. Sanford "Tailwind" Turner. Valerie Brisco-Hooks appears as herself. Cameo appearance by Bill Cosby's real wife, Camille Cosby (uncredited).

Sondra, Elvin, and the twins finally move into their own house in New Jersey.

Pam begins to realize that, because of her below average grades earlier in high school, she will not be able to attend the same college as her best friend.

After much deliberation, Denise chooses the college that she will attend in the fall. Earle Hyman as Russell. Clarice Taylor as Anna.

Cliff and Clair see Rudy changing. While preparing their wills, Sondra and Elvin try to determine who should be the twins' legal guardian if the couple should both die. Charmaine and Lance prepare to visit Hillman College.

Anxious to see a famous rapper, Rudy and her friends lie to their parents in order to get into a club for 16 year olds and up. Cliff and Clair secretly send Pam, Lance and Charmaine to keep an eye on them.

Vanessa tries out for the drum major at school. Theo playfully mocks her efforts, but learns from friends that Vanessa is the target of sexism and intervenes on her behalf. Meanwhile, Cliff cooks up a batch of extremely spicy chili as Russell tries to pay off a loan from an old friend. Deon Richmond as Kenny. Troy Winbush as Denny. Guest appearance by Dub Taylor.

Clair is burned out from work and family pressures and hurries off to the woods.

Clair tries to prevent Cliff from buying a new appliance from his friend Jake.

After an exhausting midnight shift at the hospital and a night's sleep, all Cliff wants is to read his paper in peace - but the children have taken over every room in the house. Classic scene: Denise's boyfriend sings reggae in front of the living room TV.

Under pressure from her boyfriend to become sexually active, Pam considers using birth control.

Denise causes trouble while trying to help Vanessa get a date.

Cliff's old basketball friend comes to visit.

Christopher Plummer and Roscoe Lee Browne appear. Theo must read Julius Caesar for school, but complains that it is boring. Russel and his friends read scenes from the play aloud, and Theo is enthralled. Later, the men read from a different work of literature-a story Rudy wrote!

Rudy and Kenny do a video project.

Denise takes classes locally at Medgar Evers College, while Vanessa enrolls at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. Rudy starts sixth grade. Olivia starts preschool.

Cliff, Clair, and the Huxtable clan volunteer at a local community center. There, a battered boy tries to find help, and the owner—Tony Castillo—does his best to lend assistance.

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.

Olivia's 4th birthday.

"Gram Tee", Cliff's 98 year old great aunt, comes to visit the family.

The Huxtables' nerdy neighbor (Wallace Shawn) reinvents himself after a divorce.

Rudy is forced to take tap dancing lessons for a school project. Cliff is presented with a "challenge" he cannot resist. Guest appearances by Howard "Sandman" Sims and Elaine Stritch.

Clair appears as a panelist on a local Sunday morning talk show entitled "Retrospective". Clair buys a new couch and Cliff tries to keep the old one. Clair's law firm is identified as Greentree, Bradley & Dexter.

Theo wants to go to Egypt for an archaeological dig.

Theo thinks about proposing to Justine. Kenny, who was "born to sing the blues," gets the chance to sing with a legendary blues singer/guitarist. Deon Richmond as Kenny. Michelle Thomas as Justine. Guest appearance by B.B. King

Theo's friend Denny thinks his girlfriend is cheating on him.

Cliff teaches a class "for men only" at the community center.

Elvin takes two female college friends to dinner to reminisce and Sondra becomes very upset.

Denise leaves Brooklyn for a job in Africa.

Vanessa and Dabnis announce that they have broken their engagement ... and would-be father-in-law Cliff is devastated.

Cliff and Clair receive a visit from an old friend—and he has a new girlfriend that is half his age. They are initially suspicious, but learn that judging by appearances isn't always right.

To celebrate his 27th wedding anniversary with Clair, Cliff recreates the Callaloo Pot, a Caribbean restaurant where the couple dined on their honeymoon.

Rudy has a nightmare about Olivia always getting her way.

Denise wants to become a teacher . . . without finishing college. Guest appearance by Max Roach.

Elvin and Sondra help friends move during a football game.

Theo and Vanessa lose track of Rudy in a mall while Clair enters a squash exhibition. Earle Hyman (Russell) appears on the episode of A Different World which airs later that evening.

Cliff babysits Winnie and Nelson when the rest of the family goes to see a Michael Jackson concert.

Seeking privacy, Denise and Martin decide to look for their own apartment.

Cliff and a friend play pétanque. First appearance of Sullivan Walker as Dr. James Harmon.