The Cosby Show

Name: The Cosby Show
Genre: Comedy
Released: September 20, 1984
Cast: Joseph C. Phillips, Erika Alexander, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Lisa Bonet, Bill Cosby

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Universal acclaim based on 4 Ratings

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9.3

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9.3	User Score Universal acclaim based on 4 Ratings

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The Cosby Show

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Series Details & Credits

NBC | Release Date: September 20, 1984

Starring: Joseph C. Phillips, Erika Alexander, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Lisa Bonet, Bill Cosby, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Phylicia Rashad, Tempestt Bledsoe, Raven-Symoné, Sabrina Le Beauf, Geoffrey Owens

Summary: Dr. Heathcliff "Cliff" Huxtable was an OBGYN (obstetrician/gynecologist), and his wife Clair was a successful attorney. They had five children: Sondra, Denise, Theo, Vanessa and Rudy. Sondra was rarely seen during the first season because she was away at Princeton. She became a regular character in the second season, and was usuallyDr. Heathcliff "Cliff" Huxtable was an OBGYN (obstetrician/gynecologist), and his wife Clair was a successful attorney. They had five children: Sondra, Denise, Theo, Vanessa and Rudy. Sondra was rarely seen during the first season because she was away at Princeton. She became a regular character in the second season, and was usually seen with her on-again off-again beau, Elvin. They eventually married and had twins; but not before stunning their families by announcing the fact that Elvin was dropping out of medical school to open a camping store, and Sondra was dropping out of law school to help her husband in his endeavor.

Denise was the "unique" child, the black sheep of the family. She had her own way of doing things, right down to the style of clothing she wore. After graduating high school, she left for Hillman College in 1986 (a year later, this would become the setting for the spin-off A Different World), but returned two years later with news that she was dropping out. She eventually decided to become a photographer's assistant, and left for Africa for a year. When she returned, she had yet another bombshell: she had become a wife and mother while over in Africa. She married a navy man, Martin; who had a child, Olivia, from a previous marriage. During the final season, Denise travelled with Martin as he was stationed in Asia. Olivia stayed behind with Cliff and Clair.

Theo, Vanessa and Rudy were probably the most popular of the five kids, due to the fact that they were seen more often then Sondra and Denise. Most of the stories revolved around the three youngest children. Stories dealt mainly with dating and school life, as well as Cliff's never-ending fear that his children would never leave home. In the final episode, Theo graduated from college. The Cosby Show was for the late '80s what Dallas was for the early eighties. Dallas was the number one show during most of the early eighties; but then situation comedies bumped all prime-time soaps down. The Cosby Show proved to be fierce competition, becoming the number one show from 1985-1990. In fact, in 8 years it never dropped below the top 20. NBC Broadcast History

September 1984-June 1992----Thursdays----8:00 p.m.
July 1992-September 1992----Thursdays----8:30 p.m.

Nielsen Ratings:
(Top 30 or Better)

#3 in the 1984-1985 Season
#1 in the 1985-1986 Season
#1 in the 1986-1987 Season
#1 in the 1987-1988 Season
#1 in the 1988-1989 Season
#1 in the 1989-1990 Season
#5 in the 1990-1991 Season
#18 in the 1991-1992 Season

The most watched Cosby Show episode ever was "Say Hello to a Good Buy" which aired on January 22, 1987. The episode received a 41.3 rating, 56 share, and was seen by 64,980,000 viewers.

Watch The Cosby Show on TBS. Weekdays at 1pm & 1:30pm

The Cosby Show is also being shown in syndication, check local listings.… Expand

Creator: Michael Leeson and Bill Cosby and Ed. Weinberger

Genre(s): Comedy

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Recent Episodes

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S8:E91. Cliff's Wet Adventure or Thanksgiving at the Huxtables
Air Date: February 20, 2017
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S8:E70. Episode 70
Air Date: August 11, 2021
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S8:E27. You're Not a Mother Night
Air Date: December 26, 2016

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Richard Zoglin

Jul 2, 2013

Season 1 Review: The Cosby Show's achievements have been rather wildly overstated. To be sure, at a time when most TV families inhabit a farcical never-never land, the series has much to recommend it. ... But The Cosby Show pales beside such landmark sitcoms of the 1970s as All in the Family and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Those programs forged new territory for TV comedy, in both style and subject matter. The Cosby Show, with its genial wholesomeness, harks back to old times. Read full review

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User Reviews

Kai82

Oct 2, 2022

A truly great show. It is a comedy aka slice of life of the African American Huxtable family. The strengths are the great cast, humor and stories you can relate. It was a huge hit back then and even as kid I liked it a lot. After a bit of thinking I will say the combination of the immersiveA truly great show. It is a comedy aka slice of life of the African American Huxtable family. The strengths are the great cast, humor and stories you can relate. It was a huge hit back then and even as kid I liked it a lot. After a bit of thinking I will say the combination of the immersive characters, interesting stories, humor and that you understand the family issues made it so awesome. Also the actors were well chosen. Bill Cosby, Phylicia Rashed, Lisa Bonet, Keshia Knight Pullham, Malcolm Jamal Warner, Tempsett Bledsoe and all the others were so enjoyable and have good chemistry. All together made it the successful show that it is remembered for. An easy 10/10 but I have to give a nostalgia warning as I am heavily influenced by it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

tsionbenkerrt03

May 21, 2020

Excellent family show that features the lives of an intriguing African American family. Best TV Family, TV Mom and TV Dad of all time.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Seasons & Episodes

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Series Overview
Season 8

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- Season 8 Overview
  Air Date: September 19, 1991
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  S8:E91. Cliff's Wet Adventure or Thanksgiving at the Huxtables
  Air Date: February 20, 2017
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  S8:E70. Episode 70
  Air Date: August 11, 2021
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  S8:E27. You're Not a Mother Night
  Air Date: December 26, 2016
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  S8:E26. The Cosby Show: A Look Back
  Air Date: May 19, 2002
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  S8:E26. Pilot Presentation
  Air Date: December 19, 2016
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  S8:E25. And So We Commence (2)
  Air Date: April 30, 1992
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  S8:E24. And So We Commence (1)
  Air Date: April 30, 1992
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  S8:E23. Some Gifts Aren't Deductible
  Air Date: April 23, 1992
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  S8:E22. You Can't Stop the Music
  Air Date: March 26, 1992
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  S8:E21. Rudy's Retreat
  Air Date: February 27, 1992
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  S8:E20. Clair's Reunion
  Air Date: February 20, 1992
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  S8:E19. Cliff and Theo Come Clean
  Air Date: February 13, 1992
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  S8:E18. Cliff Gets Jilted
  Air Date: February 6, 1992
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  S8:E17. The Getaway
  Air Date: February 6, 1992
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  S8:E16. Eat, Drink and Be Wary
  Air Date: January 30, 1992
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  S8:E15. Bring Me the Lip Gloss of Deirdre Arpelle
  Air Date: January 16, 1992
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  S8:E14. The Price Is Wrong
  Air Date: January 9, 1992
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  S8:E13. Theo's Future
  Air Date: January 2, 1992
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  S8:E12. Clair's Place
  Air Date: December 19, 1991
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  S8:E11. Two Is a Crowd
  Air Date: December 5, 1991
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  S8:E10. Olivia Comes Out of the Closet
  Air Date: November 21, 1991
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  S8:E9. For Men Only
  Air Date: November 14, 1991
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  S8:E8. Olivia's Field Trip
  Air Date: November 7, 1991
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  S8:E7. The Iceman Bricketh
  Air Date: October 31, 1991
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  S8:E6. It's Apparent to Everyone
  Air Date: October 24, 1991
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  S8:E5. Warning: A Double-Lit Candle Can Cause a Meltdown
  Air Date: October 17, 1991
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  S8:E4. Pam Applies to College
  Air Date: October 10, 1991
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  S8:E3. Particles in Motion
  Air Date: October 3, 1991
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  S8:E2. There's No Place Like This Home
  Air Date: September 26, 1991
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  S8:E1. With This Ring?
  Air Date: September 19, 1991
Season 7

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- Season 7 Overview
  Air Date: September 20, 1990
Season 6

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- Season 6 Overview
  Air Date: September 21, 1989
Season 5

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- Season 5 Overview
  Air Date: October 6, 1988
Season 4

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- Season 4 Overview
  Air Date: September 24, 1987
Season 3

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- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: September 25, 1986
Season 2

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- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: September 26, 1985
Season 1

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- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: September 20, 1984