The Cosby Show: Season 1

1984 · 24 episodes · ★ 7.3

What Season 1 of The Cosby Show

The Huxtable family lives at 10 Stigwood Avenue in Brooklyn. Cliff is an obstetrician and Clair is a lawyer, and together they raise five children: Sondra, Denise, Theo, Vanessa and Rudy. The series follows their daily routine, with the arguments and the efforts to understand each other that come up in any household with so many members. Theo brings home bad grades and insists he has no plans to go to college, so his father uses Monopoly to show him what manual laborers face. Denise introduces a boyfriend who makes Cliff uneasy, and Vanessa insists she's old enough to watch scary movies. The paternal and maternal grandparents also drop by the house to weigh in on school, marriage and parenting.

24episodes

Sep 20, 1984premiered

May 9, 1985latest episode

8.8 hrtotal runtime

Season 1 Episodes

1x01 Pilot / Theo's Economic Lesson
Sep 20, 1984 · 22 min
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.
Directing: Jay Sandrich · Writing: Michael J. Leeson, Ed. Weinberger · Starring: Keith Reddin, Todd Hallowell
1x02 Mr. Fish (a.k.a. Goodbye, Mr. Fish)
Sep 27, 1984 · 22 min
When Rudy's pet fish, Lamont, dies, Cliff tries to bring the family together for a funeral in the bathroom. The festivities end when Rudy gets bored and leaves to watch TV.
Directed by: Jay Sandrich
1x03 Bad Dreams
Oct 4, 1984 · 22 min
Vanessa claims that she is old enough to watch a scary movie, but Cliff still forbids it. Vanessa sneaks out anyway, but ends up having nightmares as a result.
Directed by: Jay Sandrich
1x04 Is That My Boy?
Oct 11, 1984 · 22 min
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.
Directed by: Jay Sandrich
1x05 A Shirt Story
Oct 18, 1984 · 22 min
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. Guest appearance by Kadeem Hardison, who years later would portray Dwayne Wayne on the Cosby Show spinoff, A Different World.
Directed by: Jay Sandrich · Starring: Kadeem Hardison, Sonia Bailey, Cassandra Murray
1x06 Breaking With Tradition
Oct 25, 1984 · 22 min
Cliff's father, Russell, 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 the males outnumber the females there. First appearance of Earle Hyman as Russell Huxtable, Cliff's father.
Directing: Jay Sandrich · Starring: Earle Hyman
1x07 One More Time
Nov 1, 1984 · 22 min
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, 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. First appearance of Ethel Ayler as Carrie Hanks, Clair's mother.
Directed by: Jay Sandrich · Starring: Ethel Ayler, Marilyn Rockafellow
1x08 Play It Again, Vanessa
Nov 8, 1984 · 22 min
Vanessa plays 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. Guest Dizzy Gillespie as Mr. Hampton, Vanessa's music teacher.
Directing: Jay Sandrich · Writing: Jerry Ross · Starring: Dizzy Gillespie
1x09 How Ugly Is He?
Nov 15, 1984 · 22 min
Denise has a new boyfriend, David, but is reluctant to bring him home. She fears that Cliff will, like 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. Kristoff St. John plays boyfriend David.
Directed by: Jay Sandrich · Starring: Kristoff St. John, Jossie DeGuzman
1x10 Bonjour, Sondra
Nov 22, 1984 · 22 min
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.
Directed by: Jay Sandrich · Written by: Jerry Ross · Starring: Sabrina Le Beauf
1x11 You're Not a Mother Night
Dec 6, 1984 · 22 min
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.
Directed by: Jay Sandrich · Starring: Anne Twomey
1x12 Rudy's Sick
Dec 13, 1984 · 22 min
Clair could be named partner at her law firm if an interview goes well-but Rudy is sick! Cliff vows to take care of her while Clair works, and engages in some unique doctoring methods. Clair is named partner and Rudy is fine by the end.
Directed by: Jay Sandrich · Written by: Matt Williams · Starring: Clarke Gordon, Doug Yasuda, Haru Aki
1x13 Father's Day
Dec 20, 1984 · 22 min
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.
Directing: Jay Sandrich · Writing: Elliot Shoenman · Starring: Doris Belack, Tzi Ma, Suzee Pai
1x14 Independence Day
Jan 10, 1985 · 22 min
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.
Directing: Jay Sandrich · Starring: Earle Hyman, Clarice Taylor
1x15 Physician of the Year
Jan 17, 1985 · 22 min
Cliff is set to receive an important award, but a woman goes into labor right before the ceremony. Theo delivers his speech for him. Aleta Mitchell as Mrs. Randall, Elisa de la Roche as Nurse, Sheldon Leonard as Dr. Wexler
Directing: Jay Sandrich · Starring: Sheldon Leonard, Aleta Mitchell, Elisa de La Roche
1x16 Jitterbug Break
Jan 31, 1985 · 22 min
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
Directed by: Jay Sandrich · Written by: Matt Williams · Starring: Judith Jamison, Donald McKayle, Gerard Cooper, Christine Langner
1x17 Theo and the Joint
Feb 7, 1985 · 22 min
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.
Directed by: Jay Sandrich · Starring: Iman, Steven Thompson, Jason Robert Chin
1x18 Vanessa's New Class
Feb 14, 1985 · 22 min
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. First appearance of Pam Potillo as Vanessa's friend Janet Meisner.
Directed by: Jay Sandrich · Written by: Matt Williams, Carmen Finestra · Starring: William Christian, Pam Potillo, Kim Hauser, Audrey Wong
1x19 Clair's Case
Feb 21, 1985 · 22 min
A sneaky mechanic tries to swindle Sondra. It's Clair to the rescue as the two battle in court. David Langston Smyrl as the man in court, Shawn Elliott as Mr. Wilson, Alan North as Judge
Directed by: Jay Sandrich · Written by: Winifred Hervey · Starring: Sabrina Le Beauf, Alan North, David Langston Smyrl, Shawn Elliott
1x20 Back to the Track, Jack
Feb 28, 1985 · 22 min
Cliff's college track coach contacts him and asks to run in a charity event between Hillman and its rival, Norton College. Heathcliff "Combustible Huxtable" trains, but soon learns that he is not the runner he was all those years ago.
Directed by: Jay Sandrich · Starring: Al Freeman Jr., Joshua Culbreath
1x21 The Younger Woman
Mar 14, 1985 · 22 min
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.
Directed by: Jay Sandrich · Starring: Sabrina Le Beauf, Terry Farrell, Robert King
1x22 Slumber Party
Mar 28, 1985 · 22 min
Rudy invites all of her friends over for a slumber party. It's Cliff's 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!
Directed by: Jay Sandrich · Written by: Carmen Finestra · Starring: Peter Costa, Earle Hyman, Alicia Keys, Naoka Nakagawa
1x23 Mr. Quiet
May 2, 1985 · 22 min
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.
Directed by: Jay Sandrich · Starring: Lisa Mordente, Tony Orlando, Angela Bassett, Alexis Cruz
1x24 Cliff's Birthday Season Finale
May 9, 1985 · 22 min
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 trick. Cliff is fooled, and doesn't find about what is birthday surprise is: a visit to Lena Horne's private club. Lena Horne as herself, Clarence Williams III as Clarence Thornehill. In episode 12, Cliff says his birthday is in October.
Directing: Jay Sandrich · Writing: Elliot Shoenman · Starring: Sabrina Le Beauf, Lena Horne, Clarence Williams III