The Cosby Show: Season 3

1986 · 25 episodes · ★ 8.0

What Season 3 of The Cosby Show

Season 3 kicks off with chaos at the Huxtables' home on Stigwood Avenue, when Rudy finds a snake in the basement. Denise leaves for her first year at Hillman College, and Clair challenges Cliff to go a day without eating anything salty. Theo, who already has a girlfriend, wants to date another girl, while Vanessa secretly wears makeup behind her mother's back. Cliff buys a new car, and Rudy cuts out pictures from his expensive school books. Cliff, an obstetrician, also spends long days at the hospital, and the family tries to get along amid arguments and routines.

25episodes

Sep 25, 1986premiered

May 7, 1987latest episode

9.2 hrtotal runtime

Season 3 Episodes

3x01 Bring 'em Back Alive
Sep 25, 1986 · 22 min
The Huxtable house is thrown into chaos after Rudy finds a snake in the basement.
Directed by: Jay Sandrich · Written by: Matt Williams · Starring: Peter Costa, Carl Anthony Payne II, Leonard Jackson
3x02 Food for Thought
Oct 2, 1986 · 22 min
Clair challenges Cliff to not eat any salty food for the day. Denise leaves for her freshman year at Hillman College.
Directed by: Jay Sandrich
3x03 Golden Anniversary
Oct 9, 1986 · 22 min
Russell and Anna's 50th wedding anniversary. The family performs James Brown's "I Got the Feelin' " in this sequel to Season 2's "Happy Anniversary".
Directing: Jay Sandrich · Writing: Carmen Finestra · Starring: Geoffrey Owens, Earle Hyman, Clarice Taylor
3x04 Man Talk
Oct 16, 1986 · 22 min
Although he has a steady girlfriend, Theo wants to start dating someone else.
Directing: Jay Sandrich · Starring: Carl Anthony Payne II, Tanya Wright, Eddie Castrodad, Alsicia Pringle
3x05 Mother, May I?
Oct 23, 1986 · 22 min
After Clair specifically forbids her from wearing make-up, Vanessa, behind her mother’s back, does it anyways.
Directed by: Jay Sandrich · Starring: Nicole Fort, Michelle Francoeur
3x06 The March
Oct 30, 1986 · 22 min
Theo writes a report on the March on Washington. But gets a poor grade and is asked to redo his project. Much to his surprise, he learns more about the march from his family than he did from books. Meanwhile, Vanessa is worried about asking a boy to the turn-around dance.
Starring: Earle Hyman, Joe Williams, Ethel Ayler, Clarice Taylor
3x07 Theo's Flight
Nov 6, 1986 · 22 min
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.
Starring: Deon Richmond, Carl Anthony Payne II
3x08 Vanessa's Rich
Nov 13, 1986 · 22 min
Friends call Vanessa a stuck-up, rich girl at school.
Starring: Essence Atkins, Ana Monet
3x09 Denise Gets a D
Nov 20, 1986 · 22 min
Denise's college career starts with a D, but Denise is too scared to show her parents. Clair needs to rest in bed because of a pinched nerve.
Directing: Jay Sandrich · Starring: Rosalind Cash
3x10 A Girl and Her Dog
Dec 4, 1986 · 22 min
Rudy and Peter find a dog and attempt to take care of it without her parents knowing.
Directing: Jay Sandrich · Starring: Peter Costa, Mario Mendoza, Rosalinda Perron, Diane Lozada
3x11 War Stories
Dec 11, 1986 · 22 min
Cliff and his father's friends play a challenging game of cards. Vanessa prepares to go to a skating party with a nervous date, Tyrone.
Directed by: Jay Sandrich · Starring: Earle Hyman, Jason Bernard, Bill Gunn, Jason Warwin
3x12 Cliff in Charge
Dec 18, 1986 · 22 min
Cliff is in charge when Clair leaves for 10 days.
Directing: Jay Sandrich · Writing: Matt Williams · Starring: Deon Richmond, Earle Hyman
3x13 Monster Man Huxtable
Jan 8, 1987 · 22 min
Although, Elvin and Sondra have made plans for the weekend, he helps Theo with some wrestling moves. He also reveals that he is thinking of asking Sondra to marry him.
Directed by: Jay Sandrich · Starring: Geoffrey Owens
3x14 Rudy Spends the Night
Jan 15, 1987 · 22 min
Cliff establishes the Huxtable Men's Club, when the women are away, to help Theo recover from his sadness over a lost date. Vanessa is very excited that big sister Denise is letting her go to the Village with Denise's college friends.
Directed by: Jay Sandrich · Written by: Carmen Finestra · Starring: Earle Hyman, Clarice Taylor, Ana D. Zenon, Tracy Allen Clark
3x15 Say Hello to a Good Buy
Jan 22, 1987 · 22 min
Cliff buys a new car. Rudy cuts some animal pictures out of Cliff's expensive books for school.Watched by almost 65 million viewers when it originally aired, "Say Hello to a Good Buy" was the series' highest rated episode.
Written by: Matt Williams, Carmen Finestra · Starring: Sinbad, Gilbert Gottfried
3x16 Denise Gets an Opinion
Feb 5, 1987 · 22 min
Denise has a blind date, but is really scared. So, she asks Theo to grade him for her.
Starring: Don Franklin, Dondré Whitfield, Jason Warwin, Ermundo Russell
3x17 Calling Doctor Huxtable
Feb 12, 1987 · 22 min
Cliff is called to the hospital for 3 deliveries.
Directing: Jay Sandrich · Starring: Lisa Vidal, Malinda Williams, Patricia Richardson, Pam Potillo
3x18 You Only Hurt the One You Love
Feb 19, 1987 · 22 min
Rudy gets hurt from Theo's rough games. Also, Cliff learns that the woman who cleans up the Doctor's Lounge at the hospital (Rita Moreno) has been fired.
Directed by: Jay Sandrich · Written by: Carmen Finestra · Starring: Rita Moreno, Lou Myers, Alvin Lum
3x19 The Shower
Feb 26, 1987 · 22 min
Denise holds a bridal shower for her pregnant, bride-to-be friend, Veronica, but finds out some disturbing information.
Directing: Jay Sandrich · Writing: Matt Williams · Starring: Deon Richmond, Lela Rochon, Carla Brothers, Susan Diol
3x20 Cliff's 50th Birthday
Mar 12, 1987 · 22 min
Cliff's 50th birthday has all kinds of surprises.
Starring: Mel Winkler, Douglas Turner Ward, Carmen De Lavallade, Gates McFadden
3x21 I Know That You Know
Mar 19, 1987 · 22 min
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.
Directing: Jay Sandrich · Writing: Matt Williams, Carmen Finestra · Starring: Geoffrey Owens
3x22 Andalusian Flu
Apr 2, 1987 · 22 min
While Cliff and Clair have the flu, Theo tries to keep the house going.
Directed by: Jay Sandrich · Written by: Janet Leahy · Starring: Lou Myers, David Langston Smyrl, Ana D. Zenon
3x23 Bald and Beautiful
Apr 9, 1987 · 22 min
Cliff's Navy friend comes to visit. Cockroach shaves his head to be in a rock video.
Starring: Carl Anthony Payne II, Ann Reinking, Robert Culp, Ana D. Zenon
3x24 Planning Parenthood
Apr 30, 1987 · 22 min
Clair's sister decides she wants to be a mother. Cliff takes Rudy and her friends out to eat at a fancy restaurant.
Directed by: Jay Sandrich · Written by: Oliver Hailey · Starring: Deon Richmond, Eve Gordon, Lee Weaver, Yvette Erwin
3x25 Hillman Season Finale
May 7, 1987 · 22 min
The Huxtable family goes to Hillman College to attend a ceremony in honor of its president's retirement.
Directed by: Jay Sandrich · Starring: Earle Hyman, Ted Ross, Joe Seneca, Clarice Taylor