The BEST episodes of Cosby

Every episode of Cosby ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Cosby!

Bill Cosby stars as Hilton Lucas, a former airline worker forced into early retirement after a mass layoff. Other characters in this CBS sitcom include Hilton's wife Ruth, his daughter Erica and family friends Griffin and Pauline.

Last Updated: 9/14/2024Network: CBSStatus: Ended
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star
10.00
2 votes

#1 - The Return of the Charlites

Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 4/28/1997

Ruth's high-school friend, now a pop star, visits during a singing tour and gives Ruth the chance to sing with her old group.

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star
9.93
28 votes

#2 - Lucas Raymondicus

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/17/1997

Frank Barone has been telling his son about sinking the winning shot in the 1955 Queens hampionship since the day he was born. So when Frank pleads with Hilton to help him save face with his son by lying for him, Hilton reluctantly agrees. But then Gwendolyn Brooks High plans a ceremony honoring Frank - and he tells the school that Hilton can't come because he's dead - Hilton decides that enough is enough and goes forward to set the record straight.

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star
9.86
28 votes

#3 - Superstar, Part 1

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/17/1999

Griffin has a dream in which teachers are given the same elite status & salary as professional athletes or actors.

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star
9.79
29 votes

#4 - Mud

Season 2 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/2/1998

A plate that Hilton made as a gift for Ruth has been switched for one made by a famous abstract artist. It's worth some $15,000, and now, thanks to Pauline, it's missing.

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star
9.50
2 votes

#5 - That Darn Cat

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/3/1997

A used pregnancy test found in the trash can leads everyone to the wrong conclusion.

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star
9.00
2 votes

#6 - No Nudes is Good Nudes

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/11/1996

The nude model from Hilton's art class causes trouble for Hilton when he must hide her in his bathroom to prevent Ruth from having the wrong idea.

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star
9.00
2 votes

#7 - Hilton's Playland

Season 1 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/12/1997

Hilton has a chance to star in a children's TV show.

Directors: John Whitesell
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star
9.00
1 votes

#8 - Men are from Mars, Women are from Astoria

Season 2 - Episode 21 - Aired 4/27/1998

Erica and her girlfriends, unable to find "Mr. Right," take Ruth's advise about changing their dating habits and set out on "The Great American Manhunt." As the girls despair about their single state, Ruth tries to explain that men are like old cars - you've just got to find one that works, and if you take care of it long enough, eventually it'll be worth something! Taking her advice, the ladies set out in search of the guy least likely to turn into a lemon!

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star
9.00
1 votes

#9 - On the Rocks

Season 2 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/4/1998

When Ruth and Hilton have a major fight they assess the changes in their lives.

Directors: Don Scardino
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star
9.00
1 votes

#10 - Playground Scar

Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/2/1998

After Jurnee expresses her fondness for schoolmate Kevin and he retaliates by shoving her on the school playground, amateur psychologist Hilton explains his theory of how "playground scarring" can affect a woman for life. According to Hilton, when women are unable to trust, unable to commit, their problems can always be traced back to a bad playground experience when they were deeply humiliated by a boy they liked. To this day, Ruth has problems with trust because of a certain Kenneth P. Watson, who purposely teetered when he should have tottered, requiring a young Ruth to get stitches. When it comes to Jurnee, however, Hilton is determined not to have history repeat itself.

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star
9.00
1 votes

#11 - Timerity

Season 3 - Episode 21 - Aired 4/5/1999

Hilton is caught in the middle when his curmudgeonly friend, Tim, stages a rent strike against his landlord.

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star
9.00
1 votes

#12 - The Vesey Method

Season 3 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/3/1999

When Griffin finds himself face to face with the group of tough, unmotivated students, he struggles to find a way to reach them and open their minds to the wonders of learning -- something fellow teacher Mr. Fleming lost enthusiasm for a long time ago. Meanwhile, Hlton's car breaks down and he stumbles into the waiting room of Dr. John Becker.

Directors: Don Scardino
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star
8.75
4 votes

#13 - Social Insecurity

Season 1 - Episode 25 - Aired 5/19/1997

Hilton tries to convince the Social Security Administration that he is not dead.

Directors: John Whitesell
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star
8.67
3 votes

#14 - Natural Born Debtors

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/28/1996

Hilton tries to help Pauline's financially irresponsible goddaughter but ends up the recipient of an overly generous ATM.

Directors: John Whitesell
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star
8.67
3 votes

#15 - My Dinner with Methuselah

Season 1 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/5/1997

Pauline goes on a blind date with a befuddled old gent from the neighborhood.

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star
8.67
3 votes

#16 - Guard Almighty

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/25/1996

Hilton takes a job as a security guard at a fancy apartment building.

Directors: John Whitesell
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star
8.67
3 votes

#17 - The Two Mr. Lucases

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/4/1996

A case of mistaken identity finds Hilton undergoing a colonoscopy that was intended for his cousin Earl.

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star
8.50
2 votes

#18 - Lucas Matriculus

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/26/1998

When Griffin accompanies Hilton to "Grandparents Day" at Jurnee's school and adds his two cents to the science lesson, it quickly becomes apparent that he is a natural at teaching and holding the kids' interest. Who would have thought?? Hilton is thrilled that Griffin has uncovered a talent for this most noble profession, while Erica is more than ticked off when she learns that Griffin achieved a higher GPA than she did in college. At first resistant to the idea of working hard for little pay and loads of responsibility, Griffin is ultimately swept up with the idea of molding the minds of America's young -- heaven help them.

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star
8.50
2 votes

#19 - The Episode Episode

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/9/1998

Hilton is sentenced to a life without pork chops, barbeque ribs and bacon when a doctor's visit reveals a too-high cholesterol count. A mouth-watering meal for Hilton now consists of tofu, steamed broccoli and "not-wurst" imitation hot dogs. New Jersey Nets player Jayson Williams guest stars as Jurnee's teacher, who adds his two-cents on the subject of of Hilton's eating habits.

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star
8.50
2 votes

#20 - Ol' Betsy

Season 3 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/15/1999

While searching for a rare part for his beloved turntable, Hilton bumps into an old friend from his bachelor days, Fred. When Hilton and Fred start reminiscing about how they double-dated sisters Mattie and Roberta Singleton, Hilton decides to play matchmaker and prompts Fred into learning whatever became of Mattie. Even now, years later, Fred can't help wondering what might have happened if they remained a couple.... and, thanks to Hilton, he may finally get a chance to find out.

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star
8.00
2 votes

#21 - Do Not Overheat

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/28/1998

Griffin and Erica work out a financial deal to move into Griffin’s house on a landlord-tenant basis – thus giving Hilton and Ruth back their privacy – only to have Griffin’s house accidentally burn to the ground. Hilton’s visions of spending romantic evenings alone with Ruth are over before they’ve even begun. And, when Erica and Griffin realize that everything destroyed in the fire was either borrowed, rented or on loan, they decide it’s time to grow up and start taking “ownership” of their lives.

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star
8.00
1 votes

#22 - Kids Eat the Darndest Things

Season 4 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/14/2000

Griffin tries to encourage both his students and the Lucases to eat healthier foods.

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star
8.00
1 votes

#23 - The Party's Over

Season 3 - Episode 22 - Aired 4/26/1999

Hilton is stunned when 11-year old Jurnee, left in his care while her father is away, returns from a friend's birthday party drunk. Hilton and Ruth are adamant about finding out who spiked the birthday punch and caused several of the children to awaken to wicked hangovers the following morning. But, Jurnee is not budging for fear that she will be labeled a squealer among her friends. Hilton is determined to make Jurnee understand that protecting the guilty person is sometimes just as bad as being guilty yourself.

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star
8.00
2 votes

#24 - Turkey Day

Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/23/1998

When Hilton offers to make Jurnee's Thanksgiving Day Parade turkey costume from scratch, it comes out to be just that.... a turkey of a costume. So imagine Hilton's joy when the queen of domesticity, Martha Stewart, shows up at the coffee shop bearing the most realistic looking turkey outfit that anyone's ever seen and leaves it behind by mistake. But, when Martha Stewart returns asking if anyone has seen the costume, will Hilton's guilt get the best of him... or will Jurnee be the best-dressed turkey in the parade?

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star
8.00
2 votes

#25 - Now Is the Time, the Walrus Said

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/21/1998

Hilton's new responsibility, looking after 11-year-old Jurnee while her dad is at work, becomes a little too hot to handle when Jurnee asks him a complicated question about the birds and bees. Not wanting to interfere in Jurnee's upbringing, and looking for a way to avoid having to answer himself, Hilton suggests that the curious Jurnee go to her dad for an explanation. No matter how difficult it is for Del to face the fact that Jurnee is growing up (perhaps a bit faster than he had hoped), with coaching from Hilton, he finally appears ready to have ‘the talk.'

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