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: 12/22/2024Network: CBSStatus: Ended
star
10.00
1 votes

#1 - Loving Madeline

Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/29/1999

The cast presents a heartfelt tribute to Madeline Kahn, with clips highlighting her character Pauline.

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star
9.86
28 votes

#2 - 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
9.83
29 votes

#3 - 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
9.73
30 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
9.33
3 votes

#5 - 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
9.00
1 votes

#6 - 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

#7 - 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

#8 - 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

#9 - 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
Watch Now:Amazon
star
8.67
3 votes

#10 - 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
8.50
4 votes

#11 - 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
8.50
6 votes

#12 - 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
8.50
2 votes

#13 - 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

#14 - 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

#15 - 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
8.40
5 votes

#16 - 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
8.40
5 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
8.33
6 votes

#18 - 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
8.33
3 votes

#19 - Dating Games

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/3/1997

When Ruth's snobbish sister-in law Debra throws an engagement party for her daughter, Hilton and Ruth try to steal some of Debra's thunder. They arrange for Erica to bring a handsome date to the party, but they get some unexpected results. When the night of the big engagement party finally arrives, Erica discovers that the date she chose for Erica, Philip, has turned from the choir boy she knew into a funky rapper. Hilton is surprised to find that Arthur, his candidate, is now a bicycle repairman. But Debra is the most shocked of all when her picture perfect evening has a not-so-perfect ending. Meanwhile, Griffin makes some serious moves on his date, Tammy, a young woman trying to get over a broken heart.

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star
8.33
3 votes

#20 - 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
8.29
7 votes

#21 - The Best Little Antique Shop in Astoria

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/14/1996

The antiques shop where Hilton is working has a secret hiding behind a locked door, and the cops want him to help them in a raid of the premises.

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star
8.25
4 votes

#22 - 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
8.20
5 votes

#23 - One Foot in Your Mouth

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/21/1996

Hilton's lie to avoid going to a stranger's wedding snowballs on him.

Directors: John Whitesell
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star
8.03
30 votes

#24 - Older and Out

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/13/1997

Hilton is overjoyed when he meets new friends Chuck and Larry and joins their "Older and Out" team, since he's also older and he's "out" keeping busy. Ruth discovers that Chuck is gay, and she mistakenly believes that her husband of more than 30 years may have feelings for a man! Blaming herself for letting the spark go out of the marriage, Ruth sets off to win him back before a surprised Hilton discovers the real meaning of "Older and Out."

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star
8.00
4 votes

#25 - Valentine's Day

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/10/1997

On Valentine's Day, Hilton realizes that he has bought Ruth a scarf that she already has, so he lies by telling her that he has tickets to a Jeffrey Osborne concert.

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