The BEST episodes of The Bill Cosby Show season 1

Every episode of The Bill Cosby Show season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Bill Cosby Show season 1!

Bill Cosby plays Chet Kincaid, a physical education teacher at a Los Angeles high school who gets involved in various comedic adventures with his students and fellow teachers.

Last Updated: 4/6/2024Network: NBCStatus: Ended
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Goodbye Cruel World
star
10.00
1 votes

#1 - Goodbye Cruel World

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/8/1970

Wally Cox guest stars in this episode as a shy man lacking in self confidence. With Chet's help, he builds up the nerve to ask a woman out on a date. She rejects him, and he wants to commit suicide. Chet helps to restore the man's confidence and self esteem.

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The Worst Crook That Ever Lived
star
10.00
1 votes

#2 - The Worst Crook That Ever Lived

Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 1/25/1970

Chet is asked to help straighten out Raymond, a youngster who has a penchant for stealing. In an effort to keep Raymond out of trouble, Chet finds a spot for him on his little league baseball team. But Raymond steals the money that Chet had saved up which was intended to buy uniforms for the team. In the end, Raymond realizes what he did was wrong and returns the money to Chet.

Growing Growing Grown
star
9.00
1 votes

#3 - Growing Growing Grown

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/4/1970

Chet is asked to chaperone at a high school dance. Chet's car is not available, he ends up borrowing his brothers garbage truck to drive his date to the dance. At the dance, Chet teaches one student a lesson in the importance of physical appearance.

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Lover's Quarrel
star
8.50
2 votes

#4 - Lover's Quarrel

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/18/1970

Chet tries to get his ever arguing aunt and uncle to stop fighting and treat each other with kindness and respect. Veteran actors Mantan Moreland and Jackie "Moms" Mabley guest star and give classic performances as the bickering old couple.

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Home Remedy
star
8.00
1 votes

#5 - Home Remedy

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 12/28/1969

Chet is home with a cold, and is unable to rest because all his relatives come over offering their cure-alls and remedies.

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The Gumball Incident
star
8.00
2 votes

#6 - The Gumball Incident

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/1/1970

Chet is wrongfully accused and arrested for breaking a gumball machine. Tom Bosley guest stars as Cookie Maharg.

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The Return of Big, Bad, Bubba Bronson
star
7.00
1 votes

#7 - The Return of Big, Bad, Bubba Bronson

Season 1 - Episode 24 - Aired 3/22/1970

Big Bronson, an old high school classmate of Chet's, is coming to town for a visit. Chet recalls having a past dispute with Bronson, and fears revenge. Chet meets ex prize fighter Hurricane Smith, and asks for some boxing lessons to prepare himself for Bronson's arrival. Lou Gossett guest stars as Hurricane Smith, Don Pedro Colley guest stars as Big Bronson.

The Blind Date
star
7.00
2 votes

#8 - The Blind Date

Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 3/1/1970

Chet reluctantly agrees to go on a blind date, and ends up falling in love. Cicely Tyson guest stars as Chet's love interest.

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Driven to Distraction
star
7.00
2 votes

#9 - Driven to Distraction

Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 2/15/1970

Drivers ed instructor Chet tries to teach a nervous student how to drive. Very funny episode.

The Elevator Doesn't Stop Here Anymore
star
7.00
2 votes

#10 - The Elevator Doesn't Stop Here Anymore

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/11/1970

Chet gets stuck inside an elevator at the high school along with one other faculty member and the school's cleaning lady. They entertain each other until help arrives. Henry Fonda and Elsa Lanchester guest star in this episode.

A Christmas Ballad
star
7.00
3 votes

#11 - A Christmas Ballad

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/21/1969

Chet helps a down on his luck old timer capture the spirit of Christmas. Rex Ingram guest stars.

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Let X Equal a Lousy Weekend
star
7.00
1 votes

#12 - Let X Equal a Lousy Weekend

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/26/1969

Chet is asked to be substitute teacher in an algebra class. Chet and the students have a difficult time arriving at the answer for one particular problem involving candy being sold at varying amounts per pound. Chet spends the weekend trying to solve the problem, he even visits a candy store to try and purchase the correct amounts of candy.

Rules is Rules
star
7.00
2 votes

#13 - Rules is Rules

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/12/1969

Chet goes to great lengths to obtain a valve needle which he needs in order to inflate basketballs for his gym class.

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A Girl Named Punkin
star
7.00
1 votes

#14 - A Girl Named Punkin

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/5/1969

Chet does volunteer work for the local community center, a place for underpriviledged children. He is having problems with Punkin, a young girl who is unresponsive and stays to herself. Chet eventually breaks through, and Punkin comes around. A touching scene where Chet tells Punkin a bedtime story and teaches her a lesson in love and caring at the same time is the high point of this episode.

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Brotherly Love
star
6.80
5 votes

#15 - Brotherly Love

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/23/1969

Chet's brother Brian moves in with Chet after having an argument with his wife. Brian spoils Chet's plans for the evening, then hilarity ensues when they attempt to sleep in the same bed together.

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The Best Hook Shot in the World
star
6.50
2 votes

#16 - The Best Hook Shot in the World

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/28/1969

A short but talented youngster with an unusual hook shot is determined to make the Holmes High School basketball team. He makes the team after defeating Chet in a game of one on one. It's the day of the big game, and Chet and the team pin their hopes on the little guy to win the game.

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To Kincaid, with Love
star
6.50
2 votes

#17 - To Kincaid, with Love

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/2/1969

Chet is receiving attention from a female student of the high school. He thinks she has a crush on him, but the girl is actually trying to set Chet up with her mother.

The Killer Instinct
star
6.50
2 votes

#18 - The Killer Instinct

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/9/1969

Chet is having problems with a proud father who insists that his son make the high school football team. Trouble is, the kid just doesn't have what it takes and is not cut out to play football.

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Lullaby and Goodnight
star
6.25
4 votes

#19 - Lullaby and Goodnight

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/21/1969

Chet is having difficulty sleeping as a result of a neighbor's dog's incessant barking.

Going the Route
star
6.25
4 votes

#20 - Going the Route

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/30/1969

Chet's nephew is in bed with a cold. Chet is asked and agrees to substitute for his nephew in the morning paper route.

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How You Play the Game
star
6.00
2 votes

#21 - How You Play the Game

Season 1 - Episode 23 - Aired 3/8/1970

Chet is in the running for the city handball championship. He defeats his semi-final opponent, using psychological tactics. In the final match however, Chet has the tables turned on him and loses the match while being psyched out by his opponent. By losing, Chet teaches a player on the high school football team a lesson in good sportsmanship.

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A Word from Our Sponsor
star
5.67
3 votes

#22 - A Word from Our Sponsor

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/7/1969

Chet does a TV commercial for a morning breakfast cereal, with disastrous results. Classic episode. Gavin McLeod guest stars in this episode, Mike Farrell of M*A*S*H* fame also makes a brief cameo appearance.

The Substitute
star
5.50
2 votes

#23 - The Substitute

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/16/1969

Chet starts dating a substitute teacher from the high school, and has difficulty finding time to spend alone with her.

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The Fatal Phone Call
star
5.43
7 votes

#24 - The Fatal Phone Call

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/14/1969

While out jogging, Chet hears a public telephone ringing and answers it, leading to him getting involved in a dispute between an auto mechanic (Vic Tayback) and his wife and being detained by police in connection with a clothing-store robbery.

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This Mouth is Rated X
star
0.00
0 votes

#25 - This Mouth is Rated X

Season 1 - Episode 25 - Aired 3/29/1970

Chet is having problems with a player on the high school basketball team who uses profane language on the court during games.

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