The BEST episodes of The Cosby Show season 3
Every episode of The Cosby Show season 3, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Cosby Show season 3!
Dr. Heathcliff "Cliff" Huxtable was an OBGYN (obstetrician/gynecologist), and his wife Clair was a successful attorney. They had five children: Sondra, Denise, Theo, Vanessa and Rudy. Sondra was rarely seen during the first season because she was away at Princeton. She became a regular character in the second season, and was usually seen with her on-again off-again beau, Elvin. They eventually married and had twins; but not before stunning their families by announcing the fact that Elvin was dropping out of medical school to open a camping store, and Sondra was dropping out of law school to help her husband in his endeavor. Denise was the "unique" child, the black sheep of the family. She had her own way of doing things, right down to the style of clothing she wore. After graduating high school, she left for Hillman College in 1986 (a year later, this would become the setting for the spin-off A Different World), but returned two years later with news that she was dropping ou
#1 - Say Hello to a Good Buy
Season 3 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/22/1987
Cliff buys a new car. Rudy cuts some animal pictures out of Cliff's expensive books for school. Guest appearance by Sinbad, who would later portray Walter Oakes on the Cosby Show spinoff, A Different World. Watched by almost 65 million viewers when it originally aired, "Say Hello to a Good Buy" was the series' highest rated episode.
#2 - I Know That You Know
Season 3 - Episode 21 - Aired 3/19/1987
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. Geoffrey Owens as Elvin.
Watch Now:Amazon
#3 - Planning Parenthood
Season 3 - Episode 24 - Aired 4/30/1987
Clair's sister decides she wants to be a mother. Cliff takes Rudy and her friends out to eat at a fancy restaurant.
#4 - Rudy Spends the Night
Season 3 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/15/1987
Cliff establishes the Huxtable Men's Club when the women are away to help Theo get over his sadnes of a lost date. Venessa is very excited that big sister Denise is letting her go to the Village with Denise's college friends.
#5 - Food for Thought
Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/2/1986
Clair challenges Cliff to not eat any salty food for the day. Denise leaves for her freshman year at Hillman College.
#7 - Golden Anniversary
Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/9/1986
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". Earle Hyman as Russell. Clarice Taylor as Anna. Geoffrey Owens as Elvin. Appearance by Frank Foster and the Count Basie Orchestra. First mention of Rudy's desire to have a husband named "Bud" when she grows up.
#8 - Andalusian Flu
Season 3 - Episode 22 - Aired 4/2/1987
While Cliff and Clair have the flu, Theo tries to keep the house going.
#9 - Cliff's 50th Birthday
Season 3 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/12/1987
Cliff's 50th birthday has all kinds of surprises.
#10 - War Stories
Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/11/1986
Cliff and his father's friend play a challenging game of cards. Venesa prepares to go to a skating party with date Robert Forman, soon find a very cute guy will cross her path Earle Hyman as Russell.
#11 - Bring 'em Back Alive
Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/25/1986
The Huxtable house is thrown into chaos after Rudy finds a snake in the basement. Carl Anthony Payne II as Cockroach. Peter Costa as Peter.
#12 - Vanessa's Rich
Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/13/1986
Friends call Vanessa a stuck-up rich girl at school. Guest appearance by Essence Atkins.
#13 - Theo's Flight
Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/6/1986
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. Carl Anthony Payne II as Cockroach. First appearance of Deon Richmond as Kenny, a.k.a. "Bud".
#14 - Man Talk
Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/16/1986
Although he has a steady girlfriend, Theo wants to start dating someone else. Carl Anthony Payne II as Cockroach.
#15 - Cliff in Charge
Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/18/1986
Cliff is in charge when Clair leaves for 10 days.
#16 - The March
Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/30/1986
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. Earle Hyman as Russell. Clarice Taylor as Anna. Joe Williams as Al Hanks. Ethel Ayler as Carrie Hanks.
#17 - Mother, May I?
Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/23/1986
After Clair specifically forbids her from wearing make-up, Vanessa, behind her mother's back, does it anyway.
#18 - A Girl and Her Dog
Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/4/1986
Rudy and Peter find a dog and attempt to take care of it without her parents knowing. Peter Costa as Peter.
#19 - Denise Gets an Opinion
Season 3 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/5/1987
Denise has a blind date, but is really scared. So she asks Theo to grade him for her!!!! But this soon leads to a big hilarious mix up. Dondre Whitfield as Robert. Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf as Sondra Huxtable.
#20 - Bald and Beautiful
Season 3 - Episode 23 - Aired 4/9/1987
Cliff's Navy friend comes to visit. Cockroach shaves his head to be in a rock video. Robert Culp (Bill Cosby's co-star from the 1960s TV series I Spy) appears as Scott Kelly.
#21 - Denise Gets a 'D'
Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/20/1986
Denise's college career starts with a D, but Denise is to scared to show her parents. Clair needs to rest in bed because of a pinched nerve. Rudy portrays "the wind" in a school play. Rosalind Cash as Dr. Hughes (The episode is preceded by a 30-second anti-drug public service announcement featuring Bill Cosby).
#22 - Calling Doctor Huxtable
Season 3 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/12/1987
Cliff is called to the hospital for 3 deliveries, Malinda Williams appearance, Patricia Richardson appearance.
#23 - You Only Hurt the One You Love
Season 3 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/19/1987
Rudy gets hurt from Theo's rough games. Rudy cries. Theo gets punished. Clair goes to a doctor and gets the same advice that Cliff gave her. Cliff learns that the woman who cleans up the Doctor's Lounge at the hospital (Rita Moreno) has been fired. Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf as Sondra Huxtable and Lisa Bonet as Denise Huxtable.
#24 - The Shower
Season 3 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/26/1987
Denise holds a bridal shower for her pregnant and bride-to-be friend Veronica, but finds out some disturbing information. Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf as Sondra Huxtable, although mentioned.
#25 - Hillman
Season 3 - Episode 25 - Aired 5/7/1987
The Huxtable family goes to Hillman College to attend a ceremony in honor of its president's retirement. Guest appearance by Joe Seneca. Filmed at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. The episode serves as a backdoor pilot for the spinoff series A Different World, which premieres in the fall of 1987.