The BEST episodes of The Cosby Show season 5

Every episode of The Cosby Show season 5, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Cosby Show season 5!

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

Last Updated: 4/12/2024Network: NBCStatus: Ended
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Day of the Locusts
star
8.40
147 votes

#1 - Day of the Locusts

Season 5 - Episode 25 - Aired 5/4/1989

Sondra comes down with strep throat, prompting her mother Clair and Elvin's mother Francine to "steal" the babies.

Directors: Chuck Vinson
Watch Now:Amazon
No Way, Baby
star
7.99
143 votes

#2 - No Way, Baby

Season 5 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/6/1989

Cliff tracks down the grandfather of one of his patients: an expectant teenage mother with no other family. Clair deduces that the charming man is illiterate. Guest appearance by Sammy Davis, Jr.

Directors: Tony Singletary
Watch Now:Amazon
Birthday Blues
star
7.96
150 votes

#3 - Birthday Blues

Season 5 - Episode 22 - Aired 3/30/1989

Clair's 46th birthday.

Directors: Jay Sandrich
Watch Now:Amazon
Cliff Babysits
star
7.86
236 votes

#4 - Cliff Babysits

Season 5 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/12/1989

While the family attends a Michael Jackson concert, Cliff babysits his grandchildren Nelson and Winnie. First mention of Cliff's younger brother James, who died of rheumatic fever as a child (Bill Cosby's actual brother James died of the same illness at the age of six).

Directors: Tony Singletary
Watch Now:Amazon
Together Again and Again
star
7.82
192 votes

#5 - Together Again and Again

Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/6/1988

As Theo begins his freshman year at New York University, Denise announces that she is dropping out of Hillman College. Sondra is revealed to be pregnant. First mention of Cliff's theory that the children keep returning home because "they want the house."

Watch Now:Amazon
The Birth (1)
star
7.64
182 votes

#6 - The Birth (1)

Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/10/1988

Sondra goes into labor, and Elvin is a nervous wreck. Deon Richmond as Kenny. Michelle Thomas as Justine. First appearances of Reno Wilson as Howard, and Elizabeth Narvaez as Kara. Guest appearance by Naomi Campbell.

Directors: Tony Singletary
Watch Now:Amazon
The Physical
star
7.62
256 votes

#7 - The Physical

Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/13/1988

Cliff prepares for a physical. John Amos as Dr. Bradley Herbert, Jr.

Directors: Jay Sandrich
Watch Now:Amazon
The Lost Weekend
star
7.56
206 votes

#8 - The Lost Weekend

Season 5 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/2/1989

With the rest of the family gone for the night, Theo throws a "small" party that gets out of control. Troy Winbush as Denny. Reno Wilson as Howard. First appearance of Alex Ruiz as Lou. Cameo appearance by Joie Lee. Phylicia Rashād (Clair), Malcolm-Jamal Warner (Theo), Tempestt Bledsoe (Vanessa), and Elizabeth Narvaez (Kara) appear on the episode of A Different World which airs later that evening.

Directors: Tony Singletary
Watch Now:Amazon
Theo's Women
star
7.54
147 votes

#9 - Theo's Women

Season 5 - Episode 21 - Aired 3/16/1989

After catching Theo kissing another woman in the lounge of her dormitory, Justine breaks up with him. Desperate to win her back, Theo turns to Cliff for advice. Michelle Thomas as Justine. First appearance of Vanessa A. Williams as Jade.

Directors: Tony Singletary
Move It
star
7.52
178 votes

#10 - Move It

Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/27/1988

Everyone wants pregnant Sondra and Elvin to find a new house. Elvin's surname, Tibideaux, is revealed.

Directors: Tony Singletary
The Birth (2)
star
7.51
136 votes

#11 - The Birth (2)

Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/10/1988

Sondra gives birth to twins—a boy and a girl—who are named after Nelson Mandela and his then-wife Winnie. Elvin decides to return to medical school.

Directors: Tony Singletary
Cyranoise de Bergington
star
7.49
179 votes

#12 - Cyranoise de Bergington

Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/17/1988

Theo wants to date his friend Howard's ex-girlfriend, but he is stunned upon learning who she wants to date. Troy Winbush as Denny. Reno Wilson as Howard.

It Comes and It Goes
star
7.39
147 votes

#13 - It Comes and It Goes

Season 5 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/9/1989

Sondra bemoans taking care of the twins.

Directors: Jay Sandrich
A Room With No View
star
7.36
145 votes

#14 - A Room With No View

Season 5 - Episode 23 - Aired 4/13/1989

Vanessa and Rudy argue and fight. After the sisters do physical damage to the house, Cliff exiles them to the basement.

Truth or Consequences
star
7.36
210 votes

#15 - Truth or Consequences

Season 5 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/5/1989

Rudy lies to cover for Vanessa, who secretly goes out on a date with her older boyfriend.

Directors: Tony Singletary
Out of Brooklyn
star
7.36
154 votes

#16 - Out of Brooklyn

Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/3/1988

Denise leaves Brooklyn for a job in Africa (Lisa Bonet's last appearance of Season 5).

Directors: Tony Singletary
If the Dress Fits, Wear It
star
7.30
183 votes

#17 - If the Dress Fits, Wear It

Season 5 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/8/1988

Clair secretly goes on a crash diet and exercise program to lose five pounds in a week so she can fit into a dress. Appearance by Debbie Allen; voice-over by Ahmad Rashād (Phylicia Rashād's sister and husband).

Directors: Jay Sandrich
The Dead End Kids Meet Dr. Lotus
star
7.20
147 votes

#18 - The Dead End Kids Meet Dr. Lotus

Season 5 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/16/1989

Theo consults a voodoo shopkeeper for advice on winning his girlfriend back. Troy Winbush as Denny. Reno Wilson as Howard. Alex Ruiz as Lou. Michelle Thomas as Justine. Guest appearances by Moses Gunn and Harold Perrineau.

Directors: Tony Singletary
How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall?
star
7.17
184 votes

#19 - How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall?

Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/1/1988

Vanessa, Janet and Kara want to be professional singers; Russell wins a prize in a sweepstakes, which turns out to be a toaster. Pam Potillo as Janet. Elizabeth Narvaez as Kara. Guest appearance by singer Betty Carter.

Directors: Tony Singletary
Writer: Janet Leahy
Can I Say Something, Please?
star
7.07
174 votes

#20 - Can I Say Something, Please?

Season 5 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/9/1989

Rudy wants to change some of her rules. Voice-over by Ed McMahon (from The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson).

Directors: Tony Singletary
Rudy's All-Nighter
star
7.06
180 votes

#21 - Rudy's All-Nighter

Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/20/1988

Rudy's friend sleeps over.

Directors: Tony Singletary
Writer: Janet Leahy
Is There a Hamster in the House?
star
7.06
178 votes

#22 - Is There a Hamster in the House?

Season 5 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/15/1988

Rudy takes care of a friend's hamster for the weekend.

Directors: Tony Singletary
Mrs. Huxtable Goes to Kindergarten
star
6.95
183 votes

#23 - Mrs. Huxtable Goes to Kindergarten

Season 5 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/26/1989

Clair appears as a panelist on a local Sunday morning talk show entitled "Retrospective". Clair buys a new couch and Cliff tries to keep the old one. Clair's law firm is identified as Greentree, Bradley & Dexter.

The Boys of Winter
star
6.94
147 votes

#24 - The Boys of Winter

Season 5 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/23/1989

Cliff's old basketball friend comes to visit. Guest appearance by U.S. Senator (and former NBA basketball player) Bill Bradley.

Directors: Tony Singletary
What He Did for Love
star
6.91
143 votes

#25 - What He Did for Love

Season 5 - Episode 24 - Aired 4/27/1989

Theo's friend Denny finds an expensive watch and gives it to his girlfriend, but it is soon revealed to be stolen merchandise. Troy Winbush as Denny. Alex Ruiz as Lou. Vanessa A. Williams as Jade.