The BEST episodes written by John Markus
#1 - Say Hello to a Good Buy
The Cosby Show - Season 3 - Episode 15
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.
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#2 - Denise: The Saga Continues
The Cosby Show - Season 6 - Episode 1
Denise returns from Africa, with a new husband and stepdaughter in tow. Joseph C. Phillips and Raven-Symoné join the cast as Martin and Olivia Kendall. Last appearance of Peter Costa as Peter.
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#3 - Day of the Locusts
The Cosby Show - Season 5 - Episode 25
Sondra comes down with strep throat, prompting her mother Clair and Elvin's mother Francine to "steal" the babies.
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#4 - I Know That You Know
The Cosby Show - Season 3 - Episode 21
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.
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#5 - Father's Day
The Cosby Show - Season 1 - Episode 13
Cliff complains about the poor quality of his annual Father's Day gifts. He challenges the children to find some better presents for a December Father's Day. They give him thoughtful-if not quite attractive-presents.
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#6 - Cliff in Love
The Cosby Show - Season 2 - Episode 4
Sondra breaks up with her boyfriend Elvin and is depressed, taking it out on the family. Cliff and Clair aren't exactly unhappy; they find Elvin rather annoying. Later, he appears at the house with flowers and tries to apologize. While there, he offers some of his sexist rhetoric to Clair, who quickly becomes annoyed. First appearance of Geoffrey Owens as Elvin. Joseph C. Phillips appears as Daryl (Phillips joins the cast in Season 6 as Denise's new husband, Navy Lt. Martin Kendall)
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#7 - Theogate
The Cosby Show - Season 4 - Episode 2
Theo and Cockroach come home unusually late from a track meet, and the Huxtables got a phone message earlier from the track coach. They both deny anything out of the ordinary happened, but attorney Clair knows better. A mock trial is held for Theo and Cockroach at the Huxtables' for Clair to get to the bottom of the situation. Carl Anthony Payne II as Cockroach. Bill Cosby and Keshia Knight Pulliam appear on the episode of A Different World which airs later that evening.
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#8 - No Way, Baby
The Cosby Show - Season 5 - Episode 16
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.
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#9 - Cliff's Birthday
The Cosby Show - Season 1 - Episode 24
Cliff is turning 48, and as usual, he is trying to find out what his birthday present is ahead of time. Clair, with the help of the kids, orchestrates a huge trick. Cliff is fooled, and doesn't find about what is birthday surprise is: a visit to Lena Horne's private club. Lena Horne as herself, Clarence Williams III as Clarence Thornehill. In episode 12, Cliff says his birthday is in October.
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#10 - How Ugly Is He?
The Cosby Show - Season 1 - Episode 9
Denise has a new boyfriend, David, but is reluctant to bring him home. She fears that Cliff will, like always, make fun of the boy and ruin her chances with him. Cliff and Clair are initially impressed with David until he expresses some unwanted opinions about medicine and the law at dinner. Kristoff St. John plays boyfriend David.
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#11 - Home for the Weekend
The Cosby Show - Season 4 - Episode 22
Denise comes home from college, but seems to have more time for her friends than for the family.
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#12 - Theo and the Joint
The Cosby Show - Season 1 - Episode 17
Clair discovers a marijuana joint in one of Theo's school books. She and Cliff confront him about it, and accept his explanation—another boy slipped it in. Theo confronts the boy and brings him home to confess in order to remove any uncertainty from his parents about his telling the truth. Theo and the boy actually start to become friends. Stephen Thompson as Anthony Braxton, Iman as Mrs. Montgomery. Rudy says her full name in this episode, Rudith Lillian Huxtable.
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#13 - Isn't It Romantic?
The Cosby Show - Season 6 - Episode 20
Cliff, Elvin and Martin secretly compete to determine who is the most romantic husband in the Huxtable family.
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#14 - A Shirt Story
The Cosby Show - Season 1 - Episode 5
Theo wants to impress a girl by wearing an expensive shirt by designer Gordon Gartrelle. Since Cliff and Clair will not pay for it, Denise offers to make a copy of the shirt for him. Guest appearance by Kadeem Hardison, who years later would portray Dwayne Wayne on the Cosby Show spinoff, A Different World.
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#15 - Bad Dreams
The Cosby Show - Season 1 - Episode 3
Vanessa claims that she is old enough to watch a scary movie, but Cliff still forbids it. Vanessa sneaks out anyway, but ends up having nightmares as a result.
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#16 - Theo's Holiday
The Cosby Show - Season 2 - Episode 22
After Theo claims that he'll have no problem making it in the "real world", the Huxtables convert their house in the "Real World Apartments" and teach him a lesson about the real world; i.e., needing employment and references to get an apartment, income to get a bank loan, having to pay for his meals, etc. Carl Anthony Payne II as Cockroach.
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#17 - Cliff Babysits
The Cosby Show - Season 5 - Episode 13
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).
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#18 - Together Again and Again
The Cosby Show - Season 5 - Episode 1
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."
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#19 - Physician of the Year
The Cosby Show - Season 1 - Episode 15
Cliff is set to receive an important award, but a woman goes into labor right before the ceremony. Theo delivers his speech for him. Aleta Mitchell as Mrs. Randall, Elisa de la Roche as Nurse, Sheldon Leonard as Dr. Wexler
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#20 - Looking Back (1)
The Cosby Show - Season 4 - Episode 8
Sondra and Elvin have their first marital fight, and Elvin comes to the Huxtable house for comfort and support. Clair shares about the difficulties in their house as flashbacks are shown.
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#21 - The Show Must Go On
The Cosby Show - Season 4 - Episode 13
Vaudeville is shown to Rudy and her friends, who are unimpressed. Deon Richmond as Kenny.
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#22 - Play It Again, Russell
The Cosby Show - Season 2 - Episode 17
Russell plays in a tribute with the band he played in years ago. Guest appearances by jazz musicians Tito Puente, Art Blakey, Percy Heath, Jimmy Heath, Tommy Flanagan, Eric Gale, Joe Wilder, Carlos Valdes ("Patato"), Bootsie Barnes, and Jimmy Oliver. Slide Hampton provided the audio track for Russell's trombone solos.
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#23 - Where is the Love?
The Larry Sanders Show - Season 5 - Episode 3
Larry gets upset over a review from TV critic Tom Shales, prompting him to fire off a fax in retaliation and to seek sympathy from show guest Sally Field.
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#24 - Food for Thought
The Cosby Show - Season 3 - Episode 2
Clair challenges Cliff to not eat any salty food for the day. Denise leaves for her freshman year at Hillman College.
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#25 - Mr. Sandman
The Cosby Show - Season 6 - Episode 19
Rudy is forced to take tap dancing lessons for a school project. Cliff is presented with a "challenge" he cannot resist. Guest appearances by Howard "Sandman" Sims and Elaine Stritch.
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#26 - I'm 'In' With the 'In' Crowd
The Cosby Show - Season 6 - Episode 3
Vanessa and her friends get drunk playing a drinking game. Pam Potillo as Janet. Elizabeth Narvaez as Kara. Guest appearance by Bill Cosby's real-life daughter Ensa Cosby, upon whom the character Vanessa is loosely based.
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#27 - Getting to Know You
The Cosby Show - Season 6 - Episode 12
As Christmas approaches, Cliff and Martin get to know each other better. Denise and Martin recreate their wedding ceremony, which allows Cliff to give his daughter away.
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#28 - Ellen, or Isn't She?
The Larry Sanders Show - Season 5 - Episode 4
Artie pushes Larry to get Ellen Degeneres to come out of the closet on their show, but Larry pursues some personal research first. Beverly spoils Artie's birthday by circulating the show's budget, with everyone's salary, amongst the staff.
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#29 - Is That My Boy?
The Cosby Show - Season 1 - Episode 4
Freshman Theo tries out for the football team and makes it. Cliff is overjoyed, but his pride falters when he discovers his son will never be a star. Theo, however, is just happy being on the team.
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#30 - Denise's Friend
The Cosby Show - Season 2 - Episode 11
Denise asks Cliff to talk to her friend, who has a medical problem. Cliff diagnoses the girl as having a mild bladder infection, but learns that she was wary of telling her parents without certainty. Cliff and Clair decide to show the kids that they can tell them anything, but the children quickly point out that their parents will just get angry. Cliff admits that anger is part of problems, but tells the children that no matter what, they will be loved.
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#31 - The Younger Woman
The Cosby Show - Season 1 - Episode 21
Cliff and Clair receive a visit from an old friend—and he has a new girlfriend that is half his age. They are initially suspicious, but learn that judging by appearances isn't always right.
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#32 - The Birth (1)
The Cosby Show - Season 5 - Episode 6
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.
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#33 - Thanksgiving at the Huxtables
The Cosby Show - Season 6 - Episode 9
Denise invites Martin's ex-wife Paula for Thanksgiving dinner. Clair continues to send Cliff to the store for last-minute groceries, despite the fact that it is a cold and rainy Thanksgiving Day. Victoria Rowell as Paula.
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#34 - Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
The Cosby Show - Season 4 - Episode 15
Rudy has to play the violin in music class at school, but gets jealous because she thinks her classmates' instruments are more fun. Deon Richmond as Kenny. Naoka Nakagawa as Kim.
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#35 - Clair's Sister
The Cosby Show - Season 2 - Episode 9
Clair's sister Sarah gets engaged. First appearance of Joe Williams as Clair's father Al Hanks. Ethel Ayler as Carrie Hanks. Mario Van Peebles as Garvin.
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#36 - The Physical
The Cosby Show - Season 5 - Episode 2
Cliff prepares for a physical. John Amos as Dr. Bradley Herbert, Jr.
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#37 - Gone Fishin'
The Cosby Show - Season 4 - Episode 24
When the Huxtable men go fishing, Theo catches a dead body, and soon attracts attention from the media. This success goes to his head, while Rudy and Kenny find a nest of baby birds, but the mother bird is missing. The two stories eventually cross in a surprising-and rather humiliating-lesson for Theo. Deon Richmond as Kenny.
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#38 - Grampy and Nu-Nu Visit the Huxtables
The Cosby Show - Season 6 - Episode 10
Martin's parents (Olivia's grandparents) come for a visit. Actor Moses Gunn and jazz singer Nancy Wilson guest star as Martin's parents.
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#39 - It Ain't Easy Being Green
The Cosby Show - Season 4 - Episode 3
Rudy wants to wear summer clothes in winter to a party, while Cliff tries to get rid of an old water heater.
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#40 - The Lost Weekend
The Cosby Show - Season 5 - Episode 15
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.
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#41 - Arnie Meets the Kids
Taxi - Season 5 - Episode 20
Elaine is seriously dating the nerdy Arnie, also introduced in the Shloogel Show episode earlier this season, and decides it's time for him to meet her kids although she isn't sure if that's a great idea. Arnie is also very worried about the meeting and when he meets them, he tries a little too hard to make him their favorite person. In the process, he gives them presents and even money, to Elaine's dismay. In an effort to set things right, Arnie tells the kids that he didn't mean to try to buy their affection and it turns out they still like him. Elaine then realizes that now that the kids like Arnie so much, she's pretty much stuck with him-- but she's pleased about this.
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#42 - First Day of School
The Cosby Show - Season 2 - Episode 1
Cliff and Clair are overjoyed with the arrivial of the new school year, as their children are finally out of the house.
#43 - Move It
The Cosby Show - Season 5 - Episode 4
Everyone wants pregnant Sondra and Elvin to find a new house. Elvin's surname, Tibideaux, is revealed.
#44 - The Birth (2)
The Cosby Show - Season 5 - Episode 7
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.
#45 - Trust Me
The Cosby Show - Season 4 - Episode 21
A friend of Clair's has marital problems; Cliff takes a "mini-vacation" in the house as Theo, Rudy, and Vanessa try to stump each other with riddles.
#46 - Man Talk
The Cosby Show - Season 3 - Episode 4
Although he has a steady girlfriend, Theo wants to start dating someone else. Carl Anthony Payne II as Cockroach.
#47 - Cyranoise de Bergington
The Cosby Show - Season 5 - Episode 8
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.
#48 - The Visit
The Cosby Show - Season 4 - Episode 16
Theo visits a friend in the hospital who has cancer. Troy Winbush as Denny. Adam Sandler as Smitty. Special appearance by Armand Hammer.
#49 - It Comes and It Goes
The Cosby Show - Season 5 - Episode 20
Sondra bemoans taking care of the twins.
#50 - Shall We Dance?
The Cosby Show - Season 6 - Episode 7
Rudy and one of her classmates have a crush on each other, but peer pressure could ruin things. Guest appearance by Elaine Stritch.