The Cosby Show

Havoc erupts in the Huxtable home when Rudy spots a snake in the basement and Cliff "Bring ‘Em Back Alive" Huxtable is determined to catch the slithery serpent. The Huxtables rest easier when Theo assures them that the snake cannot climb out of the basement. But their relief is short-lived when an hysterical Clair discovers the snake in her bedroom.

After a friend has a mild heart attack, Cliff struggles with his cravings when Clair insists he cut down on fried and fatty foods. Also, the Huxtables help Denise prepare to leave for her freshman year at Hillman College.

The whole Huxtable family joins together to make Grandma and Grandpa Huxtable’s 50th Wedding anniversary a special evening. Cliff arranges for The Count Basie Orchestra, led by Frank Forster, to perform its famous April in Paris and his parents’ favorite piece, Shiny Stockings. The Huxtables perform another spirited lip-sync, as they did for the grandparents’ 49th, this time to James Brown’s I Got the Feelin’.

Theo and friends are supposed to be studying for their college entrance exams but instead the conversation keeps turning to girls. In particular, Theo cannot decide if he should stay with his current girlfriend, Tanya, or ask out a new girl at school. Meanwhile, Cliff dons the wardrobe of a perfect English gentleman and joins Rudy for a spot of tea.

Cliff and Clair have their hands full with Vanessa, after the rebellious teenager ignores their order not to wear make-up – and comes home from school with the evidence all over her face. Also, after learning about fire safety in school, Theo urges his father to examine the smoke alarms in their home and arranges for a family fire drill.

When Theo receives a mediocre grade on a history paper that he thought he aced, his grandparents give him some insight on how to improve his grades. When both Cliff’s and Clair’s parents come to the Huxtable home for dinner, Theo learns that the subject of his history paper, the Civil Rights March in Washington D.C., was a remarkable event that deeply touched the lives of his parents and grandparents.

Theo wants to take flying lessons after he is impressed by a guest speaker at his school – a World War II fighter pilot. When Theo asks Cliff’s permission to fly, Cliff jokingly reminds his son of all the other professions he has considered in his young life. Meanwhile, a bossy Rudy introduces the family to her first boyfriend, a boy she clearly has wrapped around her finger.

When Vanessa invites two friends over to visit, they see the large, well-furnished Huxtable home and report back to the other kids at school that Vanessa is a rich girl... and decide she must be stuck up. Angered and insulted, Vanessa gets into a fist fight to defend her reputation.

Denise is sure her English paper deserved an "A" but discovers the difference between high school and college when her Professor gives her a "D." When she comes home from college for the weekend, Denise must explain to her parents why her grades are faltering. Also, when Clair takes to her bed with a pinched nerve, Theo helps out with the family chores – much to Cliff’s amazement.

While Clair is away, Cliff takes care of the family, which now includes a lost puppy that Rudy found. Cliff agrees to keep the dog until the weekend, when the family flies to Washington, DC to meet Clair. Meanwhile, Vanessa sulks and mopes around the house because the family’s trip falls on the same weekend as her friend’s big party. But Cliff insists that Vanessa go with the rest of the family.

When Cliff’s father and his old Army buddies join Cliff in a pinochle game, Cliff is frustrated because the older men keep talking about the Army and will not let Cliff get in a word about his days in the Navy. Cliff becomes further exasperated when his father pulls one of his notorious pinochle hoaxes, with Cliff as the victim. Also, Vanessa is excited about her date with Tyrone, until she decides she also wants to date another guy.

When Clair and her mother-in-law go to Hillman College to visit Denise, Cliff and his father, Russell, are left in charge of the kids. Russell is pleasantly surprised to see first-hand what a good father Cliff is. Needless to say, all does not go smoothly when Clair is away: Russell helps out when Theo has girl problems; Rudy has a spat with her "boyfriend" Kenny; the sidewalk outside the Huxtable home is in dire need of repair; and a tired Cliff is summoned to deliver two babies.

Sondra and Elvin visit the family on their way to the theater, just as Theo "Monster Man" Huxtable practices for a big wrestling match. When Elvin volunteers to teach Theo some expert wrestling moves, he has to break it to Sondra that he will not be able to go to the theater with her. The family, thinking Elvin’s decision will lead to one of Sondra and Elvin’s infamous fights, is shocked when Sondra readily agrees that Elvin should do whatever he feels like doing.

Grandma and Grandpa Huxtable go all-out to entertain Rudy when the youngster spends the night at their home. Meanwhile, with Cliff and Theo left alone in the house, Cliff decides to hold the first meeting of the Huxtable Men’s Club. But their plans are thwarted when Theo has a surprise visitor – the girl of his dreams, Lana Herman.

A thrifty Cliff pretends to be a man of meager means when he shops for a new car. But his attempt to hustle the salesman fails when a window shopper recognizes the disguised Cliff as Dr. Huxtable. Meanwhile, Rudy cuts pictures out of a book for a school project, unaware that she is destroying Cliff’s prized encyclopedia collection.

Denise impatiently waits at home for her blind date, but is confused when Cliff leaves with the boy she thought she was to meet. And when Vanessa’s ex-boyfriend, Robert, comes over and finds her in the company of two other guys, the lovesick teenager begs Cliff to help him win Vanessa back.

It is a labor crisis when Cliff is called to the hospital to deliver three babies. Meanwhile Vanessa unsuccessfully tries to keep her girlfriend from smoking while she is in the Huxtable home.

When Theo and Rudy play wildly in the house, Vanessa warns them that someone is bound to get hurt. Theo does not listen, though, and Rudy ends up with a bruise on her face. If Cliff and Clair find out how Rudy got hurt, Theo will be in big trouble. Theo’s not talking – but what about Rudy and Vanessa?

Clair and Denise attend a bridal shower for Denise’s girlfriend. And, while the mood is festive, Denise confides in her mother that she is worried for her friend, who is marrying at a young age and is pregnant. Also, Clair banishes Cliff and Theo after they try to crash the affair.

The Huxtable family and friends celebrate Cliff’s 50th Birthday. Denise and Sondra come home from college to join the festivities and try to make Cliff feel young by pointing out things that are older than Dad. Clair throws a lavish dinner party for Cliff’s 50th Birthday; but despite the happy occasion, she cannot conceal her dislike for one of the guests – a friend of Cliff’s who divorced a friend of hers.

Theo receives a package of practical jokes in the mail and succeeds in fooling Clair, Vanessa and Rudy. But Theo’s gags cannot fool Cliff and he brags that he is too clever to be tricked. Later, when Cliff is out, Sondra and Elvin visit the family to announce their engagement. The Huxtables decide to use the exciting news to play an elaborate joke on Cliff.

When Cliff and Clair are both bedridden with the flu, Theo volunteers, to the surprise of his parents, to run the household. Theo’s plan to delegate the duties to the troops – namely, Vanessa and Rudy – backfires when his sisters realize that they are doing all the work.

Cliff and Clair look forward to a visit from their old friends, Scott and Jill Kelly (Robert Culp and Ann Reinking). Clair knows how foolish Cliff and Scott act when they are together, though, and gives Cliff a warning. The two pranksters must promise to behave themselves and act like grown men – not silly boys – when the foursome dine at a fancy restaurant. Also, Theo and Cockroach contemplate shaving their heads so they can appear in a new hot music video.

Cliff treats Rudy and her friends to fine dining at an expensive restaurant, but discovers, much to his chagrin, that fine food is wasted on the young. Also, Clair, her sister Sarah and friends discuss the trials and tribulations of combining a career with motherhood.

Cliff, Clair and Russell Huxtable visit their alma mater, Hillman College, with the whole family. The college, which Denise now attends, is paying tribute to President Zachariah J. Haynes on the occasion of his retirement. Clair sings "All Good Things Will Be Added Unto You" with the Hillman choir.