The Cosby Show

Cliff and Clair look forward to reclaiming the house as another school year begins. Cliff pushes Vanessa out the door on her way to college, then rushes Rudy off to school. But Rudy’s afraid that her prepubescent body will not measure up with the other sixth-graders. As Denise voices fears that Olivia’s first day of pre-school will be traumatic, Olivia blithely announces "point me in the direction of that school and I’m outta here!" Finally, Cliff and Clair’s peaceful afternoon is shattered when a weary Theo returns from his whirlwind, 17-day European tour to literally kiss their living room floor.

Cliff plans to attend an auction where he hopes to outbid his nemesis, Dr. Harmon, to add a rare Charlie Parker record to his jazz collection. Instead, he gets roped into helping out at Olivia’s preschool. Undaunted, cagey Cliff arranges to bid by phone. But when Harmon drops out and a mysterious, late-bidding stranger challenges Cliff dollar for dollar, the auction gets fast and furious.

Theo’s plan to hire a stripper for brother-in-law Martin’s belated bachelor party sets off sparks in the Huxtable house and ignites a full-blown battle of the sexes. While the men consider the striptease "traditional," the women call it "archaic, demeaning and stupid." Even Grandma and Grandpa Huxtable get caught in the crossfire. But by the time the battle wanes and the smoke clears, its participants are lovey-dovey again. Is it the influence of reason or, as Cliff claims, the secret ingredient in his barbecue sauce?

Clair’s teenage cousin Pam Tucker moves into the Huxtable home, triggering a period of adjustment for all concerned. Although she appreciates the upscale surroundings, Cliff and Clair’s rules cramp her style. Weeknight parties are out, and Pam is already said yes to an invitation from her boyfriend Slide. She is sorely tempted to defy the Huxtables’ curfew, willing to let the punishment fit the crime. But while testing the waters, she begins to appreciate the value of the curfew and the wisdom of its enforcers.

The Huxtables return from a romantic weekend in Vermont to find the household in chaos. Olivia has "cleaned" her crayons in the new washing machine; Vanessa has hit a parked vehicle with Cliff’s car; Theo has appropriated various Huxtable household items for use in his own apartment. Obviously, it is time for one of Cliff’s seminars on the hardships of being a parent. But the Huxtable offspring turn the tables to deliver a discourse of their own: a side-splitting expose of what it is like to be on the receiving end of one of Cliff’s famous "talks."

Rudy and Kenny document Clair’s job for a school video contest because Cliff’s job is not "exciting enough." Their dreams of glory quickly fade as Clair’s workday fails to deliver the hardened criminals, lurid details and sensational cases the young filmmakers anticipate. In desperation, they turn to Cliff. At the hospital, they con an expectant father into taping his son’s birth and make plans to pass the footage off as their own. When Cliff intervenes, all seems lost. But the resourceful reporters realize they can pull victory from the jaws of defeat by simply documenting the truth.

Pam’s boyfriend Slide wants to take their relationship to "the next level" but Pam has reservations. Cliff and Clair’s advice strengthens Pam’s resolve to take things at her own speed. But caught between his "homeys" and his hormones, Slide keeps pressing until Pam explodes in indignation. Still, she does not want to lose him to another girl. Meanwhile, Olivia introduces the family to Dwayne, an invisible Saint Bernard who becomes a most convenient scapegoat for all of Olivia’s naughty escapades.

Pam thinks she may be in love. And Slide’s invitation for them to "get busy" is looking more and more acceptable. Clair tells Pam about an over-eager young suitor named Cliff who learned to respect teenage Clair’s decision about the time and the place for intimacy. The little story gently reminds Pam that "if the man is good, he will wait." On the invisible dog front, the havoc wrought by Dwayne the Saint Bernard can no longer be overlooked. In fact, Cliff tells Olivia, Dwayne is now blaming Olivia for the mess!

Psychology major Theo prepares a personality profile on Cliff, who is so secretive, Theo dubs the syndrome "Fugitive Fantasy Fear." When Rudy gets her first period, the event elicits a spate of old wives tales from her girlfriends and a disagreement with Clair about how to celebrate Rudy’s special "woman’s day." Having already read a book on menstruation, Rudy is able to dispel her friends’ outlandish claims. But, in a late night heart-to-heart talk with Clair, Rudy’s real concerns about womanhood finally surface.

Inspired by a rare weekend alone together in the Huxtable house, Denise and Martin pound the pavement in search of an affordable apartment. Rudy. tired of sharing sleeping space with Olivia, launches a determined campaign for their soon-to-be-vacated room. When Martin and Denise come home tired, frustrated and empty-handed, Theo tells them about a one-bedroom opportunity. However, where the ever-optimistic Denise sees minimalist charm and efficiency in the offbeat space, practical-minded Martin sees only a cramped trailer fit for a Munchkin. And when they get back home, they must face the terrible wrath of a still-roomless Rudy.

Having broken up with Slide, Pam sets her sights on Aaron, a new student whose brains compassion and integrity are all top of the class. Meanwhile, Alfred, a nervous expectant father turns to Cliff for tips on how to play basketball with his future son. Alfred also gets some insights from Theo on how boys view their fathers when it comes to sports. And both Alfred and Cliff get an enlightening lesson from their wives. Finally, Olivia announces her intention of becoming a doctor as well as a professional football player.

Clair’s announcement that she is beginning menopause triggers a series of bizarre misinterpretations of her behavior by her children. Since the kids expect the stereotypical indecision, mood swings, weeping and hot flashes, Cliff and Clair decide to give them all the melodrama they can possibly handle! Pam and Aaron grow closer as he demonstrates that some of the best things in life are free – like a moonlight tour of their historic neighborhood.

Bring on the hoagies, orange sodas and potato chips – it is playoff time. But Sondra upsets Elvin’s football-watching plans by promising their help in moving two friends to a new apartment. Afraid he will miss the entire game, Elvin enlists the aid of "his brothers" Theo and Martin to hurry things along. In the day’s most exciting match-up, Sondra and Nancy defend against the moving team’s sneaky maneuvers and sloppy execution. In other football news, Clair demonstrates some impressive baton-twirling moves, while Olivia sticks to her original plan to become "Dr. Crusher, Middle Linebacker."

Theo is just one good grade away from the Dean’s List. Fortified with devil’s-food donuts and chocolate milk, he is determined to cram for tomorrow’s Economics final. That is, until he lifts his head from the book in the college cafe and locks eyes with the girl of his dreams. A serious Economics recession begins; Theo escorts Cheryl to a party instead of hitting the books. Yet even while close dancing, his mind wanders to current indicators and the Gross National Product. Luckily, Cheryl’s a girl who can add things up; she encourages him to go home and finish studying.

Theo helps Pam improve her grades – so much so that she starts thinking about college. Unfortunately, her Ivy League dreams are dashed by the nightmare of how much it will cost to get there. Her classmates are no help either – jealous of her improving grades, undermine her growing confidence. At home, Olivia announces her intention to become President, certain that the highest office in the land will give her the power to create her own flag, eat turkey stuffed with french fries and stay up "real, real late."

Basketball coach Ray Evans (John Ritter) and his wife Alicia (Amy Yasbeck) have devised the perfect game plan for the birth of their first child. Baby book in hand, the over-anxious couple prepares for any contingency. Their practice sessions run like clockwork. But when the first contractions begin, Ray falls apart! Worse, three hours into labor, a stressed-out Alicia turns on him – blaming Ray for "her condition." Crushed, Ray bails out. It takes a whole lot of coaching from Cliff to get him off the bench and back into the game!

When Cliff and Dr. Harmon ditch their wives to team up for the charity pinochle tournament, the rejected spouses decide to enter the tournament themselves. But when the wives defeat the defending champs, suddenly only Cliff and Jim stand between them and the coveted trophy. Meanwhile, with Rudy as baby-sitter, Olivia whines her way into staying up late and watching a horror movie. But when their overactive imaginations detect monsters in the house, the girls take extreme measures to protect themselves!

Cliff has an elaborate 27th wedding anniversary surprise for Clair – a re-creation in the dining room of the tiny Caribbean restaurant where they ate during their honeymoon. He tracks down the original chef and orders a calypso band to entertain for the evening. But when the special day arrives, the chef, now a gourmet prima donna, balks at re-creating a menu from 27 years ago. The calypso band arrives two hours early. Theo, Pam and Rudy, the volunteer decoration committee, may yet uphold their reputation for not finishing what they start. And on top of everything, Cliff is coming down with a full-blown case of the flu!

Rudy plans to go to the movies with three girls and three boys. But her first date is jeopardized when the other two girls cancel. Clair offers to double date with Rudy and Scott, but that means Scott must face Cliff "The Interrogator." Meanwhile, a visit from Clair’s old friend Kris (Leslie Uggams) sparks an evening of songs and memories that leaves the husbands feeling left out. The boys find ample solace in the refrigerator until "The Clairettes" sashay into the kitchen and sing them the riot act.

With everyone else out of the house, Theo prepares for a romantic evening with his girlfriend, Cheryl. But his plans are thwarted by the Invasion of the Romance Snatchers! First, Denny and his girlfriend Ellen drop by in mid-spat. Then, Cliff and Clair return home, their ski weekend rained out. Grandma and Grandpa Huxtable drop by to borrow a table saw; and Elvin arrives to transport it to their house in his van. By the time Cheryl shows up, Theo’s so confused he may need the rest of the evening to figure it all out.

Olivia, in bed with a cold and laryngitis, is miserable because she will not be able to sing at Grandma and Grandpa Huxtable’s 55th wedding anniversary. Despite the exotic home remedies suggested by the steady stream of would-be "doctors" in the house, it is Cliff who actually saves the day by finding a way for Olivia to "voice" her feelings at the party. Meanwhile, longtime sweethearts Lance and Charmaine reminisce about the high points of their romance. But their fuzzy memories are no match for Aaron’s total recall of even the most obscure events in his and Pam’s four-month relationship.

A special dream episode is a nightmare for Rudy, who cannot escape the evil plots of Olivia no matter which way she tosses and turns. As a "Supreme-ly" hip Greek chorus (Pam, Charmaine and Vanessa) comments on the action, Olivia demonstrates her uncanny ability to wrap the Huxtables around her little finger, undermine Rudy at every turn, and get anything she wants from adults with her shameless whining. Moreover, whereas Rudy cannot do anything right, Olivia can do no wrong. And Rudy seems to be the only person in the dream who can see through Olivia’s blatant manipulations.

It is bowling-night-as-usual: Cliff’s team loses; low bowler buys dinner; that is Cliff. During the post-game Chinese meal, Carleton and Dr. Harmon – two cricket-playing Caribbean natives – must endure a walk down baseball’s memory lane led by former baseball greats (Frank Robinson and Joe Black). Revenge is sweet, though, as a late-night game in the middle of the Huxtable living room, separates the cricketeers from the boys of summer.

Everyone tries to keep Cliff from hearing about the 50%-off sale at Jake’s, his favorite appliance store. But their efforts are to no avail; Cliff already has set his sights on an electric sander. While at the store, Cliff hears Jake recount the story of the damages he had to pay to Stanley Rappaport, his former friend (and now worst enemy), for a traffic accident. It does not mean much to Cliff until Jake’s daughter Cookie introduces Cliff to her fiance, Jonathan Rappaport, and begs Cliff to reconcile Jake with Jonathan’s father...Stanley!

Theo begins his internship in psychology as a counselor at a local community center. His new charges test him immediately. Wise to their tricks because he used to pull them himself, Theo wins a few skirmishes, but then loses his cool. The next day, he is less concerned about his image and more interested in helping his kids. One student, Stanley, reminds him of himself when he was younger: defensive about his messy notebook, sloppy handwriting and slow reading speed. Thus, Theo begins to suspect that Stanley has a learning disability, too.

As he grows more confident in his abilities and judgment, Theo’s personal involvement with his students at the community center deepens. He is anxious to persuade Stanley to be tested for dyslexia; he is concerned about another boy who may have to leave the after-school program to earn extra money for his family. Theo’s growing realization that he cannot help everyone in his care hits hard, but leaves him with a new sense of maturity and renewed confidence in his chosen vocation.