Dumb Donald's schoolwork needs to improve or he may not be able to advance to the next grade. This catches the attention of a teenager who previously had Dumb Donald's teacher, and offers to sell him the answers to future tests. Donald is conflicted amongst himself about the meaning of academic success and facing the stigma of being held back.

Faking the Grade

Bill Cosby

Erika Scheimer

Lou Scheimer

Eric Suter

Jan Crawford

Gerald Edwards

Write On

Wheeler

The gang stays after school to learn about CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), but Rudy ditches the class early to focus more on basketball. When Mudfoot stops by, he joins him in practice and gives his usual advice on the importance of education. Shortly afterward, he has a heart attack and Rudy is unable to help. Luckily, the gang leaving CPR class, is able to intervene with Fat Albert giving Mudfoot CPR while others call the paramedics. Mudfoot recovers and Rudy learns an important lesson, deciding to take the CPR class to be better prepared.

Have a Heart

The boys go to a Neighborhood Watch meeting after a burglary at Dumb Donald's house.

Watch Thy Neightborhood

Bill devises a new form of entertainment when the clubhouse TV breaks.

Cosby's Classics

An accident foils the boys' plan to enter Rudy's new bike in a big race.

Justice Good as Ever

Mudfoot offers to help when the boys enter a battle of the bands.

Rebop for Bebop

A police officer offers kids at school safety tips, but Hank was not listening.

Sinister Stranger

A field trip is canceled because of the expense of covering over graffiti painted on a school wall. In order to recoup the money, the gang takes on a city project to paint a patriotic mural on a city building.

Handwriting on the Wall

Larry is a car thief who impresses the gang by saying he knows how the police work. However, accepting a ride from Larry to the pool leads to trouble when Larry realizes John Law has other ideas up his sleeve. The gang is frightened of what they see in the jailhouse and a police sergeant sentences them to one-minute imprisonment, showing they could have a much longer time behind bars if they are not more careful who they associate with.

Busted

The kids contribute to the school's rummage sale. The gang is concerned some of the older stuff will not sell, but Rudy uses slick ways to sell their entire selection. One of the teachers shows Rudy the effects of his actions by giving him a faulty device that ruins his hat versus that shown in a glitzy TV commercial. The lesson is not over, as Rudy, Fat Albert and the others must also head the harbor when Rudy realizes he sold a faulty raft to a boy who cannot swim.

It All Ads Up

The gang tries to cheer a friend who awaits a kidney transplant.

Never Say Never

Red wants to quit school to focus on her singing career, but Fat Albert and the gang try to convince her that it is a mistake.

Don't Call Us

A classmate is selling drugs at school, but Fat Albert and friends must decide whether to report it.

The Runner

Weird Harold spends all his money on video games, then makes amends by taking a job at the video arcade to earn money for picnic equipment for the gang.

Video Mania

Fat Albert makes friends with the new girl in school, who is a budding artist.

You Gotta  Have Art

On America Day, the gang gets to vote on who wins the title of America's Queen.

Long Live the Queen

Dumb Donald's cousin does not realize his pranks are getting out of hand.

The Joker

Teddy is accused when gym equipment disappears, and Fat Albert and the gang hunt for the real culprits.

Second Chance

Bob discovers that problems—especially those involving one's health—do not go away on their own.

Kiss and Tell

The kids help their friend Liz with their new baby.

Teenage Mom

The kids make their own episode of the Brown Hornet.

Film Follies

The Cosby kids discover a dangerous chemical spill when they help out at their friend Roy's farm.

Harvest Moon

The boys try to convince the school's star football player Mickey that reading is more important than winning.

Read Baby Read

Fat Albert notices that his friend Peter is acting strangely and finds out that it is due to alcohol.

The Whiskey Kid

The Cosby kids search for hidden loot after Weird Harold finds a treasure map.

Millionaire Madness

Fat Albert and the Cosby kids take a trip to the country to visit Weird Harold's uncle.

Call of the Wild

Weird Harold and Waldo's sister Mindy learn the importance of having a sense of humor when they get trapped in a cave.

Funny Business

Fat Albert finds the perfect star pitcher when the boys get a challenge from the Junior League baseball champions, but she is a girl.

3 Strikes and You're In

Rudy and his new friend Hector try to use fake I.D.s at a nightclub.

What's the ID?

The police show up when Fat Albert's friend Tommy throws a party at his parents' house.

Rules Is Cool

Dumb Donald falls for Elaine, a cheerleader, but how will he compete with the star quarterback Hammerhead Rex?

The Birds, the Bees and Dumb Donald

Rudy learns an important lesson about winning big and losing big when he catches the gambling bug.

Double or Nothing

Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids visit the Museum of Natural History to see an exhibit on bicycles.

Hot Wheels

The Cosby Kids find out that real friends do not care whether you are rich or poor—they like you for you.

No Place Like Home

The Cosby Kids enter the Sound City TV competition in hopes of winning airtime for their band.

Not So Loud

Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids visit Rudy's uncle's ranch and leave the big city behind.

The Jinx

Everybody wants to be on the school pep squad but will Fat Albert and Weird Harold win a place?

You Don't Say

Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids visit an Amish community and learn the values of Amish society with their friend Sharon.

Amiss With Amish

Fat Albert tries to save his friend Tito from getting involved with his older brother's gang life.

Gang Wars

Fat Albert exposes his classmate Greg as a computer hacker while working on a history assignment.

Computer Caper

Weird Harold is left in a sticky situation while working at his new job serving ice cream at Mr. Cooper's Ice Cream Shop.

We All Scream for Ice Cream

Hoping to be like his hero, Dexter attempts a death-defying stunt.

Superdudes

Fat Albert and the boys try to help their friend Lenny find a job.

Painting the Town

Rudy thinks it's his big break when the Cosby Kids meet a new girl whose father is a big time movie producer.

Rudy and the Beast

Fat Albert and the boys try to help their new friend Chuy, a.k.a. the Wheeler, feel welcome at school.

Fat Albert gives his classmate Richard the encouragement he needs to write a blue ribbon poem for the school writing contest.

When the Cosby Kids find out that Mr. and Mrs. Gibson may lose their home, they hit the airwaves to tell their neighbors' story.

Cable Caper

When Weird Harold's Uncle Marcus moves in with his family, space gets tight especially in Weird Harold's room.

Say Uncle

The Cosby Kids learn about the responsibilities of the press when Rudy submits a false story to the school newspaper.

No News Is Good News

When Fat Albert takes a job at the local zoo, he has trouble juggling his many responsibilities including school, homework, and work.

Attitude of Gratitude

Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids is an animated series created, produced, and hosted by comedian Bill Cosby, who also lent his voice to a number of characters, including Fat Albert himself. Filmation was the production company for the series. The show premiered in 1972 and ran until 1985. The show, based on Cosby's remembrances of his childhood gang, centered on Albert, and his friends.

The show always had an educational lesson emphasized by Cosby's live-action segments, and in early episodes the gang would usually gather in their North Philadelphia junkyard to play a rock song on their cobbled-together instruments at the end of the show.

Faking the Grade

Seasons8

Season 8 Episodes50

Cast9

Discussion

Episode Summary