Comedy

The Best Episodes of The Bill Cosby Show

Every episode of The Bill Cosby Show ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Bill Cosby Show!

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The Bill Cosby Show is an American situation comedy that aired for two seasons on NBC's Sunday night schedule from 1969 until 1971, under the sponsorship of Procter & Gamble. There were 52 episodes made

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Seasons2

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The Bill Cosby Show Season 2 Episode 22 - The Barber Shop
    8.7/10(30 votes)

    #1 - The Barber Shop

    S2:E22

    Chet visits the local barber shop for a haircut. While there, he gets involved in a dispute with the barber and another patron over baseball. The three of them end up going to a high rise hotel, where the barber claims he can catch a baseball dropped from a window of the hotel's top floor. Antonio Fargas guest stars as J.J. the barber, Arthur French is hilarious as Cartons. Funniest episode of the series, very well done.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. The Bill Cosby Show Season 1 Episode 16 - The Elevator Doesn't Stop Here Anymore
    8.5/10(41 votes)

    #2 - The Elevator Doesn't Stop Here Anymore

    S1:E16

    Chet gets stuck inside an elevator at the high school along with one other faculty member and the school's cleaning lady. They entertain each other until help arrives. Henry Fonda and Elsa Lanchester guest star in this episode.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. The Bill Cosby Show Season 2 Episode 8 - The Artist
    8.3/10(15 votes)

    #3 - The Artist

    S2:E8

    Chet helps out a talented youngster who wants to become an artist. Chet disputes however, when the youngster chooses Chet as subject matter for his painting which will be on display at the art fair.

    Director:Ivan Dixon
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. The Bill Cosby Show Season 1 Episode 22 - The Blind Date
    8.1/10(32 votes)

    #4 - The Blind Date

    S1:E22

    Chet reluctantly agrees to go on a blind date, and ends up falling in love. Cicely Tyson guest stars as Chet's love interest.

    Director:Ralph Senensky
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. The Bill Cosby Show Season 2 Episode 13 - The Poet
    8.0/10(31 votes)

    #5 - The Poet

    S2:E13

    A male student at the high school enjoys writing poetry, but doesn't want his friends to find out, fearing ridicule. Chet (who has also written some poetry) tells the student he shouldn't be concerned with what other people think, to go ahead and do what he enjoys doing. Chet then gets in a bind when he is mistaken as the author of a poem he copied in his youth, and the poem is scheduled to be published in the school newspaper.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. The Bill Cosby Show Season 1 Episode 5 - Rules is Rules
    7.9/10(29 votes)

    #6 - Rules is Rules

    S1:E5

    Chet goes to great lengths to obtain a valve needle which he needs in order to inflate basketballs for his gym class.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Bill Cosby Show

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  7. The Bill Cosby Show Season 1 Episode 13 - A Christmas Ballad
    7.9/10(31 votes)

    #7 - A Christmas Ballad

    S1:E13

    Chet helps a down on his luck old timer capture the spirit of Christmas. Rex Ingram guest stars.

    Director:Ralph Senensky
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. The Bill Cosby Show Season 1 Episode 6 - Let X Equal a Lousy Weekend
    7.8/10(36 votes)

    #8 - Let X Equal a Lousy Weekend

    S1:E6

    When Chet is forced to fill in as a substitute algebra teacher, he comes across a word problem that he is unable to solve for the class. So, he spends most of his weekend trying to find the solution.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. The Bill Cosby Show Season 1 Episode 17 - Lover's Quarrel
    7.8/10(32 votes)

    #9 - Lover's Quarrel

    S1:E17

    Chet tries to get his ever arguing aunt and uncle to stop fighting and treat each other with kindness and respect. Veteran actors Mantan Moreland and Jackie ""Moms"" Mabley guest star and give classic performances as the bickering old couple.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. The Bill Cosby Show Season 1 Episode 25 - This Mouth Is Rated X
    7.8/10(28 votes)

    #10 - This Mouth Is Rated X

    S1:E25

    Chet is unsure how to handle one of his basketball players who is constantly letting profanities slip out of his mouth.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. The Bill Cosby Show Season 2 Episode 18 - The Sesame Street Rumble
    7.8/10(24 votes)

    #11 - The Sesame Street Rumble

    S2:E18

    Chet has a large TV antenna installed so he can watch the big Rams/Packers football game. Many teachers from the high school come over to see the game, but Chet's TV set goes out. Chet goes next door to try and borrow the neighbors TV set, but the boy at home refuses to let Chet borrow it, insisting that he wants to watch Sesame Street.

    Director:Bill Cosby
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. The Bill Cosby Show Season 1 Episode 10 - Brotherly Love
    7.7/10(26 votes)

    #12 - Brotherly Love

    S1:E10

    Chet's brother Brian moves in with Chet after having an argument with his wife. Brian spoils Chet's plans for the evening, then hilarity ensues when they attempt to sleep in the same bed together.

    Director:Ralph Senensky
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. The Bill Cosby Show Season 1 Episode 1 - The Fatal Phone Call
    7.6/10(52 votes)

    #13 - The Fatal Phone Call

    S1:E1

    While out jogging, Chet hears the telephone ringing inside a phone booth. He hesitates, but decides to answer. As a result, Chet ends up getting involved in a dispute between an auto mechanic and his wife. In an interesting twist, a case of mistaken identity in which Chet is involved brings this episode to a close. Vic Tayback guest stars as Calvin the mechanic.

    Director:Harvey Hart
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. The Bill Cosby Show Season 1 Episode 20 - Goodbye Cruel World
    7.5/10(26 votes)

    #14 - Goodbye Cruel World

    S1:E20

    Wally Cox guest stars in this episode as a shy man lacking in self confidence. With Chet's help, he builds up the nerve to ask a woman out on a date. She rejects him, and he wants to commit suicide. Chet helps to restore the man's confidence and self esteem.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. The Bill Cosby Show Season 1 Episode 23 - How You Play the Game
    7.5/10(26 votes)

    #15 - How You Play the Game

    S1:E23

    Chet is in the running for the city handball championship. He defeats his semi-final opponent, using psychological tactics. In the final match however, Chet has the tables turned on him and loses the match while being psyched out by his opponent. By losing, Chet teaches a player on the high school football team a lesson in good sportsmanship.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. The Bill Cosby Show Season 2 Episode 3 - Is There a Doctor in the Hospital?
    7.5/10(19 votes)

    #16 - Is There a Doctor in the Hospital?

    S2:E3

    Chet injures his back during his gym class, and needs to be taken to the hospital. Upon arrival, he has difficulty trying to obtain medical service, until a young patient staying at the hospital assists Chet and helps him find a doctor.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. The Bill Cosby Show Season 2 Episode 6 - The Lincoln Letter
    7.5/10(22 votes)

    #17 - The Lincoln Letter

    S2:E6

    Chet inherits a valuable letter which originally came from Abraham Lincoln. Only catch, the letter is misplaced and needs to be found.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. The Bill Cosby Show Season 1 Episode 9 - The Substitute
    7.4/10(28 votes)

    #18 - The Substitute

    S1:E9

    Chet starts dating a substitute teacher from the high school, and has difficulty finding time to spend alone with her.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. The Bill Cosby Show Season 1 Episode 18 - The Worst Crook That Ever Lived
    7.4/10(21 votes)

    #19 - The Worst Crook That Ever Lived

    S1:E18

    Chet is asked to help straighten out Raymond, a youngster who has a penchant for stealing. In an effort to keep Raymond out of trouble, Chet finds a spot for him on his little league baseball team. But Raymond steals the money that Chet had saved up which was intended to buy uniforms for the team. In the end, Raymond realizes what he did was wrong and returns the money to Chet.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. The Bill Cosby Show Season 2 Episode 10 - The Deluge (1)
    7.4/10(18 votes)

    #20 - The Deluge (1)

    S2:E10

    A driving rainstorm is pounding the Los Angeles area. Chet's next door neighbor is due to have her baby and is unable to get to the hospital, streets are flooded. Chet helps out as the woman prepares to have her baby at home. Part one of a two part episode.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. The Bill Cosby Show Season 2 Episode 17 - Miraculous Martin
    7.4/10(21 votes)

    #21 - Miraculous Martin

    S2:E17

    Dick Van Dyke guest stars in this episode as Miraculous Martin, an out of work magician who's trying to stay sober and planning to get married.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. The Bill Cosby Show Season 1 Episode 8 - The Killer Instinct
    7.3/10(23 votes)

    #22 - The Killer Instinct

    S1:E8

    Chet is having problems with a proud father who insists that his son make the high school football team. Trouble is, the kid just doesn't have what it takes and is not cut out to play football.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. The Bill Cosby Show Season 1 Episode 12 - A Word from Our Sponsor
    7.3/10(21 votes)

    #23 - A Word from Our Sponsor

    S1:E12

    A chance encounter on the street leads Chet to try out, and eventually to get hired, for a job playing an athletic coach in a breakfast cereal television commercial. Chet discovers, however, that shooting 30 seconds of film isn't as simple as it appears when the final product is seen on television.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Marvin Kaplan

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  24. The Bill Cosby Show Season 1 Episode 19 - The Gumball Incident
    7.3/10(19 votes)

    #24 - The Gumball Incident

    S1:E19

    Chet is wrongfully accused and arrested for breaking a gumball machine. Tom Bosley guest stars as Cookie Maharg.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. The Bill Cosby Show Season 1 Episode 7 - To Kincaid, with Love
    7.2/10(27 votes)

    #25 - To Kincaid, with Love

    S1:E7

    Chet is receiving attention from a female student of the high school. He thinks she has a crush on him, but the girl is actually trying to set Chet up with her mother.

    Director:Elliott Lewis
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"The Barber Shop" is the best rated episode of "The Bill Cosby Show". It scored 8.7/10 based on 30 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 2/21/1971. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Elevator Doesn't Stop Here Anymore".