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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!

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...
Genre:Comedy
Network:NBC

Best Episodes Summary

"The Elevator Doesn't Stop Here Anymore" is the best rated episode of "The Bill Cosby Show". It scored 8.3/10 based on 37 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 1/11/1970. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Barber Shop".

  • The Elevator Doesn't Stop Here Anymore
    8.3/1037 votes
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    #1 - The Elevator Doesn't Stop Here Anymore

    Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 1/11/1970

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Barber Shop
    8.2/1027 votes
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    #2 - The Barber Shop

    Season 2 Episode 22 - Aired 2/21/1971

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Artist
    7.9/1014 votes
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    #3 - The Artist

    Season 2 Episode 8 - Aired 11/1/1970

    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: N/A

  • The Blind Date
    7.8/1030 votes
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    #4 - The Blind Date

    Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 3/1/1970

    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: N/A

  • The Poet
    7.8/1030 votes
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    #5 - The Poet

    Season 2 Episode 13 - Aired 12/20/1970

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Rules is Rules
    7.7/1027 votes
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    #6 - Rules is Rules

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/12/1969

    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: N/A

  • Let X Equal a Lousy Weekend
    7.7/1034 votes
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    #7 - Let X Equal a Lousy Weekend

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 10/26/1969

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • A Christmas Ballad
    7.6/1028 votes
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    #8 - A Christmas Ballad

    Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 12/21/1969

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

    Director: Ralph Senensky

    Writer: N/A

  • Lover's Quarrel
    7.6/1029 votes
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    #9 - Lover's Quarrel

    Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 1/18/1970

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Sesame Street Rumble
    7.5/1023 votes
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    #10 - The Sesame Street Rumble

    Season 2 Episode 18 - Aired 1/24/1971

    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: N/A

  • The Fatal Phone Call
    7.4/1049 votes
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    #11 - The Fatal Phone Call

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/14/1969

    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: N/A

  • Brotherly Love
    7.3/1024 votes
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    #12 - Brotherly Love

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 11/23/1969

    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: N/A

  • How You Play the Game
    7.3/1024 votes
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    #13 - How You Play the Game

    Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 3/8/1970

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • This Mouth Is Rated X
    7.3/1026 votes
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    #14 - This Mouth Is Rated X

    Season 1 Episode 25 - Aired 3/29/1970

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

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Is There a Doctor in the Hospital?
    7.3/1018 votes
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    #15 - Is There a Doctor in the Hospital?

    Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 9/27/1970

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Growing Growing Grown
    7.2/1020 votes
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    #16 - Growing Growing Grown

    Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 1/4/1970

    Chet is asked to chaperone at a high school dance. Chet's car is not available, he ends up borrowing his brothers garbage truck to drive his date to the dance. At the dance, Chet teaches one student a lesson in the importance of physical appearance.

    Director: Ralph Senensky

    Writer: N/A

  • The Lincoln Letter
    7.2/1021 votes
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    #17 - The Lincoln Letter

    Season 2 Episode 6 - Aired 10/18/1970

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

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Miraculous Martin
    7.2/1020 votes
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    #18 - Miraculous Martin

    Season 2 Episode 17 - Aired 1/17/1971

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Killer Instinct
    7.1/1021 votes
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    #19 - The Killer Instinct

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/9/1969

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Substitute
    7.1/1026 votes
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    #20 - The Substitute

    Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 11/16/1969

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

    Director: Jay Sandrich

    Writer: N/A

  • A Word from Our Sponsor
    7.1/1019 votes
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    #21 - A Word from Our Sponsor

    Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 12/7/1969

    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: N/A

    Writer: Marvin Kaplan

  • The Worst Crook That Ever Lived
    7.1/1019 votes
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    #22 - The Worst Crook That Ever Lived

    Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 1/25/1970

    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: N/A

  • The Deluge (1)
    7.1/1017 votes
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    #23 - The Deluge (1)

    Season 2 Episode 10 - Aired 11/15/1970

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Goodbye Cruel World
    7.0/1024 votes
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    #24 - Goodbye Cruel World

    Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 2/8/1970

    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: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Power of the Trees
    7.0/1022 votes
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    #25 - Power of the Trees

    Season 2 Episode 23 - Aired 2/28/1971

    Elsa Lanchester guest stars as an eccentric woman who recruits Chet to help save a tree from being cut down at a construction site.

    Director: Ivan Dixon

    Writer: N/A