Comedy

The Best Episodes of The Bill Cosby Show Season 1

Every episode of The Bill Cosby Show Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Bill Cosby Show Season 1!

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

    #1 - 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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  2. The Bill Cosby Show Season 1 Episode 2 - Lullaby and Goodnight
    6.5/10(33 votes)

    #2 - Lullaby and Goodnight

    S1:E2

    Chet is having difficulty sleeping at night, due to the new neighbor across the street who's dog won't stop barking.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. The Bill Cosby Show Season 1 Episode 3 - The Best Hook Shot in the World
    6.4/10(34 votes)

    #3 - The Best Hook Shot in the World

    S1:E3

    A short, but talented youngster with an unusual hook shot is determined to make the Holmes High School basketball team, where Chet is coach. He makes the team, after defeating Chet in a game of one on one. It's the day of the big game, Chet and the team pin their hopes on the little guy and his hook shot to win the game.

    Director:Harvey Hart
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. The Bill Cosby Show Season 1 Episode 4 - A Girl Named Punkin
    7.0/10(30 votes)

    #4 - A Girl Named Punkin

    S1:E4

    Chet does volunteer work for the local community center, a place for underpriviledged children. He is having problems with Punkin, a young girl who is unresponsive and stays to herself. Chet eventually breaks through, and Punkin comes around. A touching scene where Chet tells Punkin a bedtime story and teaches her a lesson in love and caring at the same time is the high point of this episode.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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

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

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

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

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

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

    #10 - 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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  11. The Bill Cosby Show Season 1 Episode 11 - Going the Route
    7.0/10(22 votes)

    #11 - Going the Route

    S1:E11

    Chet's nephew is in bed with a cold. Chet is asked and agrees to substitute for his nephew in the morning paper route.

    Director:Lee Philips
    Writer:Unknown

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

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

    #13 - 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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  14. The Bill Cosby Show Season 1 Episode 14 - Home Remedy
    7.2/10(20 votes)

    #14 - Home Remedy

    S1:E14

    Chet is home with a cold, and is unable to rest because all his relatives come over offering their cure-alls and remedies.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. The Bill Cosby Show Season 1 Episode 15 - Growing Growing Grown
    7.1/10(23 votes)

    #15 - Growing Growing Grown

    S1:E15

    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:Unknown

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

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

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

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

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

    #20 - 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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  21. The Bill Cosby Show Season 1 Episode 21 - Driven to Distraction
    6.7/10(18 votes)

    #21 - Driven to Distraction

    S1:E21

    Drivers ed instructor Chet tries to teach a nervous student how to drive. Very funny episode.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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

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

    #23 - 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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  24. The Bill Cosby Show Season 1 Episode 24 - The Return of Big, Bad, Bubba Bronson
    6.9/10(26 votes)

    #24 - The Return of Big, Bad, Bubba Bronson

    S1:E24

    Big Bronson, an old high school classmate of Chet's, is coming to town for a visit. Chet recalls having a past dispute with Bronson, and fears revenge. Chet meets ex prize fighter Hurricane Smith, and asks for some boxing lessons to prepare himself for Bronson's arrival. Lou Gossett guest stars as Hurricane Smith, Don Pedro Colley guest stars as Big Bronson.

    Director:Bill Cosby
    Writer:Unknown

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

    #25 - 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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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"The Fatal Phone Call" is the best rated episode of "The Bill Cosby Show" season 1. It scored 7.6/10 based on 52 votes. Directed by Harvey Hart and written by Unknown, it aired on 9/14/1969. This episode is rated 1.1 points higher than the second-best, "Lullaby and Goodnight".