7.4/10178 votes#1 - First Day of School
Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 9/26/1985
Cliff and Clair are overjoyed with the arrivial of the new school year, as their children are finally out of the house.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: Elliot Shoenman
7.7/10190 votes#2 - The Juicer
Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 10/3/1985
Cliff, who has a fetish for electronic appliances, buys a juicer. Rudy and Peter, bored from Vanessa's inattentive baby-sitting, decide to use it even they are not allowed to use appliances. David Langston Smyrl as Mr. Lucas. Peter Costa as Peter.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: Matt Williams
8.1/10253 votes#3 - Happy Anniversary
Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 10/10/1985
For Russell and Anna's 49th wedding anniversary, the family commissions a portrait of the couple as newlyweds, and offers them a cruise to Europe. Later in the evening, the whole family performs Ray Charles' "Night Time Is the Right Time", with Theo, Rudy and Cliff each lip-synching a solo. Earle Hyman as Russell. Clarice Taylor as Anna.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: Elliot Shoenman
7.7/10188 votes#4 - Cliff in Love
Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 10/17/1985
Sondra breaks up with her boyfriend Elvin and is depressed, taking it out on the family. Cliff and Clair aren't exactly unhappy; they find Elvin rather annoying. Later, he appears at the house with flowers and tries to apologize. While there, he offers some of his sexist rhetoric to Clair, who quickly becomes annoyed. First appearance of Geoffrey Owens as Elvin. Joseph C. Phillips appears as Daryl (Phillips joins the cast in Season 6 as Denise's new husband, Navy Lt. Martin Kendall)
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: N/A
7.5/10182 votes#5 - Theo and the Older Woman
Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 10/24/1985
When friend Suzanne accompanies Denise to observe the Huxtables' normal behavior, a smitten Theo behaves far from normally. Robin Givens as Suzanne. Blair Underwood as Mark.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: Carmen Finestra
7.1/10179 votes#6 - Halloween
Season 2 Episode 6 - Aired 10/31/1985
Vanessa has a crush on a one Robert Forman, who comes to her Halloween party. Daydreaming about her love, she drops an entire tray of glasses and embarrasses herself in front of the guests. Pam Potillo as Janet. Dondre Whitfield as Robert. Akili Prince as Scott. (Years later, Prince would originate the role of Terrence Frye on All My Children. Upon leaving that series, he was replaced by Whitfield.)
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: Elliot Shoenman
6.9/10156 votes#7 - Rudy Suits Up
Season 2 Episode 7 - Aired 11/7/1985
Rudy plays football and becomes a star, much to the chagrin of Clair, who worries she'll get hurt. But reluctance turns to excitement when Rudy is the star of her first game. Ethel Ayler as Carrie Hanks. Peter Costa as Peter.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: N/A
7.4/10168 votes#8 - Denise Drives
Season 2 Episode 8 - Aired 11/14/1985
Denise wants to buy a car. She plans to use her savings to do so, but Cliff and Clair quickly point out flaws in her plan. The answer to everyone's problems comes from friend Mr. Lucas, who has an old car he is willing to sell. Denise proves herself a good driver, and the car is hers. David Langston Smyrl as Mr. Lucas.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: Carmen Finestra
6.8/10163 votes#9 - Clair's Sister
Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 11/21/1985
Clair's sister Sarah gets engaged. First appearance of Joe Williams as Clair's father Al Hanks. Ethel Ayler as Carrie Hanks. Mario Van Peebles as Garvin.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: Elliot Shoenman
7.1/10160 votes#10 - Clair's Toe
Season 2 Episode 10 - Aired 12/5/1985
While preparing to go out on a proposal anniversary dinner, Clair breaks her toe, but tries not to let it upset her routine. In the end, she develops a unique piece of footwear to hide her cast.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: Matt Williams
7.7/10174 votes#11 - Denise's Friend
Season 2 Episode 11 - Aired 12/12/1985
Denise asks Cliff to talk to her friend, who has a medical problem. Cliff diagnoses the girl as having a mild bladder infection, but learns that she was wary of telling her parents without certainty. Cliff and Clair decide to show the kids that they can tell them anything, but the children quickly point out that their parents will just get angry. Cliff admits that anger is part of problems, but tells the children that no matter what, they will be loved.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: N/A
7.5/10167 votes#12 - Mrs. Westlake
Season 2 Episode 12 - Aired 1/2/1986
Theo's math teacher comes for dinner, to Theo's extreme consternation. He thinks she plans to tell his parents of a bad grade on a math test. To his surprise, Mrs. Westlake comes to dinner looking young, attractive, and even with a sense of humor; and she has a very good surprise! Mrs. Westlake also gives Theo his test-he actually gets an 89, and he proceeds to embrace her, much to his shock. Sonia Braga as Mrs. Westlake.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: Elliot Shoenman
7.4/10169 votes#13 - The Auction
Season 2 Episode 13 - Aired 1/9/1986
Clair bids on a painting by her great-uncle that her grandmother had once owned. Attempting to win her favor, Elvin tries to bake her a cake but fails miserably; he then gets advice from Cliff on how to pass himself off as a good cook. In real life, the painting used in the episode is Funeral Procession by Ellis Wilson.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: N/A
7.2/10155 votes#14 - Vanessa's Bad Grade
Season 2 Episode 14 - Aired 1/16/1986
Vanessa steals a sweater from Denise. The two soon begin to fight. In the end, Rudy's choice of television viewing, the "I Have A Dream" speech, reminds the whole family of what a real problem is. Excerpt from Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech featured at the end of the episode (Originally aired four days before the first observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a U.S. federal holiday).
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: N/A
7.4/10158 votes#15 - Theo and Cockroach
Season 2 Episode 15 - Aired 1/30/1986
Theo and his friend Cockroach scheme to pass a test on William Shakespeare's "Macbeth", which neither one has read.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: Thad Mumford
7.7/10202 votes#16 - The Dentist
Season 2 Episode 16 - Aired 2/2/1986
Peter goes to the dentist, but has Rudy come along for moral support so Peter won't be afraid of the dentist anymore. Danny Kaye (in one of his last appearances) as Dr. Burns, who is also Cliff's dentist.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: Elliot Shoenman
6.6/10167 votes#17 - Play It Again, Russell
Season 2 Episode 17 - Aired 2/13/1986
Russell plays in a tribute with the band he played in years ago. Guest appearances by jazz musicians Tito Puente, Art Blakey, Percy Heath, Jimmy Heath, Tommy Flanagan, Eric Gale, Joe Wilder, Carlos Valdes ("Patato"), Bootsie Barnes, and Jimmy Oliver. Slide Hampton provided the audio track for Russell's trombone solos.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: N/A
7.7/10216 votes#18 - A Touch of Wonder
Season 2 Episode 18 - Aired 2/20/1986
After his limo collides with Denise's car, Stevie Wonder (appearing as himself) invites the Huxtables to a recording session. Wonder performs "I Just Called to Say I Love You" with Clair and the family. Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf as Sondra Huxtable.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: Matt Williams
7.4/10173 votes#19 - Full House
Season 2 Episode 19 - Aired 2/27/1986
After an exhausting midnight shift at the hospital and a night's sleep, all Cliff wants is to read his paper in peace - but the children have taken over every room in the house. Classic scene: Denise's boyfriend sings reggae in front of the living room TV.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: N/A
7.0/10160 votes#20 - Close to Home
Season 2 Episode 20 - Aired 3/13/1986
A close friend of Cliff's, played by Samuel E. Wright, is overcome with sadness due to his daughter's recurring drug addiction. His feelings are set off as he observes the close relationship between Cliff, Clair, and Denise, who is his daughter's age.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: Carmen Finestra
7.2/10157 votes#21 - An Early Spring
Season 2 Episode 21 - Aired 3/20/1986
Theo's math teacher has a baby and Cockroach shows a different side. Carl Anthony Payne II as Cockroach. Sonia Braga as Mrs. Westlake. Cockroach's full real name, Walter Bradley, is revealed in this episode (only his first name was previously mentioned).
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: Matt Williams
8.4/10282 votes#22 - Theo's Holiday
Season 2 Episode 22 - Aired 4/3/1986
After Theo claims that he'll have no problem making it in the "real world", the Huxtables convert their house in the "Real World Apartments" and teach him a lesson about the real world; i.e., needing employment and references to get an apartment, income to get a bank loan, having to pay for his meals, etc. Carl Anthony Payne II as Cockroach.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: Matt Williams, Carmen Finestra
7.7/10172 votes#23 - The Card Game
Season 2 Episode 23 - Aired 4/10/1986
Cliff plays pinochle with his father, a former teacher, and a friend. Theo buys a cheap ring for his girlfriend Tanya. Earle Hyman as Russell. Roscoe Lee Browne as Dr. Foster.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: N/A
7.1/10152 votes#24 - Off to the Races
Season 2 Episode 24 - Aired 5/8/1986
In a charity run, Cliff races at the Penn Relays with "Tailwind" Turner and -- as apparent payback for the race a year prior -- ends up having to run the final leg against Olympic gold medalist Valerie Brisco-Hooks. Josh Culbreath as Col. Sanford "Tailwind" Turner. Valerie Brisco-Hooks appears as herself. Cameo appearance by Bill Cosby's real wife, Camille Cosby (uncredited).
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: Matt Williams
6.8/10152 votes#25 - Denise's Decision
Season 2 Episode 25 - Aired 5/15/1986
After much deliberation, Denise chooses the college that she will attend in the fall. Earle Hyman as Russell. Clarice Taylor as Anna.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: N/A
The Best Episodes of The Cosby Show Season 2
Every episode of The Cosby Show Season 2 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Cosby Show Season 2!
The Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until April...
Genres:ComedyFamily
Network:NBC
Season 2 Ratings Summary
"First Day of School" is the best rated episode of "The Cosby Show" season 2. It scored 7.4/10 based on 178 votes. Directed by Jay Sandrich and written by Elliot Shoenman, it aired on 9/26/1985. This episode is rated 0.3 points higher than the second-best, "The Juicer".