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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 30, 1992. The show focuses on the Huxtable family, an upper middle-class African-American family living in Brooklyn, New York.

Genres:ComedyFamily
Network:NBC

Season 2 Ratings Summary

The best episode of "The Cosby Show" season 2 is "First Day of School", rated 7.4/10 from 176 user votes. It was directed by Jay Sandrich and written by Elliot Shoenman. "First Day of School" aired on 9/26/1985 and is rated 0.3 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "The Juicer".

  • First Day of School
    7.4/10 176 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

  • The Juicer
    7.7/10 190 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

  • Happy Anniversary
    8.1/10 252 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

  • Cliff in Love
    7.7/10 187 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

  • Theo and the Older Woman
    7.5/10 182 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

  • Halloween
    7.1/10 178 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

  • Rudy Suits Up
    6.9/10 156 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

  • Denise Drives
    7.4/10 167 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

  • Clair's Sister
    6.8/10 163 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

  • Clair's Toe
    7.1/10 158 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

  • Denise's Friend
    7.7/10 174 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

  • Mrs. Westlake
    7.5/10 167 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

  • The Auction
    7.4/10 168 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

  • Vanessa's Bad Grade
    7.2/10 155 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

  • Theo and Cockroach
    7.4/10 158 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

  • The Dentist
    7.7/10 201 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

  • Play It Again, Russell
    6.6/10 167 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

  • A Touch of Wonder
    7.7/10 215 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

  • Full House
    7.4/10 173 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

  • Close to Home
    7.0/10 160 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

  • An Early Spring
    7.2/10 157 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

  • Theo's Holiday
    8.3/10 281 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

  • The Card Game
    7.7/10 172 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

  • Off to the Races
    7.1/10 152 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

  • Denise's Decision
    6.8/10 152 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