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The Best Episodes of The Cosby Show Season 3

Every episode of The Cosby Show Season 3 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Cosby Show Season 3!

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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

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    The Cosby Show Season 3 Episode 1 - Bring 'em Back Alive
    7.3/10(167 votes)

    #1 - Bring 'em Back Alive

    S3:E1

    The Huxtable house is thrown into chaos after Rudy finds a snake in the basement.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Matt Williams

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  2. The Cosby Show Season 3 Episode 2 - Food for Thought
    7.3/10(155 votes)

    #2 - Food for Thought

    S3:E2

    Clair challenges Cliff to not eat any salty food for the day. Denise leaves for her freshman year at Hillman College.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. The Cosby Show Season 3 Episode 3 - Golden Anniversary
    7.5/10(179 votes)

    #3 - Golden Anniversary

    S3:E3

    Russell and Anna's 50th wedding anniversary. The family performs James Brown's "I Got the Feelin' " in this sequel to Season 2's "Happy Anniversary". Earle Hyman as Russell. Clarice Taylor as Anna. Geoffrey Owens as Elvin. Appearance by Frank Foster and the Count Basie Orchestra. First mention of Rudy's desire to have a husband named "Bud" when she grows up.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Carmen Finestra

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  4. The Cosby Show Season 3 Episode 4 - Man Talk
    7.2/10(161 votes)

    #4 - Man Talk

    S3:E4

    Although he has a steady girlfriend, Theo wants to start dating someone else.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. The Cosby Show Season 3 Episode 5 - Mother, May I?
    7.2/10(160 votes)

    #5 - Mother, May I?

    S3:E5

    After Clair specifically forbids her from wearing make-up, Vanessa, behind her mothers back does it anyways.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. The Cosby Show Season 3 Episode 6 - The March
    7.4/10(167 votes)

    #6 - The March

    S3:E6

    Theo writes a report on the March on Washington. But gets a poor grade and is asked to redo his project. Much to his surprise he learns more about the march from his family than he did from books. Meanwhile Vanessa is worried about asking a boy to the turn-around dance. Earle Hyman as Russell. Clarice Taylor as Anna. Joe Williams as Al Hanks. Ethel Ayler as Carrie Hanks.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. The Cosby Show Season 3 Episode 7 - Theo's Flight
    7.4/10(156 votes)

    #7 - Theo's Flight

    S3:E7

    Theo and Cockroach decide they want to learn to fly, but Cliff doesn't want to waste his money on another dream of his son's. Carl Anthony Payne II as Cockroach. First appearance of Deon Richmond as Kenny, a.k.a. "Bud".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. The Cosby Show Season 3 Episode 8 - Vanessa's Rich
    7.1/10(157 votes)

    #8 - Vanessa's Rich

    S3:E8

    Friends call Vanessa a stuck-up rich girl at school. Guest appearance by Essence Atkins.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. The Cosby Show Season 3 Episode 9 - Denise Gets a D
    7.0/10(160 votes)

    #9 - Denise Gets a D

    S3:E9

    Denise's college career starts with a D, but Denise is to scared to show her parents. Clair needs to rest in bed because of a pinched nerve. Rudy portrays "the wind" in a school play. Rosalind Cash as Dr. Hughes (The episode is preceded by a 30-second anti-drug public service announcement featuring Bill Cosby).

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. The Cosby Show Season 3 Episode 10 - A Girl and Her Dog
    7.0/10(152 votes)

    #10 - A Girl and Her Dog

    S3:E10

    Rudy and Peter find a dog and attempt to take care of it without her parents knowing. Peter Costa as Peter.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. The Cosby Show Season 3 Episode 11 - War Stories
    7.0/10(159 votes)

    #11 - War Stories

    S3:E11

    Cliff and his father's friend play a challenging game of cards. Venesa prepares to go to a skating party with date Robert Forman, soon find a very cute guy will cross her path Earle Hyman as Russell.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. The Cosby Show Season 3 Episode 12 - Cliff in Charge
    6.9/10(154 votes)

    #12 - Cliff in Charge

    S3:E12

    Cliff is in charge when Clair leaves for 10 days.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Matt Williams

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  13. The Cosby Show Season 3 Episode 13 - Monster Man Huxtable
    7.0/10(149 votes)

    #13 - Monster Man Huxtable

    S3:E13

    Elvin helps Theo with some wrestling moves, although he and Sondra have made plans for the weekend, and reveals that he is thinking of marrying her. Geoffrey Owens as Elvin.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. The Cosby Show Season 3 Episode 14 - Rudy Spends the Night
    7.2/10(155 votes)

    #14 - Rudy Spends the Night

    S3:E14

    Cliff establishes the Huxtable Men's Club when the women are away to help Theo get over his sadnes of a lost date. Venessa is very excited that big sister Denise is letting her go to the Village with Denise's college friends.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Carmen Finestra

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  15. The Cosby Show Season 3 Episode 15 - Say Hello to a Good Buy
    7.3/10(162 votes)

    #15 - Say Hello to a Good Buy

    S3:E15

    Cliff buys a new car. Rudy cuts some animal pictures out of Cliff's expensive books for school. Guest appearance by Sinbad, who would later portray Walter Oakes on the Cosby Show spinoff, A Different World. Watched by almost 65 million viewers when it originally aired, "Say Hello to a Good Buy" was the series' highest rated episode.

    Director:Unknown
    Writers:Matt Williams, Carmen Finestra

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  16. The Cosby Show Season 3 Episode 16 - Denise Gets an Opinion
    7.0/10(152 votes)

    #16 - Denise Gets an Opinion

    S3:E16

    Denise has a blind date, but is really scared. So she asks Theo to grade him for her!!!! But this soon leads to a big hilarious mix up.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. The Cosby Show Season 3 Episode 17 - Calling Doctor Huxtable
    7.1/10(150 votes)

    #17 - Calling Doctor Huxtable

    S3:E17

    Cliff is called to the hospital for 3 deliveries, Malinda Williams appearance, Patricia Richardson appearance.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. The Cosby Show Season 3 Episode 18 - You Only Hurt the One You Love
    7.0/10(147 votes)

    #18 - You Only Hurt the One You Love

    S3:E18

    Rudy gets hurt from Theo's rough games. Rudy cries. Theo gets punished. Clair goes to a doctor and gets the same advice that Cliff gave her. Cliff learns that the woman who cleans up the Doctor's Lounge at the hospital (Rita Moreno) has been fired. Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf as Sondra Huxtable and Lisa Bonet as Denise Huxtable.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Carmen Finestra

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  19. The Cosby Show Season 3 Episode 19 - The Shower
    7.0/10(150 votes)

    #19 - The Shower

    S3:E19

    Denise holds a bridal shower for her pregnant and bride-to-be friend Veronica, but finds out some disturbing information. Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf as Sondra Huxtable, although mentioned.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Matt Williams

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  20. The Cosby Show Season 3 Episode 20 - Cliff's 50th Birthday
    7.0/10(155 votes)

    #20 - Cliff's 50th Birthday

    S3:E20

    Cliff's 50th birthday has all kinds of surprises.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. The Cosby Show Season 3 Episode 21 - I Know That You Know
    8.1/10(183 votes)

    #21 - I Know That You Know

    S3:E21

    When Sondra and Elvin announce their engagement, Clair and the children use the news to play a practical joke on Cliff, who launches a counter-offensive of his own. Geoffrey Owens as Elvin.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writers:Matt Williams, Carmen Finestra

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  22. The Cosby Show Season 3 Episode 22 - Andalusian Flu
    7.2/10(153 votes)

    #22 - Andalusian Flu

    S3:E22

    While Cliff and Clair have the flu, Theo tries to keep the house going.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Janet Leahy

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  23. The Cosby Show Season 3 Episode 23 - Bald and Beautiful
    7.2/10(165 votes)

    #23 - Bald and Beautiful

    S3:E23

    Cliff's Navy friend comes to visit. Cockroach shaves his head to be in a rock video. Robert Culp (Bill Cosby's co-star from the 1960s TV series I Spy) appears as Scott Kelly.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. The Cosby Show Season 3 Episode 24 - Planning Parenthood
    7.0/10(154 votes)

    #24 - Planning Parenthood

    S3:E24

    Clair's sister decides she wants to be a mother. Cliff takes Rudy and her friends out to eat at a fancy restaurant.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Oliver Hailey

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  25. The Cosby Show Season 3 Episode 25 - Hillman
    6.1/10(208 votes)

    #25 - Hillman

    S3:E25

    The Huxtable family goes to Hillman College to attend a ceremony in honor of its president's retirement. Guest appearance by Joe Seneca. Filmed at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. The episode serves as a backdoor pilot for the spinoff series A Different World, which premieres in the fall of 1987.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 3 Ratings Summary

"Bring 'em Back Alive" is the best rated episode of "The Cosby Show" season 3. It scored 7.3/10 based on 167 votes. Directed by Jay Sandrich and written by Matt Williams, it aired on 9/25/1986. This episode is rated 0.0 points higher than the second-best, "Food for Thought".