7.3/10134 votes#1 - Together Again and Again
Season 5 Episode 1 - Aired 10/6/1988
As Theo begins his freshman year at New York University, Denise announces that she is dropping out of Hillman College. Sondra is revealed to be pregnant. First mention of Cliff's theory that the children keep returning home because "they want the house."
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: Carmen Finestra
7.4/10134 votes#2 - The Physical
Season 5 Episode 2 - Aired 10/13/1988
Cliff prepares for a physical. John Amos as Dr. Bradley Herbert, Jr.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: Carmen Finestra
6.8/10137 votes#3 - Rudy's All-Nighter
Season 5 Episode 3 - Aired 10/20/1988
Rudy's friend sleeps over.
Director: N/A
Writer: Janet Leahy
7.3/10138 votes#4 - Move It (a.k.a. The Baby Game)
Season 5 Episode 4 - Aired 10/27/1988
Everyone wants pregnant Sondra and Elvin to find a new house. Elvin's surname, Tibideaux, is revealed.
Director: N/A
Writer: Carmen Finestra
6.8/10129 votes#5 - Out of Brooklyn
Season 5 Episode 5 - Aired 11/3/1988
Denise leaves Brooklyn for a job in Africa (Lisa Bonet's last appearance of Season 5).
Director: N/A
Writer: Carmen Finestra
7.2/10144 votes#6 - The Birth (1)
Season 5 Episode 6 - Aired 11/10/1988
Sondra goes into labor, and Elvin is a nervous wreck. Deon Richmond as Kenny. Michelle Thomas as Justine. First appearances of Reno Wilson as Howard, and Elizabeth Narvaez as Kara. Guest appearance by Naomi Campbell.
Director: N/A
Writer: Carmen Finestra
6.8/10124 votes#7 - The Birth (2)
Season 5 Episode 7 - Aired 11/10/1988
Sondra gives birth to twins—a boy and a girl—who are named after Nelson Mandela and his then-wife Winnie. Elvin decides to return to medical school.
Director: N/A
Writer: Carmen Finestra
6.8/10143 votes#8 - Cyranoise de Bergington
Season 5 Episode 8 - Aired 11/17/1988
Theo wants to date his friend Howard's ex-girlfriend, but he is stunned upon learning who she wants to date. Troy Winbush as Denny. Reno Wilson as Howard.
Director: Chuck Vinson
Writer: N/A
7.3/10148 votes#9 - How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall?
Season 5 Episode 9 - Aired 12/1/1988
Vanessa, Janet and Kara want to be professional singers; Russell wins a prize in a sweepstakes, which turns out to be a toaster. Pam Potillo as Janet. Elizabeth Narvaez as Kara. Guest appearance by singer Betty Carter.
Director: N/A
Writer: Janet Leahy
6.8/10129 votes#10 - If the Dress Fits, Wear It
Season 5 Episode 10 - Aired 12/8/1988
Clair secretly goes on a crash diet and exercise program to lose five pounds in a week so she can fit into a dress. Appearance by Debbie Allen; voice-over by Ahmad Rashād (Phylicia Rashād's sister and husband).
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: Carmen Finestra
7.0/10137 votes#11 - Is There a Hamster in the House?
Season 5 Episode 11 - Aired 12/15/1988
Rudy takes care of a friend's hamster for the weekend.
Director: N/A
Writer: Mark St. Germain
7.0/10132 votes#12 - Truth or Consequences
Season 5 Episode 12 - Aired 1/5/1989
Rudy lies to cover for Vanessa, who secretly goes out on a date with her older boyfriend.
Director: N/A
Writer: Carmen Finestra
7.1/10125 votes#13 - Cliff Babysits
Season 5 Episode 13 - Aired 1/12/1989
Cliff babysits Winnie and Nelson when the rest of the family goes to see a Michael Jackson concert.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.0/10135 votes#14 - Mrs. Huxtable Goes to Kindergarten
Season 5 Episode 14 - Aired 1/26/1989
Clair appears as a panelist on a local Sunday morning talk show entitled "Retrospective". Clair buys a new couch and Cliff tries to keep the old one. Clair's law firm is identified as Greentree, Bradley & Dexter.
Director: Chuck Vinson
Writer: Carmen Finestra
7.2/10146 votes#15 - The Lost Weekend
Season 5 Episode 15 - Aired 2/2/1989
With the rest of the family gone for the night, Theo throws a "small" party that gets out of control. Troy Winbush as Denny. Reno Wilson as Howard. First appearance of Alex Ruiz as Lou. Cameo appearance by Joie Lee. Phylicia Rashād (Clair), Malcolm-Jamal Warner (Theo), Tempestt Bledsoe (Vanessa), and Elizabeth Narvaez (Kara) appear on the episode of A Different World which airs later that evening.
Director: N/A
Writer: Carmen Finestra
6.8/10126 votes#16 - No Way, Baby
Season 5 Episode 16 - Aired 2/6/1989
Cliff tracks down the grandfather of one of his patients: an expectant teenage mother with no other family. Clair deduces that the charming man is illiterate. Guest appearance by Sammy Davis, Jr.
Director: N/A
Writer: Carmen Finestra
6.6/10133 votes#17 - Can I Say Something, Please?
Season 5 Episode 17 - Aired 2/9/1989
Rudy wants to change some of her rules. Voice-over by Ed McMahon (from The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson).
Director: N/A
Writer: Carmen Finestra
6.4/10124 votes#18 - The Dead End Kids Meet Dr. Lotus
Season 5 Episode 18 - Aired 2/16/1989
Theo consults a voodoo shopkeeper for advice on winning his girlfriend back. Troy Winbush as Denny. Reno Wilson as Howard. Alex Ruiz as Lou. Michelle Thomas as Justine. Guest appearances by Moses Gunn and Harold Perrineau.
Director: N/A
Writer: Carmen Finestra
6.6/10122 votes#19 - The Boys of Winter
Season 5 Episode 19 - Aired 2/23/1989
Cliff's old basketball friend comes to visit. Guest appearance by U.S. Senator (and former NBA basketball player) Bill Bradley.
Director: N/A
Writer: Carmen Finestra
6.7/10133 votes#20 - It Comes and It Goes
Season 5 Episode 20 - Aired 3/9/1989
Sondra bemoans taking care of the twins.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: N/A
6.7/10136 votes#21 - Theo's Women
Season 5 Episode 21 - Aired 3/16/1989
After catching Theo kissing another woman in the lounge of her dormitory, Justine breaks up with him. Desperate to win her back, Theo turns to Cliff for advice. Michelle Thomas as Justine. First appearance of Vanessa A. Williams as Jade.
Director: N/A
Writer: Mark St. Germain
7.0/10130 votes#22 - Birthday Blues
Season 5 Episode 22 - Aired 3/30/1989
Clair's 46th birthday.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: Carmen Finestra
6.6/10120 votes#23 - A Room With No View
Season 5 Episode 23 - Aired 4/13/1989
Vanessa and Rudy argue and fight. After the sisters do physical damage to the house, Cliff exiles them to the basement.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.2/10135 votes#24 - What He Did for Love
Season 5 Episode 24 - Aired 4/27/1989
Theo's friend Denny finds an expensive watch and gives it to his girlfriend, but it is soon revealed to be stolen merchandise. Troy Winbush as Denny. Alex Ruiz as Lou. Vanessa A. Williams as Jade.
Director: Chuck Vinson
Writer: Carmen Finestra
7.2/10129 votes#25 - Day of the Locusts
Season 5 Episode 25 - Aired 5/4/1989
Sondra comes down with strep throat, prompting her mother Clair and Elvin's mother Francine to "steal" the babies.
Director: Chuck Vinson
Writer: Carmen Finestra
The Best Episodes of The Cosby Show Season 5
Every episode of The Cosby Show Season 5 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Cosby Show Season 5!
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 5 Ratings Summary
"Together Again and Again" is the best rated episode of "The Cosby Show" season 5. It scored 7.3/10 based on 134 votes. Directed by Jay Sandrich and written by Carmen Finestra, it aired on 10/6/1988. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "The Physical".