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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 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 5 Ratings Summary

The best episode of "The Cosby Show" season 5 is "Together Again and Again", rated 7.3/10 from 133 user votes. It was directed by Jay Sandrich and written by Carmen Finestra. "Together Again and Again" aired on 10/6/1988 and is rated 0.1 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "The Physical".

  • Together Again and Again
    7.3/10 133 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

  • The Physical
    7.4/10 133 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

  • Rudy's All-Nighter
    6.8/10 135 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

  • Move It (a.k.a. The Baby Game)
    7.3/10 138 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

  • Out of Brooklyn
    6.8/10 129 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

  • The Birth (1)
    7.2/10 144 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

  • The Birth (2)
    6.8/10 124 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

  • Cyranoise de Bergington
    6.8/10 142 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

  • How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall?
    7.3/10 147 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

  • If the Dress Fits, Wear It
    6.8/10 129 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

  • Is There a Hamster in the House?
    7.0/10 136 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

  • Truth or Consequences
    7.0/10 132 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

  • Cliff Babysits
    7.1/10 125 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

  • Mrs. Huxtable Goes to Kindergarten
    7.0/10 134 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

  • The Lost Weekend
    7.2/10 145 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

  • No Way, Baby
    6.8/10 126 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

  • Can I Say Something, Please?
    6.6/10 130 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

  • The Dead End Kids Meet Dr. Lotus
    6.4/10 124 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

  • The Boys of Winter
    6.6/10 122 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

  • It Comes and It Goes
    6.7/10 132 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

  • Theo's Women
    6.7/10 135 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

  • Birthday Blues
    7.0/10 129 votes

    #22 - Birthday Blues

    Season 5 Episode 22 - Aired 3/30/1989

    Clair's 46th birthday.

    Director: Jay Sandrich

    Writer: Carmen Finestra

  • A Room With No View
    6.6/10 120 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

  • What He Did for Love
    7.2/10 134 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

  • Day of the Locusts
    7.2/10 129 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