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The Worst Episodes of The Cosby Show

Every episode of The Cosby Show ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of The Cosby Show!

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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 Worst Episode
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    The Cosby Show Season 8 Episode 22 - You Can't Stop the Music
    5.6/10(132 votes)

    #1 - You Can't Stop the Music

    S8:E22

    Cliff and Clair go to a local radio station for a live salsa performance. Kenny babysits Olivia.

    Director:Alan Smithee
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. The Cosby Show Season 4 Episode 18 - Once Upon a Time
    5.8/10(162 votes)

    #2 - Once Upon a Time

    S4:E18

    Rudy writes a fairy tale, and the colorful story is acted out in her fantasy. Members of the family play the roles of a village full of happy people and a mean group that ruins their fun. At the end of the episode, Rudy declares that when she becomes "president of the world", she will put a stop to all mean people. Cliff and Clair proceed to watch news reports of weapons' testing and bombings, and urge her to "hurry, because we need you right now." Earle Hyman as Russell.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Carmen Finestra

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  3. The Cosby Show Season 6 Episode 8 - The Day the Spores Landed
    5.9/10(175 votes)

    #3 - The Day the Spores Landed

    S6:E8

    Cliff dreams that men worldwide have become pregnant -- including his son Theo, his sons-in-law Elvin and Martin, and himself. Voice-over by NBC News correspondent John Palmer.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Carmen Finestra

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  4. The Cosby Show Season 8 Episode 13 - Theo's Future
    5.9/10(125 votes)

    #4 - Theo's Future

    S8:E13

    Theo is accepted to graduate school at NYU, but faces a tough decision when he is unexpectedly offered a chance to interview for a corporate job in San Francisco.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Janet Leahy

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  5. The Cosby Show Season 8 Episode 14 - The Price Is Wrong
    5.9/10(127 votes)

    #5 - The Price Is Wrong

    S8:E14

    Pam, Lance, Charmaine, and a group of senior citizens protest a grocery chain that gives preferential treatment to customers in wealthier neighborhoods.

    Director:Malcolm-Jamal Warner
    Writer:Janet Leahy

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  6. The Cosby Show Season 7 Episode 22 - There's Still No Joy in Mudville
    6.0/10(131 votes)

    #6 - There's Still No Joy in Mudville

    S7:E22

    Cliff goes bowling with his friends.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. The Cosby Show Season 8 Episode 23 - Some Gifts Aren't Deductible
    6.0/10(120 votes)

    #7 - Some Gifts Aren't Deductible

    S8:E23

    Kenny turns to Rudy and Cliff for help after lying to his girlfriend about plans for her birthday party. Cliff and Clair work on their income tax return.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. The Cosby Show Season 6 Episode 26 - The Storyteller
    6.1/10(141 votes)

    #8 - The Storyteller

    S6:E26

    "Gram Tee", Cliff's 98 year old great aunt, comes to visit the family.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Lore Kimbrough

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  9. The Cosby Show Season 7 Episode 21 - Nightmare on Stigwood Avenue
    6.1/10(134 votes)

    #9 - Nightmare on Stigwood Avenue

    S7:E21

    Rudy has a nightmare about Olivia always getting her way.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Lore Kimbrough

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  10. The Cosby Show Season 8 Episode 4 - Pam Applies to College
    6.1/10(127 votes)

    #10 - Pam Applies to College

    S8:E4

    Pam begins to realize that, because of her below average grades earlier in high school, she will not be able to attend the same college as her best friend.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. The Cosby Show Season 3 Episode 25 - Hillman
    6.2/10(209 votes)

    #11 - 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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  12. The Cosby Show Season 6 Episode 14 - Cliff's Nightmare
    6.2/10(173 votes)

    #12 - Cliff's Nightmare

    S6:E14

    Guest appearance by The Muppets (Performed by Jerry Nelson, Dave Goelz, Richard Hunt, and Kevin Clash.) Voice-over by Wallace Shawn.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Carmen Finestra

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  13. The Cosby Show Season 7 Episode 10 - It's a Boy
    6.2/10(118 votes)

    #13 - It's a Boy

    S7:E10

    The husband of one of Cliff's patients worries that he will be a poor father because he has no athletic ability. After Pam breaks up with Slide, she and the class brain are attracted to each other.

    Director:Chuck Vinson
    Writer:Ehrich Van Lowe

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  14. The Cosby Show Season 8 Episode 15 - Bring Me the Lip Gloss of Deirdre Arpelle
    6.2/10(123 votes)

    #14 - Bring Me the Lip Gloss of Deirdre Arpelle

    S8:E15

    Kenny pretends that he is dating another girl, in order to make Rudy jealous and force Stanley out of the picture.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. The Cosby Show Season 8 Episode 10 - Olivia Comes Out of the Closet
    6.3/10(123 votes)

    #15 - Olivia Comes Out of the Closet

    S8:E10

    Olivia tries to delay Martin's return to Asia.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. The Cosby Show Season 1 Episode 23 - Mr. Quiet
    6.4/10(205 votes)

    #16 - Mr. Quiet

    S1:E23

    Cliff, Clair, and the Huxtable clan volunteer at a local community center. There, a battered boy tries to find help, and the owner—Tony Castillo—does his best to lend assistance.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. The Cosby Show Season 5 Episode 18 - The Boys of Winter
    6.4/10(132 votes)

    #17 - The Boys of Winter

    S5:E18

    Cliff's old basketball friend comes to visit.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Carmen Finestra

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  18. The Cosby Show Season 8 Episode 8 - Olivia's Field Trip
    6.4/10(123 votes)

    #18 - Olivia's Field Trip

    S8:E8

    Cliff chaperones Olivia's field trip to the museum; Theo falls victim to a scammer while ordering T-shirts for the community center.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. The Cosby Show Season 8 Episode 19 - Cliff and Theo Come Clean
    6.4/10(125 votes)

    #19 - Cliff and Theo Come Clean

    S8:E19

    Theo decides to turn down the corporate job in San Francisco and attend graduate school in New York. One of the students at the community center finds $600.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Adriana Trigiani

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  20. The Cosby Show Season 4 Episode 3 - It's Not Easy Being Green
    6.5/10(156 votes)

    #20 - It's Not Easy Being Green

    S4:E3

    Rudy wants to wear summer clothes in winter to a party, while Cliff tries to get rid of an old water heater.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Carmen Finestra

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  21. The Cosby Show Season 7 Episode 6 - Getting the Story
    6.5/10(119 votes)

    #21 - Getting the Story

    S7:E6

    Rudy and Kenny do a video project.

    Director:Unknown
    Writers:Lore Kimbrough, Janet Leahy

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  22. The Cosby Show Season 7 Episode 13 - Theo's Final Final
    6.5/10(120 votes)

    #22 - Theo's Final Final

    S7:E13

    Theo will make the dean's list if he gets an A on his final, but a beautiful exchange student planning to leave the next day for Barbados distracts him. Vanessa A. Williams appears (now portraying Cheryl).

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Elaine Arata

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  23. The Cosby Show Season 7 Episode 19 - No More Mr. Nice Guy
    6.5/10(120 votes)

    #23 - No More Mr. Nice Guy

    S7:E19

    Theo's friend Denny thinks his girlfriend is cheating on him.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. The Cosby Show Season 7 Episode 23 - Cliff and Jake
    6.5/10(127 votes)

    #24 - Cliff and Jake

    S7:E23

    Clair tries to prevent Cliff from buying a new appliance from his friend Jake.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Mark St. Germain

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  25. The Cosby Show Season 8 Episode 6 - It's Apparent to Everyone
    6.5/10(128 votes)

    #25 - It's Apparent to Everyone

    S8:E6

    Winnie and Nelson drive Cliff and Clair crazy around the house while Elvin and Sondra wait to move into their new house.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Worst Episodes Summary

"You Can't Stop the Music" is the worst rated episode of "The Cosby Show". It scored 5.6/10 based on 132 votes. Directed by Alan Smithee and written by Unknown, it aired on 3/26/1992. This episode scored 0.2 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Once Upon a Time".