Series overview[]
Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Season premiere | Season finale | |||
1 | 24 | September 20, 1984 | May 9, 1985 | |
2 | 25 | September 26, 1985 | May 15, 1986 | |
3 | 25 | September 25, 1986 | May 7, 1987 | |
4 | 23 | September 24, 1987 | April 28, 1988 | |
5 | 25 | October 6, 1988 | May 11, 1989 | |
6 | 26 | September 21, 1989 | May 3, 1990 | |
7 | 25 | September 20, 1990 | May 2, 1991 | |
8 | 23 | September 19, 1991 | April 30, 1992 |
Season 1 (1984–85)[]
- This season's opening credits features the Huxtable family playing sports in Central Park. Two versions of the show's theme song are used in this sequence. A long version of the show's theme is heard in the second and another episode, but a shortened version with a few bars taken out and with a different, though similar, style is used for the rest of the season. The show's theme, titled "Kiss Me", was composed by Stu Gardner and Bill Cosby.
- Sabrina Le Beauf appears in four episodes.
No. in
season |
No. in
series |
Title | Director | Writer(s) | Original air date | Production
code |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | "Pilot"
"Theo's Economic Lesson" |
Jay Sandrich | Ed. Weinberger and Michael Leeson | September 20, 1984 | 0101 |
2 | 2 | "Goodbye Mr. Fish" | Jay Sandrich | Earl Pomerantz | September 27, 1984 | 0102 |
3 | 3 | "Bad Dreams" | Jay Sandrich | John Markus | October 4, 1984 | 0103 |
4 | 4 | "Is That My Boy?" | Jay Sandrich | John Markus | October 11, 1984 | 0105 |
5 | 5 | "A Shirt Story" | Jay Sandrich | John Markus | October 18, 1984 | 0108 |
6 | 6 | "Breaking With Tradition" | Jay Sandrich | Earl Pomerantz | October 25, 1984 | 0106 |
7 | 7 | "One More Time" | Jay Sandrich | Earl Pomerantz | November 1, 1984 | 0107 |
8 | 8 | "Play It Again, Vanessa" | Jay Sandrich | Jerry Ross | November 8, 1984 | 0109 |
9 | 9 | "How Ugly Is He?" | Jay Sandrich | John Markus | November 15, 1984 | 0110 |
10 | 10 | "Bonjour, Sondra" | Jay Sandrich | Jerry Ross & Michael Loman | November 22, 1984 | 0111 |
11 | 11 | "Knight to Night"
"You're Not a Mother Night" |
Jay Sandrich | Karyl Geld Miller & Korby Siamis | December 6, 1984 | 0104 |
12 | 12 | "Rudy's Sick" | Jay Sandrich | Matt Williams | December 13, 1984 | 0113 |
13 | 13 | "Father's Day" | Jay Sandrich | John Markus & Elliot Shoenman | December 20, 1984 | 0112 |
14 | 14 | "Independence Day" | Jay Sandrich | Matt Robinson | January 10, 1985 | 0114 |
15 | 15 | "Physician of the Year" | Jay Sandrich | John Markus | January 17, 1985 | 0115 |
16 | 16 | "Jitterbug Break" | Jay Sandrich | Matt Williams | January 31, 1985 | 0116 |
17 | 17 | "Theo and the Joint" | Jay Sandrich | John Markus | February 7, 1985 | 0117 |
18 | 18 | "Vanessa's New Class" | Jay Sandrich | Matt Williams & Carmen Finestra | February 14, 1985 | 0118 |
19 | 19 | "Clair's Case" | Jay Sandrich | Winifred Hervey | February 21, 1985 | 0119 |
20 | 20 | "Back to the Track, Jack" | Jay Sandrich | Matt Robinson | February 28, 1985 | 0120 |
21 | 21 | "The Younger Woman" | Jay Sandrich | John Markus | March 14, 1985 | 0121 |
22 | 22 | "The Slumber Party" | Jay Sandrich | Carmen Finestra | March 28, 1985 | 0122 |
23 | 23 | "Mr. Quiet" | Jay Sandrich | Emily Tracy | May 2, 1985 | 0125 |
24 | 24 | "Cliff's Birthday" | Jay Sandrich | Elliot Shoenman & John Markus | May 9, 1985 | 0124 |
Season 2 (1985–86)[]
For this season, the opening credits changed from the Huxtables in the park to a gray room with the cast dancing. The song was changed for the first time keeping the show's theme signature and featured a sort of jazz tone. Each cast member, in descending age of their characters, dances alongside Cosby as his/her name is shown in the credits. Bill Cosby is seen at the end of the credits "dancing" to the music as the production credits appear and at the end, he quickly turns his head and looks into the camera before the sequence fades to black. Two versions of this theme were also used. Much like the season one theme, both versions of season two's theme song were completely different in sound than the other. The long version featured more of a synth beat than the short. Midway through the season, following her marriage to NBC sportscaster Ahmad Rashād, Phylicia Ayers-Allen's name in the opening credits is changed to "Phylicia Rashād". Producer Caryn Sneider's (who also got married) credit was also changed to read "Produced by Caryn Sneider Mandabach."
No. in
season |
No. in
series |
Title | Director | Writer(s) | Original air date | Production
code |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 25 | "First Day of School" | Jay Sandrich | John Markus & Elliot Shoenman | September 26, 1985 | 0201 |
2 | 26 | "The Juicer" | Jay Sandrich | Matt Williams | October 3, 1985 | 0204 |
3 | 27 | "Happy Anniversary" | Jay Sandrich | Elliot Shoenman | October 10, 1985 | 0203 |
4 | 28 | "Cliff in Love" | Jay Sandrich | John Markus | October 17, 1985 | 0205 |
5 | 29 | "Theo and the Older Woman" | Jay Sandrich | Carmen Finestra | October 24, 1985 | 0202 |
6 | 30 | "Halloween" | Jay Sandrich | Elliot Shoenman | October 31, 1985 | 0206 |
7 | 31 | "Rudy Suits Up" | Jay Sandrich | Gary Kott | November 7, 1985 | 0208 |
8 | 32 | "Denise Drives" | Jay Sandrich | Carmen Finestra | November 14, 1985 | 0207 |
9 | 33 | "Clair's Sister" | Jay Sandrich | Elliot Shoenman & John Markus | November 21, 1985 | 0209 |
10 | 34 | "Clair's Toe" | Jay Sandrich | Matt Williams | December 5, 1985 | 0211 |
11 | 35 | "Denise's Friend" | Jay Sandrich | John Markus | December 12, 1985 | 0213 |
12 | 36 | "Mrs. Westlake" | Jay Sandrich | Elliot Shoenman | January 2, 1986 | 0210 |
13 | 37 | "The Auction" | Jay Sandrich | Gary Kott | January 9, 1986 | 0214 |
14 | 38 | "Vanessa's Bad Grade" | Jay Sandrich | Ross Brown | January 16, 1986 | 0212 |
15 | 39 | "Theo and Cockroach" | Jay Sandrich | Thad Mumford | January 30, 1986 | 0215 |
16 | 40 | "The Dentist" | Jay Sandrich | Elliot Shoenman | February 2, 1986 | 0216 |
17 | 41 | "Play It Again, Russell" | Jay Sandrich | John Markus | February 13, 1986 | 0217 |
18 | 42 | "A Touch of Wonder" | Jay Sandrich | Mattt Williams | February 20, 1986 | 0218 |
19 | 43 | "Full House" | Jay Sandrich | Gary Kott | February 27, 1986 | 0219 |
20 | 44 | "Close to Home" | Jay Sandrich | Carmen Finestra | March 13, 1986 | 0220 |
21 | 45 | "An Early Spring" | Jay Sandrich | Matt Williams | March 20, 1986 | 0222 |
22 | 46 | "Theo's Holiday" | Jay Sandrich | John Markus & Carmen Finestra & Matt Williams | April 3, 1986 | 0221 |
23 | 47 | "The Card Game" | Jay Sandrich | Matt Robinson | April 10, 1986 | 0224 |
24 | 48 | "Off to the Races" | Jay Sandrich | Matt Williams | May 8, 1986 | 0225 |
25 | 49 | "Denise's Decision" | Jay Sandrich | Matt Robinson | May 15, 1986 | 0223 |
Season 3 (1986–87)[]
- This season's opening sequence featured the cast dancing to Latin jazz in a gray/blue room. Once again, Bill Cosby is seen at the end of the credits dancing to the music as the production credits appear and at the end, he quickly turns his head and looks into the camera before the sequence fades to black. Two versions of this theme were used. However, the season three theme's long version had some parts cut, instead of a differently composed version of that theme.
- Phylicia Rashād was pregnant throughout much of this season, so the crew hid her stomach for most of the season, using such devices as staging the character standing behind the kitchen counter or lying in bed under the covers.
No. in
season |
No. in
series |
Title | Directors | Writer(s) | Original air date | Production
code |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 50 | "Bring 'Em Back Alive" | Jay Sandrich | Matt Williams | September 25, 1986 | 0301 |
2 | 51 | "Food for Thought" | Jay Sandrich | John Markus | October 2, 1986 | 0302 |
3 | 52 | "Golden Anniversary" | Jay Sandrich | Carmen Finestra | October 9, 1986 | 0303 |
4 | 53 | "Man Talk" | Jay Sandrich | John Markus | October 16, 1986 | 0305 |
5 | 54 | "Mother, May I?" | Jay Sandrich | Susan Fales | October 23, 1986 | 0304 |
6 | 55 | "The March" | Tony Singletary | Gary Kott | October 30, 1986 | 0306 |
7 | 56 | "Theo's Flight" | Tony Singletary | Gary Kott | November 6, 1986 | 0307 |
8 | 57 | "Vanessa's Rich" | Tony Singletary | Margaret Beddow Hatch | November 13, 1986 | 0308 |
9 | 58 | "Denise Gets a D" | Jay Sandrich | Matt Geller | November 20, 1986 | 0309 |
10 | 59 | "A Girl and Her Dog" | Jay Sandrich | Chris Auer | December 4, 1986 | 0312 |
11 | 60 | "War Stories" | Jay Sandrich | Matt Robinson | December 11, 1986 | 0310 |
12 | 61 | "Cliff in Charge" | Jay Sandrich | Matt Williams | December 18, 1986 | 0311 |
13 | 62 | "Monster Man Huxtable" | Jay Sandrich | Gary Kott | January 8, 1987 | 0313 |
14 | 63 | "Rudy Spends the Night" | Jay Sandrich | Carmen Finestra | January 15, 1987 | 0314 |
15 | 64 | "Say Hello to a Good Buy" | Tony Singletary | John Markus & Carmen Finestra & Matt Williams | January 22, 1987 | 0315 |
16 | 65 | "Denise Gets an Opinion" | Tony Singletary | Gary Kott | February 5, 1987 | 0316 |
17 | 66 | "Calling Doctor Huxtable" | Jay Sandrich | Chris Auer | February 12, 1987 | 0317 |
18 | 67 | "You Only Hurt the One You Love" | Jay Sandrich | John Markus & Carmen Finestra | February 19, 1987 | 0318 |
19 | 68 | "The Shower" | Jay Sandrich | Matt Williams | February 26, 1987 | 0319 |
20 | 69 | "Cliff's 50th Birthday" | Carl Lauten & Regge Life | Gary Kott | March 12, 1987 | 0320 |
21 | 70 | "I Know That You Know" | Jay Sandrich | John Markus & Carmen Finestra & Matt Williams | March 19, 1987 | 0321 |
22 | 71 | "The Andalusian Flu" | Jay Sandrich | Janet Leahy | April 2, 1987 | 0322 |
23 | 72 | "Bald and Beautiful" | Tony Singletary | Gary Kott | April 9, 1987 | 0324 |
24 | 73 | "Planning Parenthood" | Jay Sandrich | Elizabeth Hailey & Oliver Hailey | April 30, 1987 | 0326 |
25 | 74 | "Hillman" | Jay Sandrich | Matt Robinson | May 7, 1987 | 0325 |
Season 4 (1987–88)[]
This season's opening sequence features the cast dancing happily to vocal funk/jazz. The vocals were sung by Bobby McFerrin. Bill Cosby is seen at the end of the credits dancing to the music as the producer credits appear and at the end, he quickly turns his head, takes off his top hat and looks into the camera before the sequence cuts to black. Unlike the first three seasons, the opening credits featured the cast wearing some formal '30s-style clothing with Bill Cosby wearing a top hat and tails, Tempestt Bledsoe wearing a Navy uniform similar to what performers would wear when performing to the troops in the USO. Malcolm-Jamal Warner wore a business suit and is seen looking at his watch then starts tapping his feet, etc. Geoffrey Owens (Elvin Tibideaux) is introduced to the regular cast by Cosby leading him into Sabrina LeBeauf's credit scene, symbolizing Heathcliff Huxtable "giving away" his daughter Sondra to her new husband. Before the producer credits appear, Bill Cosby is briefly seen holding a picture of Lisa Bonet (Denise). Bonet does not appear as a regular this season, having departed for the spinoff series, A Different World.
No. in
season |
No. in
series |
Title | Director | Writer(s) | Original air date | Production
code |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 75 | "Call of the Wild" | Jay Sandrich | Gary Kott | September 24, 1987 | 0402 |
2 | 76 | "Theogate" | Jay Sandrich | John Markus | October 1, 1987 | 0401 |
3 | 77 | "It Ain't Easy Being Green" | Carl Lauten & Regge Life | John Markus & Carmen Finestra | October 8, 1987 | 0408 |
4 | 78 | "Cliff's Mistake" | Carl Lauten & Regge Life | Janet Leahy | October 15, 1987 | 0405 |
5 | 79 | "Shakespeare" | Jay Sandrich | Matt Robinson | October 22, 1987 | 0323 |
6 | 80 | "That's Not What I Said" | Jay Sandrich | Carmen Finestra | October 29, 1987 | 0403 |
7 | 81 | "Autumn Gifts" | Carl Lauten & Regge Life | Matt Williams | November 5, 1987 | 0404 |
8/9 | 82/83 | "Looking Back" | Jay Sandrich | John Markus & Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott | November 12, 1987 | 0413 |
10 | 84 | "Where's Rudy?" | Tony Singletary | Gary Kott | November 19, 1987 | 0409 |
11 | 85 | "Dance Mania" | Tony Singletary | Matt Williams | December 3, 1987 | 0410 |
12 | 86 | "The Locker Room" | Jay Sandrich | Janet Leahy | December 10, 1987 | 0406 |
13 | 87 | "The Show Must Go On" | Jay Sandrich | John Markus & Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott | December 17, 1987 | 0414 |
14 | 88 | "Bookworm" | Jay Sandrich | Janet Leahy | January 7, 1988 | 0411 |
15 | 89 | "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" | Carl Lauten & Chuck Vinson | Teleplay: John Markus & Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott
Story: Chris Auer and John Markus & Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott |
January 14, 1988 | 0407 |
16 | 90 | "The Visit" | Regge Life | John Markus & Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott | January 21, 1988 | 0416 |
17 | 91 | "The Drum Major" | Regge Life | Matt Robinson | February 4, 1988 | 0412 |
18 | 92 | "Waterworks" | Tony Singletary | Janet Leahy | February 11, 1988 | 0417 |
19 | 93 | "Once Upon a Time" | Tony Singletary | John Markus & Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott | February 18, 1988 | 0415 |
20 | 94 | "Petanque" | Regge Life | Matt Williams | February 25, 1988 | 0418 |
21 | 95 | "Trust Me" | Jay Sandrich | John Markus & Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott | March 3, 1988 | 0420 |
22 | 96 | "Home for the Weekend" | Tony Singletary | John Markus & Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott | March 17, 1988 | 0421 |
23 | 97 | "The Prom" | Tony Singletary | Janet Leahy | March 24, 1988 | 0422 |
24 | 98 | "Gone Fishin'" | Tony Singletary | John Markus & Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott | April 28, 1988 | 0419 |
Season 5 (1988–89)[]
The opening sequence in this season features the cast dancing on a veranda in Caribbean-style clothing, to music written by James DePreist, and performed by the Oregon Symphony Orchestra. This opening credit sequence, choreographed by Geoffrey Holder, is the only one during the series' entire run that featured the whole cast dancing together. There is only one version of the theme used for this season, much like in season four. There is no closing theme version of this orchestration of the theme, instead a funk/jazz version of the theme was used as the closing theme this season.
No. in
season |
No. in
series |
Title | Director | Writer(s) | Original air date | Production
code |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 99 | "Together Again and Again" | Jay Sandrich | Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott & John Markus | October 6, 1988 | 0501 |
2 | 100 | "The Physical" | Jay Sandrich | Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott & John Markus | October 13, 1988 | 0502 |
3 | 101 | "Rudy's All-Nighter" | Tony Singletary | Janet Leahy | October 20, 1988 | 0505 |
4 | 102 | "Move It"
"The Baby Game" |
Tony Singletary | Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott & John Markus | October 27, 1988 | 0503 |
5 | 103 | "Out of Brooklyn" | Tony Singletary | Carmen Finestra & John Markus | November 3, 1988 | 0504 |
6/7 | 104/105 | "The Birth" | Tony Singletary | Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott & John Markus | November 10, 1988 | 0506 |
8 | 106 | "Cyranoise de Bergington" | Carl Lauten & Chuck Vinson | Gary Kott & John Markus | November 17, 1988 | 0507 |
9 | 107 | "How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall?" | Tony Singletary | Janet Leahy | November 24, 1988 | 0508 |
10 | 108 | "If the Dress Fits, Wear It" | Jay Sandrich | Carmen Finestra & John Markus | December 8, 1988 | 0509 |
11 | 109 | "Is There a Hamster in the House?" | Tony Singletary | Mark St. Germain | December 15, 1988 | 0510 |
12 | 110 | "Truth or Consequences" | Tony Singletary | Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott & John Markus | January 5, 1989 | 0512 |
13 | 111 | "Cliff Babysits" | Tony Singletary | Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott & John Markus | January 12, 1989 | 0511 |
14 | 112 | "Mrs. Huxtable Goes to Kindergarten" | Carl Lauten & Chuck Vinson | Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott & John Markus | January 26, 1989 | 0514 |
15 | 113 | "The Lost Weekend" | Tony Singletary | Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott & John Markus | February 2, 1989 | 0513 |
16 | 114 | "No Way, Baby" | Tony Singletary | Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott & John Markus | February 6, 1989 | 0517 |
17 | 115 | "Can I Say Something, Please?" | Tony Singletary | Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott & John Markus | February 9, 1989 | 0516 |
18 | 116 | "The Dead End Kids Meet Dr. Lotus" | Tony Singletary | Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott & John Markus | February 16, 1989 | 0515 |
19 | 117 | "The Boys of Winter" | Tony Singletary | Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott & John Markus | February 23, 1989 | 0519 |
20 | 118 | "It Comes and It Goes" | Jay Sandrich | Gary Kott & John Markus | March 9, 1989 | 0518 |
21 | 119 | "Theo's Women" | Tony Singletary | Mark St. Germain | March 16, 1989 | 0520 |
22 | 120 | "Birthday Blues" | Jay Sandrich | Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott | March 30, 1989 | 0521 |
23 | 121 | "A Room With No View" | Tony Singletary | Gary Kott & John Markus | April 13, 1989 | 0522 |
24 | 122 | "What He Did for Love" | Carl Lauten & Chuck Vinson | Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott & John Markus | April 27, 1989 | 0523 |
25 | 123 | "Day of the Locusts" | Chuck Vinson | Carmen Finestra & John Markus | May 4, 1989 | 0524 |
26 | 124 | "57 Varieties" | Chuck Vinson | Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott & John Markus | May 11, 1989 | 0525 |
Season 6 (1989–1990)[]
In the opening sequence for seasons 6 and 7, the cast danced on a stage whose backdrop displayed the marquee of the Apollo Theater in Harlem. A classical jazz arrangement, featuring Craig Handy on saxophone, was used for the theme, which sounds very similar to "Shotgun" by Junior Walker and the All-Stars. When the credits ended, instead of looking at the camera, Cosby walked off the stage and commented, "This is the best elevator music I've ever heard!" This line was cut out of the credits when they were re-used the following year.
No. in
season |
No. in
series |
Title | Director | Writer(s) | Original air date | Production
code |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 125 | "Denise: The Saga Continues" | Tony Singletary | Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott & John Markus | September 21, 1989 | 0601 |
2 | 126 | "Surf's Up" | Tony Singletary | Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott & John Markus | September 28, 1989 | 0602 |
3 | 127 | "I'm 'In' With the 'In' Crowd" | Tony Singletary | Carmen Finestra, Gary Kott & John Markus | October 5, 1989 | 0603 |
4 | 128 | "Denise Kendall: Navy Wife" | Tony Singletary | Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott & John Markus | October 12, 1989 | 0605 |
5 | 129 | "Theo's Gift" | Jay Sandrich | Mark St. Germain | October 19, 1989 | 0604 |
6 | 130 | "Denise Kendall: Babysitter" | Tony Singletary | Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott & John Markus | October 26, 1989 | 0606 |
7 | 131 | "Shall We Dance?" | Jay Sandrich | Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott & John Markus | November 2, 1989 | 0607 |
8 | 132 | "The Day the Spores Landed" | Neema Barnette | Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott & John Markus | November 9, 1989 | 0608 |
9 | 133 | "Cliff's Wet Adventure" | Jay Sandrich | Carmen Finestra & John Markus | November 16, 1989 | 0610 |
10 | 134 | "Grampy and Nu-Nu Visit the Huxtables" | Tony Singletary | Gary Kott & John Markus | November 30, 1989 | 0609 |
11 | 135 | "Cliff la Douce" | Jay Sandrich | Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott | December 7, 1989 | 0611 |
12 | 136 | "Getting to Know You" | Tony Singletary | Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott & John Markus | December 14, 1989 | 0612 |
13 | 137 | "Elvin Pays for Dinner" | Jay Sandrich | Gary Kott & John Markus | January 4, 1990 | 0613 |
14 | 138 | "Cliff's Nightmare" | Tony Singletary | Teleplay by: Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott & John Markus
Story by:Jeff Lewis & Bill Prady |
January 11, 1990 | 0526 |
15 | 139 | "Denise Kendall: Singles Counselor" | Tony Singletary | Carmen Finestra & John Markus | January 18, 1990 | 0614 |
16 | 140 | "The Birthday Party" | Tony Singletary | Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott & John Markus | January 25, 1990 | 0615 |
17 | 141 | "Not Everybody Loves the Blues" | Chuck Vinson | Mark St. Germain | February 1, 1990 | 0616 |
18 | 142 | "Rudy's Walk on the Wild Side" | Jay Sandrich | Lore Kimbrough & Ehrich Van Lowe | February 8, 1990 | 0617 |
19 | 143 | "The Cosby Outtakes Show" | Chuck Vinson | Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott & John Markus | February 12, 1990 | 0618 |
20 | 144 | "Mr. Sandman" | Tony Singletary | Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott & John Markus | February 15, 1990 | 0619 |
21 | 145 | "Isn't It Romantic?" | Tony Singletary | Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott & John Markus | February 22, 1990 | 0620 |
22 | 146 | "Theo's Dirty Laundry" | Jay Sandrich | Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott & John Markus | March 15, 1990 | 0621 |
23 | 147 | "What's It All About?" | Jay Sandrich | Carmen Finestra & John Markus | March 22, 1990 | 0622 |
24 | 148 | "Off to See the Wretched" | Carl Lauten & Malcolm-Jamal Warner | Mark St. Germain | April 5, 1990 | 0623 |
25 | 149 | "The Moves" | Tony Singletary | Mark St. Germain | April 19, 1990 | 0624 |
26 | 150 | "Live and Learn" | Tony Singletary | Matt Robinson | April 26, 1990 | 0625 |
27 | 151 | "The Storyteller" | Carl Lauten | Lore Kimbrough | May 3, 1990 | 0626 |
Season 7 (1990-91)[]
- This season's credit sequence originally was to use a mural entitled "Street of Dreams," painted by inner-city youth from the Creative Arts Workshop in Harlem, for the opening credits. The producers wound up discarding the idea when their lawyers said that in order to use the mural they would have to get permission from all 63 young artists first. Instead, the show developed its own mural which combined some of the elements and used many of the colors of the actual one. The owners of the mural threatened to sue and denounced the show for ripping off the children. Carsey-Werner tried to negotiate a settlement with Creative Arts Workshop, but Bill Cosby decided to replace the theme with the season six's opening credits. Only four episodes featured the original opening credits, and only a few cities saw this version.[3] In all other areas in first-run and repeats as well as in syndication, only the replaced sequence was used. Lisa Bonet and Joseph C. Phillips were in the credits still but they only appeared in less than a handful of episodes during the season. New cast member Erika Alexander was featured in the original Season 7 sequence, but only her name and role is listed in the replacement sequence. The spoken phrase "This is the best elevator music I've ever heard!" was removed as well in the intro, except for one episode in 1991.
- Throughout this season, Cosby was often seen wearing a small black button with the letters "SD Jr." – as a tribute to Sammy Davis, Jr., who died in May 1990.
No. in
season |
No. in
series |
Title | Director | Writer(s) | Original air date | Production
code |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 152 | "Same Time Next Year" | Jay Sandrich | Ehrich Van Lowe | September 20, 1990 | 0701 |
2 | 153 | "Bird in the Hand" | Jay Sandrich | Steve Kline & Bryan Winter | September 27, 1990 | 0702 |
3 | 154 | "Last Barbecue" | Ellen Falcon | Bernie Kukoff & Janet Leahy | October 4, 1990 | 0704 |
4 | 155 | "Period of Adjustment" | Ellen Falcon | Gordon Gartrelle & Lore Kimbrough | October 11, 1990 | 0703 |
5 | 156 | "It's All in the Game" | Neema Barnette | Janet Leahy & Bryan Winter | October 18, 1990 | 0706 |
6 | 157 | "Getting the Story" | Ellen Falcon | Teleplay by: Lore Kimbrough & Janet Leahy
Story by:Mark St. Germain |
October 25, 1990 | 0705 |
7/8 | 158/159 | "Just Thinking About It" | Jay Sandrich | Bernie Kukoff & Ehrich Van Lowe | November 1, 1990 | 0707-0708 |
9 | 160 | "The Infantry Has Landed (and They've Fallen Off the Roof)" | John Bowab | Gordon Gartrelle & Lore Kimbrough & Janet Leahy | November 8, 1990 | 0712 |
10 | 161 | "You Can Go Home Again" | Oz Scott | Lore Kimbrough & Steve Kline & Bernie Kukoff | November 15, 1990 | 0709 |
11 | 162 | "It's a Boy" | Chuck Vinson | Bernie Kukoff & Ehrich Van Lowe | November 29, 1990 | 0710 |
12 | 163 | "Clair's Liberation" | John Bowab | Bernie Kukoff & Ehrich Van Lowe | December 6, 1990 | 0713 |
13 | 164 | "It's Your Move" | Jay Sandrich | Steve Kline & Bryan Winter | December 13, 1990 | 0714 |
14 | 165 | "Theo's Final Final" | Neema Barnette | Elaine Arata | January 3, 1991 | 0715 |
15 | 166 | "Attack of the Killer B's" | Art Dielhenn | Elaine Arata & Lore Kimbrough | January 10, 1991 | 0717 |
16 | 167 | "Total Control" | Jay Sandrich | Bernie Kukoff & Ehrich Van Lowe | January 31, 1991 | 0718 |
17 | 168 | "Adventures in Babysitting" | Oz Scott | Steve Kline | February 7, 1991 | 0719 |
18 | 169 | "27 and Still Cooking" | Neema Barnette | Gordon Gartrelle & Janet Leahy | February 14, 1991 | 0716 |
19 | 170 | "The Return of the Clairettes" | Neema Barnette | Lisa Albert | February 21, 1991 | 0720 |
20 | 171 | "No More Mr. Nice Guy" | Jay Sandrich | Steve Kline & Bryan Winter | February 28, 1991 | 0711 |
21 | 172 | "Home Remedies" | Jay Sandrich | Mark St. Germain | March 7, 1991 | 0722 |
22 | 173 | "Nightmare on Stigwood Avenue" | Carl Lauten & Malcolm-Jamal Warner | Lore Kimbrough & Steve Kline | March 21, 1991 | 0723 |
23 | 174 | "There's Still No Joy in Mudville" | Carl Lauten | Gordon Gartrelle & Matt Robinson | April 4, 1991 | 0721 |
24 | 175 | "Cliff and Jake" | Jay Sandrich | Mark St. Germain | April 11, 1991 | 0627 |
25 | 176 | "Theo and the Kids: Part 1" | John Bowab | Bernie Kukoff & Ehrich Van Lowe | April 25, 1991 | 0724 |
26 | 177 | "Theo and the Kids: Part 2" | John Bowab | Bernie Kukoff & Ehrich Van Lowe | May 2, 1991 | 0725 |
Season 8 (1991-92)[]
- The mural "Street of Dreams," painted by inner-city youth from the Creative Arts Workshop in Harlem, was finally used full-time in season eight. The cast now danced in the sequence to a Hip-Hop blend that featured Lester Bowie on trumpet. The scenes of Bonet and Phillips in the original opening sequence were removed. After the controversy from the previous season, the producers gave recognition to the painters of the original mural in the closing credits. Malcolm-Jamal Warner wore glasses in this set of opening credits, but not in any episodes. At the end of the sequence, like he did in other seasons, Cosby turns his head and looks into the camera. A few episodes from season seven used this opening, albeit with Lisa Bonet and Joseph C. Philips in the opening credits, and at the end of the sequence, Bill Cosby would walk off and say, "Yo, chill out! Don't put your face in the mud, Pally!".
- The final episode "And So We Commence" features an extended sequence, with clips of each cast member dancing from the opening credits of every season (except season 1, which did not have dancing in the opening credits).
- A running gag throughout this season involves the house's front doorbell, which malfunctions in a variety of bizarre ways despite Cliff's attempts to fix it.
No. in
season |
No. in
series |
Title | Director | Writer(s) | Original air date | Production
code |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 178 | "With This Ring?" | John Bowab | Adriana Trigiani | September 19, 1991 | 0801 |
2 | 179 | "There's No Place Like This Home" | John Bowab | Gordon Gartrelle & Janet Leahy | September 26, 1991 | 0802 |
3 | 180 | "Particles in Motion" | John Bowab | Teleplay by: Adriana Trigiani
Story by: Adriana Trigiani & Linda M. Yearwood |
October 3, 1991 | 0804 |
4 | 181 | "Pam Applies to College" | John Bowab | Walter Allen Bennett, Jr. | October 10, 1991 | 0803 |
5 | 182 | "Warning: A Double-Lit Candle Can Cause a Meltdown" | Malcolm-Jamal Warner | Walter Allen Bennett, Jr. | October 17, 1991 | 0808 |
6 | 183 | "It's Apparent to Everyone" | Neema Barnette | Hugh O'Neill | October 24, 1991 | 0805 |
7 | 184 | "The Iceman Bricketh" | Carl Lauten | Courtney Flavin & Hugh O'Neill & Adriana Trigiani | October 31, 1991 | 0807 |
8 | 185 | "Olivia's Field Trip" | John Bowab | Courtney Flavin | November 7, 1991 | 0806 |
9 | 186 | "For Men Only" | John Bowab | Walter Allen Bennett, Jr. | November 14, 1991 | 0809 |
10 | 187 | "Olivia Comes Out of the Closet" | John Bowab | Kathleen McGhee-Anderson | November 21, 1991 | 0812 |
11 | 188 | "Two Is a Crowd" | Jay Sandrich | Gordon Gartrelle & Janet Leahy | December 5, 1991 | 0810 |
12 | 189 | "Clair's Place" | John Bowab | Adriana Trigiani | December 19, 1991 | 0813 |
13 | 190 | "Theo's Future" | Jay Sandrich | Teleplay by: Gordon Gartrelle & Janet Leahy & Hugh O'Neill
Story by: Hugh O'Neill |
January 2, 1992 | 0814 |
14 | 191 | "The Price Is Wrong" | Malcolm-Jamal Warner | Gordon Gartrelle & Janet Leahy | January 9, 1992 | 0815 |
15 | 192 | "Bring Me the Lip Gloss of Deirdre Arpelle" | John Bowab | Courtney Flavin | January 16, 1992 | 0816 |
16 | 193 | "Eat, Drink and Be Wary" | Carl Lauten & Malcolm-Jamal Warner | Jill Condon & Leslie Strain | January 30, 1992 | 0726 |
17 | 194 | "The Getaway" | Chuck Vinson | Hugh O'Neill | February 6, 1992 | 0817 |
18 | 195 | "Cliff Gets Jilted" | John Bowab | Stuart Silverman | February 6, 1992 | 0818 |
19 | 196 | "Cliff and Theo Come Clean" | John Bowab | Adriana Trigiani | February 13, 1992 | 0819 |
20 | 197 | "Clair's Reunion" | Carl Lauten & Anne-Louise Wallace | Marcia L. Leslie | February 20, 1992 | 0820 |
21 | 198 | "Rudy's Retreat" | Carl Lauten & Maynard C. Virgil I | Lisa S. Benjamin & Nina Combs | February 27, 1992 | 0821 |
22 | 199 | "You Can't Stop the Music" | Alan Smithee | Gardenia Gabrielle & Ben Gramin | March 26, 1992 | 0811 |
23 | 200 | "Some Gifts Aren't Deductible" | John Bowab | Courtney Flavin | April 23, 1992 | 0822 |
24/25 | 201/202 | "And So We Commence" | Jay Sandrich | Courtney Flavin, Gordon Gartrelle, Janet Leahy & Hugh O'Neill | April 30, 1992 | 0823-0824 |