This page contains a list of episodes for the fourth season of the NBC-TV sitcom The Cosby Show. The series aired from September 20, 1984 to April 30, 1992 with 201 episodes produced spanning eight seasons.
Series overview []
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | DVD set release dates | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season premiere | Season finale | Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 | |||
| 1 | 24 | September 20, 1984 | May 9, 1985 | August 2, 2005
January 21, 2014 (re-release) |
May 19, 2008 | October 4, 2006 | |
| 2 | 25 | September 26, 1985 | May 15, 1986 | March 7, 2006
January 21, 2014 (re-release) |
August 25, 2008 | February 7, 2007 | |
| 3 | 25 | September 25, 1986 | May 7, 1987 | June 5, 2007 | October 13, 2008 | April 4, 2007 | |
| 4 | 24 | September 24, 1987 | April 28, 1988 | June 5, 2007 | February 9, 2009 | November 7, 2007 | |
| 5 | 26 | October 6, 1988 | May 11, 1989 | November 6, 2007 | -- | March 5, 2008 | |
| 6 | 27 | September 24, 1989 | May 3, 1990 | November 6, 2007 | -- | July 9, 2008 | |
| 7 | 26 | September 20, 1990 | May 2, 1991 | April 8, 2008 | -- | January 13, 2010 | |
| 8 | 25 | September 19, 1991 | April 30, 1992 | April 8, 2008 | -- | January 13, 2010 | |
Season 4 (1987–88)[]
- This season comprises 24 episodes
- Bill Cosby, Phylicia Rashād, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Tempestt Bledsoe and Keshia Knight Pulliam appear in all the episodes
- Geoffrey Owens was absent for 16 episodes
- Sabrina Le Beauf was absent for 17 episodes
- 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 opening 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.
- Terri Guarnieri takes over for Caryn Mandabach as the new Show Producer. Gary Kott takes over for Matt Williams as the new Producer.
| No. in
series |
No. in
season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production
code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75 | 1 | "Call of the Wild" | Jay Sandrich | Gary Kott | September 24, 1987 | 0402 |
|
The newlywed Sondra and Elvin return from their honeymoon with shocking news for Cliff and Clair: they want to abandon their dreams of being a lawyer and doctor and open an outdoorsman's "wilderness store." Note: Geoffrey Owens (Elvin) becomes a regular cast member. | ||||||
| 76 | 2 | "Theogate" | Jay Sandrich | John Markus | October 1, 1987 | 0401 |
|
Theo and Cockroach come home unusually late from a track meet, and the Huxtables got a phone message earlier from the track coach. They both deny anything out of the ordinary happened, but attorney Clair knows better. A mock trial is held for Theo and Cockroach at the Huxtables' for Clair to get to the bottom of the situation. Theo finally confesses that he and Cockroach were kicked off the track team after making fun of an overweight female employee at a fast-food restaurant the team had stopped at on the way home. Note: Bill Cosby and Keshia Knight Pulliam appeared on the episode of A Different World which aired later that evening. Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf and Geoffrey Owens | ||||||
| 77 | 3 | "It Ain't Easy Being Green" | Carl Lauten & Regge Life | John Markus & Carmen Finestra | October 8, 1987 | 0408 |
| Rudy wants to wear summer clothes in fall to a party, while Cliff tries to get rid of an old water heater.Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf and Geoffrey Owens | ||||||
| 78 | 4 | "Cliff's Mistake" | Carl Lauten & Regge Life | Janet Leahy | October 15, 1987 | 0405 |
|
While setting up the house as a "haunted house" for Halloween, Cliff discover's he's lost a power drill that his neighbor loaned to him. Note: This is the first appearance of Wallace Shawn as Jeffrey Engels. Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf and Geoffrey Owens | ||||||
| 79 | 5 | "Shakespeare" | Jay Sandrich | Matt Robinson | October 22, 1987 | 0323 |
|
Christopher Plummer and Roscoe Lee Browne appear. Theo must read Julius Caesar for school, but complains that it is boring. Russell and his friends read scenes from the play aloud, and Theo is enthralled. Later, the men read from a different work of literature-a story Rudy wrote. Note: This episode was originally produced for season three. Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf and Geoffrey Owens | ||||||
| 80 | 6 | "That's Not What I Said" | Jay Sandrich | Carmen Finestra | October 29, 1987 | 0403 |
|
Cliff and Clair have a marital argument after Theo gets detained by police for riding in a car with an unlicensed driver. Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf and Geoffrey Owens | ||||||
| 81 | 7 | "Autumn Gifts" | Carl Lauten & Regge Life | Matt Williams | November 5, 1987 | 0404 |
|
Rudy goes to an older widowed lady's (Eileen Heckart) house each afternoon to have tea and play cards, but notices that she refuses to take her daily medication for diabetes. She tells Cliff, who devises a plan to try to convince her that she needs the meds to live. Note: Bill Cosby and Keshia Knight Pulliam appeared on the episode of A Different World which aired later that evening. | ||||||
| 82 | 8 | "Looking Back" (Part 1) | Jay Sandrich | John Markus & Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott | November 12, 1987 | 0413A |
| Sondra and Elvin have their first marital fight, and Elvin comes to the Huxtable house for comfort and support. Clair shares about the difficulties in their house as flashbacks are shown. | ||||||
| 83 | 9 | "Looking Back" (Part 2) | Jay Sandrich | John Markus & Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott | November 12, 1987 | 0413B |
| Flashbacks are shown while history is shared with Elvin. | ||||||
| 84 | 10 | "Where's Rudy" | Tony Singletary | Gary Kott | November 19, 1987 | 0409 |
|
Theo and Vanessa lose track of Rudy in a mall while Clair enters a squash exhibition. Note: Earle Hyman (Russell) appeared on the episode of A Different World which aired later that evening. Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf and Geoffrey Owens | ||||||
| 85 | 11 | "Dance Mania" | Tony Singletary | Matt Williams | December 3, 1987 | 0410 |
|
Theo and Cockroach have tickets to appear on television on the dance show "Dance Mania", but are told that only one of them can enter the studio during the filming because of fire laws. Theo miscalculates by offering to let Cockroach go in (thinking he'll refuse) and gets angry when Cockroach takes him up on the offer. Note: This is the first appearances of Troy Winbush as Denny and Adam Sandler as Smitty, and the final appearance of Carl Anthony Payne II as Cockroach. Bill Cosby appeared on the episode of A Different World which aired later that evening. Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf and Geoffrey Owens | ||||||
| 86 | 12 | "The Locker Room" | Jay Sandrich | Janet Leahy | December 10, 1987 | 0406 |
| Theo and his classmates brag about their dates with girls in the locker room, but Theo's mood changes when one of the guys goes out with Vanessa and brags about it the next day.Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf and Geoffrey Owens | ||||||
| 87 | 13 | "The Show Must Go On" | Jay Sandrich | John Markus & Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott | December 17, 1987 | 0414 |
| Vaudeville is shown to Rudy and her friends, who are unimpressed.Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf and Geoffrey Owens | ||||||
| 88 | 14 | "Bookworm" | Jay Sandrich | Janet Leahy | January 7, 1988 | 0411 |
|
Clair drags Cliff to her book club meeting, and he's the lone male there. Much to Clair's surprise, Cliff knows quite a bit about the book in question! Meanwhile, the kids attempt a sleepover at Sondra and Elvin's run-down studio apartment, but are overwhelmed by the noise and lack of utilities. Guest appearances: Angela Bassett and S. Epatha Merkerson | ||||||
| 89 | 15 | "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" | Carl Lauten & Chuck Vinson | Teleplay: John Markus & Carmen Finestra & Gary KottStory: Chris Auer and John Markus & Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott | January 14, 1988 | 0407 |
| Rudy has to play the violin in music class at school, but gets jealous because she thinks her classmates' instruments are more fun.Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf and Geoffrey Owens | ||||||
| 90 | 16 | "The Visit" | Regge Life | John Markus & Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott | January 21, 1988 | 0416 |
| Theo visits a friend in the hospital who has cancer.
Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf | ||||||
| 91 | 17 | "The Drum Major" | Regge Life | Matt Robinson | February 4, 1988 | 0412 |
| Vanessa tries out for the drum major at school. Theo playfully mocks her efforts, but learns from friends that Vanessa is the target of sexism and intervenes on her behalf. Meanwhile, Cliff cooks up a batch of extremely spicy chili as Russell tries to pay off a loan from an old friend (Dub Taylor).Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf and Geoffrey Owens | ||||||
| 92 | 18 | "Waterworks" | Tony Singletary | Janet Leahy | February 11, 1988 | 0417 |
| Clair tries to stop Cliff from fixing a leaky pipe by hiring a team of professionals: friends of Sondra and Elvin from Princeton. | ||||||
| 93 | 19 | "Once Upon a Time" | Tony Singletary | John Markus & Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott | February 18, 1988 | 0415 |
| 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". | ||||||
| 94 | 20 | "Petanque" | Regge Life | Matt Williams | February 25, 1988 | 0418 |
|
Cliff and a friend play pétanque. Note: First appearance of Sullivan Walker as Dr. James Harmon. Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf and Geoffrey Owens | ||||||
| 95 | 21 | "Trust Me" | Jay Sandrich | John Markus & Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott | March 3, 1988 | 0420 |
|
A friend of Clair's has marital problems; Cliff takes a "mini-vacation" in the house as Theo, Rudy, and Vanessa try to stump each other with riddles Note: Guest appearances by Meg Foster as Dyan and Joe Fabiani as Richard. Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf and Geoffrey Owens | ||||||
| 96 | 22 | "Home for the Weekend" | Tony Singletary | John Markus & Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott | March 17, 1988 | 0421 |
| Denise comes home from college, but seems to have more time for her friends than for the family.
Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf and Geoffrey Owens | ||||||
| 97 | 23 | "The Prom" | Tony Singletary | Janet Leahy | March 24, 1988 | 0422 |
|
Theo, Denny and Smitty go to great lengths to impress their dates for the senior prom but fail disastrously; Cliff and Clair relive their own prom, since Clair never went to hers, since Cliff was in college taking final exams. Notes: This is the first appearance of Michelle Thomas as Justine. Phylicia Rashād appeared on the episode of A Different World which aired later that evening. Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf and Geoffrey Owens | ||||||
| 98 | 24 | "Gone Fishin'" | Tony Singletary | John Markus & Carmen Finestra & Gary Kott | April 28, 1988 | 0419 |
|
When the Huxtable men go fishing, Theo catches the dead body of a gangster that the police have been chasing, and soon attracts attention from the news media. This success goes to his head, while Rudy and Kenny find a nest of baby birds, but the mother bird is missing. The two stories eventually cross in a surprising-and rather humiliating-lesson for Theo. Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf and Geoffrey Owens | ||||||
| Previous: Season 3 |
Next: Season 5 |
| The Cosby Show | |
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