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IMDbPro

The Cosby Show

  • TV Series
  • 1984–19921984–1992
  • TV-GTV-G
  • 30m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
35K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
819
36
Lisa Bonet, Bill Cosby, Tempestt Bledsoe, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Phylicia Rashad, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner in The Cosby Show (1984)
Home Video Trailer from Urban Works
Play trailer0:31
11 Videos
99+ Photos
ComedyFamilyRomance
The goings-on in the life of a successful African-American family.The goings-on in the life of a successful African-American family.The goings-on in the life of a successful African-American family.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
35K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
819
36
  • Creator
    • Michael Leeson
  • Stars
    • Bill Cosby
    • Phylicia Rashad
    • Keshia Knight Pulliam
  • Creator
    • Michael Leeson
  • Stars
    • Bill Cosby
    • Phylicia Rashad
    • Keshia Knight Pulliam
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 106User reviews
    • 19Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 6 Primetime Emmys
      • 56 wins & 59 nominations total

    Episodes197

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos11

    Funny Women of Television
    Clip 3:41
    Watch Funny Women of Television
    The Cosby Show: Clip -- Cliff's Eating Habits
    Clip 1:04
    Watch The Cosby Show: Clip -- Cliff's Eating Habits
    The Cosby Show: The 25th Anniversary Commemorative Edition
    Clip 1:57
    Watch The Cosby Show: The 25th Anniversary Commemorative Edition
    The Cosby Show: Season 1
    Trailer 0:31
    Watch The Cosby Show: Season 1
    The Cosby Show: Season 2
    Trailer 0:32
    Watch The Cosby Show: Season 2
    The Cosby Show
    Trailer 1:01
    Watch The Cosby Show
    The Cosby Show: Season 4
    Trailer 0:34
    Watch The Cosby Show: Season 4
    The Cosby Show: Season 1
    Trailer 2:37
    Watch The Cosby Show: Season 1
    The Cosby Show: Season 3 & 4 Combo
    Trailer 2:48
    Watch The Cosby Show: Season 3 & 4 Combo
    The Cosby Show
    Trailer 1:54
    Watch The Cosby Show
    The Cosby Show: Season 3
    Trailer 0:47
    Watch The Cosby Show: Season 3

    Photos351

    Bill Cosby, Keshia Knight Pulliam, and Phylicia Rashad in The Cosby Show (1984)
    Ethel Ayler in The Cosby Show (1984)
    Bill Cosby, Ethel Ayler, Earle Hyman, Phylicia Rashad, Clarice Taylor, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, and Joe Williams in The Cosby Show (1984)
    Tempestt Bledsoe and Phylicia Rashad in The Cosby Show (1984)
    Bill Cosby, Tempestt Bledsoe, and Keshia Knight Pulliam in The Cosby Show (1984)
    Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashad in The Cosby Show (1984)
    Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashad in The Cosby Show (1984)
    Bill Cosby in The Cosby Show (1984)
    Lisa Bonet and Joseph C. Phillips in The Cosby Show (1984)
    Bill Cosby in The Cosby Show (1984)
    Bill Cosby in The Cosby Show (1984)
    Bill Cosby, Geoffrey Owens, Joseph C. Phillips, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner in The Cosby Show (1984)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Bill Cosby
    Bill Cosby
    • Dr. Heathcliff 'Cliff' Huxtable
    Phylicia Rashad
    Phylicia Rashad
    • Clair Huxtable
    Keshia Knight Pulliam
    Keshia Knight Pulliam
    • Rudy Huxtable
    Malcolm-Jamal Warner
    Malcolm-Jamal Warner
    • Theo Huxtable
    Tempestt Bledsoe
    Tempestt Bledsoe
    • Vanessa Huxtable
    Lisa Bonet
    Lisa Bonet
    • Denise Huxtable…
    Sabrina Le Beauf
    Sabrina Le Beauf
    • Sondra Huxtable Tibideaux…
    Geoffrey Owens
    Geoffrey Owens
    • Elvin Tibideaux
    Raven-Symoné
    Raven-Symoné
    • Olivia Kendall
    Joseph C. Phillips
    Joseph C. Phillips
    • Lt. Martin Kendall…
    Earle Hyman
    Earle Hyman
    • Russell Huxtable…
    Erika Alexander
    Erika Alexander
    • Pam Tucker
    Deon Richmond
    Deon Richmond
    • Kenny
    Clarice Taylor
    Clarice Taylor
    • Anna Huxtable
    Peter Costa
    • Peter Chiara
    Karen Malina White
    Karen Malina White
    • Charmaine Brown
    Carl Anthony Payne II
    Carl Anthony Payne II
    • Walter 'Cockroach' Bradley
    Troy Winbush
    Troy Winbush
    • Denny
    • Creator
      • Michael Leeson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    7.1
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    The Facts of Life
    6.8
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    Perfect Strangers
    7.2
    Perfect Strangers

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      At the beginning of the pilot, Sondra, the Huxtables' eldest daughter, was added as an afterthought. However, when Clair Huxtable mentions the couple's four children, they decide to add another child to represent the results of a good upbringing. The casting came down to 26-year-old Sabrina Le Beauf and 21-year-old Whitney Houston. LeBeauf was too old for the role, only ten years younger than Phylicia Rashad. However, Houston refused to sign a contract committing her to the show as she wanted to pursue her singing career. This forced the producer's hand, and LeBeauf was given the role of Sondra.
    • Goofs
      In the first season, Cliff's name was Clifford. In later seasons, his name was Heathcliff. In the first episode of the final season, Clair calls him Heathclifford.
    • Quotes

      Clair Huxtable: Cliff, why did we have four children?

      Cliff: Because we did not want five.

    • Crazy credits
      The season after Lisa Bonet left the series, Bill Cosby can be seen holding a photo of Bonet during the opening credits.
    • Alternate versions
      The season 1 DVD set was made up of edited, syndication-length episodes missing about 2 minutes per episode from their original broadcast. It was only because of the consumer outcry that season 2 and beyond were released unedited. The "Complete Series" set includes all 8 seasons, including the first one, in the original uncut network versions.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: George Carlin/Keshia Knight Pulliam (1984)
    • Soundtracks
      Kiss Me
      Composed by Stu Gardner and Bill Cosby

      Performed by Bobby McFerrin

      (season 4)

    User reviews106

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    My love for The Cosby Show
    I grew up with a crush on Clair, Sandra and Denise (who didn't like Denise?) and most of all I grew up watching him on TV, (it was still running live telecasts when I was born). I really loved the ways that Cliff Huxtable dealt with the kids and I am sure that many parents across America ventured to be more like him and deal with their kids as he did (although it would be nice if we could). The best thing about the show was that while it did show a well-off black family, it was not preachy about the plight of blacks and was woven gently into the plots with humor, with humor you can remember it a lot easier than if someone just preached it at you. It was a vehicle that did in fact continue the "movin' on up" legacy that shows like The Jeffersons and Good Times started but most of all making it about family life and how parents and children relate to each other thus, making it timeless.

    Some shows are for a time, but this show most of all, will be on as long as time exists.

    For the critics of the show, it was a little ideal and a bit unrealistic for the people who say that I say this: THis is TV but TV is based on real life, and if you sit for 30 minutes in any household, it will be boring as all crap, and more importantly a lot of work goes into creating & writing sitcoms, critics should be writers themselves before they criticize a show, because is too easy to criticize but not to rework it to be accessible as you see it Thank you
    helpful•13
    5
    • smooth_op_85
    • Jul 22, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 20, 1984 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Bill Cosby Show
    • Filming locations
      • 10 Leroy Street, Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA(establishing shots of Huxtable Home)
    • Production companies
      • Bill Cosby
      • Carsey-Werner Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1
      • 4:3

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