The Bill Cosby Show
The Bill Cosby Show is an American situation comedy that aired for two seasons on NBC's Sunday night schedule from 1969 until 1971, under the sponsorship of Procter & Gamble. There were 52 episodes made in the series. It marked Bill Cosby's first solo foray in television, after his co-starring role with Robert Culp in I Spy. The series also marked the first time an African American starred in his or her own eponymous comedy series.
Seasons
1. The Fatal Phone Call
Air Date: 1969-09-14
While out jogging, Chet hears the telephone ringing inside a phone booth. He hesitates, but decides to answer. As a result, Chet ends up getting involved in a dispute between an auto mechanic and his wife. In an interesting twist, a case of mistaken identity in which Chet is involved brings this episode to a close. Vic Tayback guest stars as Calvin the mechanic.
2. Lullaby and Goodnight
Air Date: 1969-09-21
Chet is having difficulty sleeping at night, due to the new neighbor across the street who's dog won't stop barking.
3. The Best Hook Shot in the World
Air Date: 1969-09-28
A short, but talented youngster with an unusual hook shot is determined to make the Holmes High School basketball team, where Chet is coach. He makes the team, after defeating Chet in a game of one on one. It's the day of the big game, Chet and the team pin their hopes on the little guy and his hook shot to win the game.
4. A Girl Named Punkin
Air Date: 1969-10-05
Chet does volunteer work for the local community center, a place for underpriviledged children. He is having problems with Punkin, a young girl who is unresponsive and stays to herself. Chet eventually breaks through, and Punkin comes around. A touching scene where Chet tells Punkin a bedtime story and teaches her a lesson in love and caring at the same time is the high point of this episode.
5. Rules is Rules
Air Date: 1969-10-12
Chet goes to great lengths to obtain a valve needle which he needs in order to inflate basketballs for his gym class.
6. Let X Equal a Lousy Weekend
Air Date: 1969-10-26
When Chet is forced to fill in as a substitute algebra teacher, he comes across a word problem that he is unable to solve for the class. So, he spends most of his weekend trying to find the solution.
7. To Kincaid, with Love
Air Date: 1969-11-02
Chet is receiving attention from a female student of the high school. He thinks she has a crush on him, but the girl is actually trying to set Chet up with her mother.
8. The Killer Instinct
Air Date: 1969-11-09
Chet is having problems with a proud father who insists that his son make the high school football team. Trouble is, the kid just doesn't have what it takes and is not cut out to play football.
9. The Substitute
Air Date: 1969-11-16
Chet starts dating a substitute teacher from the high school, and has difficulty finding time to spend alone with her.
10. Brotherly Love
Air Date: 1969-11-23
Chet's brother Brian moves in with Chet after having an argument with his wife. Brian spoils Chet's plans for the evening, then hilarity ensues when they attempt to sleep in the same bed together.
11. Going the Route
Air Date: 1969-11-30
Chet's nephew is in bed with a cold. Chet is asked and agrees to substitute for his nephew in the morning paper route.
12. A Word from Our Sponsor
Air Date: 1969-12-07
A chance encounter on the street leads Chet to try out, and eventually to get hired, for a job playing an athletic coach in a breakfast cereal television commercial. Chet discovers, however, that shooting 30 seconds of film isn't as simple as it appears when the final product is seen on television.
13. A Christmas Ballad
Air Date: 1969-12-21
Chet helps a down on his luck old timer capture the spirit of Christmas. Rex Ingram guest stars.
14. Home Remedy
Air Date: 1969-12-28
Chet is home with a cold, and is unable to rest because all his relatives come over offering their cure-alls and remedies.
15. Growing Growing Grown
Air Date: 1970-01-04
Chet is asked to chaperone at a high school dance. Chet's car is not available, he ends up borrowing his brothers garbage truck to drive his date to the dance. At the dance, Chet teaches one student a lesson in the importance of physical appearance.
16. The Elevator Doesn't Stop Here Anymore
Air Date: 1970-01-11
Chet gets stuck inside an elevator at the high school along with one other faculty member and the school's cleaning lady. They entertain each other until help arrives. Henry Fonda and Elsa Lanchester guest star in this episode.
17. Lover's Quarrel
Air Date: 1970-01-18
Chet tries to get his ever arguing aunt and uncle to stop fighting and treat each other with kindness and respect. Veteran actors Mantan Moreland and Jackie ""Moms"" Mabley guest star and give classic performances as the bickering old couple.
18. The Worst Crook That Ever Lived
Air Date: 1970-01-25
Chet is asked to help straighten out Raymond, a youngster who has a penchant for stealing. In an effort to keep Raymond out of trouble, Chet finds a spot for him on his little league baseball team. But Raymond steals the money that Chet had saved up which was intended to buy uniforms for the team. In the end, Raymond realizes what he did was wrong and returns the money to Chet.
19. The Gumball Incident
Air Date: 1970-02-01
Chet is wrongfully accused and arrested for breaking a gumball machine. Tom Bosley guest stars as Cookie Maharg.
20. Goodbye Cruel World
Air Date: 1970-02-08
Wally Cox guest stars in this episode as a shy man lacking in self confidence. With Chet's help, he builds up the nerve to ask a woman out on a date. She rejects him, and he wants to commit suicide. Chet helps to restore the man's confidence and self esteem.
21. Driven to Distraction
Air Date: 1970-02-15
Drivers ed instructor Chet tries to teach a nervous student how to drive. Very funny episode.
22. The Blind Date
Air Date: 1970-03-01
Chet reluctantly agrees to go on a blind date, and ends up falling in love. Cicely Tyson guest stars as Chet's love interest.
23. How You Play the Game
Air Date: 1970-03-08
Chet is in the running for the city handball championship. He defeats his semi-final opponent, using psychological tactics. In the final match however, Chet has the tables turned on him and loses the match while being psyched out by his opponent. By losing, Chet teaches a player on the high school football team a lesson in good sportsmanship.
24. The Return of Big, Bad, Bubba Bronson
Air Date: 1970-03-22
Big Bronson, an old high school classmate of Chet's, is coming to town for a visit. Chet recalls having a past dispute with Bronson, and fears revenge. Chet meets ex prize fighter Hurricane Smith, and asks for some boxing lessons to prepare himself for Bronson's arrival. Lou Gossett guest stars as Hurricane Smith, Don Pedro Colley guest stars as Big Bronson.
25. This Mouth Is Rated X
Air Date: 1970-03-29
Chet is unsure how to handle one of his basketball players who is constantly letting profanities slip out of his mouth.
26. Really Cool
Air Date: 1970-04-05
Chet is asked to tell a few stories about his life for a forthcoming article in the Holmes High School newspaper.
1. Anytime You're Ready, C.K.
Air Date: 1970-09-13
The Holmes High School football team is on a losing streak, so the team asks Chet if they can have game films to help determine what they're doing wrong. Chet borrows a movie camera from a friend, and films the teams practice sessions. Funny silent films result from Chet's experiments with trying out the camera. A side plot has Chet trying to help out a student and former player of the football team who can no longer play due to injury.
2. Open House
Air Date: 1970-09-20
One of Chet's fellow teachers from the high school is a part time real estate agent. Chet spends a weekend helping him out, trying to sell a house. Chet sells the house, but the couple who put the house up for sale change their mind.
3. Is There a Doctor in the Hospital?
Air Date: 1970-09-27
Chet injures his back during his gym class, and needs to be taken to the hospital. Upon arrival, he has difficulty trying to obtain medical service, until a young patient staying at the hospital assists Chet and helps him find a doctor.
4. There Must Be a Party
Air Date: 1970-10-04
A female student at the high school is convinced she is destined to be an actress and is certain she will win an acting contest she has entered. Chet then tells her about the time he missed his own surprise birthday party to try and teach her a lesson about anticipation and being overconfident.
5. The Old Man of 4-C
Air Date: 1970-10-11
Will Geer guest stars in this episode as a lonesome elderly man looking for companionship. He befriends Chet, and becomes too demanding of Chet's time, but they end up compromising and spend some quality time together.
6. The Lincoln Letter
Air Date: 1970-10-18
Chet inherits a valuable letter which originally came from Abraham Lincoln. Only catch, the letter is misplaced and needs to be found.
7. The Runaways
Air Date: 1970-10-25
Chet is sent out to track down and find a runaway boy. He succeeds, and they spend the day together. After sharing a few adventures, Chet helps the boy decide he should go back home.
8. The Artist
Air Date: 1970-11-01
Chet helps out a talented youngster who wants to become an artist. Chet disputes however, when the youngster chooses Chet as subject matter for his painting which will be on display at the art fair.
9. March of the Antelopes
Air Date: 1970-11-08
Chet is in charge of a group of youngsters and is supposed to take them on an overnight camping trip. They set out to their destination, but mishaps occur, and they end up staying over at Chet's apartment.
10. The Deluge (1)
Air Date: 1970-11-15
A driving rainstorm is pounding the Los Angeles area. Chet's next door neighbor is due to have her baby and is unable to get to the hospital, streets are flooded. Chet helps out as the woman prepares to have her baby at home. Part one of a two part episode.
11. The Deluge (2)
Air Date: 1970-11-22
Conclusion of a two part episode. Chet helps an expectant mother deliver her baby at home during a driving rainstorm.
12. Swann's Way
Air Date: 1970-12-13
Don Knotts guest stars in this episode as a shifty repossessor who's trying to repossess Chet's television set.
13. The Poet
Air Date: 1970-12-20
A male student at the high school enjoys writing poetry, but doesn't want his friends to find out, fearing ridicule. Chet (who has also written some poetry) tells the student he shouldn't be concerned with what other people think, to go ahead and do what he enjoys doing. Chet then gets in a bind when he is mistaken as the author of a poem he copied in his youth, and the poem is scheduled to be published in the school newspaper.
14. Teacher of the Year
Air Date: 1970-12-27
Upon winning the award for Teacher of the Year, Chet has a difficult time convincing the other teachers to attend the banquet where he will receive the award.
15. Each According to Appetite
Air Date: 1971-01-03
Students at the high school organize a lockout of the teachers cafeteria, requesting that they have input over what foods go on the student menu. Chet helps the students and cafeteria manager reach a compromise. But when the same students have a grievance with Chet's gym class, Chet is not as willing to cooperate.
16. Viva Ortega
Air Date: 1971-01-10
Chet tutors a Mexican immigrant who is studying to become a United States citizen.
17. Miraculous Martin
Air Date: 1971-01-17
Dick Van Dyke guest stars in this episode as Miraculous Martin, an out of work magician who's trying to stay sober and planning to get married.
18. The Sesame Street Rumble
Air Date: 1971-01-24
Chet has a large TV antenna installed so he can watch the big Rams/Packers football game. Many teachers from the high school come over to see the game, but Chet's TV set goes out. Chet goes next door to try and borrow the neighbors TV set, but the boy at home refuses to let Chet borrow it, insisting that he wants to watch Sesame Street.
19. The Generation Gap
Air Date: 1971-01-31
Chet's mother is going out of town, so Chet's father comes to stay with him while she is away. As they spend time together, they discover that things have changed and they don't have as much in common anymore.
20. Tobacco Road
Air Date: 1971-02-07
Chet aids a fellow teacher from the high school who's trying to quit smoking. Herb Edelman guest stars as Mr. Maher, the teacher who's trying to kick the habit.
21. A Dirty Business
Air Date: 1971-02-14
Chet is at odds with a student at the high school who wants to be a spy. Because the student is a fast runner, Chet wants him to join up with the school's track team. But the student wants no part of it, preferring to remain out of the spotlight.
22. The Barber Shop
Air Date: 1971-02-21
Chet visits the local barber shop for a haircut. While there, he gets involved in a dispute with the barber and another patron over baseball. The three of them end up going to a high rise hotel, where the barber claims he can catch a baseball dropped from a window of the hotel's top floor. Antonio Fargas guest stars as J.J. the barber, Arthur French is hilarious as Cartons. Funniest episode of the series, very well done.
23. Power of the Trees
Air Date: 1971-02-28
Elsa Lanchester guest stars as an eccentric woman who recruits Chet to help save a tree from being cut down at a construction site.
24. The Green-Eyed Monster
Air Date: 1971-03-07
A male student from the high school seeks Chet's advice regarding love and jealousy. As it turns out, Chet could use a lesson or two himself and does not seem to practice what he preaches.
25. The Long Road Back
Air Date: 1971-03-14
John Marley guest stars in this episode as a wealthy, eccentric man who wants to relive his childhood. He seeks Chet's help to have his wish come true.
26. The Saturday Game
Air Date: 1971-03-21
A young Jewish boy joins Chet's little league baseball team. Saturday is the day of the big game, and the boy is forced to decide between playing in the game, or sitting out due to his religious beliefs, Saturday being the Jewish sabbath.
Select an episode to start watching
Rating
5.2/10
Release Date
1969-09-14
Episodes
52 (2 seasons)
Status
Ended
Cast
Production Companies
Jemmin' Inc
Bill Cosby