Cosby poster

TV series

Cosby

1996TV-G4 seasons6.0 / 10

Cosby is an American situation comedy television series broadcast on CBS from September 16, 1996 to April 28, 2000, loosely based on the British sitcom One Foot in the Grave. The program stars Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashād, who previously worked with Cosby in the 1984–1992 NBC sitcom The Cosby Show. Madeline Kahn portrayed their neighbor, Pauline, until her death in 1999.

Availability

Not streaming in United States

Checked Jul 22, 2026

Cosby premiered September 16, 1996. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.

Synopsis

Cosby is an American situation comedy television series broadcast on CBS from September 16, 1996 to April 28, 2000, loosely based on the British sitcom One Foot in the Grave. The program stars Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashād, who previously worked with Cosby in the 1984–1992 NBC sitcom The Cosby Show. Madeline Kahn portrayed their neighbor, Pauline, until her death in 1999.

Season 3 episodes

Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.

← Season 2

Episode 1

Now Is the Time, the Walrus Said

30m

Hilton's new responsibility, looking after 11-year-old Jurnee while her dad is at work, becomes a little too hot to handle when Jurnee asks him a complicated question about the birds and bees. Not wanting to interfere in Jurnee's upbringing, and looking for a way to avoid having to answer himself, Hilton suggests that the curious Jurnee go to her dad for an explanation. No matter how difficult it is for Del to face the fact that Jurnee is growing up (perhaps a bit faster than he had hoped), with coaching from Hilton, he finally appears ready to have ‘the talk.'

Where to watch Cosby

Episode 2

Do Not Overheat

30m

Griffin and Erica work out a financial deal to move into Griffin's house on a landlord-tenant basis -- thus giving Hilton and Ruth back their privacy – only to have Griffin's house accidentally burn to the ground. Hilton's visions of spending romantic evenings alone with Ruth are over before they've even begun. And, when Erica and Griffin realize that everything destroyed in the fire was either borrowed, rented or on loan, they decide it's time to grow up and start taking ""ownership"" of their lives.

Where to watch Cosby

Episode 3

Chemistry

30m

Hilton is devastated to learn that Erica is breaking up with her latest boyfriend, Gil -- a handsome, well-educated jazz musician who is everything that Hilton could ever want in a guy and more. When Erica and Gil mutually decide to call it quits, it's Hilton who takes the news the hardest since he's developed his own meaningful relationship with Gil -- primarily because he represents the jazzman Hilton always wanted to be. How will Hilton go on? All he does is sit by the phone and wait for Gil to call! It's true that break-ups can be hard -- but usually for the two people involved.

Episode credits

Directed by Don ScardinoWritten by Adam Belanoff

Where to watch Cosby

Episode 4

Lucas Discordia

30m

Petty differences about irritating personal habits threaten to escalate into a major brawl when Ruth and Pauline plan a ""girls' night out"" in Manhattan, and Hilton insists on acting as their chauffeur

Where to watch Cosby

Episode 5

The Greatest Gift

30m

A major argument erupts when Ruth accidentally discovers that Erica has been hiding all the gifts she has given her over the years. When Ruth confronts Erica about only pretending to like the gifts that Ruth put so much time and care into buying, it sparks the disagreement. On the one hand, Ruth feels that she doesn't know her own daughter, and on the flip side, Erica feels that her mother doesn't bother to learn about her likes and dislikes. Although Hilton desperately wants to stay out of their argument, he is left with no alternative and attempts to coerce the women into a joint shopping trip. The goal -- buy something that is pleasing to them both without driving him over the edge.

Where to watch Cosby

Episode 6

Lucas Matriculus

30m

When Griffin accompanies Hilton to ""Grandparents Day"" at Jurnee's school and adds his two cents to the science lesson, it quickly becomes apparent that he is a natural at teaching and holding the kids' interest. Who would have thought?? Hilton is thrilled that Griffin has uncovered a talent for this most noble profession, while Erica is more than ticked off when she learns that Griffin achieved a higher GPA than she did in college. At first resistant to the idea of working hard for little pay and loads of responsibility, Griffin is ultimately swept up with the idea of molding the minds of America's young -- heaven help them.

Where to watch Cosby

Episode 7

Playground Scar

30m

After Jurnee expresses her fondness for schoolmate Kevin and he retaliates by shoving her on the school playground, amateur psychologist Hilton explains his theory of how ""playground scarring"" can affect a woman for life. According to Hilton, when women are unable to trust, unable to commit, their problems can always be traced back to a bad playground experience when they were deeply humiliated by a boy they liked. To this day, Ruth has problems with trust because of a certain Kenneth P. Watson, who purposely teetered when he should have tottered, requiring a young Ruth to get stitches. When it comes to Jurnee, however, Hilton is determined not to have history repeat itself.

Where to watch Cosby

Episode 8

The Episode Episode

30m

Hilton is sentenced to a life without pork chops, barbeque ribs and bacon when a doctor's visit reveals a too-high cholesterol count. A mouth-watering meal for Hilton now consists of tofu, steamed broccoli and ""not-wurst"" imitation hot dogs. New Jersey Nets player Jayson Williams guest stars as Jurnee's teacher, who adds his two-cents on the subject of of Hilton's eating habits.

Where to watch Cosby

Episode 9

Judgment Day

30m

Hilton's steaming when a klutzy customer spills coffee on her dress, admits it's her own fault---and then sues the Flower Cafe for $3000.

Episode credits

Directed by Don Scardino

Where to watch Cosby

Episode 10

Turkey Day

30m

When Hilton offers to make Jurnee's Thanksgiving Day Parade turkey costume from scratch, it comes out to be just that.... a turkey of a costume. So imagine Hilton's joy when the queen of domesticity, Martha Stewart, shows up at the coffee shop bearing the most realistic looking turkey outfit that anyone's ever seen and leaves it behind by mistake. But, when Martha Stewart returns asking if anyone has seen the costume, will Hilton's guilt get the best of him... or will Jurnee be the best-dressed turkey in the parade?

Where to watch Cosby

Episode 12

The Awful Truth

30m

Del's new girlfriend Karen agonizes over a secret she's worried about sharing with him: the youth who passes as her kid brother is actually her son.

Episode credits

Guest stars Mary Alice, Sinbad

Where to watch Cosby

Episode 14

Lucas Absentia

30m

Griffin contemplates quitting the teaching profession when his first day as a substitute teacher is a disaster. The Lucases lend themselves out as mock students so that Griffin can practice his teaching techniques on them -- although their misguided attempt to help might just turn him off teaching forever.

Where to watch Cosby

Episode 15

False Alarm

30m

After the Lucas home is burglarized, Hilton invests in a security system -- only to discover that the thief is someone he knows.

Where to watch Cosby

Episode 16

A Very Nice Dance

30m

Hilton and Ruth recall their first date many years ago. Their flashbacks are done through animated sequences, and of course, both of them have widely different versions of what happened.

Where to watch Cosby

Episode 17

Ol' Betsy

30m

While searching for a rare part for his beloved turntable, Hilton bumps into an old friend from his bachelor days, Fred. When Hilton and Fred start reminiscing about how they double-dated sisters Mattie and Roberta Singleton, Hilton decides to play matchmaker and prompts Fred into learning whatever became of Mattie. Even now, years later, Fred can't help wondering what might have happened if they remained a couple.... and, thanks to Hilton, he may finally get a chance to find out.

Episode credits

Guest stars Tom Poston

Where to watch Cosby

Episode 18

Afterschool Delight

30m

Jurnee is aghast when she finds out that her dad intends to date the ""meanest"" teacher at her school. Del is so troubled by Jurnee's reaction to his interest in Ms. Malone that he's ready to call off their date. But Hilton reminds him that almost every person can remember a teacher who was too strict, gave too much homework or expected too much of a student -- and usually ended up being the one who made the greatest impact on the student later in life.

Episode credits

Guest stars Sinbad, Robin Givens

Where to watch Cosby

Episode 19

Will Power

30m

Hilton is attempting to help Jurnee with her ""Romeo and Juliet"" homework assignment when his true feelings about The Bard come out: Why couldn't Shakespeare simply speak in plain English rather than using all of that fancy, confusing language? Alas, Shakespeare showeth up in the Lucas kitchen to tutor Hilton personally. Will it be ""all's well that ends well?""

Where to watch Cosby

Episode 20

Lucas Illuminus

30m

Hilton volunteers as a reader for a retired, blind English literature professor and, upon realizing his gift for teaching, urges him to return to the classroom. Anthony Quinn guest stars as Professor Christo, whose failing eyesight and advanced age caused him to leave behind the profession he loves so much.

Where to watch Cosby

Episode 21

Timerity

30m

Hilton is caught in the middle when his curmudgeonly friend, Tim, stages a rent strike against his landlord.

Where to watch Cosby

Episode 22

The Party's Over

30m

Hilton is stunned when 11-year old Jurnee, left in his care while her father is away, returns from a friend's birthday party drunk. Hilton and Ruth are adamant about finding out who spiked the birthday punch and caused several of the children to awaken to wicked hangovers the following morning. But, Jurnee is not budging for fear that she will be labeled a squealer among her friends. Hilton is determined to make Jurnee understand that protecting the guilty person is sometimes just as bad as being guilty yourself.

Where to watch Cosby

Episode 24

He Who Hesitates is Lucas

30m

When Hilton and Ruth hear that their ""little girl"" is getting married, they couldn't be happier for her, or themselves, since this would mean one less person in their crowded house. Erica's intentions, however, are for the newlyweds to remain in her parent's house indefinitely to save some money. Are Hilton's tears of joy or sorrow?

Episode credits

Directed by Don ScardinoGuest stars Kathy Ireland

Where to watch Cosby

Episode 25

War Stories

30mfinale

Griffin's trust in his new girlfriend Anita is put to the test when her job as a conference planner puts her smack in the middle of a young millionaires' convention, on the season finale. Rather than heeding Hilton's advice to give Anita some space, Griffin decides to pop in on the convention and find out for himself how loyal Anita is -- which prompts Hilton to reminisce about the anxious time he spent away from Ruth, soon after they first met, agonizing over whether or not she was thinking of him as often as he was of her. ""Prequel Monday"" kicks off with an animated flashback sequence of Hilton as an enlisted Navy man.

Episode credits

Guest stars Vivica A. Fox

Where to watch Cosby

Episode information updated Jul 24, 2026

More about Cosby

Cast

Bill CosbyHilton Lucas
Phylicia RashādRuth Lucas
T'Keyah Crystal KeymáhErica Lucas
Doug E. DougGriffin Vesey
Madeline KahnPauline Fox
Darien Sills-EvansDarien Hall
André De Shields
Red Buttons

Credits

Created by
David Renwick, Bill Cosby
Written by
Bernie Orenstein, Adam Belanoff, Tom Purcell, Dennis Klein, John Rogers, Norman Steinberg, J. J. Paulsen

Production details

Status
Ended
Series type
Scripted
Episodes
97
Original language
English

Networks & production

  • CBSUnited States
  • Carsey-Werner CompanyUnited States
  • Bill Cosby

Themes

elderlyremakeretirementsitcom