The Cosby Show - Season 3

First aired: 9/25/1986 25 episodes

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Episodes

1. Bring 'em Back Alive

Aired: 9/25/1986

The Huxtable house is thrown into chaos after Rudy finds a snake in the basement.

2. Food for Thought

Aired: 10/2/1986

Clair challenges Cliff to not eat any salty food for the day. Denise leaves for her freshman year at Hillman College.

3. Golden Anniversary

Aired: 10/9/1986

Russell and Anna's 50th wedding anniversary. The family performs James Brown's "I Got the Feelin' " in this sequel to Season 2's "Happy Anniversary". Earle Hyman as Russell. Clarice Taylor as Anna. Geoffrey Owens as Elvin. Appearance by Frank Foster and the Count Basie Orchestra. First mention of Rudy's desire to have a husband named "Bud" when she grows up.

4. Man Talk

Aired: 10/16/1986

Although he has a steady girlfriend, Theo wants to start dating someone else.

5. Mother, May I?

Aired: 10/23/1986

After Clair specifically forbids her from wearing make-up, Vanessa, behind her mothers back does it anyways.

6. The March

Aired: 10/30/1986

Theo writes a report on the March on Washington. But gets a poor grade and is asked to redo his project. Much to his surprise he learns more about the march from his family than he did from books. Meanwhile Vanessa is worried about asking a boy to the turn-around dance. Earle Hyman as Russell. Clarice Taylor as Anna. Joe Williams as Al Hanks. Ethel Ayler as Carrie Hanks.

7. Theo's Flight

Aired: 11/6/1986

Theo and Cockroach decide they want to learn to fly, but Cliff doesn't want to waste his money on another dream of his son's. Carl Anthony Payne II as Cockroach. First appearance of Deon Richmond as Kenny, a.k.a. "Bud".

8. Vanessa's Rich

Aired: 11/13/1986

Friends call Vanessa a stuck-up rich girl at school. Guest appearance by Essence Atkins.

9. Denise Gets a D

Aired: 11/20/1986

Denise's college career starts with a D, but Denise is to scared to show her parents. Clair needs to rest in bed because of a pinched nerve. Rudy portrays "the wind" in a school play. Rosalind Cash as Dr. Hughes (The episode is preceded by a 30-second anti-drug public service announcement featuring Bill Cosby).

10. A Girl and Her Dog

Aired: 12/4/1986

Rudy and Peter find a dog and attempt to take care of it without her parents knowing. Peter Costa as Peter.

11. War Stories

Aired: 12/11/1986

Cliff and his father's friend play a challenging game of cards. Venesa prepares to go to a skating party with date Robert Forman, soon find a very cute guy will cross her path Earle Hyman as Russell.

12. Cliff in Charge

Aired: 12/18/1986

Cliff is in charge when Clair leaves for 10 days.

13. Monster Man Huxtable

Aired: 1/8/1987

Elvin helps Theo with some wrestling moves, although he and Sondra have made plans for the weekend, and reveals that he is thinking of marrying her. Geoffrey Owens as Elvin.

14. Rudy Spends the Night

Aired: 1/15/1987

Cliff establishes the Huxtable Men's Club when the women are away to help Theo get over his sadnes of a lost date. Venessa is very excited that big sister Denise is letting her go to the Village with Denise's college friends.

15. Say Hello to a Good Buy

Aired: 1/22/1987

Cliff buys a new car. Rudy cuts some animal pictures out of Cliff's expensive books for school. Guest appearance by Sinbad, who would later portray Walter Oakes on the Cosby Show spinoff, A Different World. Watched by almost 65 million viewers when it originally aired, "Say Hello to a Good Buy" was the series' highest rated episode.

16. Denise Gets an Opinion

Aired: 2/5/1987

Denise has a blind date, but is really scared. So she asks Theo to grade him for her!!!! But this soon leads to a big hilarious mix up.

17. Calling Doctor Huxtable

Aired: 2/12/1987

Cliff is called to the hospital for 3 deliveries, Malinda Williams appearance, Patricia Richardson appearance.

18. You Only Hurt the One You Love

Aired: 2/19/1987

Rudy gets hurt from Theo's rough games. Rudy cries. Theo gets punished. Clair goes to a doctor and gets the same advice that Cliff gave her. Cliff learns that the woman who cleans up the Doctor's Lounge at the hospital (Rita Moreno) has been fired. Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf as Sondra Huxtable and Lisa Bonet as Denise Huxtable.

19. The Shower

Aired: 2/26/1987

Denise holds a bridal shower for her pregnant and bride-to-be friend Veronica, but finds out some disturbing information. Absent: Sabrina Le Beauf as Sondra Huxtable, although mentioned.

20. Cliff's 50th Birthday

Aired: 3/12/1987

Cliff's 50th birthday has all kinds of surprises.

21. I Know That You Know

Aired: 3/19/1987

When Sondra and Elvin announce their engagement, Clair and the children use the news to play a practical joke on Cliff, who launches a counter-offensive of his own. Geoffrey Owens as Elvin.

22. Andalusian Flu

Aired: 4/2/1987

While Cliff and Clair have the flu, Theo tries to keep the house going.

23. Bald and Beautiful

Aired: 4/9/1987

Cliff's Navy friend comes to visit. Cockroach shaves his head to be in a rock video. Robert Culp (Bill Cosby's co-star from the 1960s TV series I Spy) appears as Scott Kelly.

24. Planning Parenthood

Aired: 4/30/1987

Clair's sister decides she wants to be a mother. Cliff takes Rudy and her friends out to eat at a fancy restaurant.

25. Hillman

Aired: 5/7/1987

The Huxtable family goes to Hillman College to attend a ceremony in honor of its president's retirement. Guest appearance by Joe Seneca. Filmed at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. The episode serves as a backdoor pilot for the spinoff series A Different World, which premieres in the fall of 1987.