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The Cosby Show

1984 – 1992Show8 seasons197 episodesTV-PG

ComedyFamily
74
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb7.4Metacritic–8.4Rotten Tomatoes–69%

A heartwarming, uplifting comedy series about family and society, with standout performances.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Skip it if you want dark or edgy material

Where to watch

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Not for scares, brutality or adrenaline.

Shows with

Episodes

8 seasons · 197 episodes · best: S2E22 "Theo's Holiday" 8.5

Episodes

7.5
7.6
7.2
7.0
7.1
7.1
6.8
6.5

Story

The Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until April 30, 1992. The show focuses on the Huxtable family, an upper middle-class African-American family living in Brooklyn, New York.

Feels like

  • Groundbreaking Sitcom
  • Interracial Family Dynamics
  • Socially Conscious Comedy
  • Heartwarming & Wholesome
  • Classic 80s Nostalgia
  • Character-Driven Humor
  • Mentorship and Guidance
  • Subtle Social Commentary
  • Comfort Viewing Staple

Cast

24 of 277 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Jay Sandrich, Chuck Vinson, Malcolm-Jamal Warner
Written by
Bill Cosby, John Markus, Gary Kott
Produced by
Matt Williams, John Markus, Carmen Finestra

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

September 20, 1984 · April 30, 1992 · Ended

First aired
September 20, 1984
Last aired
April 30, 1992
Status
Ended
Length
8 seasons · 197 episodes
Age rating
TV-PG
Genres
Comedy, Family
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Available in
1 country

Tropes

Henpecked Husband, Batman Gambit, Borrowed Catchphrase +9

  • Henpecked Husband
  • Batman Gambit
  • Borrowed Catchphrase
  • Vitriolic Best Buds
  • Rich Bitch
  • Palm-Fist Tap
  • Heroic BSoD
  • Idiot Ball
  • Playground Song
  • Loophole Abuse
  • Or Was It a Dream?
  • Put on a Bus

12 of 190 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream The Cosby Show?"

Questions about The Cosby Show

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Cosby Show?

Philo

In the United States, The Cosby Show streams on Philo.

Is The Cosby Show worth watching?

74
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 74 (IMDb 7.4).

Which season of The Cosby Show is best?

Season 2, with an IMDb average of 7.6. Season 8 is the weakest at 6.5. The highest-rated episode is Theo's Holiday (season 2, episode 22) at 8.5, and the lowest is You Can't Stop the Music (season 8, episode 22) at 5.4.

Is The Cosby Show okay for kids?

TV-PG

Yes: it's rated TV-PG in the United States, and the viewing guide lists it for kids.

How long does it take to watch The Cosby Show?

79 h

About 79 hours: 197 episodes in 8 seasons of about 24 minutes each, aired from 1984 to 1992.

Will The Cosby Show make me laugh?

Funny

Yes: the humor is mostly situational comedy (9 of 10) and sharp wit (7 of 10).

Is The Cosby Show plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (8 of 10) and dialogue centrality (8 of 10) more than on its plot.