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The Bill Cosby Show
1969 - 1971 5.4 (18 votes) 2 Seasons
Genres
Comedy
Networks
NBC
Created By
Bill Cosby
Ed. Weinberger

The Bill Cosby Show

Overview

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.

Key Crew

Producer: Ed. Weinberger, Marvin Miller

Top Cast

Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby

Chet Kincaid

Seasons

Season 1 poster
Season 1 (1969)

No overview available.

26 episodes

Episodes
Episode 1: The Fatal Phone Call
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 2: Lullaby and Goodnight
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 3: The Best Hook Shot in the World
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 4: A Girl Named Punkin
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 5: Rules is Rules
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 6: Let X Equal a Lousy Weekend
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 7: To Kincaid, with Love
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 8: The Killer Instinct
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 9: The Substitute
1969-11-16

Chet starts dating a substitute teacher from the high school, and has difficulty finding time to spend alone with her.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 10: Brotherly Love
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 11: Going the Route
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 12: A Word from Our Sponsor
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 13: A Christmas Ballad
1969-12-21

Chet helps a down on his luck old timer capture the spirit of Christmas. Rex Ingram guest stars.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 14: Home Remedy
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 15: Growing Growing Grown
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 16: The Elevator Doesn't Stop Here Anymore
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 17: Lover's Quarrel
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 18: The Worst Crook That Ever Lived
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 19: The Gumball Incident
1970-02-01

Chet is wrongfully accused and arrested for breaking a gumball machine. Tom Bosley guest stars as Cookie Maharg.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 20: Goodbye Cruel World
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 21: Driven to Distraction
1970-02-15

Drivers ed instructor Chet tries to teach a nervous student how to drive. Very funny episode.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 22: The Blind 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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 23: How You Play the Game
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 24: The Return of Big, Bad, Bubba Bronson
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 25: This Mouth Is Rated X
1970-03-29

Chet is unsure how to handle one of his basketball players who is constantly letting profanities slip out of his mouth.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 26: Really Cool
1970-04-05

Chet is asked to tell a few stories about his life for a forthcoming article in the Holmes High School newspaper.

Runtime: 30 min
Season 2 (1970)

No overview available.

26 episodes

Episodes
Episode 1: Anytime You're Ready, C.K.
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 2: Open House
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 3: Is There a Doctor in the Hospital?
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 4: There Must Be a Party
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 5: The Old Man of 4-C
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 6: The Lincoln Letter
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 7: The Runaways
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 8: The Artist
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 9: March of the Antelopes
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 10: The Deluge (1)
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 11: The Deluge (2)
1970-11-22

Conclusion of a two part episode. Chet helps an expectant mother deliver her baby at home during a driving rainstorm.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 12: Swann's Way
1970-12-13

Don Knotts guest stars in this episode as a shifty repossessor who's trying to repossess Chet's television set.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 13: The Poet
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 14: Teacher of the Year
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 15: Each According to Appetite
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 16: Viva Ortega
1971-01-10

Chet tutors a Mexican immigrant who is studying to become a United States citizen.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 17: Miraculous Martin
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 18: The Sesame Street Rumble
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 19: The Generation Gap
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 20: Tobacco Road
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 21: A Dirty Business
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 22: The Barber Shop
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 23: Power of the Trees
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 24: The Green-Eyed Monster
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 25: The Long Road Back
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.

Runtime: 30 min
Episode 26: The Saturday Game
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.

Runtime: 30 min

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