Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (1972)
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids is an animated series created, produced, and hosted by comedian Bill Cosby, who also lent his voice to a number of characters, including Fat Albert himself. Filmation was the production company for the series. The show premiered in 1972 and ran until 1985. The show, based on Cosby's remembrances of his childhood gang, centered on Albert, and his friends. The show always had an educational lesson emphasized by Cosby's live-action segments, and in early episodes the gang would usually gather in their North Philadelphia junkyard to play a rock song on their cobbled-together instruments at the end of the show.
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Episode 1 - Have a Heart
Release Date: 1984-09-01The gang stays after school to learn about CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), but Rudy ditches the class early to focus more on basketball. When Mudfoot stops by, he joins him in practice and gives his usual advice on the importance of education. Shortly afterward, he has a heart attack and Rudy is unable to help. Luckily, the gang leaving CPR class, is able to intervene with Fat Albert giving Mudfoot CPR while others call the paramedics. Mudfoot recovers and Rudy learns an important lesson, deciding to take the CPR class to be better prepared.
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Episode 2 - Watch Thy Neightborhood
Release Date: 1984-09-08The boys go to a Neighborhood Watch meeting after a burglary at Dumb Donald's house.
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Episode 3 - Cosby's Classics
Release Date: 1984-09-15Bill devises a new form of entertainment when the clubhouse TV breaks.
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Episode 4 - Justice Good as Ever
Release Date: 1984-09-22An accident foils the boys' plan to enter Rudy's new bike in a big race.
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Episode 5 - Rebop for Bebop
Release Date: 1984-09-29Mudfoot offers to help when the boys enter a battle of the bands.
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Episode 6 - Sinister Stranger
Release Date: 1984-10-06A police officer offers kids at school safety tips, but Hank was not listening.
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Episode 7 - Handwriting on the Wall
Release Date: 1984-10-13A field trip is canceled because of the expense of covering over graffiti painted on a school wall. In order to recoup the money, the gang takes on a city project to paint a patriotic mural on a city building.
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Episode 8 - Busted
Release Date: 1984-10-20Larry is a car thief who impresses the gang by saying he knows how the police work. However, accepting a ride from Larry to the pool leads to trouble when Larry realizes John Law has other ideas up his sleeve. The gang is frightened of what they see in the jailhouse and a police sergeant sentences them to one-minute imprisonment, showing they could have a much longer time behind bars if they are not more careful who they associate with.
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Episode 9 - It All Ads Up
Release Date: 1984-10-27The kids contribute to the school's rummage sale. The gang is concerned some of the older stuff will not sell, but Rudy uses slick ways to sell their entire selection. One of the teachers shows Rudy the effects of his actions by giving him a faulty device that ruins his hat versus that shown in a glitzy TV commercial. The lesson is not over, as Rudy, Fat Albert and the others must also head the harbor when Rudy realizes he sold a faulty raft to a boy who cannot swim.
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Episode 10 - Never Say Never
Release Date: 1984-11-03The gang tries to cheer a friend who awaits a kidney transplant.
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Episode 11 - Don't Call Us
Release Date: 1984-11-10Red wants to quit school to focus on her singing career, but Fat Albert and the gang try to convince her that it is a mistake.
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Episode 12 - The Runner
Release Date: 1984-11-17A classmate is selling drugs at school, but Fat Albert and friends must decide whether to report it.
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Episode 13 - Video Mania
Release Date: 1984-11-24Weird Harold spends all his money on video games, then makes amends by taking a job at the video arcade to earn money for picnic equipment for the gang.
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Episode 14 - You Gotta Have Art
Release Date: 1984-12-01Fat Albert makes friends with the new girl in school, who is a budding artist.
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Episode 15 - Long Live the Queen
Release Date: 1984-12-08On America Day, the gang gets to vote on who wins the title of America's Queen.
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Episode 16 - The Joker
Release Date: 1984-12-15Dumb Donald's cousin does not realize his pranks are getting out of hand.
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Episode 17 - Second Chance
Release Date: 1984-12-22Teddy is accused when gym equipment disappears, and Fat Albert and the gang hunt for the real culprits.
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Episode 18 - Kiss and Tell
Release Date: 1984-12-29Bob discovers that problems—especially those involving one's health—do not go away on their own.
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Episode 19 - Teenage Mom
Release Date: 1985-01-05The kids help their friend Liz with their new baby.
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Episode 20 - Film Follies
Release Date: 1985-01-12The kids make their own episode of the Brown Hornet.
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Episode 21 - Harvest Moon
Release Date: 1985-01-19The Cosby kids discover a dangerous chemical spill when they help out at their friend Roy's farm.
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Episode 22 - Read Baby Read
Release Date: 1985-01-26The boys try to convince the school's star football player Mickey that reading is more important than winning.
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Episode 23 - The Whiskey Kid
Release Date: 1985-02-02Fat Albert notices that his friend Peter is acting strangely and finds out that it is due to alcohol.
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Episode 24 - Millionaire Madness
Release Date: 1985-02-09The Cosby kids search for hidden loot after Weird Harold finds a treasure map.
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Episode 25 - Call of the Wild
Release Date: 1985-02-16Fat Albert and the Cosby kids take a trip to the country to visit Weird Harold's uncle.
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Episode 26 - Funny Business
Release Date: 1985-02-23Weird Harold and Waldo's sister Mindy learn the importance of having a sense of humor when they get trapped in a cave.
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Episode 27 - 3 Strikes and You're In
Release Date: 1985-03-02Fat Albert finds the perfect star pitcher when the boys get a challenge from the Junior League baseball champions, but she is a girl.
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Episode 28 - What's the ID?
Release Date: 1985-03-09Rudy and his new friend Hector try to use fake I.D.s at a nightclub.
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Episode 29 - Rules Is Cool
Release Date: 1985-03-16The police show up when Fat Albert's friend Tommy throws a party at his parents' house.
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Episode 30 - The Birds, the Bees and Dumb Donald
Release Date: 1985-03-23Dumb Donald falls for Elaine, a cheerleader, but how will he compete with the star quarterback Hammerhead Rex?
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Episode 31 - Double or Nothing
Release Date: 1985-03-30Rudy learns an important lesson about winning big and losing big when he catches the gambling bug.
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Episode 32 - Hot Wheels
Release Date: 1985-04-06Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids visit the Museum of Natural History to see an exhibit on bicycles.
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Episode 33 - No Place Like Home
Release Date: 1985-04-13The Cosby Kids find out that real friends do not care whether you are rich or poor—they like you for you.
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Episode 34 - Not So Loud
Release Date: 1985-04-20The Cosby Kids enter the Sound City TV competition in hopes of winning airtime for their band.
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Episode 35 - The Jinx
Release Date: 1985-04-27Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids visit Rudy's uncle's ranch and leave the big city behind.
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Episode 36 - You Don't Say
Release Date: 1985-05-04Everybody wants to be on the school pep squad but will Fat Albert and Weird Harold win a place?
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Episode 37 - Amiss With Amish
Release Date: 1985-05-11Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids visit an Amish community and learn the values of Amish society with their friend Sharon.
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Episode 38 - Gang Wars
Release Date: 1985-05-18Fat Albert tries to save his friend Tito from getting involved with his older brother's gang life.
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Episode 39 - Computer Caper
Release Date: 1985-05-25Fat Albert exposes his classmate Greg as a computer hacker while working on a history assignment.
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Episode 40 - We All Scream for Ice Cream
Release Date: 1985-06-01Weird Harold is left in a sticky situation while working at his new job serving ice cream at Mr. Cooper's Ice Cream Shop.
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Episode 41 - Superdudes
Release Date: 1985-06-08Hoping to be like his hero, Dexter attempts a death-defying stunt.
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Episode 42 - Painting the Town
Release Date: 1985-06-15Fat Albert and the boys try to help their friend Lenny find a job.
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Episode 43 - Rudy and the Beast
Release Date: 1985-06-22Rudy thinks it's his big break when the Cosby Kids meet a new girl whose father is a big time movie producer.
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Episode 44 - Wheeler
Release Date: 1985-06-29Fat Albert and the boys try to help their new friend Chuy, a.k.a. the Wheeler, feel welcome at school.
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Episode 45 - Faking the Grade
Release Date: 1985-07-06Dumb Donald's schoolwork needs to improve or he may not be able to advance to the next grade. This catches the attention of a teenager who previously had Dumb Donald's teacher, and offers to sell him the answers to future tests. Donald is conflicted amongst himself about the meaning of academic success and facing the stigma of being held back.
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Episode 46 - Write On
Release Date: 1985-07-13Fat Albert gives his classmate Richard the encouragement he needs to write a blue ribbon poem for the school writing contest.
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Episode 47 - Cable Caper
Release Date: 1985-07-20When the Cosby Kids find out that Mr. and Mrs. Gibson may lose their home, they hit the airwaves to tell their neighbors' story.
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Episode 48 - Say Uncle
Release Date: 1985-07-27When Weird Harold's Uncle Marcus moves in with his family, space gets tight especially in Weird Harold's room.
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Episode 49 - No News Is Good News
Release Date: 1985-08-03The Cosby Kids learn about the responsibilities of the press when Rudy submits a false story to the school newspaper.
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Episode 50 - Attitude of Gratitude
Release Date: 1985-08-10When Fat Albert takes a job at the local zoo, he has trouble juggling his many responsibilities including school, homework, and work.