The Bill Cosby Show (1969)
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.
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Episode 1 - The Fatal Phone Call
Release Date: 1969-09-14While 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.
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Episode 2 - Lullaby and Goodnight
Release Date: 1969-09-21Chet is having difficulty sleeping at night, due to the new neighbor across the street who's dog won't stop barking.
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Episode 3 - The Best Hook Shot in the World
Release Date: 1969-09-28A 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.
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Episode 4 - A Girl Named Punkin
Release Date: 1969-10-05Chet 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.
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Episode 5 - Rules is Rules
Release Date: 1969-10-12Chet goes to great lengths to obtain a valve needle which he needs in order to inflate basketballs for his gym class.
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Episode 6 - Let X Equal a Lousy Weekend
Release Date: 1969-10-26When 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.
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Episode 7 - To Kincaid, with Love
Release Date: 1969-11-02Chet 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.
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Episode 8 - The Killer Instinct
Release Date: 1969-11-09Chet 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.
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Episode 9 - The Substitute
Release Date: 1969-11-16Chet starts dating a substitute teacher from the high school, and has difficulty finding time to spend alone with her.
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Episode 10 - Brotherly Love
Release Date: 1969-11-23Chet'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.
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Episode 11 - Going the Route
Release Date: 1969-11-30Chet's nephew is in bed with a cold. Chet is asked and agrees to substitute for his nephew in the morning paper route.
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Episode 12 - A Word from Our Sponsor
Release Date: 1969-12-07A 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.
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Episode 13 - A Christmas Ballad
Release Date: 1969-12-21Chet helps a down on his luck old timer capture the spirit of Christmas. Rex Ingram guest stars.
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Episode 14 - Home Remedy
Release Date: 1969-12-28Chet is home with a cold, and is unable to rest because all his relatives come over offering their cure-alls and remedies.
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Episode 15 - Growing Growing Grown
Release Date: 1970-01-04Chet 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.
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Episode 16 - The Elevator Doesn't Stop Here Anymore
Release Date: 1970-01-11Chet 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.
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Episode 17 - Lover's Quarrel
Release Date: 1970-01-18Chet 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.
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Episode 18 - The Worst Crook That Ever Lived
Release Date: 1970-01-25Chet 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.
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Episode 19 - The Gumball Incident
Release Date: 1970-02-01Chet is wrongfully accused and arrested for breaking a gumball machine. Tom Bosley guest stars as Cookie Maharg.
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Episode 20 - Goodbye Cruel World
Release Date: 1970-02-08Wally 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.
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Episode 21 - Driven to Distraction
Release Date: 1970-02-15Drivers ed instructor Chet tries to teach a nervous student how to drive. Very funny episode.
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Episode 22 - The Blind Date
Release Date: 1970-03-01Chet reluctantly agrees to go on a blind date, and ends up falling in love. Cicely Tyson guest stars as Chet's love interest.
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Episode 23 - How You Play the Game
Release Date: 1970-03-08Chet 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.
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Episode 24 - The Return of Big, Bad, Bubba Bronson
Release Date: 1970-03-22Big 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.
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Episode 25 - This Mouth Is Rated X
Release Date: 1970-03-29Chet is unsure how to handle one of his basketball players who is constantly letting profanities slip out of his mouth.
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Episode 26 - Really Cool
Release Date: 1970-04-05Chet is asked to tell a few stories about his life for a forthcoming article in the Holmes High School newspaper.