The Cosby Show
Seen it?1984 | 8 seasons | 24 min | Comedy, Family
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics rank it among the best shows ever made and it's still drawing plenty of interest, though it had a lukewarm 7.0 out of 10 from audiences. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh and families. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Light and funny, feel-good.
- The pace
- 8 seasons, but most episodes stand on their own, so you can dip in anywhere (about 24 minutes each).
- What might put you off
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
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.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
Named among the best TV shows of all time by critics (on 5 all-time best lists)
- AudiencesBelow par
7.0 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
Awards data unavailable, so this isn't counted
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Ran for 8 seasons and reached a modest audience; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 410K people sought it out in the past year
Season by season
The show overall is a Sunday Safe Bet. Here's how each season stacks up; Season 2 is the high point.
- Season 11984 · 24 episodes · 7.3 out of 10Sunday
Season 21985 · 25 episodes · 8.0 out of 10Saturday- Season 31986 · 25 episodes · 8.0 out of 10Saturday
- Season 41987 · 23 episodesNot rated yet
- Season 51988 · 25 episodesNot rated yet
- Season 61989 · 26 episodesNot rated yet
- Season 71990 · 25 episodesNot rated yet
- Season 81991 · 24 episodesNot rated yet
Trailer
Cast & crew
Created by Bill Cosby, Michael J. Leeson, Ed. Weinberger
- Bill CosbyHeathcliff Huxtable
- Phylicia RashādClair Huxtable
- Malcolm-Jamal WarnerTheo Huxtable
- Tempestt BledsoeVanessa Huxtable
- Keshia Knight PulliamRudy Huxtable
- Sabrina Le BeaufSondra Huxtable
- Geoffrey OwensElvin Tibideaux
- Raven-SymonéOlivia Kendall
- Erika AlexanderPam Tucker