Dr. Heathcliff “Cliff” Huxtable was an OBGYN (obstetrician/gynecologist), and his wife Clair was a successful attorney. They had five children: Sondra, Denise, Theo, Vanessa and Rudy. Sondra was rarely seen during the first season because she was away at Princeton. She became a regular character in the second season, and was usually seen with her on-again off-again beau, Elvin. They eventually married and had twins; but not before stunning their families by announcing the fact that Elvin was dropping out of medical school to open a camping store, and Sondra was dropping out of law school to help her husband in his endeavor. Denise was the “unique” child, the black sheep of the family. She had her own way of doing things, right down to the style of clothing she wore. After graduating high school, she left for Hillman College in 1986 (a year later, this would become the setting for the spin-off A Different World), but returned two years later with news that she was dropping ou
Table of Contents
#1 – Theo’s Holiday
Season 2 – Episode 22
After Theo claims that he’ll have no problem making it in the “real world”, the Huxtables convert their house in the “Real World Apartments” and teach him a lesson about the real world; i.e., needing employment and references to get an apartment, income to get a bank loan, having to pay for his meals, etc. Carl Anthony Payne II as Cockroach.
The episode was rated from 51 votes.
#2 – Theo and the Kids (2)
Season 7 – Episode 26
Theo continues his attempts to help Stanley and the other children at the community center.
The episode was rated from 19 votes.
#3 – Isn’t It Romantic?
Season 6 – Episode 20
Cliff, Elvin and Martin secretly compete to determine who is the most romantic husband in the Huxtable family.
The episode was rated from 33 votes.
#4 – Theo and the Joint
Season 1 – Episode 17
Clair discovers a marijuana joint in one of Theo’s school books. She and Cliff confront him about it, and accept his explanation—another boy slipped it in. Theo confronts the boy and brings him home to confess in order to remove any uncertainty from his parents about his telling the truth. Theo and the boy actually start to become friends. Stephen Thompson as Anthony Braxton, Iman as Mrs. Montgomery. Rudy says her full name in this episode, Rudith Lillian Huxtable.
The episode was rated from 60 votes.
#5 – Grampy and Nu-Nu
Season 6 – Episode 10
Martin’s parents (Olivia’s grandparents) come for a visit. Actor Moses Gunn and jazz singer Nancy Wilson guest star as Martin’s parents.
The episode was rated from 32 votes.
#6 – Call of the Wild
Season 4 – Episode 1
The newlywed Sondra and Elvin return from their honeymoon with shocking news for Cliff and Clair: they want to abandon their dreams of being a lawyer and doctor and open an outdoorsman’s “wilderness store.” Geoffrey Owens (Elvin) becoms a regular cast member.
The episode was rated from 70 votes.
#7 – Cliff in Love
Season 2 – Episode 4
Sondra breaks up with her boyfriend Elvin and is depressed, taking it out on the family. Cliff and Clair aren’t exactly unhappy; they find Elvin rather annoying. Later, he appears at the house with flowers and tries to apologize. While there, he offers some of his sexist rhetoric to Clair, who quickly becomes annoyed. First appearance of Geoffrey Owens as Elvin. Joseph C. Phillips appears as Daryl (Phillips joins the cast in Season 6 as Denise’s new husband, Navy Lt. Martin Kendall)
The episode was rated from 82 votes.
#8 – No Way, Baby
Season 5 – Episode 16
Cliff tracks down the grandfather of one of his patients: an expectant teenage mother with no other family. Clair deduces that the charming man is illiterate. Guest appearance by Sammy Davis, Jr.
The episode was rated from 21 votes.
#9 – Theogate
Season 4 – Episode 2
Theo and Cockroach come home unusually late from a track meet, and the Huxtables got a phone message earlier from the track coach. They both deny anything out of the ordinary happened, but attorney Clair knows better. A mock trial is held for Theo and Cockroach at the Huxtables’ for Clair to get to the bottom of the situation. Carl Anthony Payne II as Cockroach. Bill Cosby and Keshia Knight Pulliam appear on the episode of A Different World which airs later that evening.
The episode was rated from 50 votes.
#10 – That’s Not What I Said
Season 4 – Episode 6
Cliff and Clair have a marital argument after Theo gets detained by police for riding in a car with an unlicensed driver.
The episode was rated from 36 votes.