About this season
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.
Episodes (50)
1. Have a Heart
Aired 1 September 1984 • 30 min
The 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.
2. Watch Thy Neightborhood
Aired 8 September 1984 • 30 min
The boys go to a Neighborhood Watch meeting after a burglary at Dumb Donald's house.
3. Cosby's Classics
Aired 15 September 1984 • 30 min
Bill devises a new form of entertainment when the clubhouse TV breaks.
4. Justice Good as Ever
Aired 22 September 1984 • 30 min
An accident foils the boys' plan to enter Rudy's new bike in a big race.
5. Rebop for Bebop
Aired 29 September 1984 • 30 min
Mudfoot offers to help when the boys enter a battle of the bands.
6. Sinister Stranger
Aired 6 October 1984 • 30 min
A police officer offers kids at school safety tips, but Hank was not listening.
7. Handwriting on the Wall
Aired 13 October 1984 • 30 min
A 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.
8. Busted
Aired 20 October 1984 • 30 min
Larry 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.
9. It All Ads Up
Aired 27 October 1984 • 30 min
The 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.
10. Never Say Never
Aired 3 November 1984 • 30 min
The gang tries to cheer a friend who awaits a kidney transplant.
11. Don't Call Us
Aired 10 November 1984 • 30 min
Red 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.
12. The Runner
Aired 17 November 1984 • 30 min
A classmate is selling drugs at school, but Fat Albert and friends must decide whether to report it.
13. Video Mania
Aired 24 November 1984 • 30 min
Weird 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.
14. You Gotta Have Art
Aired 1 December 1984 • 30 min
Fat Albert makes friends with the new girl in school, who is a budding artist.
15. Long Live the Queen
Aired 8 December 1984 • 30 min
On America Day, the gang gets to vote on who wins the title of America's Queen.
16. The Joker
Aired 15 December 1984 • 30 min
Dumb Donald's cousin does not realize his pranks are getting out of hand.
17. Second Chance
Aired 22 December 1984 • 30 min
Teddy is accused when gym equipment disappears, and Fat Albert and the gang hunt for the real culprits.
18. Kiss and Tell
Aired 29 December 1984 • 30 min
Bob discovers that problems—especially those involving one's health—do not go away on their own.
19. Teenage Mom
Aired 5 January 1985 • 30 min
The kids help their friend Liz with their new baby.
20. Film Follies
Aired 12 January 1985 • 30 min
The kids make their own episode of the Brown Hornet.
21. Harvest Moon
Aired 19 January 1985 • 30 min
The Cosby kids discover a dangerous chemical spill when they help out at their friend Roy's farm.
22. Read Baby Read
Aired 26 January 1985 • 30 min
The boys try to convince the school's star football player Mickey that reading is more important than winning.
23. The Whiskey Kid
Aired 2 February 1985 • 30 min
Fat Albert notices that his friend Peter is acting strangely and finds out that it is due to alcohol.
24. Millionaire Madness
Aired 9 February 1985 • 30 min
The Cosby kids search for hidden loot after Weird Harold finds a treasure map.
25. Call of the Wild
Aired 16 February 1985 • 30 min
Fat Albert and the Cosby kids take a trip to the country to visit Weird Harold's uncle.
26. Funny Business
Aired 23 February 1985 • 30 min
Weird Harold and Waldo's sister Mindy learn the importance of having a sense of humor when they get trapped in a cave.
27. 3 Strikes and You're In
Aired 2 March 1985 • 30 min
Fat Albert finds the perfect star pitcher when the boys get a challenge from the Junior League baseball champions, but she is a girl.
28. What's the ID?
Aired 9 March 1985 • 30 min
Rudy and his new friend Hector try to use fake I.D.s at a nightclub.
29. Rules Is Cool
Aired 16 March 1985 • 30 min
The police show up when Fat Albert's friend Tommy throws a party at his parents' house.
30. The Birds, the Bees and Dumb Donald
Aired 23 March 1985 • 30 min
Dumb Donald falls for Elaine, a cheerleader, but how will he compete with the star quarterback Hammerhead Rex?
31. Double or Nothing
Aired 30 March 1985 • 30 min
Rudy learns an important lesson about winning big and losing big when he catches the gambling bug.
32. Hot Wheels
Aired 6 April 1985 • 30 min
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids visit the Museum of Natural History to see an exhibit on bicycles.
33. No Place Like Home
Aired 13 April 1985 • 30 min
The Cosby Kids find out that real friends do not care whether you are rich or poor—they like you for you.
34. Not So Loud
Aired 20 April 1985 • 30 min
The Cosby Kids enter the Sound City TV competition in hopes of winning airtime for their band.
35. The Jinx
Aired 27 April 1985 • 30 min
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids visit Rudy's uncle's ranch and leave the big city behind.
36. You Don't Say
Aired 4 May 1985 • 30 min
Everybody wants to be on the school pep squad but will Fat Albert and Weird Harold win a place?
37. Amiss With Amish
Aired 11 May 1985 • 30 min
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids visit an Amish community and learn the values of Amish society with their friend Sharon.
38. Gang Wars
Aired 18 May 1985 • 30 min
Fat Albert tries to save his friend Tito from getting involved with his older brother's gang life.
39. Computer Caper
Aired 25 May 1985 • 30 min
Fat Albert exposes his classmate Greg as a computer hacker while working on a history assignment.
40. We All Scream for Ice Cream
Aired 1 June 1985 • 30 min
Weird Harold is left in a sticky situation while working at his new job serving ice cream at Mr. Cooper's Ice Cream Shop.
41. Superdudes
Aired 8 June 1985 • 30 min
Hoping to be like his hero, Dexter attempts a death-defying stunt.
42. Painting the Town
Aired 15 June 1985 • 30 min
Fat Albert and the boys try to help their friend Lenny find a job.
43. Rudy and the Beast
Aired 22 June 1985 • 30 min
Rudy thinks it's his big break when the Cosby Kids meet a new girl whose father is a big time movie producer.
44. Wheeler
Aired 29 June 1985 • 30 min
Fat Albert and the boys try to help their new friend Chuy, a.k.a. the Wheeler, feel welcome at school.
45. Faking the Grade
Aired 6 July 1985 • 30 min
Dumb 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.
46. Write On
Aired 13 July 1985 • 30 min
Fat Albert gives his classmate Richard the encouragement he needs to write a blue ribbon poem for the school writing contest.
47. Cable Caper
Aired 20 July 1985 • 30 min
When the Cosby Kids find out that Mr. and Mrs. Gibson may lose their home, they hit the airwaves to tell their neighbors' story.
48. Say Uncle
Aired 27 July 1985 • 30 min
When Weird Harold's Uncle Marcus moves in with his family, space gets tight especially in Weird Harold's room.
49. No News Is Good News
Aired 3 August 1985 • 30 min
The Cosby Kids learn about the responsibilities of the press when Rudy submits a false story to the school newspaper.
50. Attitude of Gratitude
Aired 10 August 1985 • 30 min
When Fat Albert takes a job at the local zoo, he has trouble juggling his many responsibilities including school, homework, and work.