Season 3

October 9, 1986

Russell and Anna's 50th wedding anniversary. The family performs James Brown's "I Got the Feelin' " in this sequel to Season 2's "Happy Anniversary".

October 16, 1986

Although he has a steady girlfriend, Theo wants to start dating someone else.

October 23, 1986

After Clair specifically forbids her from wearing make-up, Vanessa, behind her mother’s back, does it anyways.

October 30, 1986

Theo writes a report on the March on Washington. But gets a poor grade and is asked to redo his project. Much to his surprise, he learns more about the march from his family than he did from books. Meanwhile, Vanessa is worried about asking a boy to the turn-around dance.

November 6, 1986

Theo and Cockroach decide they want to learn to fly, but Cliff doesn't want to waste his money on another dream of his son's.

November 13, 1986

Friends call Vanessa a stuck-up, rich girl at school.

November 20, 1986

Denise's college career starts with a D, but Denise is too scared to show her parents. Clair needs to rest in bed because of a pinched nerve.

December 4, 1986

Rudy and Peter find a dog and attempt to take care of it without her parents knowing.

December 11, 1986

Cliff and his father's friends play a challenging game of cards. Vanessa prepares to go to a skating party with a nervous date, Tyrone.

December 18, 1986

Cliff is in charge when Clair leaves for 10 days.

January 8, 1987

Although, Elvin and Sondra have made plans for the weekend, he helps Theo with some wrestling moves. He also reveals that he is thinking of asking Sondra to marry him.

January 15, 1987

Cliff establishes the Huxtable Men's Club, when the women are away, to help Theo recover from his sadness over a lost date. Vanessa is very excited that big sister Denise is letting her go to the Village with Denise's college friends.

January 22, 1987

Cliff buys a new car. Rudy cuts some animal pictures out of Cliff's expensive books for school. Watched by almost 65 million viewers when it originally aired, "Say Hello to a Good Buy" was the series' highest rated episode.

February 5, 1987

Denise has a blind date, but is really scared. So, she asks Theo to grade him for her.

February 12, 1987

Cliff is called to the hospital for 3 deliveries.

February 19, 1987

Rudy gets hurt from Theo's rough games. Also, Cliff learns that the woman who cleans up the Doctor's Lounge at the hospital (Rita Moreno) has been fired.

February 26, 1987

Denise holds a bridal shower for her pregnant, bride-to-be friend, Veronica, but finds out some disturbing information.

March 12, 1987

Cliff's 50th birthday has all kinds of surprises.

March 19, 1987

When Sondra and Elvin announce their engagement, Clair and the children use the news to play a practical joke on Cliff, who launches a counter-offensive of his own.

April 2, 1987

While Cliff and Clair have the flu, Theo tries to keep the house going.

April 9, 1987

Cliff's Navy friend comes to visit. Cockroach shaves his head to be in a rock video.

April 30, 1987

Clair's sister decides she wants to be a mother. Cliff takes Rudy and her friends out to eat at a fancy restaurant.

May 7, 1987

The Huxtable family goes to Hillman College to attend a ceremony in honor of its president's retirement.