"And So We Commence" is the two-part series finale of The Cosby Show. The finale was broadcast to viewers on the night of April 30, 1992. It is the twenty-fourth episode of Season 8 and the 202nd episode overall, including the Season 6 special, "The Cosby Outtakes Show." The episode premiered to 24.1 million people, at least in the United States of America. It was filmed on Friday, March 6, 1992 under production codes 0823 and 0824. And got a 28.0/45 rating/share in households.
Plot[]
An image taken from the filming of Season 1's opening credits of "The Cosby Show"
Cliff's list of invitations for Theo's graduation at NYU keeps growing and growing as he invites many relatives and friends, and even though the tickets are very scarce, he continues to invite people. "If they ask me, they're coming." the extremely proud father declares despite the protests of Theo. Denise contacts her family from Singapore and tells them that she and her partner, Martin, are expecting a baby. Vanessa and her partner, Dabnis Brickey, arrive home... making mixed signals to the family about their relationship. At the ceremony of commencement, Cliff flashbacks to the day when he used fake money from the board game Monopoly to tell about the harsh realities of the real world to the then 13-year-old Theo Huxtable. After Heathcliff snaps out of his daydreaming, Theo is now a graduate. Later that night, after the doorbell is finally fixed... Heathcliff and his wife, Claire, dance cheek-to-cheek just one last time in the Huxtable's living room... then dance off the set into the history of television. Then, a 3-minute tribute plays on the screen, thanking the viewers for watching The Cosby Show as the episode and the series concludes.
1992 NBC Promo (The Cosby Show Series Finale)
"And So We Commence" promo released officially by NBC in the year 1992, marketed as "the most important event ever in television history" as a 1-hour series finale of "The Cosby Show"
Trivia[]
- This episode marks the debut of Elijah Ray Sanders.
- The episode aired the night of day two of the 1992 Rodney King Los Angeles riots. Coincidentally, Bill Cosby appeared on KNBC that day and asked the viewers what they were doing. He then politely asked the viewer that instead of rioting and protesting, to just stay home and watch the series finale of The Cosby Show in an attempt to halt hostilities.
- This episode marks the first and only time Elijah is seen with Rudy, Theo, and Vanessa.
- This is also the only time Elijah Ray Sanders and Kenny appear together.