Theo and Cockroach

Theo and Cockroach is the 15th episode of Season 2 of The Cosby Show, also the 39th overall in the series. The episode was directed by Jay Sandrich and written by Thad Mumford. The episode originally aired in the United States on NBC on January 30, 1986.

Synopsis

Theo and his friend Cockroach scheme to pass a test on William Shakespeare's "Macbeth", which neither one has read. (This is the first appearance of Carl Anthony Payne II as Cockroach.)

Plot summary

With an exam on Shakespeare's "Macbeth" less than two days away, Theo and his friend Cockroach scheme to pass the test without reading the play. Meanwhile, the Huxtables enjoy some new-fallen snow by having a snowball fight, and Cliff takes Rudy sleigh riding.

Did you know?

• Phylicia Ayers-Allen changes her professional name to Phylicia Rashād, after marrying NBC sportscaster Ahmad Rashād.
• When Theo and Cockroach are listening to the Shakespeare record, they skip to the middle. The old man's voice telling the story of MacBeth is Earle Hyman's voice, the actor who plays Cliff's father Russell Huxtable in the series. Later on in the series (#4.5 Shakespeare), Russell quotes a scene from another Shakespeare, Julius Caesar.

Goofs

Audio unsynchronized

When Theo starts the record, he sets the needle back on its cradle and you can tell the record starts slowing down to a stop before the scene cuts away, and in the meantime you hear the audio from the record as if it started playing.

Scene quotes

(yelling at some snowball-throwing kids:)

• Cliff: This is Dr. Huxtable. I delivered some of you. I'm a parent and a taxpayer. And I am probably the only adult who will sue little children.

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Note: Sabrina Le Beauf does not appear in this episode.