The Cosby Show: And So We Commence

S8 E25| After the family attends Theo's graduation and Olivia leaves for Singapore, Cliff and Clair share a quiet moment.

[@boucoupthick504]

I don’t know who came up with that idea of ending the show like this but there will never ever be anything to top this.

[@DDRUTOU]

It was Cosby at the very moment. He's the only one that decided to do that immediately

[@kfletch19]

@@DDRUTOU Clever ending, the Song is "If I were a Bell" from Guys and Dolls, but of course he used a jazz version by Miles Davis kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWfakpl8n6uXj9U

[@jhsounds]

@@DDRUTOU and the benefit of the multi-camera show format is that the production managed to capture the moment as it happened.

[@godbacks09]

Bill Cosby whispered into Phylicia Rashad’s ear that they should dance off the set.

[@quecreations3244]

Maybe it was John Denver. He had a similar idea for Gilligan Island. Basically all the cast members was to stand at the edge of the island and they can see Los Angeles streets and highways. 🙂

[@manuginobilisbaldspot424]

The fact that the last episode was centered around something as seemingly simple as college graduation tickets was actually perfect. The Cosby Show's existence wasn't meant to illuminate the ills of the world like other Black shows. And that's okay. It introduced America to something just as important...the stable, successful Black family. The fact that folks STILL treat this like some anathema when it very much exists and has always existed is not lost on me. That last dance, for everything Bill Cosby is NOT, still gets to me. We can and should celebrate the merits of this amazing show without guilt or shame over what Cosby the man did. Because unlike art from folks like R. Kelly, the sins aren't intertwined in the messages of the art itself. I'm glad this was uploaded, because nearly 30 years later, it still resonates with me.

[@AriWonder]

So well stated!

[@corduerorose9747]

It's been 30 years since we said goodbye to the Cosby show. Along with growing pains

[@debgibson1334]

PERFECT AND WELL-STATED!!!

[@cosmokramer179]

I love the show that Bill Cosby made, and it shouldn’t be affected by the stupid decisions he as a person made

[@koolpopjones6499]

Right. The first episode centered on Theo and it ended with Theo

[@67Lich]

The perfect ending. The very first episode was about Theo's school struggles, the famous "That is the stupidest thing I ever heard" speech and ends with him graduating college.

[@celenajones6352]

Right. He came a long way. 😊

[@lexkanyima2195]

​@@celenajones6352Theo's journey

[@akatress]

I mean Just MAGNIFICENT!!!!

[@maximusprime3459]

I love how the plot was somewhat secondary to the finale. It doesnt really feel like a final episode but it leaves the viewer knowing life is gonna go on for the Huxtables. So well done.

[@kendallrivers1119]

Just like the Everybody Loves Raymond finale. The show didn't get blown up. It ended with us leaving but The Barones still there doing what they do best just like The Huxtables.

[@Mabeylater293]

The best ending of any show ever

[@herman2955]

I like Martin ending

[@thecultivatingcactus5640]

Siendfeild ending was the best ever...(they went to prison) ...but it was a comedy

[@kendallrivers1119]

@@thecultivatingcactus5640 Seinfeld? Come on it had one of the worst endings in tv history.

[@thecultivatingcactus5640]

@@kendallrivers1119 smh not by 1990 sitcom standards, back then all tv shows had "Sad" endings #Seinfeld went to prison for not helping people lol (imagine U going to prison for not helping an old lady across the street/but instead you're the 1 who stole her box of donuts lol)..

[@thecultivatingcactus5640]

@@kendallrivers1119 i was 14years old in 1998 so I guess you just had to be there to understand.."Martin & Fresh Prince" final episodes were sad/ "Seinfeld" final episode was hilarious

[@anonymoushuman8443]

Imagine being in that audience witnessing history

[@BRITTWOODNESHIE]

What a classy and iconic ending 😊

[@motivationwithlisa]

THIS ENDING WAS EPIC!! I CRIED THEN, AND IT BRINGS TEARS TO MY EYES NOW!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@marycanary]

So I’m guessing that this is the series finally?

[@motivationwithlisa]

@@marycanary Yeah!

[@pallavisreetambraparni6995]

yeah

[@sixflagsshowspast9616]

Me too. Back then we didn't have streaming or ytube to rewatch these episodes. So when they were over, they were over .

[@TruSoulDj]

Didn’t even have the DVDS yet.

[@Squirrel36]

Phylicia is one awesome and beautiful queen 👸🏿👑

[@kingsports1113]

Started with theo getting a d on report card to theo graduate 🙏☝💯💯💯💯💯 the kids dance on first episode to the parents dance off

[@percybedford6266]

@King Sports yeah it came full circle an excellent way to end the show.

[@adailydaughter6196]

Great comment 😊❤️

[@blackcobra1981]

The kids dancing wasn't in the first episode

[@kireality]

Broke the 4th Wall as they stepped into history! As always short-n-sweet.

[@anthonywilliams9023]

The Cosby Show was epic and fundamentally amazing. This show was revolutionary.

[@AngelHoll]

I agree but good times is far better!!!

[@kendallrivers1119]

​@AngelHoll so why are you here? Go on a Good Times video instead.

[@therealchucktaylor3392]

That door bell 😂😂😂😂

[@josephbwalker]

All season she had been getting on him about fixing that damn doorbell… and he did!! 😊

[@nicolegnabasik9874]

The absolute perfect ending to the show

[@alanmorris7669]

Their exit brings tears to my eyes everytime.

[@KaylaJohnson1995]

This ending is so cute

[@nt3827]

No matter how many things begin not to matter anymore, this show will always means something to me

[@b0ajvk8]

On our 20th anniversary I convinced my kids to pretend that there was some static on the stereo causing a shock. So when I told my wife to go and turn on the player she reacted exactly like Claire 😆. I then said, “okay, i will turn on the player and you will love it.” I turned it on and out came Miles Davis ‘If I Was A Bell’. We danced the whole song then left the living room and went up to the bedroom. 17 years later the memory still lingers and I am still playing Miles Davis 💗

[@jenbrown1362]

That’s lovely!

[@stephaniestanley8041]

This makes me sad. It was a great show. I hope Bill can find peace and forgiveness.

[@hawaiianfest5]

the last epsoide of the cosby show was so touching to watch

[@sammiesmith6690]

Iconic ending to an iconic show.

[@kennethsullivan9217]

I like millions of others grew up watching The Cosby show,,,, this '90s show was the epic show of the '90s classy and refined,,,, family orientated,,,, educational and career gole driven,,,, there will never be another family show that I personally looked up to in growing up with this family,,,,, and that doorbell scene,,,,, the classic dancing off the set,,,,, will always be a memory,,,,, sit in history,,,,, carved in stone,,,,, the 1990s God how I miss them 💯🙏📺👍

[@kendallrivers1119]

Actually Cosby was truly an eighties phenomenon. It went into the early nineties but that was when it wasn't as great as it was. Its peak was from 1984-1990. But regardless throughout the whole run the show's impact is eternal.

[@dawnagordon2333]

Dang I'm crying. Love this ending

[@koolpopjones6499]

Over 30 years old and it still brings a smile to my face 😊

[@danielayodele5417]

Epic ending to a beautiful show ❤

[@marcusrob02]

What made me VERY VERY mad back then was that the media began treating The Cosby Show like it was "played out" those last few years, overhyping an overrated show like The Simpsons as some hot, new "ratings phenomenon", etc. It could NEVER hold a candle to this classic sitcom

[@pricej4]

Sweet and sentimental, but with that classic Cosby silliness, jazziness, and dance. Balanced. Short and to the point - whole bunch of words weren’t needed - would have overdone it. A happy ending for all, and most importantly for two, was clearly conveyed. Perfect!

[@coryfields482]

Saddest day in tv show history

[@keronwindley4950]

Walter “Cockroach” should’ve at least had a quick lil cameo scene

[@laminage]

No he was on bad terms with Bill Cosby and he "Knew" what Bill was doing with those ladies. Lisa Bonet, & Joseph C. Phillips knew as well. I wonder what he thought of what happened with Harvey Weinstein, Jeffrey Epstein or even currently Ghislaine Maxwel.

[@cptbusstop92]

Yeah like when Roger came back for Lisa’s wedding in Sister, Sister

[@corduerorose9747]

I know where cockroach is or should I say Cole 🤣

[@msmagic1568]

that would've been nice, but I'm not sure if he and Bill made up after being fired for not wanting to cut his hair.

[@kinglord7707]

Yes that would be epic

[@lorikube3713]

This gave me chills.. I miss shows like this ❤️

[@dannyfrog]

This ending and the ending of Cheers will be the ending of two shows that will never be repeated. They were pioneers in the industry in a decent age of television.

[@kendallrivers1119]

I will also throw in the endings of MASH, Newhart, Everybody Loves Raymond, Fresh Prince of Bel Air, and Frasier in that category as well. Very monumental shows and endings.

[@angelagreaves1105]

I actually cried when this show came to an end. So refreshing to see a black family on the television with Doctor and Lawyer parents who remained grounded in their culture whilst bringing up 5 very different children. Cliff and Clair confirmed that marriage is teamwork and a partnership. I’m not sure that any other TV show can touch this. Ax

[@northernking2604]

My dad's favourite show... he was in love with Claire 🤣

[@celenajones6352]

Lmao my dad said that he used to be in love with Clair also. 😂

[@jnal21]

Watching this again so many years later, it seems to go so much quicker than I remembered.

[@kenrivers9757]

I remember this as a kid , it broke my heart love this show🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@raheenhenry6982]

I fight tears every time I watch this

[@debgibson1334]

Swear to God I cried to see them go!!

[@kengy1991]

The best series ending ever.

[@keneciaoliver8522]

THE BEST ending to a WONDERFUL SHOW! It’s my favorite ending 😢

[@plainsimple244]

This is the best family sitcom ever; I always look at married/family sitcoms different than other sitcoms...I still cannot get enough of Family Ties, the music before and after still hits me from that time period and the music on 'The Cosby Show' and even 'A Different World' is a soundtrack for the ages...this was and still is a perfect show concerning family, marriage, parenting, and the growth of the children and the relationship we all had growing up in the 80's being parented and governed by older people who knew better.

[@kennetbharde393]

If only Denise had graduated; Sondra and Theo graduated.

[@trinidadmetroid]

I still with the hope that Denise realised that she is a creative artist! That is her true calling.

[@corduerorose9747]

@@trinidadmetroid yeah but she probably been finished grad school. Still married to Martin. And Olivia and her 30 year old sibling whereabouts are unknown

[@sarahsimpkins1311]

I was 12 years old when this ended I was so 😢

[@lucylocket4740]

Today marks thirty years to the day this episode aired in the United States, how times have moved on since then! 🤔

[@sixflagsshowspast9616]

Any ending of a popular and beloved show always brought tears to my eyes. The Cosby show, the carol Burnette show, cheers and Smallville.

[@raymondsolisjr.1262]

Malcom will never know what an inspiration his character was.

[@raymondsolisjr.1262]

University was not easy for me. Every time I would feel stupid and wanted to give up. What literally would think "What would Theo do "

[@therealchucktaylor3392]

Genius 💯

[@kendallrivers1119]

There have been many iconic and memorable endings of some iconic and classic finales. From MASH, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, St. Elsewhere and Newhart to The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Cheers, Everybody Loves Raymond and Frasier. This from The Cosby Show ranks among them. Ending the entire series with only one of America's most beloved tv couples Cliff and Claire was perfect. They were the heart and soul of the show.

[@prestonmcleod1726]

I know this probably brought tears to many fans being it was the series finale. It started w/Theo being the troubled one. & ended w/him being the one who had his life best put together. He moved away from him when he went college. Sandra & Denise ended up moving back home w/their husbands. Vanessa constantly stayed in trouble, & seems like Rudy was heading in Vanessa's direction.

[@colinphulchand]

I know Lisa Bonet had already left the show. Too bad Bill fired Denise it would have been nice to see her on the final.

[@lexkanyima2195]

Bad timing to end

[@jamesgarrity8163]

And just like that one of Americas favorite families was over! And we grew TF up🤷🏾‍♂️

[@richardgadberry8398]

"Quality, schmality! If I had a TV show, I'd run that sucker into the ground!"--Bartholomew Jojo Simpson.

[@LGKids]

And I will dial 911….

[@jenniferholzman119]

Best ending

[@mskeishagrant]

👏🏼👏🏼

[@darryljrwilson2745]

0:22

[@renel2788]

Wonderful ending ! It reminds me of Happy Days when Tom Bosley turned to the camera and thanked the audience

[@lexkanyima2195]

This is different

[@renel2788]

@@lexkanyima2195 oh yes, it was ! I just like how they showed the audience

[@lexkanyima2195]

@@renel2788 a actual curtain call

[@OdsnFilms]

Sad this came during the LA Riots which clearly illustrates that "Art Does Not Imitate Life" ... 🧐

[@corduerorose9747]

I was 4 when this show ended

[@Cmar102]

I was 5 in pre k

[@corduerorose9747]

@@Cmar102 so you're 35 too

[@Cmar102]

@@corduerorose9747 yes

[@corduerorose9747]

@@Cmar102 were getting old bruh 😄

[@adailydaughter6196]

I was 54. Just kidding 😁

[@TerriAustin-jo9gh]

Build you up ..then tare you down.....THAT'S Hollywood

[@kingsports1113]

Miles davis im the door bell

[@Fakevideopolice.]

What's funny is no one is saying what episode it was

[@youngblackknowledgeandhist8945]

So we commence

[@BRITTWOODNESHIE]

It's the very last episode on the final season, which is season 8.

[@nottoomuch87]

Had to get the comments off 66

[@darryljrwilson2745]

0:19

[@darryljrwilson2745]

0:17

[@darryljrwilson2745]

0:26

[@darryljrwilson2745]

0:27

[@darryljrwilson2745]

0:20

[@darryljrwilson2745]

0:21