The Cosby Show: Cliff's 50th Birthday

The Cosby Show: Cliff's 50th Birthday
NBC
March 12, 1987
Sitcom
DVD
C

Another odd episode, this one written by Gary Kott.  I don't just mean that Cliff is celebrating his birthday earlier in the year than two years ago.  (And note that as far as air-dates go, it's been only seven months since his parents' 50th wedding anniversary.)  Clair "lets" Cliff invite whoever he wants to his birthday party, although she makes her dislike of some of his friends very clear.  The compromise guest, Mark, divorced her friend five years ago and Clair still holds a grudge against him, although they do talk things out some.  Meanwhile, Cliff encourages 16-year-old Theo to take out Mark's 12-year-old daughter and doesn't understand why Theo sees this as cradle-robbing.

Two directors are credited, Lauten and Life, for the first of seven and sixteen times respectively.