Original title
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
Released
9/9/1972
Origin country
US
Genre
Animation, Comedy
Status
Ended
Number of seasons
8
Number of episodes
110
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids is an animated series created, produced, and hosted by comedian Bill Cosby, who also lent his voice to a number of characters, including Fat Albert himself. Filmation was the production company for the series. The show premiered in 1972 and ran until 1985. The show, based on Cosby's remembrances of his childhood gang, centered on Albert, and his friends. The show always had an educational lesson emphasized by Cosby's live-action segments, and in early episodes the gang would usually gather in their North Philadelphia junkyard to play a rock song on their cobbled-together instruments at the end of the show.
Fat Albert and his friends fight to save their junkyard clubhouse from demolition while also working on a Christmas pageant.
After a night filled with more tricking than treating, Rudy and his friend Devery plan one last prank for spooky Mrs. Bakewell. But when two of the kids disappear into the old widow's house, Fat Albert and the crew set out to find their missing friends.
Fat Albert and the gang lends a helping hand out to their old friend, Mudfoot, but Rudy decides to play a little joke on the gang which goes haywire when Mudfoot get hurt and is sent to the hospital. This incident puts Rudy in a horrible situation with the gang.
Edward tells stories about wrestling with alligators. Fat Albert and the gang realize that Edward has been lying to them about everything and gets caught at the end.
Fat Albert and the Gang meet a guy named Pee Wee who's very small that he feels left out of everything. The Gang and Pee Wee learned that It's not your size that matters but being who you are that counts.
Fat Albert and the gang meet a new girl from the south.
The origin of the Junkyard Band. The gang tries doing odd jobs for money but they only made enough money to buy a broken drumstick but then they realize they could make their own instruments. Fat Albert makes an instrument out of an old radiator, a funnel, and a big potato bag. Bill makes a set of drums out of trash cans as well as turning old tin cans into chimes for Russell. Weird Harold turns a bed frame into a harp. Dumb Donald creates a trombone out of pipes and a horn from a grammaphone. Mushmouth takes an old bird cage and makes his own guitar. Bucky puts big pipes together to make an organ.
The Gang goes to Camp Green Lane for the Summer meeting people that are different from them. Fat Albert and the gang learned meeting new people is cool.
Fat Albert recieves news that he's moving away and the gang kicked him out of the club. The Cosby Kids missed Fat Albert so much that all they wanted was their friend back. Fat Albert moved around the corner in his neighborhood.
Fat Albert and the Gang think school is nothing but a waist of time so they decide to play hookey the next day. Dumb Donald told the gang he was going to school and thought he was joking but got made fun of and kept walking. Fat Albert and his friends had so much playing hookey knowing they wouldn't get caught.Later on that evening the Junkyard Gang met two homeless bums who didn't go to school telling them that if they didn't finish their education you won't be able to read and write letters. The Gang decide to stay in school realizing it's cool.
Russell has a physical with the school doctor and learns he needs to have a tonsilectomy. In the process, it is discovered that Bill needs one, too. Thinking the operation will take their lives away, they give all their favorite posessions to their friends, only to find that they will pull through. They also find out that they will get ice cream afterwards and learn that it won't be so bad after all.
Fat Albert's Cousin Benny comes to visit and mistreats all his friends. In the long run he learns what a real friend is all about.
The Gang looks up to Scrap Iron because he's cool then gets them busted and realize he's not a hero.
Otis becomes the coolest kid on the block with his pranks that he doesn't care who he hurts.
Heywood is the clumsiest person who can't see anything. Once Heywood got his glasses, the gang wanted to be just like him.
A new Girl named Penny comes to town and tags along with Fat Albert and the Gang playing sports with them.
Fat Albert and the Gang perform in front of an audience and get stage fright. The Gang realized that It's Important to speak up when you're in front of others.
Slappy bullies the gang (when Fat Albert's not around) to get attention.
Thurmond is the smartest kid in school who loves to study but is terrible at sports. Thurmond shows Fat Albert and the Gang that studying is cool and they show him how to improve in sports.
Fat Albert turns Muggles into the police for selling drugs.
Dumb Donald gets the shock of his life when his parents tell him that they're going to have another baby, and this news isn't sitting well with Donald at all. The gang tries to help smooth things over for Donald. When Donald's new baby sister finally arrives, he learns to cope with sharing his room and life with her.
The Gang makes up stories about what their Dads do and get busted. Mrs Breyfoglye suggest that the gang goes to work with their Dads for a day.
Flora's parents get a divorce.
Johnny is a new kid who's an American Indian from Arizona. The gang thinks that because Johnny's Indian that he can make a rain storm and do other tricks. Mudfoot tells the gang a fake story about him to show them how foolish they were being.
Cool Roy thinks it's awesome to move and change signs. Fat Albert tells him it's dangerous.
A guy named Parker has no respect for people in a uniform.
The gang tries to help Lucius, who has a problem with alcohol.
Fat Albert falls in love but is afraid to admit and the gang picks on him.
Fat Albert's cousin, Justin, starts shoplifting. Harlow is a thief who tricked Justin into stealing. Justin realized it was wrong and helped the gang turn him into the police.
Dulcie lets her dog Sanford free with no leash or collar. Fat Albert and the Gang are so upset that Dulcie doesn't care what happens to her dog. Sanford gets taken to the pound. Dulcie gets Sanford back then she tells her dog to chase the gang around town. She gets bit by another dog who may have rabies. The gang searched for the other dog who bit dulcie right away to have the dog checked out.
Dwayne is the new kid in school with a foot problem and Fat Albert and the Gang try to hide it.
Suede Simpson looks good but smells bad. Fat Albert and Russell have to tell Suede Simpson that it's important to keep yourself clean.
Rudy likes Shanna but can't get her attention. The gang thinks Shanna's stuck up until Fat Albert figures out Shanna has a hearing problem, eventually convincing her to see a doctor for an examination. She eventually gets a hearing aid and Albert helps the gang to understand her situation.
Rudy can't stand school and his teacher so he drops out.Then Mudfoot talks to him about how Important it is to be in school and thanks him.
Suede Simpson looks good but smells bad. Fat Albert and Russell have to tell Suede Simpson that it's important to keep yourself clean.
The Gang goes into business so they can win a bike but then get tricked.
Monroe spends all his time watching Tv that he lets it ruin his life.
Undines Uncle passes away and has a hard time accepting death.
Slim and Fat Albert eat too much junk food. Fat Albert decides to start eating healthy, but Slim continues to eat junk food and it slows him down.
The gang is bussed to an integrated school, finding it difficult to make new friends.
Fat Albert and the gang meet a new kid, who is in dance class. Fat Albert joins the class and finds out he's not so graceful.
Mr. Tyrone wants to sell the junkyard, which could spell the end for Fat Albert and the Gang's clubhouse. Can they convince him to keep it.
Fat Albert's ice skating friend, Roberta, offers to help the kids with their ""hockey skills""(if you can call it that). Unfortunately, she seems troubled by other things on her mind. Her parents are getting divorced, so she takes her anger out on the team. She finally learns it's not her fault that their getting divorced. Roberta also learns she can enjoy both of her parents without having to enjoy them at the same time.
2 Candidates in the school election, Hugo and Baron, both of different color, play race politics until Fat Albert and the gang come up with an alternative
A neighborhood band challenges Fat Albert and his friends to a competition, the winner gets the clubhouse.
Dumb Donald starts cheating in school to get better grades. He soon finds out the consequences.
Rudy's friend Dustin gives Fat Albert and his friends the wrong sources on sex education.
The gang's friend, Darrell, has been feeling tired and sickly, but doesn't think he needs to see the school nurse or a doctor. A concerned Fat Albert speaks to Darrell's parents, who make him go to the hospital. It's discovered he has Hodgkin's disease, a form of cancer of the lymph nodes. But because it's in a localized area and it was detected early, it can be treated easily. Afterward, he and his parents express their gratitude to Fat Albert.
Elisa has trouble accepting mixed-race children, especially when Kim, the gang's other classmate is the son of an interracial couple. She avoids interacting with him and runs off rather than play games with the group. She wanders into the old garment factory, which is condemned and winds up in danger. Kim and Fat Albert are able to enact a rescue and Elisa is able to learn a valuable lesson.
Beau and Francie are brother and sister. However, Beau lets it slip that Francie was adopted by their parents. After she confronts them, the parents indeed admit they adopted her when she was a baby. Francie is distraught and runs away, only to wind up in danger as she falls into a river and will get pulled into a drain tunnel. Beau and Fat Albert are able to save her in time and the family reunite proving that they love their daughter no matter what.
The gang is impressed with the number of material items Steve and Claudia have, giving them the impression they're rich. However, when Fat Albert investigates, he learns the twin siblings are routine shoplifters, stealing the various items from department stores and selling them to other kids. Fat Albert later notifies their parents, who indeed find some of the stolen items in their rooms. The twins think they'll never be caught. But when a stockboy is arrested, accused of being the thief, they feel guilty and confess their crimes to the store manager.
The gang's friend Richard has a tendency to "borrow" his uncle's car and gives them joyrides throughout town. He then takes a neighbor's car out while he's away, giving the gang another joyride. However, this leads to danger as their ride gets out of control and the car winds up in a lake. Fat Albert arrives in the nick of time to rescue them. As a result, Richard has to face the consequences with the police, his parents, and the neighbor who owns the car.
Weird Harold develops a gambling habit and tries to convince the gang to bet in a horse race. When they initially decline to contribute, Harold becomes an errand boy for Sheldon, a hustler, who promises to pay him. He's able to convince the others to join him, but Fat Albert refuses as he tries to talk sense into the gang. When the gang's sure bet loses, Weird Harold has to face the consequences for his actions as Sheldon has already since he was thrown in jail for his scams.
The gang's classmate Patty was a straight-A student until she fell into the drug scene and now gets regularly high on marijuana. When the gang meets her drug pusher, Rudy is tempted to try it himself, but has a change of heart when he sees Patty in danger. He and Fat Albert are able to save her. They and a police officer meet with Patty's parents about her problem and she agrees to help get the pusher arrested, which is the first step on her road to recovery.
The gang's friend Shawn thinks he's cool by carrying around his father's gun. All are impressed except Fat Albert, who goes to his parents in an effort to stop him. Though the gun is usually unloaded, Rudy finds a bullet which enables Shawn to use it for target practice. But a near tragedy occurs when the gun backfires, severely injuring his hand. Fortunately, his father had medical training which helps to save his son. As a result, the gang learns a valuable lesson.
Rosita is a shy Mexican-American girl in the gang's class. Rudy ridicules her for her halting English, prompting her to miss class for a couple of days. When Fat Albert tries to intervene, they're interrupted when a fellow Hispanic has an emergency kitchen fire. With quick thinking and communication, they're able to put out the fire with little damage. Back at school, Miss Wucher assigns a project for the kids aimed at illustrating that they all have a heritage of which to be proud. Rosita is surprised the gang know of famous Mexican figures in history after returning to class and interacting with the gang again, eventually getting the last laugh on Rudy.
The gang's friends, Arden and Baron, are so in love with each other, they want to drop out of school and get married as soon as possible. At first, they don't care what others think, but then begin to have second thoughts when Arden realizes she won't be able to go to the high school prom or get her diploma. Then Fat Albert has Baron meet Mudfoot, who introduces him to Ellen, a woman just a few years older than Baron. She and her husband Joey rushed into marriage around his age, but once on their own, had trouble finding steady jobs, paying their bills, weren't able to keep their new car, and couldn't even afford a phone once their daughter was born. These factors help Arden and Baron reconsider their decision and now choose to wait to see how things will turn out to better prepare them for life as adults.
Fat Albert has doubts about the ability of his friends Cosgrove and Doreen to accept the responsibility of owning a new puppy. Sure enough, instead of taking little Freddie for a much-needed walk, they leave him unattended in the kitchen and he runs off to play. Poor Freddie escapes through the window and ends up on the highway, becoming endangered by the heavy traffic. Luckily, Fat Albert is able to call the police, who are able to save the puppy in time. After the big scare, Cosgrove and Doreen learn a hard lesson about responsibility.
The gang goes on a camping trip to Cedar Lake where they meet some new people. Along the way, Fat Albert takes a particular interest in Janine, a pretty girl, and brags about his knowledge of water safety, only to find himself embarrassed when he learns she's the camp's main lifeguard, who knows more about safety than he thinks. The two get along and she makes him her assistant lifeguard. Eventually, their teamwork comes in handy when Rudy's prank on Russell backfires, leading both to jeopardy. After the narrow rescue, the gang and their new friends get a firsthand lesson in water safety.
After her father died, Buffy's mother recently started dating again and Mr. Haney is becoming more involved in their lives, much to Buffy's reluctance. She becomes further resistant when they announce they'll be getting married. Buffy runs away from home and hides out at the amusement park, even though it's closed. She winds up in danger as the gang tracks her down. Fortunately, Mr. Haney is able to save her in time and Buffy is willing to accept him as part of the family.
The gang's friend Melinda tells them of a group she's taken interest to known as Double Cross. However, they don't care for Fat Albert and company because they're not of the same ethnic background. Mudfoot introduces Fat Albert to a rabbi who tells him of the tough life he had when the Nazis invaded his homeland. Later, Fat Albert confronts George, the Double Cross leader about his racism. Then late at night, George tries to vandalize a Jewish synagogue before he slips and gets himself in danger. Fat Albert and the police are able to mount a rescue, and George is arrested for his vandalism. Afterward, Melinda learns her lesson about who the true special people are in her life.
Greta is a teenage runaway who steals the gang's television and sells it to get what little money she can. Fat Albert tries to help Greta change her ways and Mudfoot tells her the story of Hansel and Gretel in hopes she'll return home to her family. Greta eventually runs afoul of a gang who plan on stealing some bicycles. Fat Albert comes to her aid at the train yard despite the odds. Luckily, Weird Harold gets the police at the scene to rescue them in the nick of time. After her close call, Greta makes a much-needed phone call to her mother, eventually taking the first steps to return home.
Fat Albert and the gang meet Marcus, a good athlete who's recently moved into the neighborhood. They invite him to play in an upcoming father/son baseball game, but he's reluctant to go, mentioning his father is out of town. But the true reason is revealed when he shows up after all, and everyone sees him drunk. It's eventually learned that Marcus' father in an alcoholic. Marcus and his sister Michelle run away from home to avoid the problem. After initially getting into danger, they go to the gang's clubhouse where Fat Albert convinces them to go to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. There, they learn not to be ashamed or angry of their father and decide to return home to help their mother face the situation in hopes they can get him to recovery.
The gang stays after school to learn about CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), but Rudy ditches the class early to focus more on basketball. When Mudfoot stops by, he joins him in practice and gives his usual advice on the importance of education. Shortly afterward, he has a heart attack and Rudy is unable to help. Luckily, the gang leaving CPR class, is able to intervene with Fat Albert giving Mudfoot CPR while others call the paramedics. Mudfoot recovers and Rudy learns an important lesson, deciding to take the CPR class to be better prepared.
The boys go to a Neighborhood Watch meeting after a burglary at Dumb Donald's house.
Bill devises a new form of entertainment when the clubhouse TV breaks.
An accident foils the boys' plan to enter Rudy's new bike in a big race.
Mudfoot offers to help when the boys enter a battle of the bands.
A police officer offers kids at school safety tips, but Hank was not listening.
A field trip is canceled because of the expense of covering over graffiti painted on a school wall. In order to recoup the money, the gang takes on a city project to paint a patriotic mural on a city building.
Larry is a car thief who impresses the gang by saying he knows how the police work. However, accepting a ride from Larry to the pool leads to trouble when Larry realizes John Law has other ideas up his sleeve. The gang is frightened of what they see in the jailhouse and a police sergeant sentences them to one-minute imprisonment, showing they could have a much longer time behind bars if they are not more careful who they associate with.
The kids contribute to the school's rummage sale. The gang is concerned some of the older stuff will not sell, but Rudy uses slick ways to sell their entire selection. One of the teachers shows Rudy the effects of his actions by giving him a faulty device that ruins his hat versus that shown in a glitzy TV commercial. The lesson is not over, as Rudy, Fat Albert and the others must also head the harbor when Rudy realizes he sold a faulty raft to a boy who cannot swim.
The gang tries to cheer a friend who awaits a kidney transplant.
Red wants to quit school to focus on her singing career, but Fat Albert and the gang try to convince her that it is a mistake.
A classmate is selling drugs at school, but Fat Albert and friends must decide whether to report it.
Weird Harold spends all his money on video games, then makes amends by taking a job at the video arcade to earn money for picnic equipment for the gang.
Fat Albert makes friends with the new girl in school, who is a budding artist.
On America Day, the gang gets to vote on who wins the title of America's Queen.
Dumb Donald's cousin does not realize his pranks are getting out of hand.
Teddy is accused when gym equipment disappears, and Fat Albert and the gang hunt for the real culprits.
Bob discovers that problems—especially those involving one's health—do not go away on their own.
The kids help their friend Liz with their new baby.
The kids make their own episode of the Brown Hornet.
The Cosby kids discover a dangerous chemical spill when they help out at their friend Roy's farm.
The boys try to convince the school's star football player Mickey that reading is more important than winning.
Fat Albert notices that his friend Peter is acting strangely and finds out that it is due to alcohol.
The Cosby kids search for hidden loot after Weird Harold finds a treasure map.
Fat Albert and the Cosby kids take a trip to the country to visit Weird Harold's uncle.
Weird Harold and Waldo's sister Mindy learn the importance of having a sense of humor when they get trapped in a cave.
Fat Albert finds the perfect star pitcher when the boys get a challenge from the Junior League baseball champions, but she is a girl.
Rudy and his new friend Hector try to use fake I.D.s at a nightclub.
The police show up when Fat Albert's friend Tommy throws a party at his parents' house.
Dumb Donald falls for Elaine, a cheerleader, but how will he compete with the star quarterback Hammerhead Rex?
Rudy learns an important lesson about winning big and losing big when he catches the gambling bug.
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids visit the Museum of Natural History to see an exhibit on bicycles.
The Cosby Kids find out that real friends do not care whether you are rich or poor—they like you for you.
The Cosby Kids enter the Sound City TV competition in hopes of winning airtime for their band.
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids visit Rudy's uncle's ranch and leave the big city behind.
Everybody wants to be on the school pep squad but will Fat Albert and Weird Harold win a place?
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids visit an Amish community and learn the values of Amish society with their friend Sharon.
Fat Albert tries to save his friend Tito from getting involved with his older brother's gang life.
Fat Albert exposes his classmate Greg as a computer hacker while working on a history assignment.
Weird Harold is left in a sticky situation while working at his new job serving ice cream at Mr. Cooper's Ice Cream Shop.
Hoping to be like his hero, Dexter attempts a death-defying stunt.
Fat Albert and the boys try to help their friend Lenny find a job.
Rudy thinks it's his big break when the Cosby Kids meet a new girl whose father is a big time movie producer.
Fat Albert and the boys try to help their new friend Chuy, a.k.a. the Wheeler, feel welcome at school.
Dumb Donald's schoolwork needs to improve or he may not be able to advance to the next grade. This catches the attention of a teenager who previously had Dumb Donald's teacher, and offers to sell him the answers to future tests. Donald is conflicted amongst himself about the meaning of academic success and facing the stigma of being held back.
Fat Albert gives his classmate Richard the encouragement he needs to write a blue ribbon poem for the school writing contest.
When the Cosby Kids find out that Mr. and Mrs. Gibson may lose their home, they hit the airwaves to tell their neighbors' story.
When Weird Harold's Uncle Marcus moves in with his family, space gets tight especially in Weird Harold's room.
The Cosby Kids learn about the responsibilities of the press when Rudy submits a false story to the school newspaper.
When Fat Albert takes a job at the local zoo, he has trouble juggling his many responsibilities including school, homework, and work.
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