Season 5 Opening

[Soulthinker2007]

Loved that Rogers and Hammerstein type theme. That and Season 1 are my faves.

[webon411]

Best tv show theme song of all time.

[freddesite]

This intro used to scare me when I was little. Still kind of give me the creeps. I think it's because it reminds me of the musical cats. Those cat people were scary from the commercials.

[WAKEUPshift111]

I was a year old when this season aired. Still, one of my favorite shows ever

[WAKEUPshift111]

This is the best intro of them all.

[kasthegrndmsta1]

I remember seeing this as a kid and being pleasantly shocked at this new intro :-D

[diego9774]

I personally looked forward to each new season to see what they would do with the opening!!

[jwsu2003]

I still remember waiting anxiously by the television to see what the new intro was going to be in 1988. I miss the days when the fall season meant a new teacher, new grade, new Saturday morning cartoons, and new Cosby Show intro.

[Blakmajik78]

black people were represented so well on tv back then. Thank you Bill Cosby for the WONDERFUL years and the inspiration to not only blacks, but Americans period.

[MrMelloCountry]

Probably THE best TV theme song ever....or at least, the most musically inclined. Just listen to it....this version was so musically tight, symphonically. It was like they were planting the flag on American TV, saying "WE run the ratings game now." They we're no longer on the come-up...they WERE "THAT SHOW" in America by the time this dropped.

Wow. Wish I was still arranging...I would've DEFINITELY took a swing at this three years ago had I heard this back then.

[inkyguy]

Been looking for this one for a long time. Almost began to doubt I'd ever seen it. Definitely the best opening of them all. Genius music.

[breakfastclub75]

One of the best TV themes ever. These were the days.

[MsAngelic97]

I loooove this!

[TheSapphireEmpress96]

This was always my favorite of the opening sequences, mainly because of the costumes and the way that they all seem to be having so much fun.

[gothatway09]

I've always had mixed feelings on this opening. On the one hand it seems so grand and elegant, on the other hand it just seems so pompous and full of itself.  I can't decide if it's good or bad.

[TXejas19]

Phylisia Rashad has to be the most beautiful/regal woman ever....awe rudy's little arms didn't reach all the way up lol

[37tonya]

I HATED this opening.....they look absolutely ridiculous and phony.....worst opening in t.v. history......I still looove the show though.

[tsntana]

@37tonya I disliked it during the original run. Now I see it and I find it to be the funniest intro. Simply because it is so ridiculous and phony.

I was glad when they finally replaced it with the Junior Walker inspired theme for the 6th season.

[urur720]

this would be an epic song for the marching band at my school to play :D

[LondonParis32195]

This Is My Favorite One !

[stephenboy8]

The best cosby intro ever

[utubesuckssomuch]

It was totally like a play.

[BBT609]

This is like the best intro

[marci841]

Where was Lisa Bonet in this season????

[bassmusical]

@marci841 this was probably when she went to college and started on A Different World.

[charlestonchewy]

@marci841 Lisa Bonet had a recurring role in seasons 4 and 5. She had her own show going off to college called "A Different World." She was written out after the first season because she was pregnant. They later brought he back in season 6.

[DisKidObi]

By far the BEST/FAVORITE opener of the The Cosby Show. It's so dramatic and get's me hyped everytime I see it. LOVE it.

[keeblergraham21]

Fun intro! Seeing the Cosby cast dance as well as a professional troupe is what makes this hilarious. Reminds me of "What's Opera Doc" because the music in that cartoon is played as straight as any other opera, and what makes it a farce is the fact that Bugs and Elmer are playing the parts.

[antigoniem06]

Phylicia Rashad's (Claire) sister, Debbie Allen, choreographed this EPICNESS.

[yomama11231]

Still amazing after all these years! I recall thinking when this first aired that this was the most brilliant show opening ever filmed......... Wonderful stuff.

[aviancegaines]

i like this one out of all of them

[mrpsycholeojoey87]

@aviancegaines this is my favorite intro as well it reminds me of the color purple but i would call this intro the colorful purple

[kachoo2135]

This intro sucks

[aeropostalebunny1]

Awh ! Vanessa Is So Pretty.

[FOR3FOWTY]

The best is either 7 or 8th!

[keleic]

this is definetly my favorite opening out of all of them. i love the music, the dancing, the clothes and the fact that they're all barefoot is just too cute

[aROARahVyePer]

Absolutely perfect and completely awesome! Best intro ever!

[wweFAN2331]

wats a mufasa

[candiikillz]

This is deff the best, its so unusual

[paulwhitemon]

incredible casting and acting

[Ehmcee2010]

i like the end! so dramatic

[thewillofthe313]

This was my favorite of all the opening.!!!This opening was also referenced on an episode of the Golden Girls "mixed blessings."

[jeffc6676]

Wow it's like they greenlighted a Cosby show movie, canceled it, and then used this opening for the following season

[lumariadp]

This was always my favorite. I've seen a great deal of negativity about it on the internet, and was very surprised. I always thought it was the most awesome of the intros.

[schuminweb]

I always thought this opening was a bit too "out there", which I presume is why they didn't repeat the concept in later seasons, going back to the individuals-dancing concept from previous seasons.

[catolog96]

Love how he summons the whole family!

[lflagr]

haha, somebody removes their hand too early in the end.

[schuminweb]

@lflagr Looks like Rudy's hand.

[Ruukiya]

mi fav opening is form season 6-7

[SkyFoxCode]

this one was actually my least favorite. It's still great though, just not my favorite

[themavsfan1992]

My favorite Cosby Show opening theme, very creative.

[iAmAGleekFOREVER451]

I think my favorite openings are Seasons 4-8

[jump95ify]

I love Sondras big hair! She is so hot in this opening theme.

[ShanSinghTV]

The show itself great. Season five opening, eh swing and a miss

[mrblondnyc]

Vanessa looks great here but as the season went on she made her fro uneven which I never got. Looks really weird today.

[christheone8773]

This was one of the BEST openings from the Cosby Show , from the 1988-1989 season- I dont think I missed watching a single episode from that season-

[wheels85]

By far the weirdest most out of place opening in my opinion.

[Jeffrizel1986]

Personally I think this is the best opening I've seen for a tv show!!

[happysmiley28]

I freakin' love this intro! LOL. It's always been my favorite of all the Cosby Show openings and that's saying a lot because they were all great. This show took opening theme songs to a whole new level.

[christheone8773]

@happysmiley28 I agree - this one was from the 1988-1989 season - I also loved the Apollo Theater opening, from 1989-1990-

[Sheri451]

I liked this opening. Plus I think this was the first time they broadcast it in Stereo that's why they had the orchestra.

[schuminweb]

@Sheri451 Actually, I have VHS of Season 2 broadcasts from NBC where they showed the "In Stereo Where Available" bug during the opening. For the record, I think those early openings look strange without NBC's animated "In Stereo" bug underneath the logo.

[tsntana]

@schuminweb I know what you mean. It's been decades, and I still can't get used to seeing The Cosby Show intros without the "In Stereo - Where Avaliable" animations. Same with Family Ties and Cheers.

[MrBoo1210]

This is my favorite theme in the cosby show

[alvinchipmunks90]

Best. Theme. EVER!

[Iyeshia09]

This one was my favorite intro. I miss being a kid and watching this. It always reminded me of my family but with less kids and a smaller house lol

[guysmileyiv]

What's this font called?

[keviokevio]

HEHE the best part is the beginning with the silhouettes and Bill Cosby's summoning his whole family. I hope this is how their family meetings start. SO AWESOME!!

[charlotteguy7]

This was my favorite Cosby opening. They just looked like they were having SO MUCH FUN each year coming up with a new dance number for the opening.

[IdleBigots]

Definitely my favorite of the openings.

[mintermicah2012]

love this theme.... great marching band openaer

[NinerPoolGirl]

Nothing beats growing up and watching Cosby show on Thursday nights! Cosby ruled my high school years!

[thinedoor2]

For me, this theme brings Stravinsky to mind.

Great, great show that successfully promoted both black empowerment and universal values alike. Cosby is a genius.

[airwolfwwf]

feels like 1993 n i'm 8 or 9 again ..tha best

[musicaltheatergeek79]

This sort of reminds me of THE SIMPSONS theme music. Kinda Elfman-esque.

[iFauxPas]

Tempest really grew up in this one. She looks gorgeous.

[clearwhitecrystal]

im sorry but i think family matters is wayyyy better then this show and family matters theme is better

[schuminweb]

@clearwhitecrystal As far as themes go, it's very much apples-and-oranges. Family Matters utilized a lot of episode clips, and on-set filming for the characters. Plus they had a theme with lyrics, vs. Cosby's all-instrumental theme.

[RavenX08]

This is actually more in the style of riverdance.

[Sweetiepie15652]

the best intro!

[lightnignfiretamer]

love it when rudy runs out

[GreenmanCGM]

Imo the best one right here

[Dman37able]

Tempestt remind me of an Beautiful African Princess and yes this was the best COSBY SHOW INTRO EVER:)

[Janayla94]

Amen!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MrDingoateyourbaby]

the best out of all the season openings

with the symphony playing its like

you are at the opera or movie theatre

which is about to start

[mrm64]

good ol bill! iots like an opera!

[clearwhitecrystal]

can someone please tell me why i have a crush on theo becuase of his respect or being a handsome young man?

[renetrice]

ringtone!

[luckyc120]

i loved this seasons intro...it was so much different from all the rest

[TitoMunozConductor]

Oregon Symphony Orchestra

James DePreist, conductor and arranger

[cerena]

I used to tune into the show just to see the opening! I don't know why I like it so much- but its my favorite out of all of them!

[pinkotter]

Agreed... fave opening of all of them! It's so... epic at the end. Like Cosby's Mufasa or something.

[Redrumhydro]

@pinkotter it wud of been better if lisa was in it

[meanfoot]

Well, I must be in the minority here. This is MY FAVORITE of the Cosby openings.

[Irockgswift]

mine 2 (1988-89)

[2nd2nun1]

This opening was a little bit too 'classically operatic' like, which is why it was indeed not the most favorite opening from the general masses.

[christheone8773]

this is from the 1988-1989 season, and one of the best openings of the Cosby Show ever!

[shadowstrike2123]

Very epic opening!

[samsticka]

The look on Sabrina's face at 0:20 is classic.

[javajen19]

My least favorite of all the openings.

[corrupt200]

my mom hates this opening too...i think my dad does too.

my mom also hates the season 3 opening.

also except in season 1, where it's all stills, Cos does too many goofy dances

[quentina08]

Clair is so Beautiful!

[im2krunk]

Tempest was killin em with that fierce fro. Get it girl!!!!

[Bryan437]

This is by far my favorite Cosby intro

[greder23]

i so agree

[Turnquest23]

phyilcia rashad is a very beautiful woman

[hoswaypr]

Bill looks skinny in this one.

[hmin310]

Is Cliff flipping off the whole family?!?!?!

[mjgates]

lol i thought the very same when i saw this. it looks like he actually is flipping them off but it his way of pointing in a dramatic way.

[disneyfan85]

On "A Different World".

[weh63]

She was not on "A Different World" at this time. They brought her back to "the Cosby Show" because she was pregnant in real life. The first episode of this season dealt with Denise not returning to Hilman and dropping out of school.

[barber747]

Um...she was on "A Different World" at that time.

[thegerk]

can anyone send me the mp3 of this season's theme?

[PaulIsDeadMissHim]

Notice at the end when they are all waving their hands in front of Cliff, Rudy tries to take hers away too soon

[barber747]

You have a very sharp eye! I never noticed that!!!

[Train538]

This must have been the hardest opening ever to do on The Cosby Show because all of the moves that were done by everyone must have taken a long time to get right. But it came out very nicely! 5 stars!!!!!

[MrTrumpet96]

The guy at 0:21, did he play Eddie's divorced father on That's So Raven?He seems soooooooooo familiar!!!!

[BossZula]

Yes.

[1BWSTYLE8]

Yes, I know exactly the episode when Eddie threw his birthday party. Yep that's him and the one playing the oldest daughter on the Cosby show played Eddie's mom.

[Birdboy029]

Oh yeah, I think you're right!!! : D

[bandgeeksrul]

Yeah he did

[barber747]

Looks like Geoff Owens.

[sweetaliza95]

did rudy just come and sit in a split

[paulsprettything]

Love this opening! I wonder how long it took the cast to get the choreography down.

[nesplayer94]

I know this will sound stupid but I used to get scared when they revealed Cosby's face all of a sudden, kind of caught me off guard.

[Birdboy029]

That part, whenever my sister and I see this opening, we say "NOSE!" LOL!!! inside joke, but easy to get.

[kboss2011]

for some reason half the resaon I watched the show was just for the openings lol. this is my favorite

[silkaem]

This is the best one they did.

[SwtThg]

i used to be afraid of this video when i was younger.. maybe it was the music..

[viktorybomb]

YIKES! at the end.

[SwtThg]

lol

[Tone2005]

That last part used to catch me off guard sometimes. When they put their hands in front of cosby and reveal him

[mca1218]

Love reading all the comments citing this opening sequence apart from all the others of Cosby: it's half-classical orchestra and half Hollywood musical with all the tropical colors, costumes, and choreography. Well done. And the kids are really growing up from here on in!!

[crouchingpossum]

This is my favorite of all of the openings from this series. I always loved the colors and the tropical theme!

[krystawil]

this was the best damn theme song ever!!!!!! QUINCY JONES ROCKS!!!!!!

[OrangeGlazedDuck]

This is one of my best themes. I love Cosby.

[parisdenise93]

This one was always my favorite as a kid.

[Haileelynn]

this is my favorite!

[ClaireBear713]

this is the Oregon Symphony

[ianandersonisgod]

its a same he's dead

[Kari166]

He's not dead.

[johnnyafairbanks]

Cosby Show, Roseanne, A Different World...with those three shows atop the ratings, no wonder why Carsey-Werner ruled television in the '80s to early '90s!

[lloydj74]

I think this season's theme is my favorite. I remember getting somewhat excited at the beginning of each season to see how they would rework the theme song.

[AntqueenP]

It was the same for me. (I was watching reruns but the experience was still new.) This one is also my favorite.

[Drewski217]

definitely my favorite

[vanessizle]

I would always notice a wee pair of hands that moved a little too soon at 00:59. idk why.

[nicegyrl1]

lol! u must've been looking mighty hard at that part because I never noticed that! lol!

[KOLHS]

Theeoooooooooooooooooooooooooo­oooooooRUDY.

[moneymarc07]

This i smy favorite opening because it's different than all the rest of the openings which makes it stand out. To bad Denise (Lisa Bonet) isn't a part of it.

[ParrotBayCoconut]

This is the best elevator music I ever heard. Actually, I love both 5 & 6. There was no new season 7 theme?

[barber747]

The S6 theme was recycled for S7 because what I read up about a dispute w/ the producers that involved the mural that was used in S8. That's why u don't see the mural in S7 instead of S8.

[schuminweb]

@barber747 As I read back at the time in USA Weekend, the Season 7 opening, which ran for four episodes before being replaced, was an original creation based on a mural called "Dream Street". They couldn't get the rights to use the original "Dream Street" mural, and so they created their own. Apparently, it wasn't original enough, and so they got into legal issues, going back to the old opening, while it was apparently all worked out for the following season.

[Derek799]

wtf was up with no 7

[Keezie27]

This was the best opening of the entire series, but all their openings were good. It's just that this one has always stuck out in my mind the most. Very memorable.

[babygirlreverse]

i love this one but season 6 was my faveorite

[DanielTheEchidna]

"this is the best elevator music i ever heard"

[SilenTalker2007]

The Theme is very Awesome. I really didn't watch the show that much. but I loved this theme song.

[soulierinvestments]

The Apollo Theater credit sequence was hard to shake off; however, I do love this opening sequence the best. Great scoring. Very Jamacia.

[MiNNi325]

THIS WAS THE BEST OPENING

[565fan]

I used to call this the South Pacific opening. I looked forward to it every week: Mom dreaded it. She thought it was stupid. I also liked the Bobby McFerrin and Junior Walker themes.

[firstladybarbie]

i love this opening..its the most random but its really good lol

[mjgates]

lol i love that opening. at the title it look like bill cosby is flipping everyone off and when lil rudy come in u can see her lil pink panties as she drops on the floor. i love the cosby show always had a crush on the character playing vanessa lol.

[DesertLynx83]

This opening was great, but there was one thing I didn't like about it...Tempestt's Godawful hairdo!

[SFintheHouse]

I thought her afro-puff was cute!

[michmich1000]

this was the best opening and they had so many good openings so that says a lot.

[licia432]

i agree, michmich1000. the cosby show always have good theme openings

[ajerk2many]

Possibly the greatest opening to a TV series... EVER.

[disneyfan85]

It's one of my favorite versions of the opening, but that part at the end is a bit disturbing.

[JabotCosmetics]

What's the name of this song?

By far my favorite...they look great!

[Kiradoll]

This one was the best.

[rshaw3188]

i know i loved this one!