The Bill Cosby Show Season 1, Episode 21: Driven to Distraction

1

The Fatal Phone Call

While out jogging, Chet hears the telephone ringing inside a phone booth. He hesitates, but decides to answer. As a result, Chet ends up getting involved in a dispute between an auto mechanic and his wife. In an interesting twist, a case of mistaken identity in which Chet is involved brings this episode to a close. Vic Tayback guest stars as Calvin the mechanic.

30 min

2

Lullaby and Goodnight

Chet is having difficulty sleeping at night, due to the new neighbor across the street who's dog won't stop barking.

30 min

3

The Best Hook Shot in the World

A short, but talented youngster with an unusual hook shot is determined to make the Holmes High School basketball team, where Chet is coach. He makes the team, after defeating Chet in a game of one on one. It's the day of the big game, Chet and the team pin their hopes on the little guy and his hook shot to win the game.

30 min

4

A Girl Named Punkin

Chet does volunteer work for the local community center, a place for underpriviledged children. He is having problems with Punkin, a young girl who is unresponsive and stays to herself. Chet eventually breaks through, and Punkin comes around. A touching scene where Chet tells Punkin a bedtime story and teaches her a lesson in love and caring at the same time is the high point of this episode.

30 min

5

Rules is Rules

Chet goes to great lengths to obtain a valve needle which he needs in order to inflate basketballs for his gym class.

30 min

6

Let X Equal a Lousy Weekend

When Chet is forced to fill in as a substitute algebra teacher, he comes across a word problem that he is unable to solve for the class. So, he spends most of his weekend trying to find the solution.

30 min

7

To Kincaid, with Love

Chet is receiving attention from a female student of the high school. He thinks she has a crush on him, but the girl is actually trying to set Chet up with her mother.

30 min

8

The Killer Instinct

Chet is having problems with a proud father who insists that his son make the high school football team. Trouble is, the kid just doesn't have what it takes and is not cut out to play football.

30 min

9

The Substitute

Chet starts dating a substitute teacher from the high school, and has difficulty finding time to spend alone with her.

30 min

10

Brotherly Love

Chet's brother Brian moves in with Chet after having an argument with his wife. Brian spoils Chet's plans for the evening, then hilarity ensues when they attempt to sleep in the same bed together.

30 min

11

Going the Route

Chet's nephew is in bed with a cold. Chet is asked and agrees to substitute for his nephew in the morning paper route.

30 min

12

A Word from Our Sponsor

A chance encounter on the street leads Chet to try out, and eventually to get hired, for a job playing an athletic coach in a breakfast cereal television commercial. Chet discovers, however, that shooting 30 seconds of film isn't as simple as it appears when the final product is seen on television.

30 min

13

A Christmas Ballad

Chet helps a down on his luck old timer capture the spirit of Christmas. Rex Ingram guest stars.

30 min

14

Home Remedy

Chet is home with a cold, and is unable to rest because all his relatives come over offering their cure-alls and remedies.

30 min

15

Growing Growing Grown

Chet is asked to chaperone at a high school dance. Chet's car is not available, he ends up borrowing his brothers garbage truck to drive his date to the dance. At the dance, Chet teaches one student a lesson in the importance of physical appearance.

30 min

16

The Elevator Doesn't Stop Here Anymore

Chet gets stuck inside an elevator at the high school along with one other faculty member and the school's cleaning lady. They entertain each other until help arrives. Henry Fonda and Elsa Lanchester guest star in this episode.

30 min

17

Lover's Quarrel

Chet tries to get his ever arguing aunt and uncle to stop fighting and treat each other with kindness and respect. Veteran actors Mantan Moreland and Jackie ""Moms"" Mabley guest star and give classic performances as the bickering old couple.

30 min

18

The Worst Crook That Ever Lived

Chet is asked to help straighten out Raymond, a youngster who has a penchant for stealing. In an effort to keep Raymond out of trouble, Chet finds a spot for him on his little league baseball team. But Raymond steals the money that Chet had saved up which was intended to buy uniforms for the team. In the end, Raymond realizes what he did was wrong and returns the money to Chet.

30 min

19

The Gumball Incident

Chet is wrongfully accused and arrested for breaking a gumball machine. Tom Bosley guest stars as Cookie Maharg.

30 min

20

Goodbye Cruel World

Wally Cox guest stars in this episode as a shy man lacking in self confidence. With Chet's help, he builds up the nerve to ask a woman out on a date. She rejects him, and he wants to commit suicide. Chet helps to restore the man's confidence and self esteem.

30 min

21

Driven to Distraction

Drivers ed instructor Chet tries to teach a nervous student how to drive. Very funny episode.

30 min

22

The Blind Date

Chet reluctantly agrees to go on a blind date, and ends up falling in love. Cicely Tyson guest stars as Chet's love interest.

30 min

23

How You Play the Game

Chet is in the running for the city handball championship. He defeats his semi-final opponent, using psychological tactics. In the final match however, Chet has the tables turned on him and loses the match while being psyched out by his opponent. By losing, Chet teaches a player on the high school football team a lesson in good sportsmanship.

30 min

24

The Return of Big, Bad, Bubba Bronson

Big Bronson, an old high school classmate of Chet's, is coming to town for a visit. Chet recalls having a past dispute with Bronson, and fears revenge. Chet meets ex prize fighter Hurricane Smith, and asks for some boxing lessons to prepare himself for Bronson's arrival. Lou Gossett guest stars as Hurricane Smith, Don Pedro Colley guest stars as Big Bronson.

30 min

25

This Mouth Is Rated X

Chet is unsure how to handle one of his basketball players who is constantly letting profanities slip out of his mouth.

30 min

26

Really Cool

Chet is asked to tell a few stories about his life for a forthcoming article in the Holmes High School newspaper.

30 min