The Cosby Show/Theo's Dirty Laundry

Theo's Dirty Laundry
Season 6, Episode 21
Airdate	March 15, 1990
Written by	[[]]
Directed by	[[]]
← 6x20 Isn't It Romantic?	6x22 → What's It All About?
The Cosby Show — Season Six

This article about an episode needs to be expanded with more information. Please help out by editing it.

Theo's Dirty Laundry is the twenty-first episode of the sixth season of The Cosby Show, and the one hundred forty-fifth episode overall.

Guest Star: Michelle Thomas

Featuring: Victoria Rowell, Georgia Strauss

Plot Overview

In the Huxtables' basement, Rudy is helping Cliff do Theo's laundry. Cliff becomes confused when he sees a pair of purple underwear in the laundry and teases Rudy about mixing colors with whites. But Clair helps her husband realize that Cliff wasn't just seeing things: He indeed saw a pair of women's lingerie in the laundry basket.

Clair asks Theo to explain things, which he does: He had moved in with his girlfriend, Justine, who had just lost her roommate. He adds that the rent is cheaper for couples, and that the extra money his parents had given him had gone into a savings account. Clair is upset that Theo had kept this all a secret and tells him he cannot live with Justine because it will interfere with his education.

Theo and Justine meet at the malt shop, where Justine warns Theo that her parents also know about the living arrangements and that her father is angry with Theo. After considering their options, the couple decide they need to move into separate apartments.

With that matter settled, Theo thinks that is that and goes home to apologize. But Clair isn't in the mood to accept an apology; instead, she tells Theo straight up that this latest escapade is a matter of him thinking of his parents as a "safety net." Or, in essence, "Theo screws up, gets lectured, promises to do better, then screws up again." Cliff and Clair throw Theo out and cut off their monetary support to teach him a lesson.

Later on, Clair is remorseful and wants to take Theo back ... until they get a phone call from Justine's parents. The Phillipses have taken Theo in (perhaps to keep an eye on him and that he can regain their trust), and Justine remains on her own.

Subplot

Denise announces she wants to become a special education teacher. At first, Clair is skeptical, since Denise had announced a variety of dreams before but never followed through, and tries to get her to realize that someone will have to look after Olivia. Cliff, however, is enthusiastic.