Episodes

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.

Rudy's friend Larry returns to town, hoping to get the gang to join him in some fun activities. However, his kind of fun usually leads to trouble. Larry decides to drive the group to the local pool, but the car he's using is not his! After they're stopped by the police, the gang discovers Larry stole the car. They're all placed under arrest and taken to a detention center. All except Larry are cleared of charges, but with their parents' permission, the gang is taken to prison to see what happens to those who break the law. Their experience there and the fact Larry will be serving time again certainly puts a scare in them, making them vow never to break the law.

At school, the gang is assigned to gather some items that they can sell at an upcoming sale so they can raise money for the school library. But most of what they've collected is defective junk. Despite the gang's better judgment, Rudy hawks the items to people making them believe they're better than they cost, particularly an inflatable raft to a young boy. When Henry tries it out afterward, he's endangered as the raft has a hole that Rudy sealed with only chewing gum. Fortunately, Fat Albert and Rudy are able to save him in time. And the gang's teacher shows them the consequences of false advertising.

Weird Harold's young cousin Robin is staying with his family for a while. He tells the gang she has kidney disease and must undergo dialysis three times a week. Robin's been waiting so long for a kidney donation that she's giving up hope in ever getting one. The gang takes her to a carnival to help get her mind off her predicament. After they take her home, the gang go to the local clinic where they learn about organ donation. Robin goes back to the carnival to have fun rather than spending more time in the hospital. With efforts from the gang and the kidney foundation, a donor kidney is found. The group must act quickly to find Robin so she can be prepared for surgery to get the new kidney. They narrowly make it in the nick of time and with after some post-operation monitoring, Robin will likely be able to live a normal life.

The gang is concerned that their friend Louis is using drugs, pushed into doing so by the creepy Ross. They wonder whether or not they should tell on him, fearful doing so will make them look like finks. Even though they do the right thing, the other students at school turn against them, as does Ross, who eventually leaves school to be a drug courier for a pair of dealers. Initially, he's happy that he's making a lot of money, but soon regrets his choice when his little sister overdoes on some of the drugs she received from the dealers. Ross vows he's going to turn them in, but the thugs pursue him. He then seeks help from Fat Albert and the gang, which leads to a madcap chase where the bad guys are all wet and arrested by the police. Ross admits his wrongdoing as well and wants to set things straight much to the gang's delight.

Weird Harold finds a lost wallet and does the right thing by returning it to its owner, who runs the local arcade. Mr. Sherman rewards Harold with enough cash to play his favorite Brown Hornet video game. He eventually becomes obsessed with the game to the point that he borrows the gang's lunch money, then steals the money they were raising for a picnic they planned with their teachers. The gang eventually confronts Weird Harold at the arcade where he's faced with having to pay them back. Mr. Sherman allows him to work there so he can raise the money so they can have the picnic after all. Weird Harold learns a valuable lesson in moderation.

Fat Albert and the gang notice their new classmate Leola drawing at the junkyard. At school the following day, they find she's a talented artist and Fat Albert invites her to decorate their clubhouse with some of her work. When the rest of the gang arrives later, they disapprove, with Rudy in particular, criticizing the changes she made. Leola overhears him and runs off to the docks to sketch on her own. But after the gang find her sketchbook, they see her work is very good and look for Leola so they can apologize. When they arrive, she runs off again, but nearly falls into the ocean. Rudy rescues her in time, complements her work, and helps redecorate the clubhouse, but overdoing it where some of Leola's work is obstructing the doorway.

For the upcoming America Day assembly at school, an honorary queen will be selected. Fat Albert suggests the gang's friend Keiko Imora be nominated, much to the opposition of some classmates, including Cindy Collins, the other nominee. They feel Keiko shouldn't run because she's from Japan and only became a naturalized U.S. citizen a couple of years ago. Initially, she's discouraged, but with the gang's help, Keiko is confident enough to run with the rest campaigning for her. However, her opponents attempt to sabotage her at the debate, which backfires and leads to danger. Keiko gets Cindy out of harm's way, making her humble enough to admit her opinions of her were wrong. She concedes the election, enabling Keiko to become queen, much to the gang's delight.

Dumb Donald's cousin Jason comes to town, but quickly wears out his welcome with the gang when his various pranks cause nothing but trouble. One prank results in the clubhouse TV being damaged, forcing the gang to work to earn money to buy a new one. Unfortunately, another prank from Jason ruins their efforts. Mudfoot tells him and the gang about an episode of Legal Eagle dealing with a similar situation. However, Jason doesn't take the lesson to heart when he pulls another prank that results in Bucky getting injured and unable to compete in a skating competition that would have earned the gang the money they need to buy the new TV. Feeling remorseful, Jason decides to take a job and surprises the gang with the new television. He apologizes and the gang invites him to watch the new set with them.

The gang meets Theodore, or "Fast Teddy", when he helps them out while they're building a time machine at the junkyard. After he, Bucky, and Rudy have a run-in with hustlers Melvin and Hoof, the gang eventually learn Teddy had spent some time in prison. A couple of days later, they find out the local gym where they work out was robbed. Suspicions lead to Fast Teddy, but the gang figures Melvin and Hoof were involved and decide to set up a sting where they can trap them. Sure enough, they were in possession of the stolen items and the gang, with the police, are able to apprehend them. Fast Teddy is released from custody and goes back with the gang to the gym for another workout.

After a blunder-filled game of hockey, the gang seeks the help of Bob, the captain of the school's hockey, to help them work on their game. But he's not able to do so because he hasn't been feeling well lately, especially since he puts off seeing a doctor about his condition. In health class, the gang learns about sexually-transmitted (or venereal) diseases. Afterward, Fat Albert suspects Bob, who later admits, to having such a disease. He's embarrassed about it and continues to put off seeing a doctor. However, his performance suffers during a school game, and he's forced to go to the hospital. Bob's treated with some medicine and he confesses to his figure skater girlfriend Shanna to having VD, prompting her to see a doctor. She also had the disease, but got treated for it before her condition got worse. She's quickly back on the ice, showing off her moves to the gang.

The gang's friend Liz Walker returns after a few months away to see that she's the single mother of her baby daughter Monica. Her ex-boyfriend Gary split after learning she became pregnant, leaving Liz to deal with her daughter alone. She begins to feel overwhelmed by her motherly duties to the point that she nearly hits her child. She takes a time out to talk to Fat Albert when he visits. But a fire breaks out at the apartment, trapping the two with the baby inside. The rest of the gang call the fire department, and they quickly respond to get everyone to safety. The duplex is ruined, forcing Liz and her mother to move in with her aunt. Fat Albert tells Liz that the local community guidance center can help her care for Monica. Liz can go back to school and learn to better care for her daughter with help from her mother and the center.

The gang enters a kids film festival where they can make their own movie and submit it for a chance to win a cash prize. They decide to make a film on the Brown Hornet with Rudy directing. A number of mishaps occur during the making of the movie, which gets Rudy frustrated with the rest of the gang. Mudfoot advises him that if he treats them more kindly, he'll get better results. Rudy returns to finish directing, indeed putting on his kinder face. They become suspicious of what he's up to and find out for sure on the night of the film contest. Rudy plans to give a speech putting down the gang's bad efforts, calling them amateurs. Surprisingly, the Brown Hornet film wins and before Rudy goes on stage to accept the trophy, Fat Albert tells him it was a full team effort. Rudy has a change of heart and complements the rest of the gang, apologizing for the way he acted before. They all come out on stage with him as they join in their victory together.

When Dumb Donald's house is robbed, Officer Gomez gathers the community together where Fat Albert and the gang learn all about the neighborhood watch. Afterward, when they go to the movies, Rudy forgets his money and decides to go back home. Fat Albert accompanies him and along the way, they see a strange van pulling up at a home which is unoccupied as the neighbors are away on vacation. They guys then go back to Fat Albert's home where his mother calls the police, who quickly arrive and apprehend the burglars. Officer Gomez commends the boys for doing everything right, including staying out of the way, making no effort to catch the criminals themselves and calling the police right away.

When the gang is unable to watch The Brown Hornet when the TV breaks down, they rendezvous with Bill Cosby himself, who entertains the guys with the tall tale of Paul Bunyan, Babe the Big Blue Ox, and his new best friend Brimstone Bill.

At school, the class is fingerprinted by the police, so they can be put in a identification program in case anyone is harmed or kidnapped. Officer Gomez, giving the lecture, provides them tips on how to deal with potential dangerous situations, particularly if a stranger attempts a kidnapping. The lessons come in handy when a stranger tries to abduct Russell, who's able to escape. Another young boy, Hank, isn't as lucky when the man kidnaps him. But after the gang witness the abduction, they quickly spring to action, giving chase and contacting the police. They track them to an old theater where they're able to rescue Hank and the police are able to apprehend the kidnapper. Hank and the gang get a scary firsthand experience on a hard lesson.

The gang takes interest in an upcoming bicycle race in which the winning team gets a trophy. Rudy is able to enter the event with his new bike, but it gets wrecked by Bobby Hansen, who backs into it with his car and refuses to take responsibility for his misdeed. Rudy is advised by a police officer to take the matter to a small claims court, which can help settle such issues without the need of expensive lawyers. With Fat Albert as his witness and the necessary evidence, Rudy has a strong case and Bobby makes things worse for himself by lying under oath. As a result, Bobby's family pays for a new bicycle just in time for the gang to enter the race. They're pitted against Bobby's gang, who seeks a victory against Rudy. But with good racing skills and the ability to overcome his opponent's cheat tactics, Rudy is able to win the last leg of the race and get the trophy for the gang.

The gang enters the Battle of the Bands against a number of competitors, including Buddy "Slash" Warren, for a $100 cash prize. Mudfoot introduces the gang to Lester Vincent, a jazz and saxophone player who was famous in the 1950's. Unfortunately, he was the same old man the gang encountered earlier when Buddy came by the junkyard and insulted him and his old time music. Lester is reluctant to help them, but finds himself in danger during a windy night. Fortunately, the gang arrives in the nick of time and saves him. After their initial misunderstanding, Lester agrees to help them work on their music for the Battle of the Bands. On the big night, the Junkyard Band wows the crowd and wins the competition. Afterward, they perform an encore with Lester leading them with his saxophone.

The gang is initially impressed with some graffiti on the fence nearby the school until their teacher announces their field trip to the shipyards will be cancelled due to the fact that the school fund money will be used to paint over the fence. To salvage the trip, Fat Albert and the gang repaint the fence themselves and their strategy works. But when they see Marlon writing on the fence again, Fat Albert encourages him to write for a talent show that will raise money for the school activities fund. The play's main theme is discouraging marking graffiti on public properties, which turns out to be hit for the audience, including the missing Marlon, who was hiding out in the last row fearful the play would bomb. He eventually comes out on stage to receive credit and hopefully will put his talent on paper instead of public property.