The Cosby show started airing on September 20, 1984 and running for eight seasons ended today April 30th 1992.Unlike shows today this show was a real family show that focused on the Huxtable Family. I may sound old but there are no longer quality family shows like Cosby, Full House, Family Matters etc. on TV today. Shows about family are no Longer in style and that is to bad.
The Cosby show was about a family, Dad was a doctor, Mom a lawyer and the kids where like kids we could relate to.That is what the show was about. How the parents and kids interacted and dealt with life. It was a comedy that dealt with real subjects that families could relate to (teen drinking, sex, curfews, getting your license and first car etc.). It was TV so there were reaches (Stevie Wonder’s episode comes to mind) but largely you could relate to the family issues and they were funny thanks to great writing and to Bill Cosby, Phylicia Rashād and the cast of characters that were the Cosby kids.
The serious and dedicated oldest daughter Sondra until she met fell in love and married Elvin and the series took a real look at how a struggling young couple copes and how parents cope with their kids doing what they want not what the parents want. The scenes in their first Apt. are hysterical.
Next was slightly scattered brain and hot daughter Denise who was the sweet but academically challenged child. Cosby thought so much of Lisa Bonet that they had her leave the Cosby cast and gave her, her own show at College A Different World but Bonet who was a bit of a wild person in real life was pregnant and written out after season 1. She later returned to Cosby who dealt with the whole College drop-out, gotta find myself experience that we have all seen or dealt with. Then she met a military divorced dad who she married and returned home with along with his daughter played by Raven Simon who grew up to be a HUGE DISNEY Star. Another great real easy to relate to event. Cosby also use the line that children keep returning home because “they want the house.”
Son Theo was the semi-athletic, semi-studious son who had to work hard for his grades and harder for his dates. The episode that dealt with Theo’s dyslexia was based on Bill Cosby’s son who suffered for it.The series ended with Theo’s graduation from College.
Daughter Vanessa was the “good daughter” who was very smart, goal driven, behaved and is what every parent wants. Until she goes to College and comes home with a surprise, being engaged to the school’s custodian who is also 11 years older.
Rudy was the “cute” little daughter who was the comic, cuddly child and has she grew older and up was replaced by Raven for the Cute and Cuddly comic effect. Rudy was the average teen who gets tempted and steals money for a sweater and learns how difficult baby sitting your twin niece and nephew can be.
This is only 1 of 3 shows in Television History to be #1 for 5 consecutive seasons. (Any guesses on the other two?)