“The Cosby Show,” a hit family staple of the ’80s, is largedly engrained in the memories of most Americans of a certain age. The show’s importance in changing the landscape of Black sitcoms cannot be understated. The beloved series, however, has also been tainted due to Bill Cosby’s involvement. Despite the star’s actions, some may be able to set aside his problematic behavior to enjoy NBC’s cult classic. Others, however, simply can’t due to how the show depicted Cosby as a perfect being when in reality, he wasn’t. Which beckons the question, how should we remember “The Cosby Show”? Should we praise the beloved series, or did his involvement ravage the tone of the show forever?
Ever since its 1984 release, “The Cosby Show” has been successful. From seizing the No. 1 rated television show in America for five consecutive years (via The TV Ratings Guide) to earning several Emmy awards, its massive success had us look back at the Huxtable household with fond memories.
Due to changing times, however, many of these fond memories may leave us scratching our heads — wondering how we could’ve missed these moments. Now that we’re older and wiser, we may find that “The Cosby Show” looks a lot different than what we remember it as.
At a time when TV fathers were constantly belittled by their kids, Dr. Heath Cliff Huxtable was a more competent version of the bumbling dad. He was affectionate, whimsical, thoughtful, and for lack of a better word, over-the-top. As children, his antics throughout the show left us cackling and somewhat jealous because we never knew how fun — yet intelligent — a TV dad could be. However, due to the several cases of sexual misconduct against Bill Cosby, his portrayal of the loving father turns grim as we notice the number of odd anecdotes that should’ve warned us of his behavior. One example of this can be found in Cliff Huxtable’s profession.
Cliff was a doctor (as stated above). What kind of doctor? Well, Dr. Huxtable was an expert in female anatomy. He was an obstetrician-gynecologist who — brace yourself — ran his practice in an office in the basement of his home. Throughout the series, pregnant women would visit his office numerous times because they need an “expert’s opinion.” He’d also spend a good amount of time in the series working late at the hospital delivering babies. This would fly over our heads due to how loveable both Cliff Huxtable, and Bill Cosby, were. As adults, however, watching him talk about the female anatomy in any way is cringe-worthy based on what we know about the “ever-so-perfect” comedian.
We might’ve missed this as children, but as adults who have some insight into Bill Cosby’s family life, it’s clear that his TV son, Theodore Huxtable, was heavily based on his late son, Ennis Cosby. Throughout the show, Theodore is constantly criticized for his lack of interest in academics. In the 5th episode of the 6th season, Theodore fails an exam that both he and his parents were confident he would pass. To better understand why that was the case, he and his parents sought the help of a learning specialist. It’s later revealed that he has dyslexia, just like Ennis. After learning this, Theodore spends the latter portion of the show coping with his learning disability, leading him to want to help kids with dyslexia.
According to an article in the Tampa Bay Times, how Theodore “triumphed over dyslexia” is in direct correlation with Ennis’s life story. From struggling in school to working with kids in community centers, it seems Cosby wanted us to know about his son through Theodore.
Cosby never shied away from incorporating his real family into “The Cosby Show.” His TV wife, Clair, shared her maiden name with his actual wife, Camille Olivia Hanks, and his TV parents, Anna and Russell, were named after his real mom and brother. Additionally, the Huxtable residence is home to five children — four girls and one boy — based on his real-life children.
Bringing your significant other around your parents can be scary — especially if you have parents like Cliff and Clair Huxtable. While we all laughed at Cliff’s infamous “how ugly is he” catchphrase in the first episode, the parents of the Huxtable kids can be very passive-aggressive to anyone that decides to have a relationship with their children. From scolding Denise’s husband, Martin Kendall, to consistently berating Sondra’s husband, Elvin Tibideaux, they interrogated their children’s partner on an extreme level on many occasions. Although some of their judgments are understandable, their attitude towards Vanessa’s fiance, Dabnis Brickey, was slightly uncalled for. As an adult, you can’t help but feel bad for him.
