My Favorite 80's TV Show: The Cosby Show

It all began in the Fall of 1984. It was a show many thought would not last past the initial season.

Well, they were oh so wrong...

Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashad soon became known to the viewing public as, Dr. Heathcliff "Cliff" Huxtable, and his lovely and successful wife and lawyer, Clair. They were the parents of five endearing children: Sondra, Denise, Theodore (Theo), Vanessa and adorable little Rudy.

The Huxtable residence was not unlike many households across the expanse of America. Their only difference was - they were Black.

The show was originally put up against "Magnum P.I.", and the "execs" thought it wouldn't stand a chance against him. Magnums ratings were steady and not much could compete with it, until September 20, 1984.

NBC bought the rights to the show and it revived an ailing network. And had all of America tuning in weekly to see which child would get into what predicament and how the parents would work it all out - all within the 30-minutes the show aired.

The show touched on topics that many households were facing: teen drinking: "Play It Again Vanessa" (11/8/1984)) and drug use: "Theo And The Joint" (2/7/1985)) to blended families: "Denise Kendall: Navy Wife" (10/12/1989), and "Pam Applies To College" (10/10/1991).

These were some of topics that many families could not talk about, until they saw these episodes. It opened new lines of communications for families everywhere.

Watching the children grow up became a national pastime, of sorts.

Watching how Cliff and Clair interacted with the children and their friends was a show very few people would miss. Each weeks' episode were heartily discussed at water coolers, choir practice, and little league games everywhere.

Even celebrities were joining in the "Cosby-mania". Some of Hollywood's and the music industry's greats lined up to appear on a chosen episode. Stars like: Stevie Wonder, Lena Horne, Naomi Campbell, Angela Bassett and many others, made at least one (sometimes two) appearances on the show. Even Phylicia Rashad's then husband, Ahmad made an appearance. Jazz great Nancy Wilson played the part of Clair's mom, and Joe Williams her father.

Looking back at "The Cosby Show", it was a great glimpse into middle class Black America through an upper class Black American family. It taught some how to be better parents. It taught others how to be better children.

For the rest of us...it taught us all how to laugh at ourselves, over and over again.

Sources: The Internet Movie Database
Crazy About TV.com