From it's second season in 1985-1986 through it's 7th season from 1990-1991, The Cosby Show was #1 in the ratings. It remained within the Top 20 for the entirety of its 8 seasons on TV; in it's final season from 1991-1992, it was at #18, still highly popular. In light of the recent truths about Bill Cosby, and the fact that honestly, I could never get into the show even before that, I'm wondering for people who were around/fans of the show in its heyday: Why was The Cosby Show so beloved, so unstoppable?

Why was The Cosby Show so beloved, so unstoppable?

Because it was funny.  It made you laugh, sometimes made you cry, but it was always solid entertainment.  Regardless of what Bill Cosby has become, I will always love The Cosby Show.  It was a big part of my childhood

From it's second season in 1985-1986 through it's 7th season from 1990-1991, The Cosby Show was #1 in the ratings. It remained within the Top 20 for the entirety of its 8 seasons on TV; in it's final season from 1991-1992, it was at #18, still highly popular. In light of the recent truths about Bill Cosby, and the fact that honestly, I could never get into the show even before that, I'm wondering for people who were around/fans of the show in its heyday: Why was The Cosby Show so beloved, so unstoppable?


It was a family that people could relate to.

It was funny without being offensive.

It was one of the few times a black family wastewater as regular family despite the fact that they were black.

The show wasn't about race it was about life and showed America that family issues are the same across the color lines.

It was about simple fun...there were no stereotypes (well few stereotypes).

The show was basically the leave it to beaver of the 80s. I'm glad Cos insisted that Cluff would be a dr and Claire would be a lawyer instead of making them blue collar as it was
Originally presented.

And I'm glad it wasn't racist like the Jeffersons.

Roseanne and Cosby revived family comedies in the 80s.


Like WD....despite the disillusionment brought on by the recent discovery of Cosby's true persona..I still hold a fond place for the tv series that made my teen years happier.

http://www.boyculture.com/.a/6a00d8341c2ca253ef017c3509a239970b-550wi

I remember towards the end of the intros he'd make that funny face. ;D

http://www.boyculture.com/.a/6a00d8341c2ca253ef017c3509a239970b-550wi

I remember towards the end of the intros he'd make that funny face. ;D


;D  ;D

Basically what snozberries said, The Cosby Show was a positive yet conscious portrayal of an African American family living in white suburbia.  Bill Cosby was also already quite famous before the show's premiere, having just completed Fat Albert & the Cosby Kids, as well as being a well-known stand-up comedian.

Basically what snozberries said, The Cosby Show was a positive yet conscious portrayal of an African American family living in white suburbia.  Bill Cosby was also already quite famous before the show's premiere, having just completed Fat Albert & the Cosby Kids, as well as being a well-known stand-up comedian.


He also hosted Picture Pages in the late 70's.

Basically what snozberries said, The Cosby Show was a positive yet conscious portrayal of an African American family living in white suburbia.  Bill Cosby was also already quite famous before the show's premiere, having just completed Fat Albert & the Cosby Kids, as well as being a well-known stand-up comedian.


And he was on I Spy and did quite a few movies.

I think everyone already covered everything. Yes I too loved and still love the Cosby Show. The comedy has stood the test of time. It also had a more sarcastic and less political vibe about it - compared with stuff like Good Times and The Jeffersons. So it connected to a wider audience. It still reminds me of my own family dynamics back then. We had a big family and it reminds me of the fun we had as kids.

And he was on I Spy and did quite a few movies.


You didn't mention Picture Pages? ???

Episodes like the one where Theo gets an earring, or when Cliff pretends to be an apartment landlord named Harley Weewax to teach Theo about the real world.  I still watch those and laugh myself sick!

You can't love the 80s and not love The Cosby Show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dggt7PuoG00

;D  ;D

Episodes like the one where Theo gets an earring, or when Cliff pretends to be an apartment landlord named Harley Weewax to teach Theo about the real world.  I still watch those and laugh myself sick!

You can't love the 80s and not love The Cosby Show.



Cliff why did we have 4 kids??? Because you did not want 5 dear.... enter Sondra a few eps later.  ;D


"I brought you in this world and I can take you out!"

Come here... come here... here.. here...

This ep... the scene around 2:50 where Claire demands a refund from Sondra.  ;D


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTnTWyvr5v4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTnTWyvr5v4

The Cosby Show was on at the right time on the right night. It was the original Must See TV show on NBC. The Cosby Show was responsible for the large family TV series trend of the '90s, wasn't it? After Cosby, shows like Full House, Family Matters, and Step by Step were on the air every Friday night. Come to think of it, there were far better lineups in the '80s and early '90s than there are now. I miss those days. Life was simple.  :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dggt7PuoG00

;D  ;D


That's funny.  ;D

What's everyone favorite year of The Cosby Show theme?

What's everyone favorite year of The Cosby Show theme?


1985

ioa0-cZAO6M

I saw a couple of episodes of "Cosby", which was loosely based on the British sitcom One Foot in the Grave. For me I was not impressed.

I saw a couple of episodes of "Cosby", which was loosely based on the British sitcom One Foot in the Grave. For me I was not impressed.


That one where he was a cab or limo driver and also married to phylicia rashad? Yeah that show sucked.

I saw a couple of episodes of "Cosby", which was loosely based on the British sitcom One Foot in the Grave. For me I was not impressed.


Cosby thought he was going to achieve the success he last had in 1990, but his halcyon days were behind him by that point.

1985

ioa0-cZAO6M


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_1A-3YO9y8
Season 1 was my favorite.  :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_1A-3YO9y8
Season 1 was my favorite.  :)


That one was the most '80s out of all of them.

The Cosby Show was on at the right time on the right night. It was the original Must See TV show on NBC. The Cosby Show was responsible for the large family TV series trend of the '90s, wasn't it? After Cosby, shows like Full House, Family Matters, and Step by Step were on the air every Friday night. Come to think of it, there were far better lineups in the '80s and early '90s than there are now. I miss those days. Life was simple.  :)


Yeah, I notice it was a trailblazer!

That one was the most '80s out of all of them.



It had that 80's sound.

1985

ioa0-cZAO6M


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWrjEG5nezY
I also like Season 5 too.

Maybe it was something in the pudding?

http://nineriverswellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Cosby-making-a-funny-face.jpg

The Cosby Show was hilarious! I loved sitting around my living room watching it with my brother and sister when we were growing up. It's just good ol' 80's sitcom humor!

Maybe it was something in the pudding?

http://nineriverswellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Cosby-making-a-funny-face.jpg

The Cosby Show was hilarious! I loved sitting around my living room watching it with my brother and sister when we were growing up. It's just good ol' 80's sitcom humor!


It didn't hurt that all of the characters wore the latest styles on the show, either.  I thought that was pretty cool, back then.

Maybe it was something in the pudding?

http://nineriverswellness.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Cosby-making-a-funny-face.jpg

The Cosby Show was hilarious! I loved sitting around my living room watching it with my brother and sister when we were growing up. It's just good ol' 80's sitcom humor!


I loved watching Cosby Show and seeing him making those stupid faces. ;D

I loved watching Cosby Show and seeing him making those stupid faces. ;D


Haha, me too. He made them almost every episode.

Haha, me too. He made them almost every episode.


Here's another one:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/a0/32/a4/a032a4d1b35de511c24f3c7bfa069189.jpg
;D

Here's another one:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/a0/32/a4/a032a4d1b35de511c24f3c7bfa069189.jpg
;D


This one's out of this world!!!

http://i.imgur.com/LMVqwCo.png

Is that his signature act? Doing weird-ass faces in the episode? I simply did not watch one episode, and I'm just wondering why.

Is that his signature act? Doing weird-ass faces in the episode? I simply did not watch one episode, and I'm just wondering why.


It's wasn't necessarily his signature act but he sure did it a lot.

This one's out of this world!!!

http://i.imgur.com/LMVqwCo.png


;D

It's wasn't necessarily his signature act but he sure did it a lot.


He just acted weird in the episodes.

He just acted weird in the episodes.


He sure was a strange one.

One of my favourite bits early on in the show:  Whenever Rudy got into some kind of trouble, her little friend Peter would silently run out of their house.

Or when Kenny (aka 'buuuuud') joined the recurring cast and was always talking about what his sexist brother said.  Or how Kenny was always jealous of Stanley (played by the late Merlin Santana).

There was one episode that took place at a youth center, and one of the instructors was played by Tony Orlando.  All these years, I had no idea that was Tony Orlando until just a few years ago.

One of my favourite bits early on in the show:  Whenever Rudy got into some kind of trouble, her little friend Peter would silently run out of their house.


The kitchen blender (season 2) and snake in the house (season 3) episodes spring to mind!  ;D

Apparently Peter Costa is a percussionist in three bands now  http://www.theroot.com/photos/2012/04/the_cosby_show_anniversary_where_are_they_now.html


while doing research I came across some footage from the slumber party ep.... season one... and (that moment where cos references peter being the only boy among 7 girls and he won't trust them alone with them sure has a different slant to it now)  :/ 



anyway... I was shocked to learn that Alicia Keys was one of the kids at the party.. I had no idea!!!


http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/12/18/article-0-07A49223000005DC-716_468x440.jpg

Apparently Peter Costa is a percussionist in three bands now  http://www.theroot.com/photos/2012/04/the_cosby_show_anniversary_where_are_they_now.html


while doing research I came across some footage from the slumber party ep.... season one... and (that moment where cos references peter being the only boy among 7 girls and he won't trust them alone with them sure has a different slant to it now)  :/ 



anyway... I was shocked to learn that Alicia Keys was one of the kids at the party.. I had no idea!!!


http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/12/18/article-0-07A49223000005DC-716_468x440.jpg


Wow, that was her?  :o

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hIm6xmOyO6Q/hqdefault.jpg

remember when Stevie Wonder was on the show?

Wow, that was her?  :o



Yeah. Apparently. According to several sources on the Internet

Yeah. Apparently. According to several sources on the Internet


Yes.  I learned that a few years ago and I was quite surprised.  Seems a lot of now famous singers had guest spots on TV shows.  Whitney Houston was on a 1983 episode of Gimme A Break! and Alanis Morissette was on You Can't Do That on Television in 1986

Yes.  I learned that a few years ago and I was quite surprised.  Seems a lot of now famous singers had guest spots on TV shows.  Whitney Houston was on a 1983 episode of Gimme A Break! and Alanis Morissette was on You Can't Do That on Television in 1986


Stacy Q on Facts of Life
Susie Quarto on Happy Days
Tom Sullivan on Fame
Jlo In Living Color
Tevin Campbell on Fresh Prince
That dude from Immature on Sister Sister Marques Houston
Tupac, Kriss Kross & En Vogue on A different World

The list is much longer but I have a life to get back to  ;D

No one's allowed to buy my pudding pops!!  >:(  >:(  >:(  >:(  >:(

Know what? I never watched The Cosby Show

Know what? I never watched The Cosby Show


I doubt everyone did.

Know what? I never watched The Cosby Show
I have never seen it too.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hIm6xmOyO6Q/hqdefault.jpg

remember when Stevie Wonder was on the show?


"A Touch of Wonder" from 1986 was a very '80s episode. Can you think of any memorable lines from that episode? 

Stacy Q on Facts of Life
Susie Quarto on Happy Days
Tom Sullivan on Fame
Jlo In Living Color
Tevin Campbell on Fresh Prince
That dude from Immature on Sister Sister Marques Houston
Tupac, Kriss Kross & En Vogue on A different World

The list is much longer but I have a life to get back to  ;D


Stevie Wonder on Cosby Show

"A Touch of Wonder" from 1986 was a very '80s episode. Can you think of any memorable lines from that episode?


not at the top of my head.

not at the top of my head.


Remember Theo saying, "Jammin' on the one"?  ;D

Stacy Q on Facts of Life
Susie Quarto on Happy Days
Tom Sullivan on Fame
Jlo In Living Color
Tevin Campbell on Fresh Prince
That dude from Immature on Sister Sister Marques Houston
Tupac, Kriss Kross & En Vogue on A different World

The list is much longer but I have a life to get back to  ;D


Some of those were already known singers playing themselves.  Going that route, the 90s R&B group Portrait were on an ep of Family Matters.  One of the members was Waldo's cousin lol

Some of those were already known singers playing themselves.  Going that route, the 90s R&B group Portrait were on an ep of Family Matters.  One of the members was Waldo's cousin lol



Stacy Q on Facts of Life  played Cinnamon
Susie Quarto on Happy Days    played Leather Tuscadero
Tom Sullivan on Fame... played a teacher named Jim
Jlo In Living Color.... was herself but she wasn't known yet...
Tevin Campbell on Fresh Prince....  played Little T
That dude from Immature on Sister Sister Marques Houston.... played Roger
Tupac, Kriss Kross & En Vogue on A different World 
Tupac was Piccolo
Kris Kross played Michael & Billy - rival gang members who came together to perform
En Vogue played Faith, Hope, Charity and Henrietta  relatives of Mr Gaines who sang at church and performed an En Vogue in Ron's club.



because they were truly famous I avoided mentioning

Stevie Wonder on Cosby
Jermaine Jackson on Facts
El Debarge on Facts
Davy jones on Brady Bunch
Lena Horne on Cosby and a Different World
Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle on a Different World
Sammy Davis on Charlie's Angels


As well as Janet on Fame or Dif'rent Strokes.

and many others i can't think of

Stacy Q on Facts of Life  played Cinnamon
Susie Quarto on Happy Days    played Leather Tuscadero
Tom Sullivan on Fame... played a teacher named Jim
Jlo In Living Color.... was herself but she wasn't known yet...
Tevin Campbell on Fresh Prince....  played Little T
That dude from Immature on Sister Sister Marques Houston.... played Roger
Tupac, Kriss Kross & En Vogue on A different World 
Tupac was Piccolo
Kris Kross played Michael & Billy - rival gang members who came together to perform
En Vogue played Faith, Hope, Charity and Henrietta  relatives of Mr Gaines who sang at church and performed an En Vogue in Ron's club.



because they were truly famous I avoided mentioning

Stevie Wonder on Cosby
Jermaine Jackson on Facts
El Debarge on Facts
Davy jones on Brady Bunch
Lena Horne on Cosby and a Different World
Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle on a Different World
Sammy Davis on Charlie's Angels


As well as Janet on Fame or Dif'rent Strokes.

and many others i can't think of


Was Michael Jackson ever on a show? ???

Was Michael Jackson ever on a show? ???


As an actor? Outside of a variety show? I don't think so.

Unless you count the Simpsons.

La Toya Jackson was on the Fall Guy as herself. There was a YouTube video but it's been taken off.

As an actor? Outside of a variety show? I don't think so.

Unless you count the Simpsons.


I think it was on one episode where this guy who sounded just like Michael sang "Happy Birthday" to Bart.

I think it was on one episode where this guy who sounded just like Michael sang "Happy Birthday" to Bart.


That was Michael. He was credited as John Jay Smith in that episode, "Stark Raving Dad" (s03e01).

That was Michael. He was credited as John Jay Smith in that episode, "Stark Raving Dad" (s03e01).


Is John Jay Smith an actor or a voice over??

Is John Jay Smith an actor or a voice over??


It was a pseudonym.