165-505: Clair Huxtable is a fictional character who appears on the American sitcom The Cosby Show (1984–1992). Portrayed by actress Phylicia Rashad , Clair, the wife of Cliff Huxtable and mother of their five children, is the matriarch of the show's central Huxtable family. Working as a lawyer, Clair values the importance of maintaining a successful career and strong household simultaneously. The character debuted alongside most of her family in
330-563: A limousine driver, who owned his own car, and the mother an electrician. With advice from his wife Camille Cosby , though, the concept was changed so that the family was well-off financially, with the mother a lawyer and the father a physician. Cosby wanted the program to be educational, reflecting his own background in education. He also insisted that the program be taped in New York City instead of Los Angeles , where most television programs were taped. The Huxtable home exterior
495-501: A limousine driver, who owned his own car, and the mother an electrician. With advice from his wife Camille Cosby , though, the concept was changed so that the family was well-off financially, with the mother a lawyer and the father a physician. Cosby wanted the program to be educational, reflecting his own background in education. He also insisted that the program be taped in New York City instead of Los Angeles , where most television programs were taped. The Huxtable home exterior
660-529: A sexist statement made by Denise's then-boyfriend David about Clair's decision to work as opposed to remaining home to raise the children with "Why don’t you ask Dr. Huxtable that question?" This exchange would serve as a preface to future, more prominent confrontations Clair would have with Sondra's chauvinistic boyfriend Elvin, who is introduced in the following season in the episode "Cliff in Love", during which Elvin wrongly perceives Clair offering him and Cliff
825-523: A spin-off series called A Different World that was built around the "Denise" character (portrayed by actress Lisa Bonet ), the second of the Huxtables' four daughters. Initially, the new program dealt with Denise's life at Hillman College, the fictional historically black college from which her father, mother, and paternal grandfather had graduated. Denise was written out of A Different World after its inaugural season, due to Bonet's pregnancy, and
990-466: A spin-off series called A Different World that was built around the "Denise" character (portrayed by actress Lisa Bonet ), the second of the Huxtables' four daughters. Initially, the new program dealt with Denise's life at Hillman College, the fictional historically black college from which her father, mother, and paternal grandfather had graduated. Denise was written out of A Different World after its inaugural season, due to Bonet's pregnancy, and
1155-447: A Comedy Series . Despite the actress' continued success, Clair remains the role for which Rashad is best known, credited with establishing her as a television icon. Clair is revered as one of television's most beloved mothers; as one of television's first working mothers, the character's profound influence on African-American women and female lawyers in television has been dubbed the "Clair Huxtable effect". Born Clair Olivia Hanks, Clair
1320-611: A Dominican housewife who speaks Spanish when frustrated, inspired by Ricky Ricardo from the sitcom I Love Lucy , but this idea was also abandoned. Rashad, credited as Phylicia Ayers-Allen, won the role by exhibiting a subtlety in her audition that other candidates lacked. After marrying husband Ahmad Rashad and adopting his surname, Rashad became pregnant with their child during the show's third season, thus requiring her to conceal her pregnancy during episode tapings. Typically playing straight woman to Cosby's humorous Cliff, Rashad's character began to adopt more comedic material during
1485-621: A calm charm", and raises her four daughters to love and respect themselves. However, she is also known for ranting at her children when she loses her temper, one of her most recognizable of which is the one she gives Vanessa when she attends a concert in Baltimore against her parents' wishes. In the Season 3 episode "The Shower", Denise hosts a wedding shower for a close friend who gets pregnant on purpose to blackmail her parents into letting her marry her fiancé as soon as possible. When Denise broaches
1650-502: A character like Clair in the wake of a series of sexual assault allegations made against the comedian. In 2014, The Crunk Feminist Collective famously published an article entitled "Clair Huxtable is Dead: On Slaying the Cosbys" in which the author dismissed the character's progressive gender politics as "a sham", arguing that Clair must be forgotten to allow for a new generation of television heroines. Nico Lang of The Daily Dot defended
1815-572: A common critique of the series – "How is it realistic to have a doctor and a lawyer in the same house?" – Rashad defended, "I grew up in Houston, Texas, in Third Ward, and it was very realistic. … I guess it just depends on who you know and what you know." Representing "the exemplary good wife and mother", Clair is depicted as both composed and maternal. Described as "graceful but assertive, dignified but devoted" by Encyclopædia Britannica , Clair
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#17327931553031980-492: A cup of coffee as an act of servitude. Clair promptly corrects Elvin in the form of a rant that explains the equal roles of a married husband and wife; Jason Bailey of Slate compared Clair's speech to Gloria Stivic arguing about feminist politics with her father Archie Bunker in the sitcom All in the Family . However, when Cliff voices his preference for Daryl, a young man competing for Sondra's affection, over Elvin due to
2145-463: A financially struggling, single woman with dysfunctional relationships, trying to get her life together with no distinct direction", stereotypes Clair worked to defy. Sarah Galo of Mic observed that Clair demonstrates that motherhood and having a career are not "separate entities". The New York Daily News ' Rachel Desantis believes that the character's "'woman who has it all' mentality towards motherhood and her career as an attorney represented
2310-494: A grandmother for the first time. Meanwhile, Martin brings with him Olivia , a young daughter from his previous marriage. Denise's stepdaughter, Olivia ultimately becomes Clair's step-granddaughter. Clair's teenage cousin Pam eventually moves in with her family in the show's seventh season. Also, Clair's in-laws , Russel and Anna Huxtable, make regular appearances throughout the series, as do her own parents Al and Carrie Hanks, albeit to
2475-589: A great family and a brownstone in Brooklyn." Several critics have acknowledged Clair's influence on female African American lawyers Olivia Pope and Annalise Keating from the television dramas Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder , respectively. Clair's influence on fictional female lawyers in television, particularly Alicia Florrick 's dual role as mother and lawyer in the legal drama The Good Wife , has been dubbed "the Clair Huxtable effect" by
2640-406: A high-power lawyer or her family life." Praising the character for transcending both racial and generational barriers, Patrice Evans of Jezebel described Clair as "the perfect professional mom". The author went on to claim that while other famous television mothers such as June Cleaver , Carol Brady and Edith Bunker have gradually suffered a loss in "potency" over time, Clair instead remains
2805-446: A knowing look in [her] eye." Observing similarities between the character and herself, Rashad described Clair as "a warm, loving mother"; the actress is also similar in appearance and personality to Camille. Rashad's acting had always been more straight-faced to counter Cosby's humor, typically playing straight woman to Cosby's antics. In preparation for the second season, Cosby decided to offer Rashad more comedic material upon learning
2970-469: A larger variety of shows with a predominantly black cast, from In Living Color to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air . The Cosby Show spent five consecutive seasons as the number-one rated show on television and, along with All in the Family , is the only sitcom in the history of the Nielsen ratings as the number-one show for five seasons, having spent the series in the top 20 ratings. It also remains
3135-539: A lawyer and doctor, respectively. Clair's Dominican heritage was abandoned before the pilot was filmed. However, the character still speaks some Spanish in the first episode and continues to speak the language periodically throughout the series, albeit not as frequently as Cosby had envisioned. Cosby borrowed several names from his real-life family for his fictional one; Clair's maiden name is Hanks, which she shares with Camille. The second season explores each character gaining more responsibility, none more-so than Clair, who
3300-464: A lawyer to uncover the truth when other characters, particularly her children, are lying, on one occasion getting Theo to admit (through a family "trial") that he had made cracks about an overweight fast food restaurant employee, which she overheard, resulting in his expulsion from track by the irate coach. Robert E. Johnson of Ebony observed that Clair's legal background "equipped her with rapid, razor-sharp retorts to counter" Cliff's humor. Clair
3465-562: A lesser extent. Professionally, Clair works as a partner at the Bradly, Greentree & Dexter law firm in New York City, specifically as a Legal Aid attorney. She occasionally represents her own children in legal disputes, for example helping Theo successfully obtain a refund for several unwearable T-shirts purchased from an untrustworthy salesman. Similarly, Clair defends Sondra when a dishonest mechanic attempts to scam her. Clair
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#17327931553033630-546: A list of "5 Reasons Claire Huxatable ( sic ) is the Ultimate Feminist Mom", and The Huffington Post crowned The Cosby Show "One of the Most Feminist Shows of All Time" due to individual contributions from both Clair and Cliff. Dubbed the "feminist rant" by media publications, Clair's speech to future son-in-law Elvin about gender roles and equality in marriage in the episode "Cliff in Love"
3795-560: A personal favorite, specifically lauding Rashad's pronunciation of "tacky barrette" and "her hairpin turn when Cliff's real gift is revealed that shows that next dimension that always pushed Clair to the top of the heap." Meanwhile, Kevin O'Keefe, writing for the same publication, selected Clair's enraged monologue to Vanessa in season six's "Off to See the Wretched", followed by the character's dismay upon learning that Sondra has decided not to return to law school , as his favorites, enjoying
3960-416: A profound influence on The Cosby Show ' s viewers. According to Susan Douglas, author of The Mommy Myth: The Idealization of Motherhood and How It Has Undermined All Women , Clair was "the first African American mother on television ... with whom white women identified and wanted to emulate." US Weekly recognized Clair as "one of TV's first working mothers", while NewNowNext 's Brian Juergens credits
4125-447: A ratings hit, featuring in the top 5 of the ratings for four of its six seasons. It launched the extended cast into stardom and Cosby, having already had a successful career on TV, films and stand-up, became the highest paid actor on television. It was also an international hit, garnering a following from across the world being a regular fixture in markets previously considered unattainable for African-American leads, such as Europe, where
4290-442: A relevant maternal figure every television mother created since can only aspire to be like. Laura Miller of JetMag.com agreed that Clair has always been "the mother to aspire to. She was Black, she was a professional, had a working husband, and a boat load of children. She had it all", but also acknowledged that her portrayal "isn’t a complete reality either". As a "family-balancing professional African American woman", Clair has had
4455-665: A result of the Bill Cosby sexual assault cases . The show focuses on the Huxtable family, an upper middle class African-American family, living in a brownstone in Brooklyn Heights , New York, at 10 Stigwood Avenue. The father is Cliff Huxtable , an obstetrician and son of a prominent jazz trombonist. The mother is his wife, lawyer Clair Huxtable . They have four daughters and one son: Sondra , Denise , Theo , Vanessa , and Rudy . Despite its comedic tone,
4620-485: A result of the Bill Cosby sexual assault cases . The show focuses on the Huxtable family, an upper middle class African-American family, living in a brownstone in Brooklyn Heights , New York, at 10 Stigwood Avenue. The father is Cliff Huxtable , an obstetrician and son of a prominent jazz trombonist. The mother is his wife, lawyer Clair Huxtable . They have four daughters and one son: Sondra , Denise , Theo , Vanessa , and Rudy . Despite its comedic tone,
4785-576: A result of the Bill Cosby sexual assault cases . In November 2014, TV Land pulled the series from its lineup. "Episodes have been pulled immediately for the foreseeable future ... TV Land even removed references to The Cosby Show from its website on Wednesday afternoon as the scandal accelerated." In December 2014, the Magic Johnson –owned network Aspire removed the show from its lineup. BET 's Centric (another Viacom unit), along with Bounce TV , ceased airing reruns of The Cosby Show . At
4950-514: A result of the Bill Cosby sexual assault cases . In November 2014, TV Land pulled the series from its lineup. "Episodes have been pulled immediately for the foreseeable future ... TV Land even removed references to The Cosby Show from its website on Wednesday afternoon as the scandal accelerated." In December 2014, the Magic Johnson –owned network Aspire removed the show from its lineup. BET 's Centric (another Viacom unit), along with Bounce TV , ceased airing reruns of The Cosby Show . At
5115-426: A retrospective review of The Cosby Show in 2014, Daily Life writer Ruby Hamad highlighted Clair as the "one thing about the show that is as good now as it was then". In terms of the character's best episodes, Joe Reid of The Atlantic cited Clair's unimpressed reaction to her husband allegedly confusing a cherished memory of her with that of an old love interest in the sixth season episode "Isn't It Romantic?" as
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5280-496: A sitcom to sell for their fledgling company, they needed a big name behind it. Bill Cosby had had performed stand-up comedy with award-winning albums and starred in several genres in TV and film in the 1960s and 70s, but his career had become more static by the early 1980s. According to a Chicago Tribune article from July 1985, despite Carsey and Werner's connection to the network, Lewis Erlicht, president of ABC Entertainment , passed on
5445-448: A sitcom to sell for their fledgling company, they needed a big name behind it. Bill Cosby had had performed stand-up comedy with award-winning albums and starred in several genres in TV and film in the 1960s and 70s, but his career had become more static by the early 1980s. According to a Chicago Tribune article from July 1985, despite Carsey and Werner's connection to the network, Lewis Erlicht, president of ABC Entertainment , passed on
5610-434: A statement Clair immediately reprimands him for making. When it comes to parenting, Clair usually maintains "an allure of cool, calm confidence ... exhibit[ing] a strong but gentle parenting stance, one that wasn’t seen on television by a woman of color" at the time, according to Global Grind 's Desire Thompson. Clair practices disciplining her children without ever punishing them physically , often delivering punishments "with
5775-545: A straight face opposite Cosby’s comic mugging". Jason Bailey of Slate wrote that Rashad portrayed her character "majestically", while The Huffington Post ' s Mlsee Harris praised the actress for playing Clair "with class and poise from 1984 through 1992." Writing for the same publication, Jennifer Armstrong dubbed Rashad "a great ranter". Nick Hartel of DVD Talk reviewed that she "perfectly ... captures some of his best caricatures of [Cosby's] own wife, Camille." However, Time television critic Richard Zoglin criticized
5940-626: A television landscape with few." Clair was voted "best TV Mom" in a 2004 poll conducted by the Opinion Research Corporation . Access Hollywood selected Clair as the second greatest television mother "Of All Time", praising her pioneering role as a "family-balancing professional". Parents ranked the character third out of their "15 Best TV Moms". Describing her as "the chic '80s mom who taught us we can have it all", Entertainment Weekly included Clair at number four on their "20 TV Moms We Love" ranking; MeTV also ranked
6105-552: A total of 201 half-hour episodes spanning eight seasons, including an outtakes special. The show focuses on the Huxtables, an upper middle-class Black-American family living in Brooklyn , New York; the series was based on comedy routines in Cosby's stand-up comedy act, which in turn were based on his family life. The series was followed by a spin-off , titled A Different World , which ran from September 24, 1987 to July 9, 1993, with
6270-453: A total of six seasons consisting of 144 episodes . TV Guide listed the series as "TV's biggest hit in the 1980s", adding it "almost single-handedly revived the sitcom genre and NBC's ratings fortunes", while also ranking it 28th on their list of 50 Greatest Shows; with this list, Cliff Huxtable was named as the "Greatest Television Dad" in 2014. In May 1992, Entertainment Weekly stated that The Cosby Show helped to make possible
6435-411: A tough-minded, super smart, middle-class black woman on TV was all but unheard of, much less finding one who could contend with and occasionally upstage a legendary comedian." Following her 1986 nomination, Rashad would remain the last African American actress to be nominated for an Emmy Award in that particular category for 30 years, until 2016. At the 15th People's Choice Awards in 1989, Rashad won in
6600-493: A vital slice of pop culture history". However, when Rashad defended Cosby and the show's legacy against the allegations made against him by encouraging critics to "forget these women", Thought Catalog ' s Cassandra Guerrier wrote that the actress' comments reminded fans that "Rashad is NOT her character." In 2023, Entertainment Weekly ' s Lester Fabian Brathwaite said the character's reputation "has remained almost unimpeachable", despite Cosby's crimes. Mic organized
6765-404: A wife, mother, and friend" in an article recognizing "10 Life Lessons Clair Huxtable Taught You". According to Cetusnews, Clair and Rashad's performance are responsible for "chang[ing] the perception of working mothers" as one of the first working mothers on television. Lisa Respers France of CNN wrote that Clair was "As beloved as Cosby's Dr. Huxtable", describing her as "a strong, Black feminist in
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6930-551: A woman, and you work, and you identify as a feminist, there’s a 90 percent chance you or someone you know has posted that clip". Additionally, Houston believes that the scene remains so popular because the discussion about women in the workplace has hardly changed since the episode first aired 30 years ago. According to Nico Lang of The Daily Dot , Clair taught an entire generation "what a strong, successful woman looked like". Former United States First Lady Michelle Obama has constantly been compared to Clair, by which Obama admitted she
7095-425: A working wife and mother are wholeheartedly supported by her family. Additionally, when Clair is at work, Cliff willingly assumes traditionally female household responsibilities such as cooking and cleaning. Both Clair's professional and personal lives operate alongside each other rather smoothly with little conflict. However, despite being a full-time lawyer, she is seldom shown at work in the courtroom ; audiences see
7260-452: Is 10 Stigwood Avenue, Brooklyn Heights, New York. Episodes typically revolve around Clair and Cliff dealing with everyday situations and problems as they pertain to a standard household during the 1980s. Although both Clair and Cliff counsel, admonish and oftentimes outwit their children together, dividing their parental responsibilities equally, Clair tends to serve as primary disciplinarian to her children – and occasionally to Cliff as well. Of
7425-502: Is a graduate of the fictional Hillman College located in Virginia, the school at which she first met and fell in love with Dr. Heathcliff "Cliff" Huxtable . Clair is the matriarch of the upper middle class Huxtable family. A lawyer, Clair is the mother of five children, Sondra , Denise , Theo , Vanessa and Rudy , whom she raises alongside husband Cliff, an obstetrician , in a brownstone in Brooklyn, New York. Clair's home address
7590-482: Is also shown to be a talented singer – she performs a duet with musician Stevie Wonder in the episode "A Touch of Wonder" – dancer and multilinguist , capable of speaking Spanish and Portuguese in addition to English. Passionate about her African American heritage and culture, Clair wins painter Ellis Wilson 's – her "great uncle" in the series – original painting Funeral Procession at an auction, which she purchases for $ 11,000 and proudly hangs in her living room for
7755-405: Is an American television sitcom created by (along with Ed. Weinberger and Michael J. Leeson ) and starring Bill Cosby that originally aired on NBC from September 20, 1984, to April 30, 1992, with a total of 201 half-hour episodes spanning eight seasons, including an outtakes special. The show focuses on the Huxtables, an upper middle-class Black-American family living in Brooklyn , New York;
7920-466: Is an eloquent, elegant and intelligent character, and appears to be as street as she is book smart . US Weekly said that the character possesses a "sly" sense of humor. A proficient debater who always speaks her mind, she rarely loses arguments. Writing for For Harriet , Tracey Michae'l described the character as "elegantly tough, eloquent, and engaging". Usually depicted as the smartest character in any given room, Clair often uses her skills attained as
8085-455: Is based on Cosby's real-life wife Camille . Although the role of the show's parents evolved dramatically from The Cosby Show ' s inception to production, the concept of a strong career woman was one of the few ideas retained from Cosby's detective series. When Cosby pitched The Cosby Show to NBC , it revolved around a blue-collar couple; Clair was envisioned as a plumber while the character's husband Cliff, portrayed by Cosby himself,
8250-442: Is deliberately provided with more storylines and emotions to experience in terms of her relationship with her husband and children. Clair is portrayed by American actress Phylicia Rashad . In addition to appearances on both television and Broadway, Rashad had a recurring role as Courtney Wright on the soap opera One Life to Live before Cosby personally selected her to play his character's wife. Several actresses auditioned for
8415-632: Is famous for rarely discussing political or controversial topics; it spends significantly more time openly addressing Clair's role as "a woman who 'has it all'", maintaining a successful career while raising a family, than it does the race of its characters. The series seldom shies away from discussing gender equality . Despite never referring to herself as feminist within the show, Clair proudly embodies several feminist themes and beliefs, remaining, according to The Daily Dot ' s Nico Lang, "an outspoken advocate for equality in her household, fighting sexism while setting an example for her daughters." From
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#17327931553038580-631: Is flattered because she considers the character to be an "American icon". Patrice Evans of Jezebel wrote that although "Michelle Obama might be taking the baton as the quintessential symbol of the professional black woman/doting mother ... she'll still need Barack to win a second term before she can approach the status of Clair Huxtable." However, Rashad herself has discredited the Clair-Obama comparisons. LGBT rights activist Janet Mock cites Clair as one of her biggest influences: "I wanted to be her; I wanted to be beautiful, be successful, and maybe have
8745-527: Is often lauded as one of the character's greatest moments, to which the studio audience responded with enthusiastic applause. CNN ranked the rant their seventh favorite The Cosby Show moment. Slate ' s Jason Bailey hailed the scene as "Rashad’s finest moment on the show." The rant has proven so popular that it continues to be frequently quoted and referenced on the Internet and social media . Paste ' s Shannon M. Houston believes that "If you’re
8910-429: Is regarded as a fashion icon .> Having portrayed the character for eight years, Rashad remains best known for her role as Clair; the actress established herself as a both household name and television icon during the 1980s for portraying "the working mom who had it all". In 1993, Blake Green of The Baltimore Sun wrote that Rashad and her character "appear to be inextricably entwined: Just as no one remembers Clair,
9075-519: Is required. In the pilot, Clair responds to Theo's last minute breakfast request for scrambled eggs after she had already prepared sunny side up eggs for him by using her spatula to "scramble" them. According to The Mommy Myth: The Idealization of Motherhood and How It Has Undermined All Women author Susan Douglas, Clair sometimes makes the mistake of alternating between stern and overindulgent too abruptly. Equally successful in their respective professions, Clair's relationship with Cliff deliberately mirrors
9240-413: Is what marriage is made of: it is give and take, fifty-fifty. And if you don't get it together, and drop these macho attitudes, you are never going to have anybody bringing you anything, anywhere, anyplace, anytime, ever. Clair has since been established as a feminist icon, often hailed by critics "as one of the biggest feminist icons in TV history" who "helped redefine the representation of working women in
9405-433: The 1992 Los Angeles riots , with Cosby quoted in media at the time pleading for peace. During the third season, Rashad was pregnant with her daughter Condola . Rather than write this pregnancy in, the producers simply greatly reduced Rashad's scenes or filmed in such a way that her pregnancy was not noticeable. Another main cast member pregnancy, that of Bonet, almost caused the actress to be fired, especially coming in
9570-433: The 1992 Los Angeles riots , with Cosby quoted in media at the time pleading for peace. During the third season, Rashad was pregnant with her daughter Condola . Rather than write this pregnancy in, the producers simply greatly reduced Rashad's scenes or filmed in such a way that her pregnancy was not noticeable. Another main cast member pregnancy, that of Bonet, almost caused the actress to be fired, especially coming in
9735-514: The New York Daily News agreed that Cosby "can’t detract from Clair’s enduring legacy." John Teti, contributing to The A. V. Club , agreed that "Clair Huxtable’s legacy remains intact" despite "the snowballing disgrace of its star has made The Cosby Show less of a wholesome memory than it once was". Rachel Desantis of the New York Daily News concluded, "No matter the off-screen drama surrounding her on-screen husband, Clair remains
9900-463: The sitcom genre and NBC's ratings fortunes", while also ranking it 28th on their list of 50 Greatest Shows; with this list, Cliff Huxtable was named as the "Greatest Television Dad" in 2014. In May 1992, Entertainment Weekly stated that The Cosby Show helped to make possible a larger variety of shows with a predominantly black cast, from In Living Color to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air . The Cosby Show spent five consecutive seasons as
10065-402: The "Other Huxtable Effect", Bailey concluded that the character's impact remains indisputable despite Cosby's recent sexual assault allegations , and thus maintains that The Cosby Show ' s legacy as a feminist series should not be discredited. Conversely, in recent times Cosby's controversial history with women has caused some contemporary critics to question his intentions behind creating
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#173279315530310230-418: The 1980s and onward." MeTV agreed that Clair is "the '80s response to the '50s housewife." Although feminism was hardly a new concept to sitcoms by the time The Cosby Show premiered, feminist television characters remained scarce during the early 1980s. The Huffington Post ' s Dr. Mlsee Harris observed that, during this time, "The stereotypical role of the black woman on television ... had been that of
10395-567: The Huxtables' home features an entirely different living room from subsequent episodes, and different color schemes in the dining room and the master bedroom. Throughout the remainder of the series, the dining room is reserved for more formal occasions. In the early 1980s, Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner , two former executives at ABC , left the network to start their own production company: Carsey-Werner . At ABC, they had overseen sitcoms such as Mork & Mindy , Three's Company , and Welcome Back, Kotter . The two partners decided that to get
10560-567: The Huxtables' home features an entirely different living room from subsequent episodes, and different color schemes in the dining room and the master bedroom. Throughout the remainder of the series, the dining room is reserved for more formal occasions. In the early 1980s, Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner , two former executives at ABC , left the network to start their own production company: Carsey-Werner . At ABC, they had overseen sitcoms such as Mork & Mindy , Three's Company , and Welcome Back, Kotter . The two partners decided that to get
10725-535: The Huxtables' performance of Ray Charles ' " Night Time Is the Right Time ". Rashad enjoyed working with both Cosby and the young cast, claiming that the actors very much became like a real family as early as the first episode, although her real-life relationship with the child actors more-so resembled that of friends as opposed to mother. Clair believes that playing a serious mother on television has helped her have more fun in real life, explaining that she realized
10890-474: The NBC contract, as she intended to become a full-time music recording artist. Most of the story in the pilot presentation is taken from Bill Cosby's 1983 comedy film Bill Cosby: Himself . Cosby's character is called "Clifford" in the early episodes of the first season, but his name was later switched to "Heathcliff". Additionally, Vanessa refers to Theo as "Teddy" twice in the dining room scene. The interior of
11055-425: The NBC contract, as she intended to become a full-time music recording artist. Most of the story in the pilot presentation is taken from Bill Cosby's 1983 comedy film Bill Cosby: Himself . Cosby's character is called "Clifford" in the early episodes of the first season, but his name was later switched to "Heathcliff". Additionally, Vanessa refers to Theo as "Teddy" twice in the dining room scene. The interior of
11220-645: The North American copies, although season two is red rather than blue. Each Australian cover also features the tagline "In a house full of love, there is always room for more". Universal Studios Home Entertainment has released Seasons 1 to 4 in Region 2 (United Kingdom). The Cosby Show The Cosby Show is an American television sitcom created by (along with Ed. Weinberger and Michael J. Leeson ) and starring Bill Cosby that originally aired on NBC from September 20, 1984, to April 30, 1992, with
11385-459: The actress for being "too young by a decade". Rashad has won numerous awards and accolades for her performance over the course of two decades, including two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series . Although she never won, Randee Dawn of Today felt that Rashad's performances during the show's first and last seasons were most deserving. Dawn elaborated, "While it seems hard to imagine today, in 1984, finding
11550-399: The actress is "capable of handling comedy on her own–without Cliff." Jet ' s Robert E. Johnson observed that Rashad portrays her character using "soft, sophisticated humor". The sixth season episode "Off to See the Wretched", in which Clair scolds Vanessa for traveling to Baltimore to see a rock concert against her parents' orders, features Rashad's most "uncontrolled" performance as
11715-504: The beauty of a goddess", while the Chicago Tribune wrote that "Clair was one big beacon of gorgeous in the Huxtable household." AfterEllen.com 's Jill Guccini called Clair "divine". Including her on her list of "Diverse TV Ladies That Can Help Young Girls Learn How to Kick Ass", she hailed her relationship with Cliff as "something that young girls—gay or straight—really need to see", while praising her occasional use of Spanish. In
11880-418: The bedroom of her own son, Billy, was merely "typical" in comparison to that of Theo's. Rashad said, "I think Bill and I are great role models as far as our TV professions are concerned. Kids learn by example, and I think we're very good ones." Second to Cosby himself, Rashad is the series' most regular cast member, appearing in a total of 212 episodes. In response to television personality Oprah Winfrey quoting
12045-541: The beginning of season eight. The show's portrayal of a successful, stable black family was praised by some for breaking racial stereotypes and showing another part of the African-American experience. However, it was criticized by others, including Henry Louis Gates Jr. , for allowing white audiences to think that racism and poverty were problems of the past. Phylicia Rashad claimed that when she met Nelson Mandela , he told her that he "is eternally grateful for
12210-474: The beginning of season eight. The show's portrayal of a successful, stable black family was praised by some for breaking racial stereotypes and showing another part of the African-American experience. However, it was criticized by others, including Henry Louis Gates Jr. , for allowing white audiences to think that racism and poverty were problems of the past. Phylicia Rashad claimed that when she met Nelson Mandela , he told her that he "is eternally grateful for
12375-836: The cast and characters were predominantly African-American, the program was unusual in that issues of race were rarely mentioned when compared to other situation comedies of the time with predominantly African-American casts, such as The Jeffersons . However, The Cosby Show had African-American themes, such as the Civil rights movement , and it frequently promoted African-American culture and culture of Africa represented by artists and musicians such as Jacob Lawrence , Miles Davis , James Brown , B. B. King , Stevie Wonder , Sammy Davis Jr. , Lena Horne , Duke Ellington , Dizzy Gillespie and Miriam Makeba . The spin-off, A Different World , dealt with racial issues more often. The Cosby Show' s series finale, taped March 6, 1992, aired during
12540-785: The cast and characters were predominantly African-American, the program was unusual in that issues of race were rarely mentioned when compared to other situation comedies of the time with predominantly African-American casts, such as The Jeffersons . However, The Cosby Show had African-American themes, such as the Civil rights movement , and it frequently promoted African-American culture and culture of Africa represented by artists and musicians such as Jacob Lawrence , Miles Davis , James Brown , B. B. King , Stevie Wonder , Sammy Davis Jr. , Lena Horne , Duke Ellington , Dizzy Gillespie and Miriam Makeba . The spin-off, A Different World , dealt with racial issues more often. The Cosby Show' s series finale, taped March 6, 1992, aired during
12705-475: The category of Favorite Female TV Performer. Rashad also won two NAACP Image Awards . Former South African President Nelson Mandela once personally thanked Rashad for her contributions to The Cosby Show , which he claimed to have watched while imprisoned on Robben Island . Clair is widely regarded as one of the greatest mothers in television history by several media publications. Time dubbed Clair "America's favorite TV mom". People ' s Jane Hall hailed
12870-403: The character "because I think I could never be that patient, that fabulous, you know, five kids, holding it down like that." As in serve your man? Let me tell you something Elvin. You see, I am not serving Dr. Huxtable, okay? That's the kind of thing that goes on in a restaurant. Now I am going to bring him a cup of coffee, just like he brought me a cup of coffee this morning, and that, young man,
13035-503: The character against such critics, writing that the show's legacy remains significant "to the Clair Huxtables of the world, both the real women she inspired and a generation of characters who owe a debt to her." Writing for Paste , in 2014 Shannon M. Houston maintains that Clair remains beloved as a "feminist hero" by the same people who now try to disassociate themselves from both Cosby and The Cosby Show . Kirthana Ramisetti of
13200-433: The character as America's "No. 1 wife and mom" while crowning Rashad "TV's Reigning Mom" in 1987. Hayley Krischer of Salon agreed that Clair is "everyone’s favorite" and "undoubtedly the best TV mom", despite being "too calm, too gorgeous, too successful" to be realistic. The Daily Beast wrote, "Clair Huxtable was not only the perfect mom, but also a great role model as someone who never sacrificed either her career as
13365-537: The character at home more often than anywhere else. According to Women Watching Television: Gender, Class, and Generation in the American Television Experience author Andrea L. Press, Clair's role demonstrates "the hegemonic view that families need not change to accommodate working wives and mothers", believing that the show mostly depicts Clair at home to avoid exploring the everyday conflicts working women endure in their daily lives. One of
13530-584: The character fourth. According to SheKnows in 2008, Clair is the sixth best television mother of the past 60 years. In 2009, she was included in the Top 5 Classic TV Moms by Film.com . In May 2012, Clair was one of the 12 moms chosen by users of iVillage on their list of "Mommy Dearest: The TV Moms You Love". Unranked, the New York Daily News included Clair among the publication's 10 "coolest small-screen moms". Similarly, New Jersey 101.5 ranked Clair
13695-647: The character of being too perfect and one-dimensional , while others found her to be too aggressive, outspoken, lacking in maternity and overly controlling towards both her children and husband. Additionally, some feminist critics did not appreciate the fact that Clair rarely struggles with everyday situations that working mothers typically encounter in real life. Rashad has also garnered critical acclaim for her performance. Writing for AARP , Allan Fallow wrote that Rashad charmed audiences "with her wholesome brand of comedy." Robert Weintraub of The New York Times hailed Rashad as "America’s mom, dispensing tough love with
13860-466: The character that, according to Cosby, meant "four or five things ... and none of them were good." At the end of Rashad's audition, Cosby announced to Carsey "[Rashad is] Clair". Additionally, because Clair was still intended to be of Dominican heritage at the time, Rashad's own bilingualism and fluency in Spanish benefited her successful casting. Cosby told Rashad she won the role because she acted "with
14025-502: The character with making the 1980s a "boom time for great sitcom moms" by "breaking the mold in an essential way". SheKnows contributor Cynthia Boris recognized Clair as a mother television audiences had "never seen before -- a beautiful, successful, working mom who was an African American" and "a positive role model ... every young woman could aspire to." Sharifa Daniels of Vibe concluded "No other TV mom has left such of an effect on viewers as Clair Huxtable ... an exemplary example of
14190-401: The character's "outspoken, womanist views". Blake Green of The Baltimore Sun described the character as "the perfect wife and mother of five who also practiced law and dressed to the nines ." Jezebel 's Hillary Crosley Coker hailed Clair as a "career-driven matriarch that kicked ass at home and at work." Writing for Complex , Nikeita Hoyte described Clair as "A hard-ass mom who radiates
14355-486: The character's success and popularity; The Daily Dot ' s Nico Lang agreed that it is television's responsibility to "create 100 more women like [Clair], ones that won’t have to answer for their creator's sins." Rotten Tomatoes placed Clair at number 15 on the website's ranking of their "25 Favorite TV Lawyers". TCNJ Journal ranked Clair first on its list of "5 Feminist TV Characters — Old and New — You Should Be Watching". For Harriet touted Clair "undoubtedly one of
14520-487: The character. Speaking fondly of his co-star, Cosby said "There's nobody whom I can be more thankful about than Phylicia." In the aftermath of a highly publicized article published in TV Guide before the series premiered that labeled Cosby "one of the most arrogant celebrities", Rashad took over the majority of the show's promotional appearances herself. Rashad also defended Cosby against the accusations, calling him "one of
14685-495: The concept as "the reverse of [ I Love ] Lucy ," Cosby explained that instead the husband "would be the person that didn’t understand when she spoke Spanish" as opposed to the wife. Camille and executive producers Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner eventually convinced Cosby that the series should feature a family that resembled their own more closely, specifically headed by a pair of successful parents with white-collar professions. Thus, Cosby relented and re-wrote Clair and Cliff into
14850-577: The couple, Clair is typically the parent who offers advice and guidance to her children, in addition to administering suitable punishments for misbehavior. Clair's family eventually expands to include Sondra's and Denise's love interests, husbands Elvin Tibideaux and Martin Kendall , respectively. Sondra and Elvin eventually have children of their own, twins Winnie and Nelson, named after South African activists Winnie and Nelson Mandela , making Clair
15015-515: The episode "Vanessa's Rich", Rashad uses a large teddy bear to hide her pregnancy while seated on the living room sofa, but the toy's origin and purpose within the episode remains unexplained. After giving birth to daughter Condola Rashad in 1986, Rashad managed to lose the weight she had gained while pregnant by the time season four premiered. Rashad's sister, actress Debbie Allen , appeared in an episode of The Cosby Show as Clair's personal trainer. Additionally, Cosby enlisted Rashad to choreograph
15180-697: The exterior façade was actually of a brownstone townhouse located in Manhattan's Greenwich Village at 10 Leroy Street/ 10 St. Luke's Place. The pilot was filmed in May 1984, with season one's production commencing that July, and the first taping on August 1 ( Goodbye Mr. Goldfish ). During its original NBC run, it was one of five successful sitcoms on the network that featured predominantly African-American casts. The others were 227 (1985–90), Amen (1986–91), Cosby Show spin-off A Different World (1987–93) and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990–96). Although
15345-591: The exterior façade was actually of a brownstone townhouse located in Manhattan's Greenwich Village at 10 Leroy Street/ 10 St. Luke's Place. The pilot was filmed in May 1984, with season one's production commencing that July, and the first taping on August 1 ( Goodbye Mr. Goldfish ). During its original NBC run, it was one of five successful sitcoms on the network that featured predominantly African-American casts. The others were 227 (1985–90), Amen (1986–91), Cosby Show spin-off A Different World (1987–93) and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990–96). Although
15510-532: The few series that were shown on both Nick at Nite and TV Land at the same time. The series was also available to stream on Hulu . The French version just called Cosby Show aired on M6 in 1988. In the Italian version of the show, the family name is not Huxtable but Robinson. The whole show is named I Robinson ( The Robinsons ) airing on Canale 5 & K2 from 1986 until 1993. Reruns of The Cosby Show have been pulled from several networks and venues as
15675-477: The few series that were shown on both Nick at Nite and TV Land at the same time. The series was also available to stream on Hulu . The French version just called Cosby Show aired on M6 in 1988. In the Italian version of the show, the family name is not Huxtable but Robinson. The whole show is named I Robinson ( The Robinsons ) airing on Canale 5 & K2 from 1986 until 1993. Reruns of The Cosby Show have been pulled from several networks and venues as
15840-511: The following season was revamped, with the addition of director Debbie Allen (Phylicia Rashad's sister) and new characters. Denise later became a recurring character on The Cosby Show for seasons four and five, and a regular again in seasons six and seven. Emmy Award Golden Globe Awards NAACP Image Awards Peabody Award (1986) People's Choice Awards Emmy Awards Golden Globe Awards Two albums were produced that included various theme and background music from
16005-511: The following season was revamped, with the addition of director Debbie Allen (Phylicia Rashad's sister) and new characters. Denise later became a recurring character on The Cosby Show for seasons four and five, and a regular again in seasons six and seven. Emmy Award Golden Globe Awards NAACP Image Awards Peabody Award (1986) People's Choice Awards Emmy Awards Golden Globe Awards Two albums were produced that included various theme and background music from
16170-552: The former's more progressive opinions about women, Clair defends Elvin, reminding Cliff that he once shared Elvin's views and ideas before Clair ultimately changed him for the better. Despite their differences, Clair is willing to accept Elvin with confidence that his primitive opinions about women will eventually change, and is never shown to be mistreating him. Bailey concluded, "If The Cosby Show ’s racial politics were merely implied, its gender politics were clear, pointed, and decidedly progressive." Clair's beliefs and endeavors as
16335-416: The greatest fictional mothers of all-time. Ranking the character their favorite fictional mother, The Grio determined that the character "will always be remembered as the working mother that was strong, opinionated, unapologetic and compassionate." The New York Daily News ranked her the eight best working mother on television. Despite her adoration as a mother, Lynn Neary of NPR observed that women dislike
16500-463: The household. AskMen 's Geoffrey Lansdell agreed that the character "rel[ies] on a sly maternal quality that fed off of Bill Cosby’s silly paternal playfulness". However, there are occasionally times when Clair resorts to the "wait till your father gets home" method of disciplining her children. Clair generally accepts her children's decisions and ever-changing ambitions, specifically in regards to schooling, marriage and careers. Both Clair and Cliff value
16665-440: The importance of proper education in their children's lives, appearing proudest when they do well in school, but delivering the most serious punishments when they underperform academically. On one occasion, Theo rebels against his parents' high expectations of him, arguing, "Because of what you two have achieved, the whole world expects a lot more from us than other kids. Let’s face it, there’s nowhere else left for us to go but down,"
16830-476: The main cast, extreme tactics were used to conceal the actress' pregnancy onscreen, such as confining Clair to bed or having her be out of town for several episodes at a time. Scooped out, the bed's mattress was specially constructed to prevent Rashad's growing stomach from being visible underneath the covers but ultimately resulted in the actress suffering a pinched nerve in her back. Rashad would also hide behind props such as kitchen tables, counters and jackets. In
16995-636: The matriarch of the Huxtable family, by Phylicia Rashad sparked an international wave of working mothers on television dubbed the "Clair Huxtable effect", and Bill Cosby was nicknamed "America's Dad" for his highly celebrated portrayal of Cliff Huxtable. The colourful sweaters he wore as Cliff became a fashion trend for a time which was temporarily revived in the early 2010s. Another sitcom starring Cosby and Rashad, Cosby , aired on CBS from 1996 to 2000, notable for its differences to The Cosby Show , garnering positive reviews. Since 2014, reruns of The Cosby Show have been pulled from several networks and venues as
17160-436: The media, has become so popular that the scene continues to be heavily circulated on the Internet and social media , 30 years after its initial appearance. Both Clair's role and Rashad's performance have garnered significant acclaim; Clair was the series' only main character who avoided criticisms that regularly plagued other aspects of The Cosby Show . Rashad was nominated for two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in
17325-483: The media. Much like Clair, Alicia is often forced to defend her decision to work while raising her family. Paste ' s Shannon M. Houston concluded, "because someone like Clair Huxtable shared her feminism in the home, someone like Alicia Florrick can now share it in the courtrooms". Crediting Clair with pioneering "the feminist, TV lawyer", the character's impact extends to include Diane Lockhart from The Good Wife and Abby Whelan from Scandal . Rainbow Johnson from
17490-556: The media." Vox's Lauren Williams credits the character with teaching "me about feminism before I knew what it was". Writing for Jezebel , Hilary Crosley Coker crowned Clair "a Trojan Horse for" both feminism and black feminism . Dubbing the character "a bonafide feminist warrior", Daily Life Ruby Hamad praised Clair for teaching her "that a woman is no less of a woman, a mother and a wife for working." Slate critic Jason Bailey observed that, during The Cosby Show ' s initial run, critics and audiences were too busy commenting on
17655-417: The most influential Black women characters in television history"; the same website placed the character at number five on its ranking of "The 18 Best Black Female TV Characters of All Time". Similarly, Global Grind ranked Clair first on their collection of "The Top 20 Most Influential African-American Women Television Has Ever Seen" for contributing to the overall success of The Cosby Show . AOL named Clair
17820-582: The most intelligent people I have ever known." In addition to being a few years younger than Clair was intended to be, Rashad is only 10 years older than actress Sabrina LeBeauf , who portrays eldest child Sondra. Meanwhile, actress Ethel Ayler , who portrays Clair's mother Carrie, is only 14 years her senior. Actress Clarice Taylor auditioned for the role of Carrie, deliberately making herself over in attempt to look young enough to play Rashad's mother before Cosby ultimately cast her as his own character's. Credited as Phylicia Ayers-Allen, Rashad eventually adopted
17985-427: The ninth "Most Memorable Female TV Character". TVLine ranked Clair among "20 Trailblazing Female TV Characters". In 2019, Rotten Tomatoes recognized Clair among television's 50 most fearless female characters, praising her for "represent[ing] a black middle-class too often overlooked in early television, entering the living rooms of people of every race as a model of both motherhood and career woman." Additionally, Clair
18150-468: The number-one rated show on television and, along with All in the Family , is the only sitcom in the history of the Nielsen ratings as the number-one show for five seasons, having spent the series in the top 20 ratings. It also remains the only scripted TV show with a predominantly African-American cast to top the Nielsen ratings, and to do so more than once. Its spinoff, A Different World , also became
18315-424: The only scripted TV show with a predominantly African-American cast to top the Nielsen ratings, and to do so more than once. Its spinoff, A Different World , also became a ratings hit, featuring in the top 5 of the ratings for four of its six seasons. It launched the extended cast into stardom and Cosby, having already had a successful career on TV, films and stand-up, became the highest paid actor on television. It
18480-475: The part of Sondra due to her college education and background in theater arts. However, Williams had recently been crowned the first Black Miss America and pageant officials would not permit her to play the role while she was representing the Miss America pageant. Whitney Houston was also considered for the role of Denise Huxtable, but was unable to commit to the full-time television production schedule in
18645-414: The part of Sondra due to her college education and background in theater arts. However, Williams had recently been crowned the first Black Miss America and pageant officials would not permit her to play the role while she was representing the Miss America pageant. Whitney Houston was also considered for the role of Denise Huxtable, but was unable to commit to the full-time television production schedule in
18810-461: The perspective of a black woman, Clair delivers a speech that reads, "I am also a human being, who is an attorney, a mother of five, and somewhat knowledgeable about history ... But when you look at me, this is all you see in me, a black woman?" The show's only main character to have been spared harsh criticism, Clair has garnered very positive reviews from critics, by whom she continues to be venerated frequently. Critics and journalists often celebrate
18975-403: The pilot episode, " Theo's Economic Lesson ", which premiered on September 20, 1984. Created by comedian Bill Cosby , Clair is based on Cosby's own wife, Camille . Cosby intended for the character to be a plumber, but the producers and Camille ultimately convinced him to rewrite her into a lawyer to reflect a family that closer resembled their own. At one point, Clair had also been envisioned as
19140-412: The race of the sitcom's main characters to notice that Cosby had imbued his series with "proud and vocal feminism" in the form of Clair. According to Bailey, The Cosby Show was not only successful because Clair "was a strong, liberated woman with a career"; she also "had a husband and family who supported and valued her endeavors." Dubbing Clair's influence on pop culture as "one of TV’s great feminists"
19305-457: The real-life relationship of Cosby and his wife Camille. Clair occasionally raises her voice but seldom yells or loses her temper, demonstrating calmness and a sense of humor as a "remedy for the trials and tribulations of motherhood." In comparison to Cliff, Clair is usually the tougher and more sensible parent, offering her children legitimate advice that they can actually apply to their everyday lives; it remains clear to audiences that Clair runs
19470-407: The remainder of the series. New Jersey 101.5 believes "Strong, loving and warm" to be "three of the best ways to describe Clair". MeTV described Clair's parenting style as "firm, yet loving." Writing for NPR , Eric Deggans observed that Clair uses a "loving-yet- sardonic " approach to parenting, demonstrated by her line "I was a beautiful woman once, before the children came". Considered to be
19635-489: The remainder of the series. In the pilot, the Huxtables have only four children. Following the pilot, the Huxtables have five children, with the addition of their eldest daughter, Sondra ( Sabrina Le Beauf ), who is mentioned in episode four and appears first in episode 11. The character was created when Bill Cosby wanted the show to express the accomplishment of successfully raising a child who had graduated from college. Bill Cosby originally wanted Vanessa Williams to play
19800-489: The remainder of the series. In the pilot, the Huxtables have only four children. Following the pilot, the Huxtables have five children, with the addition of their eldest daughter, Sondra ( Sabrina Le Beauf ), who is mentioned in episode four and appears first in episode 11. The character was created when Bill Cosby wanted the show to express the accomplishment of successfully raising a child who had graduated from college. Bill Cosby originally wanted Vanessa Williams to play
19965-434: The role, the majority of whom tended to resort to angrily yelling and gesturing when scolding the child actors auditioning to play the character's children. However, Rashad's subtle interpretation differed from her competition; when the actress screen tested opposite actor Malcolm Jamal-Warner , who would ultimately portray son Theo, Rashad simply paused, stared silently and offered him "a look" instead of immediately scolding
20130-423: The run of the series. For season four, the theme song music was performed by musician Bobby McFerrin . Due to legal complications regarding the background mural, the opening for season seven was filmed on August 17, 1990, at Kaufman Astoria Studios in New York City , New York was replaced with the one from the previous season. The original season seven opening, with slight modifications, returned to use in
20295-423: The run of the series. For season four, the theme song music was performed by musician Bobby McFerrin . Due to legal complications regarding the background mural, the opening for season seven was filmed on August 17, 1990, at Kaufman Astoria Studios in New York City , New York was replaced with the one from the previous season. The original season seven opening, with slight modifications, returned to use in
20460-500: The same time, barter syndicator The Program Exchange ceased distributing the show. Bounce TV resumed airing the series in December 2016 but pulled the show on April 26, 2018 — the day Cosby was convicted of sexual assault. TV One began airing reruns of the show in May 2017. It is the only American network to offer the series. The series is available on Amazon Prime Video and Philo . The Cosby Show ' s producers created
20625-444: The same time, barter syndicator The Program Exchange ceased distributing the show. Bounce TV resumed airing the series in December 2016 but pulled the show on April 26, 2018 — the day Cosby was convicted of sexual assault. TV One began airing reruns of the show in May 2017. It is the only American network to offer the series. The series is available on Amazon Prime Video and Philo . The Cosby Show ' s producers created
20790-526: The second "coolest" television mother, identifying "her role as a pioneering, family-balancing professional" as "a positive one in a sea of dysfunctional TV families." Similarly, Paste recognized Clair as one of "The Best TV Moms of the Last 20 Years" in 2009. According to Paste , Clair is the second "Funniest TV Mom"; recognizing her "flawless" insults, author Anita George described her famous rants as "the stuff of comedy legend", explaining, "it’s not just because
20955-556: The series until 1995, when it ceased operating as a regional cable superstation and became an affiliate of CBS . TBS , then a national cable superstation, carried the series for nearly a decade beginning in 1999. Fellow superstation WGN America began carrying the series shortly thereafter, and continued to until September 2010. Viacom 's Nick at Nite began airing reruns of the series in March 2002, and its sister network TV Land began airing reruns in 2004, making The Cosby Show one of
21120-504: The series until 1995, when it ceased operating as a regional cable superstation and became an affiliate of CBS . TBS , then a national cable superstation, carried the series for nearly a decade beginning in 1999. Fellow superstation WGN America began carrying the series shortly thereafter, and continued to until September 2010. Viacom 's Nick at Nite began airing reruns of the series in March 2002, and its sister network TV Land began airing reruns in 2004, making The Cosby Show one of
21285-409: The series was based on comedy routines in Cosby's stand-up comedy act, which in turn were based on his family life. The series was followed by a spin-off , titled A Different World , which ran from September 24, 1987 to July 9, 1993, with a total of six seasons consisting of 144 episodes . TV Guide listed the series as "TV's biggest hit in the 1980s", adding it "almost single-handedly revived
21450-467: The series' more political moments, Clair refuses to be exploited as "the token black woman " on a morning talk show discussing the Great Depression during the episode "Mrs. Huxtable Goes to Kindergarten", a position she accepts under the impression that she would be appreciated for her experience as a lawyer. When Clair learns that her all-white male co-panelists only want to hear opinions from
21615-630: The series, and has done so since 1997. In the United States, The Cosby Show began its television syndication run in September 1988 in broadcast syndication, shortly before the show's fifth-season premiere, and was at the time distributed by Viacom; many stations that carried the series were Big Three television networks affiliates. As time went on, this moved to lower-profile timeslots, independent station and minor network affiliates. Fort Worth, Texas –based independent station KTVT carried
21780-510: The series, and has done so since 1997. In the United States, The Cosby Show began its television syndication run in September 1988 in broadcast syndication, shortly before the show's fifth-season premiere, and was at the time distributed by Viacom; many stations that carried the series were Big Three television networks affiliates. As time went on, this moved to lower-profile timeslots, independent station and minor network affiliates. Fort Worth, Texas –based independent station KTVT carried
21945-426: The shifting idea of what it meant to be not just an American mother in the 1980s, but a black American mother." According to Vox writer Lauren Williams, the character reinforces "that pursuing such a demanding career and having a family were not mutually exclusive", seldom hesitating to challenge anyone who doubts her ability to maintain both. For example, in the season one episode "How Ugly Is He?", Clair responds to
22110-512: The show and its influence on Apartheid and us Black people. [The inmates in prison] watched the show while in prison." As a result of the Bill Cosby sexual assault cases , Malcolm-Jamal Warner has stated that the show's legacy is "tarnished". The Cosby Show had generated $ 2.5 billion in television revenue, including $ 1 billion from television advertisement , and $ 1.5 billion from syndication . The Cosby Show aired on Thursdays at 8:00 pm for all eight seasons. In its first season,
22275-512: The show and its influence on Apartheid and us Black people. [The inmates in prison] watched the show while in prison." As a result of the Bill Cosby sexual assault cases , Malcolm-Jamal Warner has stated that the show's legacy is "tarnished". The Cosby Show had generated $ 2.5 billion in television revenue, including $ 1 billion from television advertisement , and $ 1.5 billion from syndication . The Cosby Show aired on Thursdays at 8:00 pm for all eight seasons. In its first season,
22440-427: The show became a ratings and commercial hit and cemented itself as an international icon of 1980s pop culture. Its effects on Black American portrayal and gender politics on television were a major part of its success. The portrayal of Clair Huxtable , the matriarch of the Huxtable family, by Phylicia Rashad sparked an international wave of working mothers on television dubbed the "Clair Huxtable effect", and Bill Cosby
22605-416: The show sometimes involves serious subjects, like Theo's experiences dealing with dyslexia , inspired by Cosby's dyslexic son, Ennis. and teenage pregnancy when Denise's friend Veronica ( Lela Rochon ) becomes pregnant. The Cosby Show pilot episode uses the same title sequence as the rest of the first season, and is widely regarded as the first episode. However, it contains a number of differences from
22770-416: The show sometimes involves serious subjects, like Theo's experiences dealing with dyslexia , inspired by Cosby's dyslexic son, Ennis. and teenage pregnancy when Denise's friend Veronica ( Lela Rochon ) becomes pregnant. The Cosby Show pilot episode uses the same title sequence as the rest of the first season, and is widely regarded as the first episode. However, it contains a number of differences from
22935-495: The show was the beginning of a Thursday NBC schedule that was followed by Family Ties , Cheers , Night Court , and Hill Street Blues . The Cosby Show is one of three television programs ( All in the Family and American Idol being the others) that were number one in the Nielsen ratings for five consecutive seasons. The Carsey-Werner Company handles domestic distribution, while Paramount Global's unit CBS Media Ventures handles international distribution of
23100-495: The show was the beginning of a Thursday NBC schedule that was followed by Family Ties , Cheers , Night Court , and Hill Street Blues . The Cosby Show is one of three television programs ( All in the Family and American Idol being the others) that were number one in the Nielsen ratings for five consecutive seasons. The Carsey-Werner Company handles domestic distribution, while Paramount Global's unit CBS Media Ventures handles international distribution of
23265-518: The show's second season, although she maintains her disciplinarian status within her own household. Since The Cosby Show ' s inception, Cosby had always intended for Clair to reflect the ways in which women's roles have evolved in both the home and workplace. Clair is depicted as a hardworking career woman with strong feminist principles , most evident in the character's early confrontations with chauvinistic son-in-law Elvin . One particularly memorable interaction, dubbed Clair's "feminist rant" by
23430-460: The show, prompting a pitch to rival network, NBC . Outside of his work on his cartoon series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids , Cosby was doing little in film or television, but Carsey and Werner were fans of Cosby's stand-up comedy and thought it would be the perfect material for a family sitcom. Cosby originally proposed that the couple should both have blue-collar jobs, with the father
23595-401: The show, prompting a pitch to rival network, NBC . Outside of his work on his cartoon series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids , Cosby was doing little in film or television, but Carsey and Werner were fans of Cosby's stand-up comedy and thought it would be the perfect material for a family sitcom. Cosby originally proposed that the couple should both have blue-collar jobs, with the father
23760-605: The show. The albums were presented by longtime Cosby collaborator Stu Gardner . They were: In the Philippines, the show aired on GMA Network from 1985 to 1991, PTV-4 in from 1992 to 1996, and ABC-5 from 1997 to 2001 (Tagalized). In the United Kingdom it was broadcast on Channel 4 . All eight seasons of The Cosby Show have been released on DVD in Region 1 . Seasons one and two were released by UrbanWorks which
23925-429: The show. The albums were presented by longtime Cosby collaborator Stu Gardner . They were: In the Philippines, the show aired on GMA Network from 1985 to 1991, PTV-4 in from 1992 to 1996, and ABC-5 from 1997 to 2001 (Tagalized). In the United Kingdom it was broadcast on Channel 4 . All eight seasons of The Cosby Show have been released on DVD in Region 1 . Seasons one and two were released by UrbanWorks which
24090-451: The sitcom Black-ish is often compared to Clair. In 2015, Elle dubbed Rainbow "the next Clair Huxtable"; the character often asks herself "What would Clair Huxtable do?" when struggling to parent her own children. Conversely, in 2014 Dr. Mlsee Harris of The Huffington Post published an article asking "Where Is This Generation’s Clair Huxtable?", believing that characters like Clair continue to be scarce in modern-day television despite
24255-461: The sitcom's earliest stages, Cosby had always intended for Clair to reflect the ever-changing work and family dynamic, explaining, "If this was 1964 ... my wife could do the cooking and I could be the guy on the sofa who just says, ‘Let your mother handle this.’ But today a lot of things have changed and I want the show to reflect those changes." According to Rotten Tomatoes ' Alex Vo, Clair represents "the rapidly changing gender and household roles from
24420-425: The stricter of the two parents, Clair is humorous and sarcastic about the frustrations and challenges of parenting, often joking about killing or abandoning her children but at the same time making sure they do not take her exaggerated threats too seriously by demonstrating "obvious loving indulgences". She prefers to use "a no-nonsense ... approach to maintaining" her family, except for rare situations in which nonsense
24585-489: The subject of how she would handle a similar situation, Clair sternly – but rather comically – insists that she will never find herself in a similar situation. Despite her seriousness and disciplinarian status, Clair seldom shies away from laughing and participating in fun activities alongside her family as opposed to simply observing them from the sidelines. The character is also fond of relaxing and taking time to herself away from her children whenever necessary. The Cosby Show
24750-769: The super-woman of The Cosby Show without thinking of the actress who played her, few think of Ms. Rashad without flashing on Clair". At the 42nd NAACP Image Awards in 2010, the organization dubbed Rashad "mother" of the African-American community. Rashad and Cosby's professional relationship continued beyond The Cosby Show . After The Cosby Show ' s conclusion, Rashad would similarly portray Cosby's wife, Ruth Lucas, on his sitcom Cosby for four years. Cosby would again recruit Rashad to voice Little Bill Glover's mother, Brenda Glover, in Cosby's animated series Little Bill . In 2016, Esquire included Rashad on their list of "75 Greatest Women of All Time" for portraying "the perfect mother". The Cosby Show The Cosby Show
24915-501: The surname of her third husband, sportscaster Ahmad Rashad , whom she married during the show's third season. During the wedding ceremony, Rashad was "given away" to Ahmad by television husband Cosby, by whom the couple had first been introduced. Cosby assured Rashad that she would be allowed to remain on the show should she and Ahmad decide to have a baby, joking, "We'll just add another Huxtable". Rashad became pregnant with their child during season three. To avoid having to add an infant to
25080-505: The wake of appearing in the film Angel Heart , which contained explicit sexual scenes with actor Mickey Rourke . Cosby strongly disapproved of Bonet's role, but allowed her to continue on World until returning to Cosby after her pregnancy. Tensions remained, however, and Bonet was eventually fired in April 1991. The show's theme music, "Kiss Me", was composed by Stu Gardner and Bill Cosby. Seven versions of this theme were used during
25245-453: The wake of appearing in the film Angel Heart , which contained explicit sexual scenes with actor Mickey Rourke . Cosby strongly disapproved of Bonet's role, but allowed her to continue on World until returning to Cosby after her pregnancy. Tensions remained, however, and Bonet was eventually fired in April 1991. The show's theme music, "Kiss Me", was composed by Stu Gardner and Bill Cosby. Seven versions of this theme were used during
25410-500: The way in which Clair adopts an "attack mode" in both circumstances. Reviewing the character's conversation about pregnancy and marriage with Denise in season three's "The Shower", Slate ' s Aisha Harris wrote "written realistically and delivered beautifully by Rashad, the moment attains a level of artistry that spot-on TV lessons rarely reach." When the show aired, both middle and upper-class working women responded well to Clair. However, some few reviewers have occasionally accused
25575-439: The words themselves are elegant and witty. No, Phylicia Rashad had this lyrical, rapid-fire delivery, that made anything that came out of Clair’s mouth sound like a particularly saucy Aaron Sorkin -monologue." Hearitfirst.com ranked the character the ninth "Most Respected" television mother of all time. AskMen included Clair among the website's "Top 10: Hot Sitcom Moms", ranking her fourth. The A. V. Club recognized Clair among
25740-401: Was a limousine driver. Eventually, the idea of Clair working as a plumber was discarded and the character was briefly re-written into a Dominican housewife . Inspired by Ricky Ricardo from the sitcom I Love Lucy , of whom Cosby was a fan, much of the show's humor would have been directly derived from Clair's tendency to revert to her native language Spanish when upset or agitated. Describing
25905-449: Was also an international hit, garnering a following from across the world being a regular fixture in markets previously considered unattainable for African-American leads, such as Europe, where the show became a ratings and commercial hit and cemented itself as an international icon of 1980s pop culture. Its effects on Black American portrayal and gender politics on television were a major part of its success. The portrayal of Clair Huxtable ,
26070-479: Was announced that Mill Creek Entertainment had acquired the rights to the series. They have subsequently re released all eight seasons on DVD. On September 1, 2015, Mill Creek released a sixteen disc complete series set entitled The Cosby Show – The Complete Series . In Region 4, Magna Pacific has released all eight seasons on DVD in Australia and New Zealand . The first two seasons have similar artwork to
26235-423: Was announced that Mill Creek Entertainment had acquired the rights to the series. They have subsequently re released all eight seasons on DVD. On September 1, 2015, Mill Creek released a sixteen disc complete series set entitled The Cosby Show – The Complete Series . In Region 4, Magna Pacific has released all eight seasons on DVD in Australia and New Zealand . The first two seasons have similar artwork to
26400-594: Was created for The Cosby Show by series creator, comedian Bill Cosby . Cosby pitched a series about a detective who solves crime using wit and humor; Clair's earliest incarnation resembled his character's girlfriend, who is depicted as "a strong woman with her own career." Networks were not interested in developing the program, prompting Cosby to opt for a more autobiographical approach. Cosby eventually based The Cosby Show on his stand-up comedy film Bill Cosby: Himself (1983), which heavily features jokes about his wife and their relationship with their children. Clair
26565-601: Was filmed at 10 St. Luke's Place near 7th Avenue in Manhattan 's Greenwich Village (although in the show, the residence was the fictional "10 Stigwood Avenue"). Early episodes were videotaped at NBC's Brooklyn studios (subsequently JC Studios ). The network later sold that building, and production moved to the Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens . Even though the show was set to take place in Brooklyn,
26730-418: Was filmed at 10 St. Luke's Place near 7th Avenue in Manhattan 's Greenwich Village (although in the show, the residence was the fictional "10 Stigwood Avenue"). Early episodes were videotaped at NBC's Brooklyn studios (subsequently JC Studios ). The network later sold that building, and production moved to the Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens . Even though the show was set to take place in Brooklyn,
26895-463: Was nicknamed "America's Dad" for his highly celebrated portrayal of Cliff Huxtable. The colourful sweaters he wore as Cliff became a fashion trend for a time which was temporarily revived in the early 2010s. Another sitcom starring Cosby and Rashad, Cosby , aired on CBS from 1996 to 2000, notable for its differences to The Cosby Show , garnering positive reviews. Since 2014, reruns of The Cosby Show have been pulled from several networks and venues as
27060-659: Was subsequently acquired by First Look Studios , who then released the remaining six seasons. Seasons One and Two contain special features, including the ninety minute retrospective documentary entitled The Cosby Show: A Look Back , which aired on NBC in May 2002. It contains interviews with cast members, bloopers, deleted scenes and audition footage. In December 2010, First Look Studios filed bankruptcy, and all its assets were subsequently acquired by Millennium Entertainment , who also took over distribution of The Cosby Show DVD releases. As of 2013, these releases have been discontinued, and are now out of print. On November 5, 2013, it
27225-659: Was subsequently acquired by First Look Studios , who then released the remaining six seasons. Seasons One and Two contain special features, including the ninety minute retrospective documentary entitled The Cosby Show: A Look Back , which aired on NBC in May 2002. It contains interviews with cast members, bloopers, deleted scenes and audition footage. In December 2010, First Look Studios filed bankruptcy, and all its assets were subsequently acquired by Millennium Entertainment , who also took over distribution of The Cosby Show DVD releases. As of 2013, these releases have been discontinued, and are now out of print. On November 5, 2013, it
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