Love + Sex

Thursday, November 26, 2009

What The Cosby Show Taught Us About Life And Love

To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of The Cosby Show, we've collected the ways the iconic family seared itself in our memories. We grew up during the Cosby's eight-season tenure, which meant for most of it, we were too young to fully appreciate the New Wave, bohemian-leanings of Denise, the Baby Boom-esque, working girl stylings of Sondra, and the strong, feminist undertones of Clair. But this isn't to say the residue of the family didn't linger in our psyches. While we didn't learn much about sex (The Cosbys were arguably the most wholesome family this side of the Bradys) we did take away some was universal love rules instead.

1.) Marriage And Children Don't Always Kill Lust

Far from the crabby married couple whose lust and romance have evaporated into stale companionship, Clair and Cliff Huxtable were the quintessential husband/wife team that managed to balance professional careers and five children with a grace that was annoyingly sexy. While nobody really wants to think about what happened behind closed doors (Clair and Cliff were kind of like our adopted TV parents: we just don't see them like that) you could tell the Mr. and Mrs. probably still got fairly steamy. Come to think of it, if you squint your eyes and comb through your classic TV files, many an episode ended in Clair and Cliff's bed, background music starting and Clair's naughty giggle as Cliff goes in for the kill. 

2.) Fuzzy Family Structures Are A-Do

Perhaps you don't remember, but Sondra wasn't around during the pilot. Sondra wasn't around for almost half of the first season, either. Then one day, poof, enter Sondra. She didn't live at home, was a bit older and a little removed—almost as if she was a long-lost daughter from yesteryear welcomed into the tight-nit group of six. Right? Also, who can forget when Denise meets and falls in love with Martin, the military guy who already has a kid, Olivia? The Cosby's were a very "more is merrier"-type clan.

3.) Boys Do Funny Things To Impress Girls

Theo, the token Cosby boy, rode out puberty entertaining us in a multitude of episodes dedicated to scheming ladies. There was the time he got his ear pierced to impress a girl, and when it became horribly infected Cliff wants to get angry, but Grandpa reminds him of the time he burned off his hair while in the process of wooing a woman. Then there was the time Theo is so down and out about a girl that Cliff forms the Huxtable Man's Club, or when he wants to impress some chick with expensive clothing only to have Denise attempt a sloppy, homemade version. And how can we forget the complicated friendship of Rudy and Kenny? All it took (in the last season) was for Rudy to get a boyfriend and Kenny to go batty and pretend he was dating someone to make her jealous. 

4.) Women Can Be Perfect Equals In Relationships

You know, upon further reflection, Clair Huxtable was pretty bad-ass. She was an attorney, spoke fluent Spanish, always looked fabulous, and never took sass from anyone. Remember all the times her kidlings lied and she turned the living room couch into a Johnnie Cochran-type court room? Grilling them on their lunch money, homework and why they skipped school? Or whenever Cliff tried to cheat on his diet and she'd traipse into the kitchen at just the right moment and grab the salami from his hand? Yeah, Clair gave everyone a run for their money. Especially Dr. Huxtable. 

5.) Sometimes The Bumbling Awkward Guy Is Best

Elvin, Sondra's forever stuttering man-boy, wasn't Clair and Cliff's favorite in the beginning. He stuck his foot in his mouth, got under Clair's skin when he babbled something seemingly chauvinist and wasn't the strapping stallion they envisioned for their first child. But Sondra stuck with him, and look at what happened? He goes back to med school, they pop out twins and move happily ever after to Jersey.

 More From YourTango:

Written by Melissa Nobel for YourTango.com

Editor's Note: Thanks to Shine users who contributed to the accuracy of this post!
Syndication:

From the Community…

Comments 1-10 of 30
  • Aj's Avatar
    Posted by Aj Wed May 20, 2009 9:35am PDT

    Yeah the Cosbys did teach alot of things! Now that I am older I realize the values that this show brought to light which the author of the post mention! Thanks for bring back good memories of when tv family shows actually taught you something other than arguing and sexing!

    Report Abuse
  • Ann's Avatar
    Posted by Ann Wed May 20, 2009 10:14am PDT

    Love the Cosbys, but there are factual errors in this story. Most glaringly, Denise married Martin, not Robert. Robert was Vanessa's love interest/friend. Theo was grilled for skipping track practice, not basketball. And I'm pretty sure Clair never stole salami from Cliff. Chips, cake, ice cream, sure. Maybe if you watched every episode countless times and owned the DVDs like me, you'd know! :-)

    Report Abuse
  • DimplesDee's Avatar
    Posted by DimplesDee Wed May 20, 2009 1:09pm PDT

    Thank you arnie for getting the facts right because I was thinking the very same thing

    Report Abuse
  • YourTango's Avatar
    Posted by YourTango Wed May 20, 2009 2:00pm PDT

    Thank you, Cosby fans and Shine users, for updating us on the accuracy of this post! We've updated the errors and appreciate your pointing them out to us.

    -- YourTango editors

    Report Abuse
  • Carebear's Avatar
    Posted by Carebear Wed May 20, 2009 4:35pm PDT

    i love the cosby show! i still watch it when i have the chance lol. it's just one of those feel good family shows.

    Report Abuse
  • Selasi's Avatar
    Posted by Selasi Thu May 21, 2009 10:04am PDT

    Cosby was aired when i was a kid and i really didn't get it. fondest memories was watching it with my dad .luckily for me it is being showed again and i try to make it a point to watch it.it cracks me up a lot and there are really great lessons to learn.LOVE THE COSBY SHOW. ALWAYS WILL.

    Report Abuse
  • bronzegoddess's Avatar
    Posted by bronzegoddess Thu May 21, 2009 10:36am PDT

    OMG!!! my favorite cosby episodes were the one where Denise makes that shirt for Theo!!! CLASSIC! and of course the one where, i believe it was their anniversary and Rudy lip synchs that song...where she screams out "BABY!" for whatever reason i can no longer watch repeats of the show...but it will always bring me fond memories.

    Report Abuse
  • Frantastic's Avatar
    Posted by Frantastic Thu May 21, 2009 10:40am PDT

    The cool thing for me is growing up watching it and as a parent to see my boys watching it. It was a show I completely felt comfortable having my kids watch. the Cosbys was one of those shows that was classic and you probably won't ever see again. Thank God for TV Land and Nick.

    Report Abuse
  • Linda's Avatar
    Posted by Linda Thu May 21, 2009 11:19am PDT

    DUDE... Cosby Show was the BEST. I loved how it was on a bit passed my bed time yet I got to stay up to watch it. The love for the Cosby's has not been passed on. Twenty years later my Nephew ran into the show via Nick at Night and was mezmorized. He was five at the time! We started to watch the "Bobby" show together after that. I love its a show thats a true family show he can watch no matter how old and what era you are in! xoxo

    Report Abuse
  • Kitten's Avatar
    Posted by Kitten Thu May 21, 2009 12:24pm PDT

    It's hard to think now that other networks passed on The Cosby Show when they were shopping it around initially. Most network execs didn't think the world wanted to watch a show about an upper-middle class black family. Some people said that type of family didn't really exist. All I know is I love The Cosby Show and still watch it. My fav episode was when Theo got his own "apartment" and had to buy furniture from Furniture City and had Harlan Weedwacker as his super. The things those parents taught those kids! I still laugh.

    Report Abuse
Comments 1-10 of 30

leave your comment

You must sign in to post a comment

Sign In for personalized information

New User? Sign Up

Updates Chatter on Shine…

Love Byte

Skip the multiple-choice quiz, and read up on if you're a mom, a nag, too clingy, or perfect in every way. Aren't we all?