The episode when Denise had to pick a college annoyed me a bit. It seemed like Denise was pressured into choosing Hillman just because Cliff, Claire and the grandfather went there. You had to hear from the grandfather what a great school Hillman was etc.

Well, they had to , how else would they have been able to spin off "Another World"? ( yuk )

The episode when Denise had to pick a college annoyed me a bit. It seemed like Denise was pressured into choosing Hillman just because Cliff, Claire and the grandfather went there. You had to hear from the grandfather what a great school Hillman was etc.


I hated that Hillman crap too. :lol:

I thought it was great that they were showcasing Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

I loved the Hillman episode. I guess some people just don't understand it.

If they were gonna showcase Historically Black Colleges, at least show one that actually exists.


The Hillman episode is just showing you how to be snob.

I''m just glad Vanessa and Theo were able to go to colleges besides HILLMAN.

All the Hillman talk was a bit much. I didn't even like ADW at first until after Denise left it.

I enjoyed it. Having family members who have attended and are currently attending HBC schools, and living in a town with quite a few HBC schools, the hype portrayed by the Huxtables is common for children who have parents who are alumni of HBC's.

Without that hype, alot of HBC schools would be extinct due to lack of funding and enrollment.

As my father used to say, you are more well rounded if you attend one of each. Either an HBC school undergrad or grad. I chose an HBC for graduate school. :wave:

Well, they had to , how else would they have been able to spin off "Another World"? ( yuk )
It's "Different World" LOL
I agree with you Zion's Mother. I hated that episode too. Man, if a family puts a kid under that kind of pressure, then they shouldn't be shocked that she didn't do well there at Hillman. She should have gone to junior college first so she could have had a taste of real college.

I''m just glad Vanessa and Theo were able to go to colleges besides HILLMAN.


I am glad too Solomon. I am surprised that Cliff, and the grandfather did not go on and on about Hillman to them.

Hillman wasn't a "Black" College though originally. Remember, one of Denise's roomates was Marisa Tomei. They only changed Hillman to an all black school after Denise left.

Where did Vanessa go to college,I forget?

I know Theo went to NYU.

It was annoying the way the grandfather pressured Denise about Hillman and the shows that took place at Hillman. If Hillman was such a great school then why didnt Theo, Vanessa, Sondra, and Pam choose Hillman? Or did Pam? I understand being an Alumni of a school and being proud of where you went but that doesnt mean your grand/children want to make the same choice or be pressured.

Hillman wasn't a "Black" College though originally. Remember, one of Denise's roomates was Marisa Tomei. They only changed Hillman to an all black school after Denise left.

Hillman was always portrayed as an HBC school. White people attend HBC schools all the time.

That's why Marisa Tomei was portrayed as a student.

Where did Vanessa go to college,I forget?

I know Theo went to NYU.

She went to Lincoln.

Hillman wasn't a "Black" College though originally. Remember, one of Denise's roomates was Marisa Tomei. They only changed Hillman to an all black school after Denise left.


Hillman was a predominant black school before and after Denise left. In later episodes, you could still see white extras in the backround. Some of them were cadets under Col. Taylor. Look real close and you and see them at the pit and in the dorms as well.

It was annoying the way the grandfather pressured Denise about Hillman and the shows that took place at Hillman. If Hillman was such a great school then why didnt Theo, Vanessa, Sondra, and Pam choose Hillman? Or did Pam? I understand being an Alumni of a school and being proud of where you went but that doesnt mean your grand/children want to make the same choice or be pressured.


Exactly that is why it annoyed me so much. Although they kept saying we will be fine with whatever college you choose there was still just an underlying pressure especially from the grandfather.

Exactly that is why it annoyed me so much. Although they kept saying we will be fine with whatever college you choose there was still just an underlying pressure especially from the grandfather.
Yep. True. I mean, why then did the Grandfather ask if one of her choices (after she dwindled it down to two) was Hillman? Why would Bill Cosby want to air an episode in that manner? I know he is adamant about education. I am too. But I wouldn't tell someone where to go. If they asked my opinion, I would give my opinion, nothing else. Also, it was stupid the way Denise's character chose the colleges she did. She chose North Dakota because she is the only one she knew of that was going there????? Pleeeeeeeze!!! I know Denise was portrayed as not being so bright (in regards to education) but by that statement, it was obvious she was not prepared to go to a four year university. Like I said before, she should have gone to junior college locally first.

Yep. True. I mean, why then did the Grandfather ask if one of her choices (after she dwindled it down to two) was Hillman? Why would Bill Cosby want to air an episode in that manner? I know he is adamant about education. I am too. But I wouldn't tell someone where to go. If they asked my opinion, I would give my opinion, nothing else. Also, it was stupid the way Denise's character chose the colleges she did. She chose North Dakota because she is the only one she knew of that was going there????? Pleeeeeeeze!!! I know Denise was portrayed as not being so bright (in regards to education) but by that statement, it was obvious she was not prepared to go to a four year university. Like I said before, she should have gone to junior college locally first.

Denise was not portrayed as not being bright. Denise was not focused and she was also eccentric.

Everyone has their opinion and there own way of interpreting an episode but as I mentioned in a previous post, the way that Bill and his father personally felt about any of their children attending Hillman IMO was natural. Many parents who are alumni of HBC's express the same feelings. Keep in mind that I said "many" but not all. HBC schools rely upon enrollment and funds from alumni to remain in existance.

It may have gotten on most of your nerves but this is one of the instances where you have to live it to understand it.

This is an example of where you have to understand the history behind HBC schools and the bond that most alumni have to these schools to understand the meaning behind these episodes.

These episodes were perhaps episodes that many cannot relate to but they were also episodes that for many of us, including myself, are proud of and understand because I have experienced it and glad that I did.

I have relatives who attended HBC schools and supported every function until the day they died. Because these schools are primarily smaller in enrollment and class size than other universities and the majority of the students have so much in common, you are not known by just a social security number. Classmates and staff over the years become like family and everytime we come together, it's just like one big family reunion.

Sure my children can have choices in schools, but I will most definitely suggest as my father did that they attend an HBC for either undergrad or grad. I am extremely proud of Howard University, Spellman, Morehouse, etc...and I will probably be persistent with keeping these schools in their minds. :wave:

Denise was not portrayed as not being bright. Denise was not focused and she was also eccentric.

Everyone has their opinion and there own way of interpreting an episode but as I mentioned in a previous post, the way that Bill and his father personally felt about any of their children attending Hillman IMO was natural. Many parents who are alumni of HBC's express the same feelings. Keep in mind that I said "many" but not all. HBC schools rely upon enrollment and funds from alumni to remain in existance.

It may have gotten on most of your nerves but this is one of the instances where you have to live it to understand it.

This is an example of where you have to understand the history behind HBC schools and the bond that most alumni have to these schools to understand the meaning behind these episodes.

These episodes were perhaps episodes that many cannot relate to but they were also episodes that for many of us, including myself, are proud of and understand because I have experienced it and glad that I did.

I have relatives who attended HBC schools and supported every function until the day they died. Because these schools are primarily smaller in enrollment and class size than other universities and the majority of the students have so much in common, you are not known by just a social security number. Classmates and staff over the years become like family and everytime we come together, it's just like one big family reunion.

Sure my children can have choices in schools, but I will most definitely suggest as my father did that they attend an HBC for either undergrad or grad. I am extremely proud of Howard University, Spellman, Morehouse, etc...and I will probably be persistent with keeping these schools in their minds. :wave:


No matter what your reality is for you or for anyone else, the episode was pushy and they never took that approach with the other children about college. This contradicted what every other episode that had a child making a choice said. In other episodes when Theo or Vanessa or whoever mentioned having to live up to their parents standards Cliff and Claire always said to be themselves and be happy (in so many words) they always told their kids that they didnt care if they were doc.'s or lawyers as long as they did and put their best into it. And yes lots of people are extremely proud of whatever school they go/went to but a mature adult will allow their children to experience the world as they choose not as they chose.
I agree with the poster that said her character was more ready for Junior College then a 4 year. Her character was not stupid but far from the brightest in the family, Sondra she is not. Although I never heard anyone in the family go on and on about how Elvin and Sondra became clones of Cliff and Claire with the execption of their choses in colleges so why make the big stink when its Denises turn, for a spinoff? so what it could have been done in a less pushy way. They could have done it with it being solely Denises chose. No matter Hillman based episodes were boring no matter if you come from a family that pushes a school or not. Boring is boring no matter what your life style is. And if she is such an eccentric then they should have let her be herself.

And that argument about unless you live it you dont understand it....well most people live in the shadow of something whether it be school or not so people can relate in some fashion. The argument is old too, it only shows that people who think that their educational choices should be mirrored in their children really dont want their children to drift into new territory and admit they can succeed unless they do it the way they did it in the PAST!!!! And yes I come from a family that are Alumni's of smaller private schools and larger Ivy League schools, and never once did I get a pushy comment from a family member no matter how much they resepcted their school or wanted me to repeat their lives.