the show gave off a HIP HOP vibe going by the opening credits and the heavy focusing on Pam and her friends? At the Time Fresh prince had a very good first season while the cosby show was slipping and to me it looks like the producers felt that HIP HOP was the way to go if they were going to compete with the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. What do you think?

yes i think he was trying to gave the show more of a fresh prince look in season 8 and for the most part it didnt work

Yup, that season was forgettable.....

I know it's politically incorrect to say this but I think Cosby was trying to be too black in the end and it didnt help. References to hip-hop culture, Pam's friends, Theo teaching at the school, etc. The thing that made the show suck in the end was Olivia and Pam. Well despite Olivia being annoying, the show did manage to stay on a while longer but Pam was it. Worst charcter addition, IMO

I know it's politically incorrect to say this but I think Cosby was trying to be too black in the end and it didnt help. References to hip-hop culture, Pam's friends, Theo teaching at the school, etc. The thing that made the show suck in the end was Olivia and Pam. Well despite Olivia being annoying, the show did manage to stay on a while longer but Pam was it. Worst charcter addition, IMO


There's no such thing as being too black, You can't "act" a color or a race.

And I think that Cosby was just trying to keep up with the times, there were A LOT of things going on in the early 90's that he could have touched on and he didn't. I think that he used ADW for that outlet of Urban life. Hip Hop/rap was BIG in the early 90s, in the 80's it was much more of break dancing. I think he was changing with the times he couldn't stay stuck in the 80's.

I don't think that he was trying to compete with Fresh Prince. I thought that he was competing againt The Simpsons at one point in time. So I think that Fresh Prince was the less of Cosby's worries.

There's no such thing as being too black, You can't "act" a color or a race.

And I think that Cosby was just trying to keep up with the times, there were A LOT of things going on in the early 90's that he could have touched on and he didn't. I think that he used ADW for that outlet of Urban life. Hip Hop/rap was BIG in the early 90s, in the 80's it was much more of break dancing. I think he was changing with the times he couldn't stay stuck in the 80's.

I don't think that he was trying to compete with Fresh Prince. I thought that he was competing againt The Simpsons at one point in time. So I think that Fresh Prince was the less of Cosby's worries.


But it was still no need for the show to give off a Ghetto vibe when it was the complete opposite for so many years

But it was still no need for the show to give off a Ghetto vibe when it was the complete opposite for so many years


What Ghetto Vibe?? I Don't recall any of the characters using broken english, or cursing, beating each other up, in any gangs. No one wore baggy pants, no one got pregnant, no one wore gold teeth, they weren't disrespectful. So I don't know this Ghetto vibe you speak of.

Cosby changed with the times, the kids dressed like real regular kids dressed during that time. And they used slang like trip, tripping and peeps. It did get a younger feel to it when he added new characters, and Rudy grew up.

the show gave off a HIP HOP vibe going by the opening credits and the heavy focusing on Pam and her friends? At the Time Fresh prince had a very good first season while the cosby show was slipping and to me it looks like the producers felt that HIP HOP was the way to go if they were going to compete with the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. What do you think?
I think the show was just losing ground by not having Lisa anymore...Sondra was married and not in the family home...Vanessa was pretty much engaged...Theo was off to college...Bill needed kids in the house and he thought this was the solution. BAD DECISIONS.

I think the show was just losing ground by not having Lisa anymore...Sondra was married and not in the family home...Vanessa was pretty much engaged...Theo was off to college...Bill needed kids in the house and he thought this was the solution. BAD DECISIONS.


I liked the new additions to the show, I guess I'm the only one. BUT I could have done without Olivia.

I liked the new additions to the show, I guess I'm the only one. BUT I could have done without Olivia.
I could have done without Olivia, Pam, and anyone else that came along.

What Ghetto Vibe?? I Don't recall any of the characters using broken english, or cursing, beating each other up, in any gangs. No one wore baggy pants, no one got pregnant, no one wore gold teeth, they weren't disrespectful. So I don't know this Ghetto vibe you speak of.

Cosby changed with the times, the kids dressed like real regular kids dressed during that time. And they used slang like trip, tripping and peeps. It did get a younger feel to it when he added new characters, and Rudy grew up.


Charmaine was loud and GHETTO

Charmaine was loud and GHETTO


She was loud I agree, But she wasn't Ghetto.

Why would they compete with Fresh Prince? They were on the same network.

Why would they compete with Fresh Prince? They were on the same network.

Exactly, and Fresh Prince came on Monday nights and Cosby came on Thursday nights. I see no reason for Cosby to compete against FP

maybe compete isn't the word to use here. maybe Solomon is suggesting that CS was somehow copying FP in certain ways.

Why would they compete with Fresh Prince? They were on the same network.

LOL exactly. They were two totally different type of shows aimed at different audiences being aired at different time slots on the same network. The Simpsons, I see as a competitor as the Cosby's did get stale during the early 90s.

Yes Charmaine was very loud and obnoxious. I thought Vanessa's fast talking friend was ridiculous. LOL

Olivia was an annoying smart a$$. She didn't have an ounce of the charm Rudy did. And the recreation of the lip syncing for the grandparents episode was unneccesary and pathetic. It wasn't nearly as funny and cute as the first with little Rudy. But again, the show wasn't that bad with Olivia so I won't say it jumped the shark because of her. Martin was equally as annoying and I just wanted to slap him. Ugh that voice!

But Pam. Sorry, thats when it jumped the shark. Totally unneccesary character addition. Those stupid episodes with her friends. Extremely annoying.

Another thing I didn't like about the Cosby's were episodes with visiting friends or grandparent based episodes. They were just boring as hell. Although some grandparent episodes were funny and I think they were a neccesary part of the show so I wont say all of them. But any episode that involves a visiting friend or some relative was bound to be boring and stupid. Like the time they all played chess in the kitchen. Boooooooooooring.

I dont think Cosby was in any way trying to repeat or copy FP. Like Irene said, there just werent many kids left in the house and he needed that. But I didnt like the eps that just revolved around Pam and her friends. It became more about her than the family.


Looks like they should have just given Pam her own Spinoff-lol

Looks like they should have just given Pam her own Spinoff-lol
I'm surprised they didn't send her off to ADW with Charrmaine. :lol:

Looks like they should have just given Pam her own Spinoff-lol


She went from Cosby to Living Single, great jump I think. But if they would have given Pam her own spinoff I would have watched it.

She went from Cosby to Living Single, great jump I think. But if they would have given Pan her own spinoff I would have watched it.


It was a year GAP in between the cosby show and Living single. TCS ended in spring of 92, and LS started in the fall of 93

It was a year GAP in between the cosby show and Living single. TCS ended in spring of 92, and LS started in the fall of 93


Not that big of a gap, that's great for actors

It was a year GAP in between the cosby show and Living single. TCS ended in spring of 92, and LS started in the fall of 93
She starred in Going To Extremes during the 1992-93 season and then she went on to Living Single.

I think it would've made perfect sense to send Pam and her friends to Hilman.

I think it would've made perfect sense to send Pam and her friends to Hilman.


Pam grades weren't that good, So I doubt that she would've gotten into Hilman.

I think it would've made perfect sense to send Pam and her friends to Hilman.


Lance didn' go with her either-lol

I liked the new additions to the show, I guess I'm the only one. BUT I could have done without Olivia.

Cosby should had pulled the plug at the end of the fifth season. The show had every potential of going down as a classic but he beat the whole concept to the ground and those characters he added put more insult to the injury. I could not stand Olivia, Pam and her friends. If Cosby needed more kids around what about his twin grandchildren. Hello.

the show gave off a HIP HOP vibe going by the opening credits and the heavy focusing on Pam and her friends? At the Time Fresh prince had a very good first season while the cosby show was slipping and to me it looks like the producers felt that HIP HOP was the way to go if they were going to compete with the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. What do you think?

They were on the same network so Cosby really didn't have any real competition. The Fresh Prince was a new concept and Will Smith was a popular rapper at the time which worked to his advantage. I remember reading interviews and he would plug the show. If Cosby wanted, he would easily been given another season, he ran the network (notice how his show was never moved, had alot of creative control and fought for ADW).

LOL exactly. They were two totally different type of shows aimed at different audiences being aired at different time slots on the same network. The Simpsons, I see as a competitor as the Cosby's did get stale during the early 90s.

Yes Charmaine was very loud and obnoxious. I thought Vanessa's fast talking friend was ridiculous. LOL

Olivia was an annoying smart a$$. She didn't have an ounce of the charm Rudy did. And the recreation of the lip syncing for the grandparents episode was unneccesary and pathetic. It wasn't nearly as funny and cute as the first with little Rudy. But again, the show wasn't that bad with Olivia so I won't say it jumped the shark because of her. Martin was equally as annoying and I just wanted to slap him. Ugh that voice!

But Pam. Sorry, thats when it jumped the shark. Totally unneccesary character addition. Those stupid episodes with her friends. Extremely annoying.

Another thing I didn't like about the Cosby's were episodes with visiting friends or grandparent based episodes. They were just boring as hell. Although some grandparent episodes were funny and I think they were a neccesary part of the show so I wont say all of them. But any episode that involves a visiting friend or some relative was bound to be boring and stupid. Like the time they all played chess in the kitchen. Boooooooooooring.

I do agree Cosby was getting stale in the 90's and Fox did move The Simpsons on Thursdays for a few seasons to compete against Cosby. Of course Cosby always beat The Simpsons but I was one of many who opted to watch The Simpsons over Cosby. Fox also did the same thing to A Different World when they placed Martin in the same timeslot against it and of course, we know who won that battle.

I guess I'm the only one who actually liked Olivia. By that time most of the kids had grown up and left the house, so basically the only one left was Rudy and she was growing up. I think the new charactors were added to keep young people/kids in the house and the episodes with Pam and her friends and Theo teaching were added to keep young people interested in the show. It changed with the times rather then staying stuck in the 80s. I think there was no need to do a repeat of the lip syncing episode with Olivia. I thought it was kind of cute, but the first one with Rudy was way better. I also agree about the visiting friends episodes being boring. I paticularly thought the one where Cliff and Rudy went to that old lady's house (can't remember her name) and he tried to get her to take her medication and she wouldn't and the one where they played chess were extremely boring. I deffinatly liked the 80s episodes better. It just didn't seem as good in the 90s.

What was up with Theo wearing glasses during the intro of the last season? Who's idea was that?

What was up with Theo wearing glasses during the intro of the last season? Who's idea was that?


What was up withb Theo's Hair in the last season-lol

What was up with Theo wearing glasses during the intro of the last season? Who's idea was that?
Well the actor wears glasses in real life so I don't have an issue with him wearing them in the opening (I would not have had a problem with Theo wearing glasses in the show either). Many, many actors don't have 20/20 eyesight but for some reason it is believed that glasses make them look dorky which is not true- watch any number of shows and films and you can see reflections in the actors eyes because they are wearing contact lenses. Bill Cosby in fact was wearing glasses in the 70s.
What I find ugly was the bandana he had on his head in that scene. The rust colored dye job was preferable to the high top fade he had in season 6.

Fox also did the same thing to A Different World when they placed Martin in the same timeslot against it and of course, we know who won that battle.
I'm sorry, but I'm Swedish, so I don't know... Would anyone care to fill me in on this? Because I'm really curious about this now.

Otherwise, I've said it before, and I will say it again: I never hated Pam like everyone else seems to do. I can understand, that it felt weird, that she was added, when you had followed the Huxtables for six seasons. But I actually liked her. I found her episodes to be just as interesting as the Huxtable kids ones. I actually like Olivia a lot less. That entire character was just an insult to Rudy, showing her that she wasn't little and cute anymore. And Rudy was only ten years old! And of course, Olivia acted way too grown up for her age.

And about Theo's hairstyles, that high top style was popular back then. Just watch Will in the first seasons of "Fresh Prince in Bel Air". I didn't like it when his hair was dyed. Black people don't look good in that hair color.

Pam's not my favorite character. Olivia was kinda cute but obnoxious sometimes.