Which add on character made The Cosby Show jump the shark more? Olivia was basically the "Cousin Oliver" of the series in that she replaced Rudy as the resident "cute kid". The general gripe that I hear about Pam is that it was when the show caved into the pressure from people who felt that The Cosby Show wasn't "black enough".

Which add on character made The Cosby Show jump the shark more? Olivia was basically the "Cousin Oliver" of the series in that she replaced Rudy as the resident "cute kid". The general gripe that I hear about Pam is that it was when the show caved into the pressure from people who felt that The Cosby Show wasn't "black enough".
I would say cousin Pam damaged the show more. They spent the first seven seasons of this show creating and carefully cultivating an image of the Huxtable family as an upper middle class cultured family. Then in the eighth season they bring in Pam and her friends from the ghetto who don't fit into that carefully cultivated image at all.

I would say cousin Pam damaged the show more. They spent the first seven seasons of this show creating and carefully cultivating an image of the Huxtable family as an upper middle class cultured family. Then in the eighth season they bring in Pam and her friends from the ghetto who don't fit into that carefully cultivated image at all.

Pam actually came during the 7th season. You're right though. I think the addition of Pam was not needed. I watched as a loyal viewer but was it wasn't the same for me when the hip hop crew came although I kinda liked them.

Which add on character made The Cosby Show jump the shark more? Olivia was basically the "Cousin Oliver" of the series in that she replaced Rudy as the resident "cute kid". The general gripe that I hear about Pam is that it was when the show caved into the pressure from people who felt that The Cosby Show wasn't "black enough".

Actually, I feel that it was quite the opposite and that Pam and her ghetto friends were actually added in order to make the show hipper in attempts to make it more competitive with The Simpsons, which was airing in the same time slot on crosstown rival Fox.

Cousin Pam and her friends were certainly not needed. They could have expanded Vanessa and Rudy's roles further.