The Cosby Show? I'm thinking of giving more sitcoms a chance, and this is one. Is it good? How many of you enjoy it?

When I was a kid I absolutely loved it! As an adult, not so much. It's an enjoyable show and it's wholesome, but it's also arguably the most overrated sitcom ever. What gets tiresome is Claire's "I'm perfect" attitude and the show's constant implications that any adult who doesn't have a college education is pretty much worthless. I haven't tried watching this show since the Bill Cosby scandal broke. I really don't know if I'd be able to enjoy it at all anymore.

Yeah ,I always found this show kind of boring. Way overrated! I mean I watched it sometimes, but I could take it or leave it! Most people I knew liked it a lot more than I did!

I wondered because my family enjoyed it but I haven't. I want to check it out eventually.

It's a good show but I did think it was overrated. Too preachy at times. Still there were a lot of funny moments.

Good show, I like earliest seasons the best.

Overall, I liked the show, especially after season 1. I liked it's spin-off A Different World better.

It's good. It's wholesome but not sticky sweet. They had their problems. It was great to have people of color in roles of an average upper middle class family instead of the stereotypical roles too often prior to this show.

The Cosby Show? I'm thinking of giving more sitcoms a chance, and this is one. Is it good? How many of you enjoy it?I only saw 1 episode on a channel that was skipping in one night (Channel 10 - WHEC)

It was ok I guess......

I loved the show when it aired & I still like it now, in fact, I'm watching the entire DVD series now & I'm on season 5. It's a great show that emphasized important things:

- love, family & support
- education

Despite the whole Bill Cosby thing in his real life, I'll always like the show. Too bad he didn't have that kind of character that he played on the show.

Regarding Claire, she's the true definition of a strong, independent woman. There could have been a couple times in which she wasn't always so "perfect" though. I can't remember one episode in which she wasn't the wisest or strongest wife/mother.

The Cosby Show is a good show. The overall atmosphere of the show is welcoming and pleasant. If you like shows with values and morals , then The Cosby Show is for you

It's a good show but I did think it was overrated. Too preachy at times. Still there were a lot of funny moments.


If a TV show is going to be preachy, I'd rather have it preach decent morality than insane liberal propaganda like almost every other TV show or movie.

If a TV show is going to be preachy, I'd rather have it preach decent morality than insane liberal propaganda like almost every other TV show or movie.
Too bad the shows star is a total hypocrite. :rolleyes:

If a TV show is going to be preachy, I'd rather have it preach decent morality than insane liberal propaganda like almost every other TV show or movie.
I agree . It's too bad the star didn't follow his example though. The show's hard to watch now.

I can't stand it today. It doesn't hold up well.

I will A Differant World even Blackish over Cosby.

Too bad the shows star is a total hypocrite. :rolleyes:


And the liberal stars who call corporations greedy and whine about global warming but demand $1 million an episode and private jets aren't hypocrites?

Oh, that doesn't count, right?

I will A Differant World even Blackish over Cosby.

I just think that The Cosby Show for better or for worse, was so busy with its agenda in wanting to portray a positive upper middle class black family that they were afraid to deal with serious issues that families were dealing with (a la Rosanne or Blackish now a days).

I always liked the show but I find it hard to watch now because of the allegations toward Bill Cosby.

I just think that The Cosby Show for better or for worse, was so busy with its agenda in wanting to portray a positive upper middle class black family that they were afraid to deal with serious issues that families were dealing with (a la Rosanne or Blackish now a days).
All sitcoms shouldn't have to deal with "serious issues". After all, a situation COMEDY is supposed to be funny.

Overall, one of the greats! They definitely don't make shows like this anymore! I just finished watching the entire DVD series & it reminded me how good it was. Seasons 1 & mostly 8 (last season) weren't as good as the others, but that's usually how most shows are. They're still getting into the groove in the 1st season & by the time it's the last, they've kind of run their course & there's not much that the episodes could be about...IF a show even lasts that long. I think 8 seasons is pretty good & seasons back then were longer than TV show seasons nowadays. It was like the school year, starting in Aug/Sept & ending in June w/ all new episodes that whole time.

Even though there were never any episodes w/ anything truly devastating happening, I just think that's how all shows were back then. Of course nowadays, they're more realistic with high's & lows.

It's a very positive show. They really do stress education, family, love, & support. You SHOULD WATCH it in it's entirety.

Well, it's 2019 and my opinion of the show has changed drastically. This show hasn't aged well at all. Cosby's allegations and imprisonment ruined this show for me.

Hard to watch The Cosby Show these days

I just think that The Cosby Show for better or for worse, was so busy with its agenda in wanting to portray a positive upper middle class black family that they were afraid to deal with serious issues that families were dealing with (a la Rosanne or Blackish now a days).

Cosby was afraid to tackle serious issues. That's why Blackish is better and is aging well.

I like the first five seasons of the show, but am not a fan of the later seasons.

I love it. The Cosby Show is one of my all-time favorite shows.

I just think that The Cosby Show for better or for worse, was so busy with its agenda in wanting to portray a positive upper middle class black family that they were afraid to deal with serious issues that families were dealing with (a la Rosanne or Blackish now a days).
The Cosby Show dealt with Dyslexia, drugs, teen pregnancy, teen sex as well.

The portrayal of an African American family in a positive light in the media was a serious issue as well. Especially during the crack epidemic.

Not to mention that The Cosby Show spin off, 'A Different World', which dealt with a lot of serious societal issues was set up by The Cosby Show's success.

https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/theo-and-the-joint-episode-17-air-date-02071985-pictured-malcolmjamal-picture-id138406897?s=594x594

When I was a kid I absolutely loved it! As an adult, not so much. It's an enjoyable show and it's wholesome, but it's also arguably the most overrated sitcom ever. What gets tiresome is Claire's "I'm perfect" attitude and the show's constant implications that any adult who doesn't have a college education is pretty much worthless. I haven't tried watching this show since the Bill Cosby scandal broke. I really don't know if I'd be able to enjoy it at all anymore.

You are so right. I couldn't stand Claire. So smug and arrogant and Phylissa Rashad is exactly like that. Also, college is overrated and there are millions of people who have made it without going to college. I'm saying from experience. College isn't for everyone. If I could do it over again, I ditch college and make money than learn things I'm never going to need in life. Oh, I can't stomach this show now.

Cosby was afraid to tackle serious issues. That's why Blackish is better and is aging well.

black-ish is hot garbage...compared to The Cosby Show. black-ish is more like My Wife & Kids which was hot garbage as well.

Anthony Anderson, the father character ( Andre Johnson) in the sitcom black-ish, has a history of sexual assault allegations as well https://news.yahoo.com/black-ish-star-anthony-anderson-085803256.html

https://tvline.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/blackish_preview.jpg?w=514

https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2009/10/27/20091026-192102-pic-125231011_c0-149-2000-1315_s885x516.jpg?c5fcfb86b36e454d3a65c1de8bf09b6643c4f814

You are so right. I couldn't stand Claire. So smug and arrogant and Phylissa Rashad is exactly like that. Also, college is overrated and there are millions of people who have made it without going to college. I'm saying from experience. College isn't for everyone. If I could do it over again, I ditch college and make money than learn things I'm never going to need in life. Oh, I can't stomach this show now.

Thanks. I started revisiting the episodes on FilmRise last year and it turns out I've been able to separate the actor from the character. However, I still hold the viewpoint that the show is overrated and that Claire's superiority complex and the show's attitude about education are all annoying. Plus I strongly believe that the sitcom that Bill and Phylicia starred in a few years after this one was a better show.

Love?

Were there episodes where the mom truly loved her kids?

I watched the first two seasons and that's what stood out at the time: Where's the love?

I always thought her character was cold.

It was a great show when I was younger. Even now, it's a good show, but I think Bill Cosby was trying to put a bit too much imprint of his views on the show.

Thanks. I started revisiting the episodes on FilmRise last year and it turns out I've been able to separate the actor from the character. However, I still hold the viewpoint that the show is overrated and that Claire's superiority complex and the show's attitude about education are all annoying. Plus I strongly believe that the sitcom that Bill and Phylicia starred in a few years after this one was a better show.
Claire was really an awful character.
She was the opposite of my own meek housewife mother and rubbed me the wrong way.

And as for the show's attitude about education, I think I half-agree with you.
Really, I don't feel that encouraging education is wrong.
Some TV shows in the past could be really aggressive about it though.
It was like they were almost forbidden to let anybody not go to College or be a drop-out.
Or if a character made such a choice, they were mostly treated as losers.
Unless they would change their mind later and go to or return to College after all.
Really, I can just think of two exceptions this.
Hilary on "Fresh Prince" and Eddy on "Family Matters" both dropped out of College.
But it was really unusual to see a sitcom character find success elsewhere like they did...
"Cosby Show" never was unique about that issue.
But it was admittedly never revealed if Denise got a College degree or not...

Love?

Were there episodes where the mom truly loved her kids?

I watched the first two seasons and that's what stood out at the time: Where's the love?

I always thought her character was cold.
Oh, she was.
It is very hard to see why anybody would like her.