Survey Names Claire Huxtable Best TV Mom

[Janice]

http://apnews.excite.com/article/200...D82BE9NO0.html

Survey Names Claire Huxtable Best TV Mom

NEW YORK (AP) - Rudy and Theo would be proud: Claire Huxtable, matriarch of "The Cosby Show" clan, was named best TV mom in a new poll released just in time for Mother's Day.

Played by Phylicia Rashad, Claire Huxtable was the witty, tough mother of five who also worked as a lawyer. Rashad played alongside Bill Cosby's Cliff Huxtable for 8 years, until the NBC sitcom ended in 1992.

The 55-year-old actress, who's starring in the Broadway production of "A Raisin in the Sun" with Sean Combs, also was named "TV mom closest to your own mom in spirit."

Opinion Research Corporation conducted the "Sweet on Mom" survey - financed by the makers of Splenda artificial sweetener - from April 8-11.

Results were based on 720 adults who have a living mother or mother-in-law. The margin of error was plus or minus four points.

Mrs. Cunningham of "Happy Days," played by Marion Ross, was second, followed by Marge Simpson of "The Simpsons," who's voiced by Julie Kavner.