Would the Huxtables have been Watchable if they lived in Harlem? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 07-08-2007, 04:54 PM

Clair and Cliff struggling to make ends meet with regular jobs living in a crummy apart like Sondra and Elivin lived in. Would the Huxatbles character have been funny in that situation? Just imagine Cliff with no Expensive Sweaters, Clair with no Briefcase, and all the Huxtables girls sharing one room-lol

Mr. Television · 07-08-2007, 05:01 PM

Clair might not have been so stuck up so yea.

Brieannas21 · 07-08-2007, 08:58 PM

Then it would have been another Good Times. And I don't think it would have last long

gidgetgrape · 07-08-2007, 09:02 PM

No, I think TV viewers was ready for something different. Also, the setting of the show and the Huxtables' wealth fit the materialism of the 1980s.

TVFactFan · 07-08-2007, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brieannas21

Then it would have been another Good Times. And I don't think it would have last long

Not as Poor as the Evans, The Working Poor like The Conners living on a Street not in the Projects

Mr. Television · 07-08-2007, 09:08 PM

I think the popularity of the show had more to do with Bill Cosby and seeing a loving family on TV. I don't think their wealth had anything to do with their popularity.

Brieannas21 · 07-08-2007, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheAnalyzer

Not as Poor as the Evans, The Working Poor like The Conners living on a Street not in the Projects

Nope, Still don't think it would have worked.

TVFactFan · 07-08-2007, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brieannas21

Nope, Still don't think it would have worked.

The Huxtables did kind of have that look in the pilot-lol

Furienna · 07-09-2007, 12:03 AM

Yeah, in the pilot, it actually felt like Clair was a housewife. Even though they did say already in that episode, that she was a lawyer, she didn't have that stuck-up career woman thing going on. But maybe she did anyway? She wanted Theo to have good grades, so he would "get somewhere".

jamesanthony · 07-09-2007, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheAnalyzer

Clair and Cliff struggling to make ends meet with regular jobs living in a crummy apart like Sondra and Elivin lived in. Would the Huxatbles character have been funny in that situation? Just imagine Cliff with no Expensive Sweaters, Clair with no Briefcase, and all the Huxtables girls sharing one room-lol

I read someplace that Cosby originally wanted the family to be working class and for his character to be a chauffeur. Don't think that would've lasted 8 seasons. In the first episode Claire did seem less like a diva career woman it is true and the first house set was more modest.

Furienna · 07-09-2007, 10:22 AM

Would a working class "Cosby show" have lasted eight seasons? Well, that depends on how that show would have turned out. There was no guarantee, that a sitcom about a doctor/lawyer family would last that long either.

Jack1000 · 07-17-2007, 06:46 PM

No,

Because according to Cosby and his writers, the idea was to show how African-American's could achieve upper-middle class positions and raise a family with nurturing, but at times "tough love" values. With Clair as an attorney and Cliff as an obstetrician, the viewer could see that the family had achieved a certain degree of success and prominence over other TV couples, especially minorities, who were stereotyped at the time. (i.e All in the Family) TCS was the first show that didn't stereotype ethnic groups in some way when ethnic groups were the central theme of the show. This was an important part of the show's success.

The thing that bothered me was a striking contrast. Notice there were few Caucasian children on the show. The only central stand out was "Peter." who I don't think ever talked and was perceived as not too intelligent. Maybe he just had poor communication skills. However, what the show had in great wit, writing, and story-lines. showed how African-Americans could be successful. However, Cosby wanted both parents to be in high class positions, demonstrating a positive work ethic and strong family values that could be shared by all families and communities.

Jack

Mikado · 07-17-2007, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walking Tall

I think the popularity of the show had more to do with Bill Cosby and seeing a loving family on TV. I don't think their wealth had anything to do with their popularity.

:

07-08-2007, 04:54 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,064	Would the Huxtables have been Watchable if they lived in Harlem? Clair and Cliff struggling to make ends meet with regular jobs living in a crummy apart like Sondra and Elivin lived in. Would the Huxatbles character have been funny in that situation? Just imagine Cliff with no Expensive Sweaters, Clair with no Briefcase, and all the Huxtables girls sharing one room-lol

07-08-2007, 05:01 PM	#2
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	Clair might not have been so stuck up so yea.
	__________________ Sonny

07-08-2007, 08:58 PM	#3
Brieannas21 Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 05, 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 9,792	Then it would have been another Good Times. And I don't think it would have last long

07-08-2007, 09:02 PM	#4
gidgetgrape Forever Gidget Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 20, 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 3,502	No, I think TV viewers was ready for something different. Also, the setting of the show and the Huxtables' wealth fit the materialism of the 1980s.

07-08-2007, 09:08 PM	#6
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	I think the popularity of the show had more to do with Bill Cosby and seeing a loving family on TV. I don't think their wealth had anything to do with their popularity.

07-09-2007, 12:03 AM	#9
Furienna Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Oct 22, 2006 Location: Örnsköldsvik, Sweden Posts: 6,280	Yeah, in the pilot, it actually felt like Clair was a housewife. Even though they did say already in that episode, that she was a lawyer, she didn't have that stuck-up career woman thing going on. But maybe she did anyway? She wanted Theo to have good grades, so he would "get somewhere".

07-09-2007, 10:22 AM	#11
Furienna Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Oct 22, 2006 Location: Örnsköldsvik, Sweden Posts: 6,280	Would a working class "Cosby show" have lasted eight seasons? Well, that depends on how that show would have turned out. There was no guarantee, that a sitcom about a doctor/lawyer family would last that long either.

07-17-2007, 06:46 PM	#12
Jack1000 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 05, 2001 Posts: 2,055	No, Because according to Cosby and his writers, the idea was to show how African-American's could achieve upper-middle class positions and raise a family with nurturing, but at times "tough love" values. With Clair as an attorney and Cliff as an obstetrician, the viewer could see that the family had achieved a certain degree of success and prominence over other TV couples, especially minorities, who were stereotyped at the time. (i.e All in the Family) TCS was the first show that didn't stereotype ethnic groups in some way when ethnic groups were the central theme of the show. This was an important part of the show's success. The thing that bothered me was a striking contrast. Notice there were few Caucasian children on the show. The only central stand out was "Peter." who I don't think ever talked and was perceived as not too intelligent. Maybe he just had poor communication skills. However, what the show had in great wit, writing, and story-lines. showed how African-Americans could be successful. However, Cosby wanted both parents to be in high class positions, demonstrating a positive work ethic and strong family values that could be shared by all families and communities. Jack