Why "The Cosby Show" started going downhill by Season 2 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 06-21-2017, 01:21 AM

Its only black female writer at the time, Winifred Hervey Stallworth, left for The Golden Girls. And then it arguably went downhill again in Season 3 when Ed. Weinberger left for Amen and Phylicia Rashad got pregnant, killing all the sexual chemistry between the Cliff and Claire. They didn't want to add a new baby like Family Ties did (when Meredith Baxter got pregnant in real life), so they pulled the "hide her behind bags and tables" business. And then over the course of the rest of the series, it just settled (depending on your point of view or whom you immediately ask) into mediocrity, smugly coasting on its initial laurels that are partly the result of its premiering a year after a particularly dismal year for new sitcoms (though the year before that produced some lasting hits) when all NBC's new fall shows flopped.

Steve Winslow · 06-02-2020, 05:17 PM

Whaaaaaaaat? Didn't the show really get good around season 2? Seasons 2 and 3 were the prime of the show, it started to go downhill in season 6.

TVFactFan · 06-06-2020, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Winslow

Whaaaaaaaat? Didn't the show really get good around season 2? Seasons 2 and 3 were the prime of the show, it started to go downhill in season 6.

Yeah dumb article since the show finished #1 every year from 1985-1989

Heenan Fan · 08-30-2020, 03:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Winslow

Whaaaaaaaat? Didn't the show really get good around season 2? Seasons 2 and 3 were the prime of the show, it started to go downhill in season 6.

^ I agree with this. TMC has a long history of posting links to non credible websites.

RetroGuy2000 · 08-30-2020, 04:35 AM

I think the first six seasons of this show were amazing. I don't at all feel like the show started to decline in Season 2. My family watched the show from the very first episode, and it wasn't until the "Cousin Pam" Years that we tuned out.

TVFactFan · 08-30-2020, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I think the first six seasons of this show were amazing. I don't at all feel like the show started to decline in Season 2. My family watched the show from the very first episode, and it wasn't until the "Cousin Pam" Years that we tuned out.

I tuned out after Oliva

icecream · 08-30-2020, 12:36 PM

I agree adding Olivia made the show worse. She was so annoying!

Heenan Fan · 08-30-2020, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catsrule

I agree adding Olivia made the show worse. She was so annoying!

She still is. Raven has been on the New Match Game a couple of times. She's dumber than a box of rocks and worse yet, she's one of those people who can never admit when they're wrong.

RetroGuy2000 · 08-30-2020, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

I tuned out after Oliva

I could have dealt with Olivia. For me, "Cousin Pam" was far, far worse. There were even episodes that revolved around "Cousin Pam's" friends, for god's sake!

TVFactFan · 08-30-2020, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I could have dealt with Olivia. For me, "Cousin Pam" was far, far worse. There were even episodes that revolved around "Cousin Pam's" friends, for god's sake!

it wasnt really pam it was her girlfriend

ThatWriterChick1976 · 02-07-2021, 02:13 PM

I left in-between Olivia and Pam. I knew the deal, as a teen, that the show ran out of fuel.

Old School · 02-07-2021, 06:35 PM

The Cosby Show didn't start to go downhill until Denise came back from Africa married to Martin and with a step daughter (Olivia) in my mind.

ThatWriterChick1976 · 02-07-2021, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old School

The Cosby Show didn't start to go downhill until Denise came back from Africa married to Martin and with a step daughter (Olivia) in my mind.

I agree. He was too stiff and corny. She was more annoying than cute.

Old School · 02-07-2021, 06:38 PM

I liked the cousin Pam addition to the Cosby storyline though.

08-30-2020, 04:35 AM	#5
RetroGuy2000 Julie,Julie Anne,&Felice 4Ever Forum Star Join Date: Dec 27, 2013 Posts: 16,914	I think the first six seasons of this show were amazing. I don't at all feel like the show started to decline in Season 2. My family watched the show from the very first episode, and it wasn't until the "Cousin Pam" Years that we tuned out.
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08-30-2020, 12:36 PM	#7
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,688	I agree adding Olivia made the show worse. She was so annoying!
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02-07-2021, 06:38 PM	#14
Old School Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 28, 2020 Location: Earth Posts: 2,137	Cosby I liked the cousin Pam addition to the Cosby storyline though.

06-21-2017, 01:21 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 125,366	Why "The Cosby Show" started going downhill by Season 2 Its only black female writer at the time, Winifred Hervey Stallworth, left for The Golden Girls. And then it arguably went downhill again in Season 3 when Ed. Weinberger left for Amen and Phylicia Rashad got pregnant, killing all the sexual chemistry between the Cliff and Claire. They didn't want to add a new baby like Family Ties did (when Meredith Baxter got pregnant in real life), so they pulled the "hide her behind bags and tables" business. And then over the course of the rest of the series, it just settled (depending on your point of view or whom you immediately ask) into mediocrity, smugly coasting on its initial laurels that are partly the result of its premiering a year after a particularly dismal year for new sitcoms (though the year before that produced some lasting hits) when all NBC's new fall shows flopped.

06-02-2020, 05:17 PM	#2
Steve Winslow Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 23, 2019 Posts: 104	Whaaaaaaaat? Didn't the show really get good around season 2? Seasons 2 and 3 were the prime of the show, it started to go downhill in season 6.

02-07-2021, 02:13 PM	#11
ThatWriterChick1976 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 01, 2021 Location: United States Posts: 74	I left in-between Olivia and Pam. I knew the deal, as a teen, that the show ran out of fuel.