Why did the show end in 1992? I can't remember the reason but i think it was because - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 09-07-2003, 09:43 AM

Bill Cosby felt it was time to call it quits. True or False?

Janice Johnson · 09-08-2003, 01:36 PM

Bill Cosby wanted the show to only run for five years, not eight years. It should have ended in 1989, but someone wanted more. Had it gone Bill's way, Olivia, Martin, and Pam would never have been "born". Denise would never have come back, Vanessa and Theo would never have gotten engaged/graduate. Winnie and Nelson would never have seen past the age of one, Sondra and Elvin would have still been in the wilderness store, and Rudy would still have to be cute.

TVFactFan · 09-08-2003, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Janice Johnson
Bill Cosby wanted the show to only run for five years, not eight years. It should have ended in 1989, but someone wanted more. Had it gone Bill's way, Olivia, Martin, and Pam would never have been "born". Denise would never have come back, Vanessa and Theo would never have gotten engaged/graduate. Winnie and Nelson would never have seen past the age of one, Sondra and Elvin would have still been in the wilderness store, and Rudy would still have to be cute.

Why would he just want to do a show for five years? Bill is so weird.

Tweety · 09-08-2003, 11:28 PM

I think what actually happened was that the Simpsons came along and kicked Bill & Co.'s collective butts...

also, regarding the post "Had it gone Bill's way, Olivia, Martin, and Pam would never have been "born". Denise would never have come back, Vanessa and Theo would never have gotten engaged/graduate. Winnie and Nelson would never have seen past the age of one, Sondra and Elvin would have still been in the wilderness store, and Rudy would still have to be cute.",

I think the show ran its course long before any of this stuff happened...Sondra and Elvin were always very, very lame characters, and naming their stupid kids "Winnie" and "Nelson" was soooo bad....Rudy ceased being cute a long time before the show ended, although she's a beautiful girl today, and Raven was totally obnoxious...don't even get me started about "Pam"...

Mr. Television · 09-08-2003, 11:42 PM

The show had run its course , it started to fall in the ratings but it was Bill Cosby's decision to end the series.

ThomasE · 09-09-2003, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tweety
I think what actually happened was that the Simpsons came along and kicked Bill & Co.'s collective butts...

I think people put too much emphasis on that. It only happened one time and both shows were in the top 10 for that week. The Simpsons did not finish in the top ten for that year, but Cosby did.

TVFactFan · 09-09-2003, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ThomasE
I think people put too much emphasis on that. It only happened one time and both shows were in the top 10 for that week. The Simpsons did not finish in the top ten for that year, but Cosby did.

I think Roseanne was the show that competed with the Cosby Show

mstewart · 09-10-2003, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sitcom Analyzer
Why would he just want to do a show for five years? Bill is so weird.

Five years is average for sitcom life. After that the freshness is gone and storylines tend to be recycled. That was why Carl Reiner wanted to do The Dick Van Dyke Show for only five years. Those five years the writing remain fresh.

I hated the last three years of The Cosby Show. It got bad.

Tweety · 09-10-2003, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ThomasE
I think people put too much emphasis on that. It only happened one time and both shows were in the top 10 for that week. The Simpsons did not finish in the top ten for that year, but Cosby did.

Interesting, I didn't realize that ThomasE...in fact, I've seen SO many shows that attribute Cosby's ratings decline directly to the appearance of the Simpsons on Thursday nights...

Thanks for setting me (and, no doubt, a lot of othere folks) straight on that point...

Also, regarding 5 years being average life of a sitcom, it's somewhat interesting to note that, in the olden days, a series would typically do 39 episodes per season (Leave it to Beaver, 6 seasons, 39 eps/season, total of 234 episodes). Now they do maybe 20 or 22 per season...Five seasons used to mean 190-200 episodes, now it's basically 100...laziness, pure and simple.

Brent88 · 10-14-2003, 07:23 PM

Wait a minute... Cosby Show was on Thursdays right? Well wasn't Roseanne on Tuesday and Wednesday Night? If so, it didn't directly compete.

musicradio77 · 10-14-2003, 09:28 PM

I saw the clip from the last few minutes of the final episode in Italian from the Italian "Cosby Show" website. I used to have the copy of the series finale in english and I erased it.

Dean Winchester · 11-12-2003, 11:49 AM

well, you have to remember that in 90-91, Fox didn't have the stature it has today. The Simpsons did take a good number of fans away from Cosby. I watched it at the beginning of the 90-91 season, but started losing interest fast (IMO, the last 2 seasons of Cosby are almost as bad as the last 2 seasons of Roseanne) and by 91, Simpsons and 90210 was my Thursday viewing, NOT Cosby and Cheers.

The last 2 seasons, A Different World actually ranked higher than Cosby in the ratings, mostly because by seasons 7-8, Cosby had lost all the charm and "cuteness" that made it the smash it was for the first 6 seasons. Plus most of the cast didn't even appear in most of the episodes the last 2 seasons. It was almost like there was a massive paycut in production that they couldn't afford everyone. Tempestt only appeared in about 1/3 of the episodes in seasons 7 and 8 and many of the other missed many episodes too. A lot of people also dislike season 6, but I loved Denise/Bonet, and that was basically "her" year, so I loved season 6.

theanswerman · 11-15-2003, 09:33 PM

i think that bill wanted to end at season 5 because it was doing every well with ratings and have it end on a good note.

barwars · 11-17-2003, 04:37 PM

The last season of the Cosby Show was the worst.

Which is weird.... cause I liked Dabnus.

TVFactFan · 11-17-2003, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by barwars88
The last season of the Cosby Show was the worst.

Which is weird.... cause I liked Dabnus.

I liked Dabus too

09-07-2003, 09:43 AM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,015	Why did the show end in 1992? I can't remember the reason but i think it was because Bill Cosby felt it was time to call it quits. True or False?

09-08-2003, 01:36 PM	#2
Janice Johnson Commercial Lover Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 30, 2003 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 4,738	Not his fault Bill Cosby wanted the show to only run for five years, not eight years. It should have ended in 1989, but someone wanted more. Had it gone Bill's way, Olivia, Martin, and Pam would never have been "born". Denise would never have come back, Vanessa and Theo would never have gotten engaged/graduate. Winnie and Nelson would never have seen past the age of one, Sondra and Elvin would have still been in the wilderness store, and Rudy would still have to be cute.

09-08-2003, 11:42 PM	#5
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,128	The show had run its course , it started to fall in the ratings but it was Bill Cosby's decision to end the series.
	__________________ Sonny

10-14-2003, 07:23 PM	#10
Brent88 Member Forum Star Join Date: Aug 01, 2003 Location: Alabama Posts: 16,174	Wait a minute... Cosby Show was on Thursdays right? Well wasn't Roseanne on Tuesday and Wednesday Night? If so, it didn't directly compete.
	__________________ Brent

11-15-2003, 09:33 PM	#13
theanswerman OMGWTFLOLZ Senior Member Join Date: Jun 04, 2003 Location: i lurve you! (israel) Posts: 2,636	i think that bill wanted to end at season 5 because it was doing every well with ratings and have it end on a good note.
	__________________ Originally posted by safety pin my cat woke up up at like 5:30 this morning. she wanted me to let her out of the room. then she came back in and wanted to play. rufus wainwright - in a graveyard This next song is a song about death, and...how you shouldn't be afraid of it. Also, I wrote it on acid, so it should be pretty good..."

09-08-2003, 11:28 PM	#4
Tweety Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 18, 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 6,804	I think what actually happened was that the Simpsons came along and kicked Bill & Co.'s collective butts... also, regarding the post "Had it gone Bill's way, Olivia, Martin, and Pam would never have been "born". Denise would never have come back, Vanessa and Theo would never have gotten engaged/graduate. Winnie and Nelson would never have seen past the age of one, Sondra and Elvin would have still been in the wilderness store, and Rudy would still have to be cute.", I think the show ran its course long before any of this stuff happened...Sondra and Elvin were always very, very lame characters, and naming their stupid kids "Winnie" and "Nelson" was soooo bad....Rudy ceased being cute a long time before the show ended, although she's a beautiful girl today, and Raven was totally obnoxious...don't even get me started about "Pam"...

10-14-2003, 09:28 PM	#11
musicradio77 Disney Expert Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 14, 2003 Location: Brooklyn, NY USA Posts: 6,475	I saw the clip from the last few minutes of the final episode in Italian from the Italian "Cosby Show" website. I used to have the copy of the series finale in english and I erased it.

11-12-2003, 11:49 AM	#12
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	well, you have to remember that in 90-91, Fox didn't have the stature it has today. The Simpsons did take a good number of fans away from Cosby. I watched it at the beginning of the 90-91 season, but started losing interest fast (IMO, the last 2 seasons of Cosby are almost as bad as the last 2 seasons of Roseanne) and by 91, Simpsons and 90210 was my Thursday viewing, NOT Cosby and Cheers. The last 2 seasons, A Different World actually ranked higher than Cosby in the ratings, mostly because by seasons 7-8, Cosby had lost all the charm and "cuteness" that made it the smash it was for the first 6 seasons. Plus most of the cast didn't even appear in most of the episodes the last 2 seasons. It was almost like there was a massive paycut in production that they couldn't afford everyone. Tempestt only appeared in about 1/3 of the episodes in seasons 7 and 8 and many of the other missed many episodes too. A lot of people also dislike season 6, but I loved Denise/Bonet, and that was basically "her" year, so I loved season 6.

11-17-2003, 04:37 PM	#14
barwars .. Forum Star Join Date: May 04, 2002 Posts: 13,273	The last season of the Cosby Show was the worst. Which is weird.... cause I liked Dabnus.