Popular Culture Review Vol. 4, No. 1, January 1993 | Page 70

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Popular Culture Review

and ratings—we would all like to be more wealthy, no matter what
our race—and its ability to form an identification between the show’s
characters and its audience. Plus, the wealth of the Huxtable family
is necessary, in many ways, for the show's racial discourse to succeed,
for the wealthy are heard more often and more completely than are
the poor and middle-class.
Each family member on "The Cosby Show" answers the phone by
stating, "Huxtable residence." It is a statement that asserts the house
itself and the fact that Cliff and Clair own it and all it contains. It is
also a statement that asserts the family, the home within the house.
The Huxtable family is as much a symbol of privilege and class as are
their works of art, their furniture, and their designer clothes. Taylor
surmises that given the troubled condition of many contemporary
families, the Huxtables may serve as a "family fantasy" as well as a
class fantasy for their fans (161). Andrea Press's study of working
class, white, female TV viewers would seem to support this theory.
Press found that the women she interviewed related printarily to the
family issues of "The Cosby Show", and watched the series for that
reason specifically.
The Huxtable family is certainly more idealistic than realistic.
The family is well-educated, has strong historical roots, and is
assured continuity, certainly a luxury of sorts in today's society. (The
cast grew to include four generations of Huxtables by the series' end.)
Cummings focuses on what he feels are the more realistic aspects of
the show: the children fight with one another; they do things
without asking p>ermission; they may get poor grades; they talk back
to their parents; Theo's room is "atrociously dirty" (83). This is a
selective view, however. The children may misbehave, but they are
never rude or unmanageable, and they never have serious, prolonged
disagreements with one another or with their parents. Theo did
have academic trouble in high school (due to a slight learning
disability), but the series concluded with his college graduation; his
room is often a mess, but is never quite "atrocious." Q iff and Clair are
involved with their children's teachers—even with their college
professors—and they get to know their children's companions. The
family has an elaborate system of rules and standard procedure, and
explanations of parental responsibility and actions are usually
offered. Downing, who reads the good behavior and smooth
relationships of the Huxtables as a specific and important component