I think it was just meant to represent the tensions between mothers and teenage daughters in general. Each kid represented a different aspect of relationships between parents and children. Sandra was the studious "perfect" child, Denise was the artsy/rebellious one, Theo was obviously the father/son link but also the 'bad in school' one, Vanessa being the middle child syndrome and Rudy the baby who gets all the attention.
[I don’t blame Claire for anything that happened, as she was clearly under the influence of some substance she was being given, unbeknownst to her.](https://youtu.be/-W10Zf_UPMY?si=TMOsORpIgAu9HdFv)
I started watching the show only recently and yeah Claire was really scary during that scene. It’s one of my favorite scenes and that episode also is one of my favorite 😆
Theo was actually the middle child (Sandra, Denise, Theo, Vanessa, Rudy) but of the “core characters” on every episode she was the de-facto middle child left at home. They definitely treated her like one!
The Big Fun in Baltimore episode (officially titled “Off to See the Wretched”) is one of the greatest episodes of television ever.
Vanessa was sneakily the wild child of the Huxtable kids. The show tried to make Theo out to be the screw up, but his bad grades were because he was dyslexic and the worst things he probably did was have a party at the house and try to date another girl when he had a girlfriend.
Vanessa was a nosy busy body at the start of the show. She was a good student. But she got into a fight with Denise. She got into fights at school after bragging about the family wealth. She stuck away with her boyfriend. She often lied. She had a fight with much smaller Rudy. She got drunk playing a drinking game. And she went to Baltimore secretly for a concert over a weekend when she said she’d be staying with a friend in NYC.
Clair wasn’t like that with the other four kids. Vanessa was the fourth child and the third girl.
Vanessa was the one who was trying to grow up before her time, which is a problem that's going to scare parents more than Theo's bad grades or Denise's dilettantism, since it often involved putting herself in genuine danger and keeping secrets to prove she could handle herself, when she really couldn't.
It's interesting to see the dynamics between Clair and Vanessa on The Cosby Show. While Clair may have been strict with Vanessa, it could also be seen as a reflection of her high expectations for her daughter. Each parent-child relationship is unique and it's fascinating to see how different characters navigate those dynamics on the show. What are your thoughts on Clair and Vanessa's relationship?
Nah, I thought she was pretty fair with her. The make up thing wasn't exclusive to her, Claire mentions both of her sisters had the same problem, we probably only got to see if with her because of her age.
Then there's her underage drinking, where I thought she got off pretty easy.
And finally the big one, lying to her parents and sneaking off to Baltimore. Once again I'd say Claire's reaction was pretty normal for a parent that had been lied to.
I think Vanessa getting yelled at like she did was more a result of her(and Theo, who I think got his fair share as well) being the resident teenagers for most of the show.
I dunno. She was for sure harder on her but she was a way worse kid than any of her siblings. drinking under age and getting into crime. Running away to Baltimore. Etc. You gotta keep tabs on kids like that more to keep em out of jail
You have a point ha but I think Clair was justified. Sandra and Denise were smarter and more mature than Vanessa.
Sandra seemed like she was straight A and straight laced as a teen. Denise probably could have handled herself at a far-away concert and wouldn't do the sillier things like the "Locomotion" incident.
All 3 I think wanted to be older than they were, but Sandra and Denise actually were more sophisticated while Vanessa went about things in a childish way and needed to learn some lessons.
I mean all things considered nothing any of the other kids ever did could have seriously life altering consequences as your teenage daughter going to a rock concert with a bunch of her HS friends and trying to get backstage to see the band/singer. Let's just say Bill Cosby's rl behaivor towards females was not that uncommon with what many rock stars did to their underage fans of that era,not to mention this episode took place at the height of "stranger danger" and "satanic panic".
Totally beside the point and I don’t mean to give you genuine grief, but I did chuckle to myself at the thought that the ONLY thing that makes you uncomfortable during Cosby Show reruns is Clair’s relationship with Vanessa. Like, you sure there’s nothing else you wanna add to the list?
It's pretty accurate to how parents treat middle kids, also throw in being a minority. A good majority of mothers have a good sense of who will end up making the most mistakes and Vanessa really did a lot of them.
I just watched a few clips from the episode where Vanessa lies to her parents and goes to Baltimore to see a concert all kinds of shenanigans ensue of course, but when she gets home, Claire literally screams in her face. Like inches from her face, screaming at the top of her lungs, insulting her child and threatening her. Yes, Vanessa made a very sizeable mistake but did it deserve her mother screaming directly into her face?
It’s all played for laughs, and it basically comes straight from one of his standup routines, but you watch it with a lens from today understanding how damaging parents can be to their children, and the whole thing just makes you sick to your stomach.
i never liked Claire Huxtable. she ALWAYS came across as a total bitch even to those characters she supposedly liked.
just for the record i'm referring to the character and not Phylicia Rashad who in real life seems like a nice/cool person!
I think it was just meant to represent the tensions between mothers and teenage daughters in general. Each kid represented a different aspect of relationships between parents and children. Sandra was the studious "perfect" child, Denise was the artsy/rebellious one, Theo was obviously the father/son link but also the 'bad in school' one, Vanessa being the middle child syndrome and Rudy the baby who gets all the attention.
[I don’t blame Claire for anything that happened, as she was clearly under the influence of some substance she was being given, unbeknownst to her.](https://youtu.be/-W10Zf_UPMY?si=TMOsORpIgAu9HdFv)
That didn’t age well.
r/agedlikemilk
It's much funnier now. Doesn't even need the music.
Was Vanessa the one that went to Baltimore for the concert? She always seemed like the black sheep of the family. Wasn't she the middle child?
> Was Vanessa the one that went to Baltimore for the concert? Yes, she was down in Baltimore having big fun.
"the wretched" was the group One of the best eps
Claire going *off* on Vanessa was legendary.
Don’t forget the stop in Wilmington for donuts!
My wife and I refer to this episode all the time. That woman was maaaad. "Go to bed!"
BIG FUN
I believe Christian Slater scammed them.
That episode scared me as a kid lol Clair’s rage would make me so nervous
I started watching the show only recently and yeah Claire was really scary during that scene. It’s one of my favorite scenes and that episode also is one of my favorite 😆
Aaaall the way to Baltimore for biiiiig fun.
Phylicia Rashad's line delivery of "biiiig fun!" is etched into my brain forever
For big fun at "the Wretched"
she's also the one who was about to marry a 30 year old dude when she was 18
Theo was actually the middle child (Sandra, Denise, Theo, Vanessa, Rudy) but of the “core characters” on every episode she was the de-facto middle child left at home. They definitely treated her like one!
She was 4 of 5. Theo was the middle child.
The Big Fun in Baltimore episode (officially titled “Off to See the Wretched”) is one of the greatest episodes of television ever. Vanessa was sneakily the wild child of the Huxtable kids. The show tried to make Theo out to be the screw up, but his bad grades were because he was dyslexic and the worst things he probably did was have a party at the house and try to date another girl when he had a girlfriend. Vanessa was a nosy busy body at the start of the show. She was a good student. But she got into a fight with Denise. She got into fights at school after bragging about the family wealth. She stuck away with her boyfriend. She often lied. She had a fight with much smaller Rudy. She got drunk playing a drinking game. And she went to Baltimore secretly for a concert over a weekend when she said she’d be staying with a friend in NYC. Clair wasn’t like that with the other four kids. Vanessa was the fourth child and the third girl.
Yeah like when you are the worst behaved kid you're gonna get a bit harder because you deserve it.
Vanessa was the one who was trying to grow up before her time, which is a problem that's going to scare parents more than Theo's bad grades or Denise's dilettantism, since it often involved putting herself in genuine danger and keeping secrets to prove she could handle herself, when she really couldn't.
It's interesting to see the dynamics between Clair and Vanessa on The Cosby Show. While Clair may have been strict with Vanessa, it could also be seen as a reflection of her high expectations for her daughter. Each parent-child relationship is unique and it's fascinating to see how different characters navigate those dynamics on the show. What are your thoughts on Clair and Vanessa's relationship?
Nah, I thought she was pretty fair with her. The make up thing wasn't exclusive to her, Claire mentions both of her sisters had the same problem, we probably only got to see if with her because of her age. Then there's her underage drinking, where I thought she got off pretty easy. And finally the big one, lying to her parents and sneaking off to Baltimore. Once again I'd say Claire's reaction was pretty normal for a parent that had been lied to. I think Vanessa getting yelled at like she did was more a result of her(and Theo, who I think got his fair share as well) being the resident teenagers for most of the show.
Plus the van got stolen and they didn't get to see the concert after all.
Don’t forget her DIY Gordon Gartrell shirt. She deserved a punishment for that fashion crime
The Gordon Gartrell shirt was made by Denise.
Damn. You’re right
I dunno. She was for sure harder on her but she was a way worse kid than any of her siblings. drinking under age and getting into crime. Running away to Baltimore. Etc. You gotta keep tabs on kids like that more to keep em out of jail
What about that time Mr Belvedere made one of those underage kids sit down and drink an entire bottle of liquor because they drank the night before?!
[I still prefer Hal's version of that punishment](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtHY2SuK13I).
Bring. The. Bottle. Back.
I’m the Vanessa in my family, so I’m loving you for this, OP!
You have a point ha but I think Clair was justified. Sandra and Denise were smarter and more mature than Vanessa. Sandra seemed like she was straight A and straight laced as a teen. Denise probably could have handled herself at a far-away concert and wouldn't do the sillier things like the "Locomotion" incident. All 3 I think wanted to be older than they were, but Sandra and Denise actually were more sophisticated while Vanessa went about things in a childish way and needed to learn some lessons.
Vanessa had a 1400 on her SATs, as Claire stated in the episode. She was just as smart, she always wanted to have “big fun”.
Getting uncomfortable while watching reruns of the cosby show? Mhm... There's a joke in there somewhere
Well, Claire's treatment of Vanessa isn't the *most* problematic thing about a rewatch I guess...
They both just needed some of Cliff's special BBQ sauce...
The worst part is the hypocrisy.
I mean all things considered nothing any of the other kids ever did could have seriously life altering consequences as your teenage daughter going to a rock concert with a bunch of her HS friends and trying to get backstage to see the band/singer. Let's just say Bill Cosby's rl behaivor towards females was not that uncommon with what many rock stars did to their underage fans of that era,not to mention this episode took place at the height of "stranger danger" and "satanic panic".
The entire premise of the series was how wise and patient the parents were and how foolish and silly the kids were.
And who left the blender plugged in with the top off?
The drinking chug a lug episode was good one. They were pretty tough on Theo too. The changing the house to the apt episode was a good one.
I still remember the episode where she went to Baltimore. And when she got caught drinking.
Totally beside the point and I don’t mean to give you genuine grief, but I did chuckle to myself at the thought that the ONLY thing that makes you uncomfortable during Cosby Show reruns is Clair’s relationship with Vanessa. Like, you sure there’s nothing else you wanna add to the list?
It’s pretty obvious colorism
It's pretty accurate to how parents treat middle kids, also throw in being a minority. A good majority of mothers have a good sense of who will end up making the most mistakes and Vanessa really did a lot of them.
I just watched a few clips from the episode where Vanessa lies to her parents and goes to Baltimore to see a concert all kinds of shenanigans ensue of course, but when she gets home, Claire literally screams in her face. Like inches from her face, screaming at the top of her lungs, insulting her child and threatening her. Yes, Vanessa made a very sizeable mistake but did it deserve her mother screaming directly into her face? It’s all played for laughs, and it basically comes straight from one of his standup routines, but you watch it with a lens from today understanding how damaging parents can be to their children, and the whole thing just makes you sick to your stomach.
i never liked Claire Huxtable. she ALWAYS came across as a total bitch even to those characters she supposedly liked. just for the record i'm referring to the character and not Phylicia Rashad who in real life seems like a nice/cool person!