DBWI: Denise Huxtable doesn't have a pregnancy arc

(OOC note: This is focusing entirely on creative decisions, not Bill Cosby's double life)

As we are aware, after Lisa Bonet ended up moving from The Cosby Show full-time to be a guest star figure on that show and move full-time to the spinoff A Different World, she ended up pregnant with her and Lenny Kravitz' daughter Zoe. This of course but the NBC executives and the creative team in a bind over how to handle the situation and apply it to the character of Denise Huxtable. Bill Cosby quite famously said that the audience would be angry seeing Denise as an unwed mother and consider her to be akin to a hooker. Of course, Bonet, with backing from her then-husband, pleaded her case and said that if anything, it would only help both shows and it would provide an opportunity to render this situation in a nuanced, sympathetic manner. This approach won the day, and many applauded the "pregnancy arc" as a sign of both shows taking on a more mature and intelligent atmosphere.

But what if Cosby had had his way? What would have happened if it had been determined that Denise could never be seen pregnant?
 
For one thing, we wouldn't have that classic Dan Quayle quote where he was talking about how everyone knew "not all black people are like Vanessa Huxtable."

His comments weren't so bad, he went on to praise Sondra and her wonderful marriage and talked about the possibility of a spin-off with that couple, too. But Vanessa was how old? The press didn't pick up much on his praise for Sondra because they were so busy either complaining about how he couldn't get a name right or complaining that he was giving spoiler information, which he wasn't. They left that arc entirely to Denise and that was it.

However, personally I think it was gratuitous drama and they didn't have to have Denise get pregnant out of wedlock, as lovingly as they had the Huxtables handle it - and she was remorseful and show just how much work it is when you do that. I've heard where Phylicia Rashad had a very good idea about Denise being a surrogate mother. Then the baby wouldn't have to appear on set as Denise's, either. Who made the quote about the baby being another Little Ricky? Of course Little Ricky I think only appeared a little bit and never became the actual actor playing the baby. And then compared Lisa to that wacky redhead, with Cosby saying "I knew Lucille Ball. Lucille Ball was a gifted, very clean and family-friendly entertainer. Lisa is no Lucille Ball."

In fact, ironically, I think it was that interview and his quip alluding to the vice presidential debate that led to Quayle's blooper. And Johnny Carson had material for a month.
 
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