so i think i discovered an underlying logic about the cosby show. see often enough one of the sub plots maintains that one of the children wants to do something which requires thier parents' approval and it takes the entire episode for cliff to say yes. and of course there is much glee and celebration when the children are granted thier wish (which also occurs quite often). so if these kids always get what they want, then why are they so worried about what dad will say the entire episode and excited about the reply in the end. well it becomes evident that at some point in the world of the huxtable family the word no is used just as often if not more. but i don't believe the children are happy because they got what they wanted, i don't think this is what this family is conveying. i think this is a story about role models. see i think that the children really admire and respect thier parents as people they aspire to be with all the answers they need. when the children decide they want to do something it is a struggle for independence. they are excited because they think they have discovered the next rite of passage in maturing. and when they ask thier parents if they can have what they ask, they are really just asking if they got it right this time. they look to thier parents for reassurance that they are handling life the way that thier parents would. they use thier parents as a moral compass. if only we could all have mentors so dependable.