Denise Huxtable

Denise Huxtable Kendall is a fictional character who appears on the American sitcom ''The Cosby Show'' (1984–1992), portrayed by actress Lisa Bonet. Denise also stars in the first season of its spin-off sitcom, ''A Different World'' (1987). The second-born child of Cliff and Clair Huxtable, Denise is known for her eccentric clothing and free-spirited, rebellious nature, earning her a reputation as the Huxtable family's wild child. Alternating between regular and recurring character, Denise appears on the sitcom on-and-off throughout its eight-year run, from its pilot " Theo's Economic Lesson" to the seventh season episode "Cliff and Jake", for a total of 98 episodes, after which Bonet departed for the remainder of the series.

Created by comedian Bill Cosby, Denise was originally conceived as the Huxtable's eldest child until older sister Sondra was introduced in the show's second episode to establish that her parents had already successfully raised a college-educated daughter. Struggling academically, Denise drops out of school shortly after enrolling at the historically black Hillman College and briefly returns home to explore various career opportunities before traveling to Africa. While there, she meets and marries Lt. Martin Kendall, becoming stepmother to his daughter Olivia. Bonet was quickly cast as Denise because the producers found that she naturally embodied some of the character's unique traits. Based on Cosby's daughter Erinn, the show's creator incorporated real-life experiences from his relationship with his own daughter into Denise's storyline about self-discovery and independence.

Bonet had a difficult professional relationship with Cosby while working on ''The Cosby Show'', particularly regarding her decisions to appear in the controversial film ''Angel Heart'' (1987) and subsequently pose nude for various magazines. Although Cosby denies having been opposed to Bonet's career trajectory, he developed ''A Different World'' amidst their dispute to provide the actress with a more mature platform. However, Bonet was soon fired from the spin-off shortly after its first season and temporarily rejoined the cast of ''The Cosby Show'' when she became pregnant because Cosby was unwilling to entertain the prospect of the sitcom's main character being a pregnant teenager. After leaving ''The Cosby Show'' for one year to give birth to her child, Bonet returned as a series regular at the beginning of its sixth season until Cosby ultimately fired her during season seven due to creative differences.

Within months of her debut, Denise became ''The Cosby Show'' most popular character, well-received by young adult viewers who identified with her unique sense of fashion and free-spirited attitude, while establishing Bonet as one of the decade's most popular actresses. Bonet's performance earned her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1986. Some fans criticized Bonet's role in ''Angel Heart'' for dishonoring the wholesome reputation of her best-known character. Denise did not fare as well on ''A Different World''; critics found Bonet uninteresting and often blamed her performance for the show's unimpressive early reviews. Revered as a fashion icon, the character's eclectic style has had a profound impact on modern fashion trends; media publications frequently rank Denise among television's best-dressed characters.

Role

''The Cosby Show'' follows the daily goings-on of the Huxtable family, an upper-middle class African American family who reside in Brooklyn, New York. The family is run by Dr. Cliff Huxtable (Bill Cosby), an obstetrician, and his wife Clair (Phylicia Rashad), a lawyer. The second eldest of their five children, Denise is a younger sister of Sondra (Sabrina Lebeauf) and an elder sister to Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner), Vanessa (Tempestt Bledsoe) and Rudy (Keshia Knight Pulliam). After graduating from high school, Denise leaves home to pursue post-secondary education at the fictional, historically black Hillman College, the college both her parents and grandparents had attended.

''A Different World'' originally focuses on the character during her freshman and sophomore years at Hillman, revolving around her as she meets new friends and adjusts to college life. However, Denise constantly struggles with her finances and academics to the point of which she ultimately drops out, becoming the first member of her family to drop out of college. After leaving Hillman, Denise returns to her childhood home in the hopes of forging her own "alternative path" towards success.

Initially interested in becoming either a fashion designer or record producer, Denise pursues several short-lived part-time jobs, from which she is either fired or quits after a brief period of time, before traveling to Africa to work as a wildlife photographer's assistant. Denise returns to the Huxtable household one year later, this time as the second wife of a divorced Naval officer, Lt. Martin Kendall (Joseph C. Phillips) – who she marries without her family's knowledge – and stepmother to his three-year-old daughter Olivia (Raven-Symoné). After developing an interest in teaching children with learning disabilities, Denise eventually decides to enroll at Medgar Evers College. Finally, Denise relocates to Asia to live with Martin, where he is stationed for the remainder of the series, while Olivia remains in Brooklyn with her parents. In the series finale, Denise phone calls her family from Asia to announce that she is pregnant with her and Martin's first child.

Development

Creation and writing

Comedian Bill Cosby became interested in developing ''The Cosby Show'' partially because he was unimpressed with popular family sitcoms airing at the time, some of which often depicted children talking back to and disrespecting their parents without suffering serious consequences. Cosby intended for ''The Cosby Show'' children to remain intelligent while emphasizing that "their parents were always smarter and—most importantly—in charge." Originally, Denise was intended to be the eldest of the Huxtable family's four children. However, Cosby also wanted the show to feature a character who was an example of parents Cliff and Clair having already successfully raised a college-educated child, hence the writers introduced eldest sibling Sondra, a Princeton University graduate, in the second episode, while Denise was relegated to the role of the Huxtable's second eldest child instead. Cosby himself is the father of five children, four daughters and one son, much like his character Cliff. All five Huxtable children are based on Cosby's own; Denise in particular was based on the creator's daughter Erinn, who was approximately Denise's same age when the series began in 1984.

According to ''Cosby: His Life and Times'' author Mark Whitaker, Cosby conceived Denise as a "hip, fashion-conscious, and a bit flaky" character. Early storylines included Denise fighting with younger sister Vanessa over the latter borrowing her sweater without permission, getting her braces removed, announcing her decision to attend college away from home, promising younger brother Theo that she is capable of sewing him a replica of an expensive designer shirt he had purchased, and tricking her parents into believing she had spent a night at a male friend's house to prove a point about their parenting style. An episode entitled "Jitterbug Break" was written to explore Cosby's interest in the ways in which different generations dance. When Denise's parents deny her permission to attend a concert, some of her friends are invited into their living room which has been converted into a dance floor by rearranging some of the furniture, allowing them room to break dance. They are eventually joined by a pair of Cliff and Clair's swing dancing friends, and a dance battle ensues between the younger and older dancers. In one of the show's more serious episodes, Denise struggles with the revelation that a teenage friend of hers is pregnant. Several episodes revolving around Denise explore her boyfriends and dating life.

Casting and portrayal

Denise is portrayed by American actress Lisa Bonet, whose professional acting experience prior to ''The Cosby Show'' had been limited to television commercials for Barbie and McDonald's, and a guest appearance on the medical drama '' St. Elsewhere''. Casting the role of Denise, who was still intended to be the Huxtable's eldest child at the time, was a relatively quick process. Bonet first auditioned for the show's directors, followed by its producers, then finally Cosby himself and the network executives. Cosby immediately became interested in then-15 year-old Bonet because she was wearing makeup on only one side of her face, already demonstrating some of the quirky characteristics Cosby had envisioned for the character simply by being herself. Impressed by the young actress' strong sense of self, producer Marcy Carsey recalled that Bonet attended her audition wearing braces, a "real kid" hairstyle, and an "off-center" sense of fashion that was very similar to what the show's creators had envisioned for Denise. They soon labelled Bonet a young woman who refuses to be anything but herself after the actress read for the role quite naturally, as though "she were just doing life." According to ''People'', Denise "didn't fit into any mold, a role that seemed made for Lisa Bonet."

The actors were eventually narrowed down to three top choices for each child character, including Bonet for Denise, although she felt discouraged after overhearing one of the other two actresses vying for the same role say "She'll never get it ... Because she has braces." After Bonet learned that she had in fact been chosen for the role from director Jay Sandrich, she met with Cosby one more time, who admitted to liking her braces. According to ''Cosby: His Life and Times'' author Mark Whitaker, Cosby enjoyed "the naturalness of onet'sdelivery", which he found refreshing in comparison to the "stagey quality" most child actors who auditioned for the role tended to rely upon, in addition to her "exotic beauty", which he likened to that of singer Lena Horne. Once Bonet was cast, the writers began to incorporate some aspects of her personality into her character, although her own fashion sense and behavior is viewed as more "outlandish" than Denise's. At Cosby's request, costume designer Sarah Lemire was granted a weekly budget of $3000 to outfit the show's characters and frequently took significant risks with Bonet's wardrobe. However, the costume designer did have some restrictions; Lemire would have liked to have been "more outrageous with onet'shair and hats" but limited herself because she had little control over the actress hair. Praising Bonet's own taste in clothing, Lemire likened costuming her to "dressing myself if I was 20 years younger." Bonet often selected her character's outfits herself with little input from the wardrobe department.

Denise was Bonet's first major television role. Being of mixed ethnicity, her character's upbringing "as a teen-ager in a well-adjusted, upper-middle-class black family" is remarkably different from how Bonet herself grew up, which took some time for the actress to adjust to; she never knew her father and was raised by her mother in a lower-middle-class, mostly white neighborhood. However, Bonet credits her role on ''The Cosby Show'' with "helping resolve her own identity crisis". Bonet described the show's environment in 1987 as "the perfect family, where you go to work, you get tired of them and you go home", and at the time likened working alongside Cosby to "learning from a master", from whom she often sought both professional and personal advice. Actress Phylicia Rashad, who portrays Bonet's on-screen mother Clair, described Bonet as "one of the best young actresses today ... She is phenomenal for someone of her years."

Creative conflicts and ''A Different World''

Bonet had a tense relationship with both Cosby and the show's producers throughout most of her time on the series. Although the co-stars are believed to have gotten along well during her first three seasons on the show, their dispute first became public in 1987. According to Kara Kovalchik of ''Mental Floss'', Bonet's alleged unprofessionalism consistently aggravated Cosby, reportedly being constantly argumentative on set, late for tapings and sometimes neglecting to attend tapings altogether. Bonet first expressed interest in pursuing a career as a dramatic film actress midway through the show's first season, originally intending to leave the series after only two years. Aged 19 at the time, she decided to make her film debut as Epiphany Proudfoot in the controversial horror film ''Angel Heart'' (1987), a role that required Bonet to film a sex scene with actor Mickey Rourke. By this time, Denise had already become the show's most popular character, while Bonet's fame increased when the film was initially assigned an X rating for its graphic content. Although her role shocked several of Bonet's fans and Cosby himself, Cosby claims that he did not mind the actress' decision to appear in the film, explaining to her "if this is something you want to do, fine. You have my blessings", and maintaining that he and Bonet have a good relationship in which he would have voiced his disapproval if he had felt otherwise. Bonet confirmed that she sought Cosby's advice when she was first offered the role because "he's a generous enough man to see beyond ''The Cosby Show'' and to see my career as what it is and what it could be". Despite granting her his approval, Cosby refused to see the film. The show's producers and NBC executives declined to comment on Bonet's decision, citing "what Bonet did off the ''Cosby'' set was her business."

Tensions increased between Bonet and Cosby when the actress posed nude for ''Interview'' and ''Rolling Stone'' magazines to promote ''Angel Heart''. Bonet insisted "I was not concerned with how Denise was going to feel ... Nor was I looking to destroy her reputation. Instead, I felt obligated to my career and my (freedom of) artistic choice." After hearing that the photograph was generating a lot of negative feedback and press, Cosby purchased a copy of ''Interview'' himself and claims that, upon seeing Bonet's photographs for the first time, he felt "There's nothing wrong with it ... Lisa has matured due to the immediacy of her responsibilities ... I think that she is doing magnificently well for someone t her agedoing and making decisions on her own, and she is deeply loved in my heart". The media continued to circulate Bonet's photographs heavily, which is believed to have instigated a highly publicized dispute between the actress and Cosby towards the end of the 1980s. Cosby expressed concern over how the photographs would affect ''The Cosby Show'' younger audience and Bonet's younger cast mates. Although producers felt that the scandal would disturb "the squeaky-clean Huxtable image", Cosby eventually decided to provide Bonet with her own television series, a spin-off of ''The Cosby Show'' entitled ''A Different World''. The network agreed that Bonet was ready to star in her own series, a revelation by which she was surprised.

''A Different World'' originally revolved around an entirely different premise and main character, starring actress Meg Ryan as Maggie Lauten – a white student adjusting to a historically black college. When Ryan left the project to focus on her film career, she was replaced with actress Marisa Tomei; Tomei's Maggie was re-written into a supporting role, becoming one of Denise's roommates, while the premise was revised into a series following Bonet's character as she adjusts to college and living away from home. The first and only ''Cosby Show'' cast member to receive their own spin-off, the media speculated that ''A Different World'' had been developed into a star vehicle for Bonet because she frequently protested the way in which Cosby directed the family-oriented ''Cosby Show''; Emily VanDerWerff of ''The A.V. Club'' agreed that the spin-off was revised as a means of removing Bonet from ''The Cosby Show'' "in a way that would bruise fewer egos." Additionally, Cosby's decision to cast Bonet in ''A Different World'' allowed "viewers to explore the new environment through the eyes of a familiar character". ''Strategic Reinvention in Popular Culture: The Encore Impulse'' author Richard Pfefferman agreed that Denise "was at the perfect stage of development to star in a series of her own."

Filming ''A Different World'' required Bonet to relocate from New York, where ''The Cosby Show'' was taped, back to her hometown San Francisco, California. ''A Different World'' pilot revolves around Denise as she struggles to pay her dormitory fees while meeting her new roommates, Jaleesa Vinson (Dawnn Lewis) and Maggie, respectively. In addition to a diverse group of friends, Denise would also meet and be influenced by new friends and teachers "with different perspectives on life", allowing the character to "grow in profound and interesting ways." The majority of the first season revolves around Denise, the show's lead character at the time, struggling to maintain her grades.

Return to ''The Cosby Show''

While appearing on ''A Different World'', Bonet married musician Lenny Kravitz in 1988 and became pregnant with their child soon afterward. Fearing how Cosby would react to the news based on previous experiences with on-set pregnancies, Bonet first consulted with producer Debbie Allen, who suggested that they approach Cosby about the pregnancy together. Allen suggested that Bonet's pregnancy be written into the series, explaining that it "would be a great thing. To see a girl who's upper class kid, having a baby, not married because she didn't want to be married…and the girls could root for her." Although Cosby listened to Allen's ideas, he and some of the show's other producers did not want to explore teen pregnancy via ''A Different World'' main character, fearing that depicting a popular, well-behaved character like Denise pregnant at such a young age would offer the wrong message to audiences. Cosby in particular was strongly opposed to the idea of a Huxtable child experiencing an unplanned pregnancy and becoming an unwed mother, concluding, "Lisa Bonet is pregnant not Denise" and rejecting Allen's proposal. Allen was reportedly upset with Cosby over his decision but understood that "he just wanted her back", and Denise's pregnancy would alter Cosby's creative vision for both series.

Bonet was fired from ''A Different World'' at the beginning of its second season, and Cosby re-hired her to appear on ''The Cosby Show'' fifth season while ''A Different World'' underwent several changes in her absence. Robert E. Johnson of '' Jet'' reported that Bonet's cast mates happily welcomed her back to the series, with Cosby assuring her "there's nothing but love here for you". While struggling at first to determine the best way to approach the return of both Bonet and Denise, Cosby ultimately decided to incorporate some real-life experiences from his relationship with his own daughter Erinn who, similar to Denise, had dropped out of school in order " to find herself", into the character's re-introduction, which evolved into a storyline about children sometimes disappointing their parents but remaining loved by them regardless. Erinn attended Spelman College, the historically black institution upon which Hillman is based.

The episode in which Denise returns home premiered on October 6, 1988. Since Cosby did not intend to add an infant character to the series, the show concealed Bonet's pregnancy using loose-fitting clothing, large coats, sofas and grocery bags. To allow Bonet time to have her baby, her character was temporarily written out of the series for one year by having Denise announce that she has decided to drop out of Hillman permanently in favor of relocating to Africa and pursuing a job opportunity as a wildlife photographer's assistant (after briefly attempting to become a fashion designer or record producer). Denise was downgraded from a main to recurring character for the remainder of the season.

Despite NBC producers alluding to the possibility of Bonet returning to ''A Different World'' permanently after giving birth, Bonet would only make one final appearance on the spin-off, a cameo during its third season, by which time the series had begun to focus on other characters. Allen created an entirely new character, Freddie Brooks, and recruited actress Cree Summer to occupy Bonet's vacancy as the show's "earthy, bohemian" character. In the wake of Bonet's departure, Tomei was also fired and her character written out of the series despite Allen's original intentions to retain "the dynamic of having a white girl in a black college." Although ''A Different World'' would remain a spin-off of ''The Cosby Show'', Denise's absence severed connections between the two shows apart from the fact that Hillman is her father's alma mater during its earliest seasons.

Departure

Having spent the majority of season five away on maternity leave, Bonet resumed her role on ''The Cosby Show'' full-time upon giving birth to daughter Zoë Kravitz; Denise returns home after secretly marrying Lt. Martin Kendall (Joseph C. Phillips), a Naval officer she had met while working in Africa, becoming stepmother to his three-year-old daughter Olivia (Raven-Symoné). Philips originally guest starred in an early episode of ''The Cosby Show'' as one of Sondra's love interests before he was recast as Denise's husband for the remainder of the series. The sixth season premiere "Denise: The Saga Continues", in which Denise returns home to Brooklyn unannounced and introduces her parents to her new family, established the sitcom's season premieres as episodes in which a Huxtable child would inform their parents about very surprising news. Bonet would continue to appear on the show regularly over the next several episodes until Cosby fired her altogether at the end of season seven, officially citing "creative differences". The season's 24th episode "Cliff and Jake", which aired on April 11, 1991, marks Bonet's final appearance on the show. Cosby claims that he fired Bonet because ''The Cosby Show'' material was no longer challenging for her, blaming himself for her character lacking development: "it's not funny to have someone 21 acting like she's still about 12." However, he commended Bonet's acting talent. Cosby then decided to divide Bonet's screen time among new young actors "on the show who are working hard, studying so heard and really deserve a shot during what will be our final year." Introduced during the show's later seasons, Pam Tucker (Erika Alexander), a cousin of the Huxtable family, is considered to be a "replacement" for Denise; StyleBlazer believes that Pam was created because the sitcom "needed another character to play a free-spirited problem child."

Bonet developed a reputation for being difficult to work with on ''The Cosby Show''. Although nearly every main and recurring character who played a significant role on the series returned for ''The Cosby Show'' finale " And So We Commence", which revolves around Denise's younger brother Theo graduating from New York University, Bonet was not invited back to make a final appearance on the show after having been fired the previous year. Her character is, however, mentioned and used sparingly throughout the episode. Unseen, Denise calls her family on the telephone from Singapore to announce that she is pregnant with her and Martin's first child, and everyone receives an opportunity to congratulate her except Cliff. Bonet appeared on ''The Cosby Show'' on and off from 1984 to 1987, and from 1989 to 1991, for a grand total of 98 episodes between the ages of 17 and 24. She is credited as a main cast member from seasons one to three and six to seven, and a recurring cast member during seasons four and five.

According to PopCrunch, Bonet's feud with Cosby "has become just as legendary as the show" itself. Bonet has famously continued to avoid attending ''Cosby Show''-related reunions and specials in the years since the show has ended. When Bonet declined to attend ''The Cosby Show: A Look Back'', a retrospective television special hosted by NBC in 2002, she explained, "The whole experience and energy behind it felt disingenuous and motivated by corporate profit. I felt devalued and disrespected." When the ''Cosby Show'' cast was honored with the Impact Award at the 2011 TV Land Awards, Bonet was noticeably absent, citing "scheduling conflicts" as the official reason for her nonattendance. Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who portrays Bonet's on-screen brother Theo, said "Lisa has always danced to the beat of her own drummer, which has worked for and against her"; Warner recalled being "surprised" when Bonet once attended a smaller-scale reunion that featured him and on-screen sisters Tempestt Bledsoe (Vanessa) and Keshia Knight Pulliam (Rudy) for Nickelodeon's Favorite Huxtable Contest. However, he admitted he admires Bonet for following her passion. Bonet and Tomei, both of whom were fired during the first season of ''A Different World'', have remained close friends.

In 2018, Bonet, who has had little to no comment about the sexual assault allegations made by several women against Cosby, revealed that she had always felt a "type of sinister, shadow energy cannot be concealed" during her time working with Cosby. She maintains that her memories of her experience on the show have not been influenced by the allegations, insisting, "No, it's exactly as I remember it".

Characterization and fashion

According to Eudie Pak of Biography, Denise was first introduced "as the popular girl with ever-changing hair and fashion". Martin Gitlin, author of ''The Greatest Sitcoms of All Time'', described the character as "Stunningly attractive ... independent, intelligent, and proud." Denise eventually became known as "the wild child" of the Huxtable family as a result of her rebellious nature, outspokenness, eccentric clothing and tendency to date boys her father does not approve of. Josh Axelrod of College Magazine dubbed Denise "Cliff Huxtable's most frustrating child", standing apart from her siblings due to her inherent flightiness and restlessness. As "the most mellow Huxtable kid with a slightly boho style", the character also dresses in a manner that is distinguished from the moderate way in which her siblings dress. Denise's style has been described as bohemian and boho-chic. Developing a reputation as "a stylish dresser", the character frequently makes bold fashion statements, particularly via her vast assortment of hats and accessories, and variety of hair styles. Kamille Cooper, contributing to ''Vibe'', described the character's wardrobe as "synonymous with 90's trends and groovy 70's-inspired prints–even more so perpetuated by her carefree persona", identifying "her ability to mix prints and patterns effortlessly to embellished adornments on fedoras and blazers". Denise typically wears oversized smocks, harem pants, jumpsuits, large blazers and head wraps with vibrant patterns, as well as denim and vintage tops. '' Glamour'' contributor Tracey Lomrantz Lester wrote that, in addition to fitted vests, the character dons "some of the most memorable headwear I've ever seen on TV." Alison Feldmann, writing for The Etsy Blog, described Denise as "fearless when it came to her appearance and could get away with seemingly anything". '' Refinery29'' contributor Fara Prince agreed that Denise "got away with wearing the craziest outfits and changed her hairstyle constantly, all while maintaining that relaxed, cool-girl vibe." Brit + Co writer Rachel Aschenbrand-Robinson believes that the character's choice of clothing gave viewers the impression "that she actually gave no f**ks what anyone thought of her look."

College Fashion cited the character's interest in experimenting with geometric patterns, bright colors and a variety of textures. ''Bustle'' Cherise Luter believes that Denise's wardrobe "expressed erinner rebel." Jamie Broadnax of Black Girl Nerds identified Denise as a hipster, writing that the character was "a hipster before the word hipster was even a thing" due to her unconventional clothing choices and tendency to avoid imitating others, as well as her own method of doing things that she incorporates into the way she dresses. Denise's sense of fashion is also reflected in her hair; the character experiments with various hairstyles throughout ''The Cosby Show'' run, ranging from " androgynous short hair to natural curls ndwaist-length dreads." In later seasons, the character "exhibited more of a hippy-chick free spirit" closer to the way in which Bonet dresses outside of ''The Cosby Show''. Denise's sense of fashion endures during her enrollment at Hillman. Andrea Linett, author of ''I Want to Be Her!: How Friends & Strangers Helped Shape My Style'', described the character's wardrobe as "drapey and Japanese-y and so perfectly '80s", which she believes only improves once she transitions from ''The Cosby Show'' to ''A Different World''. On the spin-off, Denise often gravitates towards menswear, high-waisted pants, and vintage clothing. Richard Pfefferman, author of ''Strategic Reinvention in Popular Culture: The Encore Impulse'', described Denise as "Young, hip, trendy and colorful". Pfeifferman continued to describe the character as a "fun-loving, fashion-conscious, light-hearted teenage girl" who was "perfectly poised for gradual transformation into a serious and more thoughtful adult" on ''A Different World''. Tara Ariano, author of '' Television Without Pity: 752 Things We Love to Hate (and Hate to Love) about TV'', wrote that Denise embodies "the height of sophisticated teenager-hood" due to her "inexhaustible supply" of jewelry, blouses and leggings. According to Bonet, her character showed audiences "that it's okay to be a freak". However, Racked's Nadra Nittle argued that Denise remains rather "straight-laced" despite her artsy, unconventional wardrobe consisting of high-waisted trousers and tropical shirts.

Denise has been identified as a "drifter". Author Mark Whitaker wrote in his book ''Cosby: His Life and Times'' that the character resembles a "laconic mixture of sweetness and sarcasm that captured the ironic detachment that was becoming a hallmark of Generation X." Each Huxtable child "represents a different aspect on life." As a rebel who has been described as the Huxtable's "most troublesome child", Denise was often depicted as the opposite of Sondra, struggling to perform well academically unlike her older sister; Denise receives five Ds, one C and seven incompletes during her time at Hillman. While Sondra successfully graduates from Princeton University, Denise drops out of Hillman, travels to Africa and marries a Navy lieutenant instead, representing "that children don't always grow up how parents expect", according to the ''Ames Tribune''. '' The Odyssey Online'' Tawana Charles observed that "Denise did what she had to do to get by, even when she had to call her parents to get out of a jam. She realized that there are things that you have to do for yourself, without your parents' help, and she did just that." Clover Hope of ''Jezebel'' agreed that the character "is determined to be independent—with no discipline or follow-through—and doesn't want her parents, Cliff and Clair Huxtable, to pay her way through college." Denise also stands apart from her college friends by being a "quirky, naive, indecisive flower child." Mike Vago of ''The A.V. Club'' observed that the Huxtable home begins to suffer from "Full Nest Syndrome" once Denise returns home from Africa, married and with a step child. Writing for the same publication, Joshua Alston believes that Bonet's real-life " earth-mother persona was integrated into the character, and became a riff on what rich-kid rebellion might look like for a wealthy black family." Denise has been nicknamed the Huxtable's " prodigal daughter" by the media.

Reception

''The Cosby Show''

Denise quickly established herself as an audience favorite during the show's earliest seasons, which ''Mental Floss'' contributor Kara Kovalchik attributes to her "typical teenage carefree attitude and her cutting-edge fashion sense". Denise ultimately became the show's most popular character, and her unique fashion sense became a trademark of the series. ''Essence'' wrote that the character's clothes "captured the hearts of wholesome teeny-boppers all over America", while Abby White of the ''Nashville Scene'' agreed that the character "won our hearts with her sense of style from day one". White also joked that being one of Denise's three less popular sisters "must have really sucked". Popular and beloved by fans until her departure, Bonet became a "media darling", by whom she was crowned "America's Sweetheart". Idolized by teenage boys, she received the most fan mail out of the show's cast. Adored by millions of fans, Bonet's popularity grew almost overnight, soon establishing her as the show's breakout star and a household name. Fans swarmed the actress in public, often approaching her for fashion advice. Karen Heller of ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' dubbed Bonet their "sartorial