From 2011-2013, Bledsoe hosted Clean House, a home makeover and interior design show. Tempestt revealed how rewarding the experience is of helping people with such a grand task. “I love helping people put their homes in order. Whenever someone says, ‘you’ve changed my life’, you can’t replace that.” No matter what adult role she lands, Bledsoe’s Cosby Show character is the most adored. “A woman told me just the other day how much she loves watching reruns of the show with her grandchildren,” she says. “That feels really good.” Tempestt enjoys the recognition of her character from 31 years ago because she understands the cultural significance and long lasting impact that the show had on television.
“We were brought up on a set that is just incomparable as far as what kind of set you want to have kids on. It was the best set in the world. We were very protected and sheltered. The Cosby Show changed America’s opinion on so many different topics and opened so many peoples’ eyes and, so, you really learned immediately the power of what you were doing, that there was a power in portraying a role and you were made aware of the effect that it could have on people so it does raise the bar… We were brought up with incredible examples, especially with Phylicia Rashad and Dr. Cosby, as far as seeing how they carried themselves and how they lived their lives.”
Amidst the allegations surrounding Bill Cosby, Phylicia Rashad (Claire Huxtable) also explains the importance of the show’s legacy. “We’re talking about a legacy that inspired a generation of young people to consider and pursue a higher education. We’re talking a legacy that introduced and portrayed American culture in its diversity. It’s difficult for me to watch this legacy be erased as if it never happened.”
Tempestt Bledsoe: Love, Life & Legacy was originally published on blackdoctor.org
