<P> In the early seasons, Vanessa is usually considered to be nosy, as she usually--sneakily--tries to find out what goes on in the Huxtable house, especially when it involves someone (usually Theo) in trouble with their parents . But, in a later episode, the tables are turned, as Theo catches Vanessa's friends smoking cigarettes in her room, although Vanessa herself did not take part, and even tried to dissuade her friends from doing so . </P> <P> She often fought with her younger sister, Rudy, over typical childish issues . At one point, their fighting caused damage to both their bedrooms and the kitchen ceiling, driving Cliff to declare their rooms off limits because of "World War Five" and exile them to the basement until repairs were finished . But, on one occasion, Vanessa got into a physical tussle with Denise over a sweater that Vanessa stole from Denise's closet after Denise did not allow her to borrow it . </P> <P> One of Vanessa's best friends in high school was a girl named Kara (played by Elizabeth Narvaez), who could ramble on about nothing in particular at high speed . Whenever Cliff--who once referred to Kara as "Turbo Tongue"--was on the receiving end of her babbling, he would always reply with a bewildered "Thank you ." Vanessa appeared sporadically in the final two seasons of the series due to the character being away at college . </P> <P> The character is loosely based upon Cosby's daughter, Ensa, who was approximately the same age as Vanessa . </P>

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