What do you think of Bill Cosby?

[scottydog]

What do you think of Bill Cosby? Many of you here are probably not even old enough to remember just how groundbreaking The Bill Cosby Show was when it dominated television from 1984 to 1992.


The guy has had a pretty amazing career. Take a look at some youtube clips of his stand-up routine over the years.

 

[Roger Wilco]

I loved the Cosby Show when I was a kid, but I think I haven't seen him in anything in at least 15 years.

 

[John Picard]

What do you think of Bill Cosby? Many of you here are probably not even old enough to remember just how groundbreaking The Bill Cosby Show was when it dominated television from 1984 to 1992.


The guy has had a pretty amazing career. Take a look at some youtube clips of his stand-up routine over the years.

Actually, his Fat Albert cartoon was a bit more groundbreaking. As a comedian/story teller, I've always found his humor to be above par.

 

[ancientone51]

Awesome is a much overused word, but it so applies here.

A true talent, gentleman and an all 'round good guy.

 

[Kirby]

The Cosby Show was good, I Spy was cool, and his stand up act is some of the best stuff out there.
He has a doctorate in education (or something like that) and he isn't afraid to call out people when they make themselves (or their race) look bad. And he loves the Jello pudding pops!

 

[scottydog]

He has a doctorate in education (or something like that) and he isn't afraid to call out people when they make themselves (or their race) look bad.

He does indeed have a doctoral degree in education. Truly inspiring!

Actually, his Fat Albert cartoon was a bit more groundbreaking. As a comedian/story teller, I've always found his humor to be above par.

You're right. I forgot about his Fat Albert cartoon. Cosby's doctoral dissertation examined the impact of this cartoon on children's learning.

 

[Mistral]

A true pioneer of African-Americans in media, Cosby crossed the color barrier at times by simply acting as if it wasn't there. His concert movie, Himself, is, IMO, one of the top 3 comedy concerts available. His television career didn't so much break racial typecasting as it swept it aside. He's a stern taskmaster in his work but treats his employees with dignity, by all reports I've seen. All in all, a class act.

 

[scotpens]

When he started doing standup comedy in the 1960s, Cosby was one of the funniest storytellers I'd ever heard. For those too young to remember, check out his classic "Noah and the Ark" and "The Lone Ranger and Tonto" routines. Very funny stuff. Unlike the other major black comedians of the day like Dick Gregory and Godfrey Cambridge, Cosby didn't do racial or topical material. He didn't need to. His humor transcended race and politics. Funny thing is, when I listened to his childhood routines (which gave us iconic characters like Fat Albert and Old Weird Harold), I used to picture Cosby and the other kids as white! I guess I figured he must have changed color at puberty or something.

 

[scottydog]

A true pioneer of African-Americans in media, Cosby crossed the color barrier at times by simply acting as if it wasn't there. His concert movie, Himself, is, IMO, one of the top 3 comedy concerts available. His television career didn't so much break racial typecasting as it swept it aside. He's a stern taskmaster in his work but treats his employees with dignity, by all reports I've seen. All in all, a class act.

When he started doing standup comedy in the 1960s, Cosby was one of the funniest storytellers I'd ever heard. For those too young to remember, check out his classic "Noah and the Ark" and "The Lone Ranger and Tonto" routines. Very funny stuff. Unlike the other major black comedians of the day like Dick Gregory and Godfrey Cambridge, Cosby didn't do racial or topical material. He didn't need to. His humor transcended race and politics.

These are great testimonials, and I agree with them. Thank you for sharing them.

 

[Silvercrest]

Voopa, voopa, voopa...

 

[ManOnTheWave]

I had all of his albums. He was very funny and a great storyteller.

 

[Teelie]

I like Cosby. He can be a comedian and an actor without being black. By which I mean he doesn't use it as a way to stand out and differentiate himself. He plays a role, regardless of who it is, as that person. He's not the "black cop," or the "black doctor," the "black comedian," he's just the cop or the doctor or comedian, whatever role he's in. He's always been a very artfully and well played character in whatever he's done without resorting to racial stereotypes of any kind.

At the same time though he shows that he can be black, be who he is and not be a "traitor" to his skin color or any less of a man than if he were any other skin color. He doesn't try to act different, he just is who he is. His indifference to race is what makes him transcend racial barriers.

His remarks to black youth that often incite racial and racist responses (particularly from those his message is aimed at) to him are exactly what he needs to do. He's a black man who made it through a white man's world (movies and to a lesser extent, comedy) and made it more color blind as a result, which has benefited everyone.

For people to denigrate him for telling them, "no, that's not how you speak, that's not how you act, that's not going to get you ahead in this world," is being petty and holding onto an idealogy we don't need anymore. His message might be aimed at black youth but it applies to anyone in a circumstance of poor or underprivileged life.

My only qualms about him are he sometimes takes offense to people who satire him. It's the one thing I find a disappointment but then given what he must have gone through to become who he is, it's not something I'm going to hold against him either. Everyone has a right to be offended by being made a joke or poked fun at but it's a little much to sue or threaten suit for it, IMO.

 

[RoJoHen]

I enjoy his pudding. Otherwise, I'll pass. I don't dislike him, really, I just don't care about him one way or another.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Loved the Cosby Show, but I think he's a sign of the times. I recently saw him on TV and couldn't stand his stand-up routine. I just didn't think he was very good at it. I think he was at his peak during the Cosby Show, but now everything he does seems forced. If he does have a doctorate in education, then it surprises me that he doesn't take up Mr Roger's mantle by creating a children's show. I think he'd be good at it.

 

[John Picard]

Loved the Cosby Show, but I think he's a sign of the times. I recently saw him on TV and couldn't stand his stand-up routine. I just didn't think he was very good at it. I think he was at his peak during the Cosby Show, but now everything he does seems forced. If he does have a doctorate in education, then it surprises me that he doesn't take up Mr Roger's mantle by creating a children's show. I think he'd be good at it.

He was the voice of the Typewriter on Sesame Street, and I believe he did some spots on The Electric Company (and no, I am not confusing him with Morgan Freeman, who portrayed EZ Reader).

Mr Cosby's only son, Ennis, was murdered in the early 1990's, which is bound to have had a profound affect on him as a whole.

 

[WillsBabe]

I can appreciate the significant of the Cosby Show, and I watched it from time to time, mainly because my husband watched it. I can't really say that I cared for Bill Cosby's humour, to be honest.

 

[Too Much Fun]

He was a real hero of mine as a child. I still remember writing a book report on him and drawing a picture of him on the cover when I was a little boy. I loved watching his "The Cosby Show" with my parents and his famous stand-up comedy show later released on video and DVD as "Bill Cosby: Himself" is the best stand-up comedy show I've ever seen - funny, sweet, clever, and very, very insightful. I also loved his book "Fatherhood". In both that, the DVD, and his old show it was great how he could mix brilliant gags with exceptionally deep and thoughtful insights on parenthood.

He could tell the most hilarious stories about being a parent, but at the same time teach valuable lessons about raising children. I watched that stand-up show with my parents as a kid and laughed my ass off. Then I then watched with them as an adult and I laughed just as hard but with a newfound appreciation for how smart, true, and profound Cosby's philosophy is. The hilariousness and truth in his ideas, theories, and stories about parenthood are timeless.

It's just a shame that by my formative years (i.e. teen/young adulthood) when I discovered the TV shows, movies, and books that I could call my all-time favourites that had the most positive influence on who I am in terms of morals, values, and standards for art, Cosby was washed out. His show ended early in the 90s, before I became a teen, and every movie he made in the late 80s and 90s was a horrible flop. It's strange...for some reason, despite being able to conquer the stand-up comedy and TV worlds, he just could not make it in the movie business.

Two out of three a'int bad, but his burn out in the 90s meant Cosby would have to only ever be a childhood treasure of mine. That's not bad, but it would have been nice to see him in a good movie or TV role during the years when I was starting to have a mature appreciation for TV and movies for the first time.

I'm waiting for the post from our forum member named Bill Cosby who actually has the man in his avatar, apparently hawking pudding pops on the holodeck. I added him to my friends list (like most people on it) mostly because I decided I like the way he thinks from his posts, but I can't deny part of the reason was because of the fond memories his avatar and username bring back.

 

[Colonel Midnight]

Definitely a Great Man with Talent.

One of the few comedians, I find, who refreshingly doesn't have to throw a curse word in every other phrase to make the material funny.

I think I've only heard him actually curse once, in all the material of his I have on album/tape/iPod -- on "Himself" when he's talking about cocaine "intensifying" your personality, and wondering what if you're an a$$-hole to begin with... *laugh*

Cheers,
-CM-

 

[Amaris]

Love, love, love Bill Cosby. Always will. The man is a gifted comedian, a brilliant storyteller, and an all around honest, ethical human being. A good man.

 

[Mistral]

Definitely a Great Man with Talent.

One of the few comedians, I find, who refreshingly doesn't have to throw a curse word in every other phrase to make the material funny.

I think I've only heard him actually curse once, in all the material of his I have on album/tape/iPod -- on "Himself" when he's talking about cocaine "intensifying" your personality, and wondering what if you're an a$$-hole to begin with... *laugh*

Cheers,
-CM-

One of my favorite jokes from Himself.