Is it okay to watch any of Bill Cosby’s shows (or admit to it)? He made some good, positive television (oddly enough I’m not a fan of his biggest series, “The Cosby Show”). Because I started watching “The Bill Cosby Show” on DVD yesterday. First off I do NOT condone rape and think what he did was a horrible thing (50+ times) but I am able to separate the character from the person. And Chet Kincaid did not rape anyone… then again I’m only three episodes in, but I‘d be surprised if he did. ;)

You can watch whatever you want without feeling guilty. I still watch I Spy which is a great show. It's hard to watch without thinking of what Cosby did but that's just the way it is. Some can't watch anything he did and that's okay too. I've also watched the Naked Gun movies even though OJ's in them and I like a few Roman Polanski movies too. If you can separate the character from the actor than good for you. There were a lot of other people involved in these shows besides Cosby so I just look at them. lol

OK for who?

Is someone going to come to your house and fine you?

If it doesn't bother you to watch the show then what difference does it make?

There are plenty of celebrities around that have done stupid or evil things.

I usually separate it by when I found out, such as with Jane Fonda. I'll watch the movies she made in the 1960's because I saw them back when I was a kid. But I won't watch anything she does today.

There's an actor named Jeffrey Jones. I know him best from Amadeus but most people know him from Ferris Bueller's Day Off, which I never saw. 10 or 15 years ago he was arrested and plead guilty to child molestation charges. He is actually on a TV commercial currently. I can't believe anyone would hire him. But I love Amadeus and won't stop watching it because he's in it.

Well, it depends on your point of view--for me, yes it's okay, and I'm actually considering buying the complete series of "The Cosby Show" that Mill Creek released for $27 (or around there.) Along with "The Bill Cosby Show." It seems like he was a good character on his sitcoms, but "The Cosby Show" isn't really a knee-slapper sitcom for me, I can see myself just watching it to enjoy it.

OK for who?

Is someone going to come to your house and fine you?

There's an actor named Jeffrey Jones. I know him best from Amadeus but most people know him from Ferris Bueller's Day Off, which I never saw. 10 or 15 years ago he was arrested and plead guilty to child molestation charges. He is actually on a TV commercial currently. I can't believe anyone would hire him. But I love Amadeus and won't stop watching it because he's in it.

I was just speaking generally. Like I watched a couple episodes of The Bill Cosby Show but decided not to post about it in the "What was the Last Show You Watched?" thread. It's then I decided to make this thread basically to discuss Cosby's work and see who's still able to watch it and how it affects them and in the process also mention that I watched the first few episodes of his '69 - '71 show (which I've own on DVD since it came out but had only watched a couple episodes in the past.


As for Jeffrey Jones, if he is who I think he is, I know him best from Beetlejuice and Howard the Duck. I also never saw Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

I too lost a lot of respect for Cosby when all of this came out, which was unfortunate, my wife and I had seen his live show, and my Grandparents thought he was hilarious, they saw his show in Tahoe years ago. Unfortunate. I personally don't enjoy his stuff now, and don't watch him.

I just feel for all the very talented actors involved in his shows. His "mishaps" have caused them to lose out on a lot of royalties.

No, you must hang your head in shame.

Cosby is dead to me.

Is it okay to watch any of Bill Cosby’s shows (or admit to it)? He made some good, positive television (oddly enough I’m not a fan of his biggest series, “The Cosby Show”). Because I started watching “The Bill Cosby Show” on DVD yesterday. First off I do NOT condone rape and think what he did was a horrible thing (50+ times) but I am able to separate the character from the person. And Chet Kincaid did not rape anyone… then again I’m only three episodes in, but I‘d be surprised if he did. ;)


I have the same problem. I'm a big wrestling fan. In 2004, a promoter by the name of Rob Feinstein was caught trying to have sex with a minor. He does wrestling interviews. Now, the hard part for me and I stress about is on YouTube, people have uploaded many an interview with wrestlers that Feinstein and his company RF Video, have interviewed. Some of the documentaries on YouTube about wrestling has some of his interviews spliced in.

My question is should I watch any of those interviews and/or documentaries that are on YouTube? Now, I did buy videos from his website back in 1999. Is it ok to watch them? I did watch a little of the videos, maybe a few months ago. I did report Feinstein and the people who uploaded his interviews to YouTube but they didnt do anything. Think they said, they didn't violate YouTube rules or something. I did feel better doing something.

I certainly don't think there's anything wrong with watching. I think knowing things that might have really been going on at the time can sometimes hurt the watching if you can't separate the actor from the character. But I remember the show and actually liked it the best of all his shows.

It depends if you can still look at him without wanting to trough something at you tv.

It's a very personal decision. Like Sonny and ABH said, there are a lot of other people involved in the show besides the one who did something terrible. I guess it's not a big deal for me as I never liked The Cosby Show (at all), though I did like Fat Albert. I think it would feel weird to watch it, but regardless, there are some good messages for kids in it.

However, I totally understand the "not wanting to put money in his pocket" reasoning, too.

I was looking at the recent thread where someone did a set of surveys covering sitcoms 1950-1980s. I thought it was interesting that The Cosby Show still finished in the top half, while The Bill Cosby Show was nearly at the bottom. I was wondering if maybe people were hammering The Bill Cosby Show as punishment, since to hate The Cosby Show penalizes everyone else attached to it, too.

I'm sure that it had more to do with The Cosby Show being about 100 times more popular than The Bill Cosby Show.

I suppose. You can think someone is a reprobate but still think they have talent. But I never thought he was all that to begin with, so I've never watched his shows, guest appearances etc.

But given all that's transpired, at this point, HE REALLY TURNS MY STOMACH.

Now imagine he was in something produced by Harvey Weinstein...

I was looking at the recent thread where someone did a set of surveys covering sitcoms 1950-1980s. I thought it was interesting that The Cosby Show still finished in the top half, while The Bill Cosby Show was nearly at the bottom. I was wondering if maybe people were hammering The Bill Cosby Show as punishment, since to hate The Cosby Show penalizes everyone else attached to it, too.That has to do with The Cosby Show being syndicated a whole lot more. I have never gotten the chance to see the 60s Bill Cosby Show. I have also never seen I Spy.

Yes it is ok. There are a lot of actors who have bad skeletons in their closet. Cosby's life got more publicity. The actor is also separate from the character they play. I don't approve of what Stephen Collins did, but 7th Heaven will always be one of my favorite shows.

That has to do with The Cosby Show being syndicated a whole lot more. I have never gotten the chance to see the 60s Bill Cosby Show. I have also never seen I Spy.

"I Spy" is a great drama series with some great use of humor blended in - it's not a comedy outright, but the use of comedy in the drama is very well placed. It also shows Cosby as a rather good dramatic actor, which gets overshadowed by all of his comedy shows. And the on-screen chemistry with Robert Culp is wonderful.

Start with Season 3's "Home To Judgment", which was written by costar Robert Culp. Then move to season 1 with "A Cup of Kindness". "So Long Patrick Henry" is the series opener, and it's good, but the show doesn't need a definitive pilot to set up the premise as any episode one can just watch and know off the bat they're spies doing undercover work as global tennis pros. But season 1 has the most classic episodes.

The first show with a black lead (Cosby), the series also shows racial equality that was ahead of its time for the 1960s or even nowadays. While technology has moved forward, a lot of episodes really hold up - and the location filming is sumptuous. Even the studio sets are better than typical 60s TV shows for trying to blend in with the location work.

Then hope a blu-ray release comes out. The show is very much worth it. :cool:

Yes it is ok. There are a lot of actors who have bad skeletons in their closet. Cosby's life got more publicity. The actor is also separate from the character they play. I don't approve of what Stephen Collins did, but 7th Heaven will always be one of my favorite shows.

^^this. At times it can get uncomfy depending on severity of some of the alleged actions or why, but there's still a difference.

Thank you so much for this topic. Personally I have been unable to bring myself to watch anything of his after the number of accusers passed ten, or to want to. I would watch any of the shows with someone if they really wanted.

The Cosby Show was a very great favorite but not until all this went down did I realize how much it really influenced me. At least several times a week some situation reminds me of a quote I sadly realize was from that show, and every time I feel uneasy and kinda creeped out.