How did Cosby hit it big with Cosby Show? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

nerrad · 05-03-2004, 09:24 AM

for himself that is. He has always been one of my favorites. I remember my mother owning one of his comedy albums. And I have all three of his films with Sidney Poitier, Do it again, uptown saturday night, and piece of the action. I still watch them on occassion.

BUT...

when it came to television, his shows usually flopped. I remember him having a variety show, I Spy, etc. Then came Cosby Show and he hits it big. Even after Cosby, his shows weren't that great. Didn't he have some Cosby Murder Mysteries?, then he hosted that game show, which wasn't good. The he tried to do another sitcom, in which he replaced his original wife with...Clair.

His whole history in television goes like this: so so beginning, hits it big, then people are tired of him (and Clair). Now stand-up comedy is a different thing. He's on a whole 'nuther level when it comes to that. I'm talking TELEVISION.

Do you think Bill's success had more to do with everyone intrigued with watching Bill Cosby, as a dad?

marvin g · 05-03-2004, 11:27 PM

Bill Cosby is just a likeable person. He's not offensive to anyone if you think about it. Yes he's made some bad career choice like the game show an d the mystery show. But his comedy show have relatively successfull, not to mention he made a comedy video in th 80's as well.

Mr. Television · 05-04-2004, 12:37 AM

You forgot Fat Albert And The Cosby Kids. Now that show was a classic.

nerrad · 05-04-2004, 09:10 AM

DAYUM. What was I thinking about? I forgot about Fat Albert. I should be shot with the Bop Gun. THAT was the show/cartoon. But didn't it seem obivious that Fat Albert (bill's main character) was the good guy.

nerrad · 05-04-2004, 09:17 AM

a good point made about him not being offensive to anyone. I agree with that to the end. He's one of the few who could say something without cussing, and it would be funny. As my mom would say about Bill "He was clean". And my folks know. In their seventies now, they used to go see Slappy White, redd Foxx, Lawanda Page, Brook Benton, Moms Mabley and Pearl Bailey. It's fun sometimes sitting back listening to them (well, my mom. Dad became religious after those days and don't even remember? He does, but doesn't talk about them. LOL LOL

Dean Winchester · 05-04-2004, 03:58 PM

I Spy was a hit series for Bill in the 60's. Nothing like Cosby Show was, but his pre-TCS career wasn't a bust

Pitooey · 05-04-2004, 06:01 PM

Lets not forget that he also has a show for children called Little Bill. My daughter loves it.

I remember when I was younger and I would listen to Bill Cosby doing stand up on TV and in his albums. I've always liked him. I appreciate that he doesn't have to say bad words to get his point across. I applaud him for being the man he is.

marvin g · 05-04-2004, 09:37 PM

I also grew up with Bill Cosby from the PBS show The Electric Company. Rita Moreno and Morgan Freeman were also on that show. He also had a comedy show with no laugh track in the early 70's set in California. I think he's character's name was Chet. I didn't care for that show to much even though I would like to see it again! The theme song to that show was the best! Hikky Burr by him and Quincy Jones!!

jamesanthony · 05-08-2004, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by marvin g
I also grew up with Bill Cosby from the PBS show The Electric Company. Rita Moreno and Morgan Freeman were also on that show. He also had a comedy show with no laugh track in the early 70's set in California. I think he's character's name was Chet. I didn't care for that show to much even though I would like to see it again! The theme song to that show was the best! Hikky Burr by him and Quincy Jones!!

Cosby is (or at least was) very likable and affable. I remember him in The Electric Company too. In one segment he was a superhero who went to the cleaners to get his cape and they lost the silent E at the end and gave him a HUGE funky looking Donny Hathaway cap instead. He put it on and it covered over his whole face.

And he had a pot belly at the time so seeing him in the tights outfit was funny. In another segment he played that same superman character and he went to the same cleaners and they put an extra P in the insignia on his outfit so he became a takeout food deliveryman flying through the window with the food.

Cosby could be silly like that and appeal to kids and adults alike.

Cosby Show from 1984 probably hit so well because everyone knew of him from all the old shows, movies, Jello commercials, Tonight show etc and it was basically based upon his real life (the kids in the show were the same ages and genders as his real life kids). He had universal appeal, the show was fairly realistic for the time and since he was black, most minority viewers could relate to him. Since the characters weren't poor, middle America and the rich could relate to it too.

My only gripe about this show was that once it began breaking ratings records after year 2 Cosby began approaching the show as if it were a tract for reeducating America about blacks and the sense of almost spontaneous fun got up and walked out of the show and never came back again.

ConservativeBalla · 05-12-2004, 09:02 AM

Bill Cosby might be my favorite comedian of all-time because he is so funny without using bad language, and he never insults anyone. Not that I have anything against a person or groups of people being offended*, but zinging people just gets old.

*because people are too insecure, self-centered, and thin-skinned these days

Silver Bullet · 05-12-2004, 10:21 AM

I say that he got lucky and he had a good cast to work with.
Its a great cast that makes a great show IMO.

Tweety · 05-15-2004, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by marvin g
...He also had a comedy show with no laugh track in the early 70's set in California. I think he's character's name was Chet. I didn't care for that show to much even though I would like to see it again! The theme song to that show was the best! Hikky Burr by him and Quincy Jones!!

Yes, that was "The Bill Cosby Show" and he played Chet Kincaid, a teacher in California (I think he was a gym teacher, but I'm not sure)...

I believe the show ran for two seasons

We used to watch that show as kids (I think it was on Sunday nights) and you're right, the closing theme song was the best!!

I, too, would be interested in seeing that show again...we enjoyed it while it was on, but I have a sneaky suspicion that I wouldn't like it as much if I saw it again today...

cjmg85 · 05-20-2004, 06:37 PM

How do you think his new show which will be starting on Nick at Nite next month is going to do? I think it'll flop, but that's because it's Nick at Nite. I mean come on, that network is for classic shows, not new and original series!!!

05-03-2004, 09:24 AM	#1
nerrad Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 06, 2003 Location: pfunkytown Posts: 1,253	How did Cosby hit it big with Cosby Show? for himself that is. He has always been one of my favorites. I remember my mother owning one of his comedy albums. And I have all three of his films with Sidney Poitier, Do it again, uptown saturday night, and piece of the action. I still watch them on occassion. BUT... when it came to television, his shows usually flopped. I remember him having a variety show, I Spy, etc. Then came Cosby Show and he hits it big. Even after Cosby, his shows weren't that great. Didn't he have some Cosby Murder Mysteries?, then he hosted that game show, which wasn't good. The he tried to do another sitcom, in which he replaced his original wife with...Clair. His whole history in television goes like this: so so beginning, hits it big, then people are tired of him (and Clair). Now stand-up comedy is a different thing. He's on a whole 'nuther level when it comes to that. I'm talking TELEVISION. Do you think Bill's success had more to do with everyone intrigued with watching Bill Cosby, as a dad?

05-04-2004, 12:37 AM	#3
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,128	You forgot Fat Albert And The Cosby Kids. Now that show was a classic.
	__________________ Sonny

05-04-2004, 09:17 AM	#5
nerrad Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 06, 2003 Location: pfunkytown Posts: 1,253	also. a good point made about him not being offensive to anyone. I agree with that to the end. He's one of the few who could say something without cussing, and it would be funny. As my mom would say about Bill "He was clean". And my folks know. In their seventies now, they used to go see Slappy White, redd Foxx, Lawanda Page, Brook Benton, Moms Mabley and Pearl Bailey. It's fun sometimes sitting back listening to them (well, my mom. Dad became religious after those days and don't even remember? He does, but doesn't talk about them. LOL LOL

05-04-2004, 06:01 PM	#7
Pitooey Member Forum Star Join Date: Feb 15, 2001 Location: Rocking in Transylvania. Posts: 15,042	Lets not forget that he also has a show for children called Little Bill. My daughter loves it. I remember when I was younger and I would listen to Bill Cosby doing stand up on TV and in his albums. I've always liked him. I appreciate that he doesn't have to say bad words to get his point across. I applaud him for being the man he is.
	__________________ Pitooey... AKA JennyLee - I love the Monkees all over again! *SAY NO TO DRUGS* Jesus saves...

05-12-2004, 09:02 AM	#10
ConservativeBalla R.I.P., Mr. Reagan. Senior Member Join Date: Jun 14, 2003 Location: 704 Hauser Street, Queens, New York; having an eating contest with Meathead eating Edith's beef stew. Posts: 1,822	Bill Cosby might be my favorite comedian of all-time because he is so funny without using bad language, and he never insults anyone. Not that I have anything against a person or groups of people being offended, but zinging people just gets old. because people are too insecure, self-centered, and thin-skinned these days
	__________________ Big Daddy: ...now you promise me you won't fret none. Dorothy: Well, I would, but I'm not exactly sure what "fret none" is.

05-03-2004, 11:27 PM	#2
marvin g Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 30, 2003 Location: Chicago,IL Posts: 1,217	Bill Cosby is just a likeable person. He's not offensive to anyone if you think about it. Yes he's made some bad career choice like the game show an d the mystery show. But his comedy show have relatively successfull, not to mention he made a comedy video in th 80's as well.

05-04-2004, 09:10 AM	#4
nerrad Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 06, 2003 Location: pfunkytown Posts: 1,253	DAYUM. What was I thinking about? I forgot about Fat Albert. I should be shot with the Bop Gun. THAT was the show/cartoon. But didn't it seem obivious that Fat Albert (bill's main character) was the good guy.

05-04-2004, 03:58 PM	#6
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	I Spy was a hit series for Bill in the 60's. Nothing like Cosby Show was, but his pre-TCS career wasn't a bust

05-04-2004, 09:37 PM	#8
marvin g Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 30, 2003 Location: Chicago,IL Posts: 1,217	I also grew up with Bill Cosby from the PBS show The Electric Company. Rita Moreno and Morgan Freeman were also on that show. He also had a comedy show with no laugh track in the early 70's set in California. I think he's character's name was Chet. I didn't care for that show to much even though I would like to see it again! The theme song to that show was the best! Hikky Burr by him and Quincy Jones!!

05-12-2004, 10:21 AM	#11
Silver Bullet RIP Johnny Ramone Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 06, 2004 Location: A Violent World Posts: 66	I say that he got lucky and he had a good cast to work with. Its a great cast that makes a great show IMO.
	__________________ Unpleasant Street

05-20-2004, 06:37 PM	#13
cjmg85 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 18, 2004 Location: Seattle, Washington, USA Posts: 228	How do you think his new show which will be starting on Nick at Nite next month is going to do? I think it'll flop, but that's because it's Nick at Nite. I mean come on, that network is for classic shows, not new and original series!!!