Bill Cosby Insists His Sitcom Was Great, Because They Rejected Lowering the Bar on TV

[Brian Damage]

The dust is just now starting to settle on the bitter and brief war of words between Bill Cosby and Donald Trump, but is the TV legend setting the stage for round two with new comments aimed at cheap TV like, oh, 'Celebrity Apprentice'?

"'The Cosby Show' reminded us we are all one family," Mr. Cosby told me at The TV Land Awards taping on Sunday. "It lifted us up and up to higher ground. The 'Cosby Show' made impact on comedy, television and culture. We rejected lowering the bar."

A few years ago, Bill made headlines when he said he doesn't hold the Osbournes, a pioneering reality TV family, in high esteem. But things have gotten much worse since then.

"Bill hates what he sees when he looks around and sees what people are given to watching these days," a friend of the actor tells me before rattling off a list of offending show's like 'Jersey Shore,' 'Teen Mom' and yes, Trump's 'Celebrity Apprentice.' "All I know is, Bill wanted TV to educate as well as entertain," the friend adds. "Now all anyone cares about is getting ratings even if they humiliate the cast in the process."

While accepting 'The Impact' award at The TV Land Awards Bill talked about how proud he was that his show had respect for mothers and father. How parents taught their children lessons and even grandparents were shown as human beings, not old folks who couldn't do anything for themselves.

"I'm afraid those days of TV are long behind us," one TV industry insider tells me. "Now we have mostly forgettable and cheaply produced reality shows. Pretty certain we won't be honoring Donald Trump and 'Apprentice' 10 or 20 years from now.'

The 'Cosby Show' not only broke ground on television for its portrayal of a black family, but families in general. Dad was not the bumbling fool, and Mom didn't go around dusting the house in heels and pearls. The kids were not wisecracking mini-adults, but regular kids, who tried to do the right thing, and they usually succeeded with a gentle nudge from Mom and Dad. Mom and Dad also showed true passion and affection for each other. The stories were cleverly written, never preachy, and got their point across with knowing and loving humor.

From watching reruns on Nick at Nite, you might not realize this, but the reaction of TV audiences at the time was overwhelming: 'The Cosby Show' was the nation's most watched program for four consecutive years. Newspaper and magazine articles about the show were everywhere, hailing it for its intelligence and realistic depiction of a functional family.

Here's hoping there are more Bill Cosbys waiting in the wings to carry the mantle of positive TV.

http://www.popeater.com/2011/04/13/b...v-land-awards/