Bill Cosby Returning to TV w/family sitcom

[jayman75]

Could Cliff Huxtable be returning to TV?

Not exactly.

But Bill Cosby has "made a deal" with NBC for a half-hour comedy starring the actor, 76, reports Deadline.

Cosby, who appeared in 197 episodes of The Cosby Show from 1984 to 1992, is reteaming with producer Tom Werner, whose company with Marcy Carsey produced Cosby Show.

The new comedy will be built around Cosby, who will play the patriarch of a multi-generational family and, once again, will offer his take on marriage and parenting. Deadline says Cosby and Werner are meeting with writers on the project.

Cosby is currently touring with his latest stand-up comedy show, aptly titled Far From Finished.

[MacLeaper]

Well, that's cool- I'd certainly welcome seeing Bill Cosby back on television in a new series.

[Mr. Television]

http://www.hitfix.com/whats-alan-wat...-michael-j-fox

Can Bill Cosby save NBC comedy, or will he struggle like Michael J. Fox?

The Peacock reaches out to one of its biggest stars ever to fix the comedy brand

By Alan Sepinwall Wednesday, Jan 22, 2014 1:45 PM

On "30 Rock," fake NBC executive Jack Donaghy once declared that the network's number two priority was to "Make it 1997 again through science or magic." Based on the news that the real NBC has cut a deal with Bill Cosby to star in a new sitcom — on the heels of an expensive and unsuccessful deal this season with Michael J. Fox, along with failures from other past NBC stars like Sean Hayes and Matthew Perry — it appears that the current administration has its eyes set on making it 1987 again, if not earlier.

According to several reports, including this one in the Hollywood Reporter, Cosby and former "Cosby Show" producer Tom Werner will team up to develop a show in which the Cos would play the patriarch of a multi-generational family, and the show would be an outlet for Cosby's distinct comic "take on marriage and parenting."

On the one hand, Cosby is one of the biggest TV stars of all time, making an impact across multiple generations, from his trailblazing Emmy wins in the '60s for "I Spy," adapting his early standup routines into the "Fat Albert" Saturday morning cartoon in the '70s, and then as the star of the beloved, wildly popular '80s family comedy "The Cosby Show." (I've been watching repeats of the last with my kids on Hulu, and it holds up incredibly well.)

On the other hand, that kind of enduring popularity is rare. "The Michael J. Fox Show" — which NBC committed to an entire season of before a pilot episode had even been filmed — has gone from a ratings disappointment to an outright disaster, and is likely only on the air at this point because NBC ordered so many episodes in advance. And the last time a network in dire comedy circumstances looked to Cosby as a savior, the results were mixed. Back in 1996, CBS ordered "Cosby," adapted from a British sitcom, but essentially the story of an older, crabbier Cliff Huxtable, in the hopes Cosby could pull them out of a huge hole. That "Cosby" wasn't a disaster, but it was only a modest success, providing some stability for CBS until a genuine hit — "Everybody Loves Raymond," which debuted with much less hype in the same season — could emerge.

As well as NBC did this fall with football, "The Voice" and "The Blacklist," the network's comedy brand is such a disaster that it wouldn't be a surprise if, once again, "Parks and Recreation" and "Community" were the only ones renewed (NBC's Robert Greenblatt all but committed to "Parks" season 7 already). Given that, they'd leap at a "Cosby"-level success. But almost 20 years after the start of "Cosby," will the Cos do any better than Fox?

At this rate, though, who gets the call from NBC comedy development next: Harry Anderson or Shelley Long?

[bh7812]

Just read the news and was very happy to hear this! I will definitely watch it when it starts. I thought Bill was in his early 80s for sure, very surprised to see he's only 76!

Well, if NBC's gonna do this may as well do it right and it looks like they're trying to. For this to have any chance it needed to come from Carsey-Werner and NBC got them. They kinda haven't done anything on tv for a while. I see some other forums bashing this and it's like give it a chance. I really do hope it's as good as the original Cosby Show and it'll last at least a few seasons. I am again wondering though what could have been when NBC supposedly looked to Bill for another show after Friends had ended and they needed a new hit. We will never know but I suppose all that matters is they got him back in the end.

If I were in Bob Greenblat's spot right now, Bill is certainly the name I'd be turning to as well. For better or worse whether or not people want to admit it, they HAVE tried the last few seasons to re-jump start their sitcoms again. The thing was the projects really didn't "fit" NBC. Both Guys With Kuds and Sean Saves The World strike me more as ABC shows. I think people want to watch NBC again but need names associated with the network before they'll do that. Though MJF seems to be tanking-they've got the right idea-get as many big names from their past to come back to help that cause. I think this'll be their last shot at trying to fix their sitcoms though. If this fails it's a wrap and they won't touch family multi-cam stuff ever again. But, Cosby is still a huge name, about as big as it gets. If they're throwing this Hail Mary he is their best hope. I hope it succeeds, family multi-cams DO still have a place on TV and I'd like to see more of them. They just need the right talent and crews behind them.

But, welcome home, Bill. I'll be there for your homecoming for sure I wouldn't be surprised to see NBC try to bring back Saturday morning cartoons next! If they do and I get another Super Mario cartoon out if that fine by me! I'd seriously be there for that, too. Hell they should do it, those Mario cartoons got huge ratings and whooped CBS and ABC good at the time. They were number 1 in their time slot across all the networks!

Next few seasons should finally breathe legitimate life back into that network. They've got quite...an interesting development slate the next few years for sure. I've wanted a show to like on NBC again and I might just be getting quite a few. I really do wish them well.

Gotta live this network..they're taking some damn gutsy risks and now they got Bill back! Haha I love that, gotta give em credit fir that!

[James28]

If I was Bill Cosby, at an age like this (late 70s), I would expect my body to hold up really well if this new family sitcom ends up being a long-runner,

[bh7812]

Originally Posted by James28

If I was Bill Cosby, at an age like this (late 70s), I would expect my body to hold up really well if this new family sitcom ends up being a long-runner,

Exactly..that's an excellent point that I hadn't thought of. If this show takes off, and especially if it does take off like his original show did, then yeah he better hope he is in good health shape for potentially another 5 plus years. The age difference between him and Tim Allen is huge..like 16 years so Tim can get through Last Man Standing's run in one piece pretty easily due to being in his early 60s. So NBC does need to consider that point too.

Last night I saw some people say "NBC is damn desperate to do this, throwing whatever they can at the wall to see what sticks." In some cases maybe true but in this case I disagree. This time what they've chosen is SMART period. On paper this one should be the big hit they've literally been begging for several years for so I hope for NBC's sake they get it.

[retrofan05]

Originally Posted by James28

If I was Bill Cosby, at an age like this (late 70s), I would expect my body to hold up really well if this new family sitcom ends up being a long-runner,

Compared to Betty White, Bill is a teenager.

[RetroGuy2000]

What would be really cool is a resurrection of The Cosby Show. Seeing the Huxtables again would be awesome.

[ladybug1980]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

What would be really cool is a resurrection of The Cosby Show. Seeing the Huxtables again would be awesome.

Ideally, I'd love that too. I don't think Lisa Bonet and Bill Cosby have ever made amends though, have they? Without her on the show, I wouldn't enjoy it as much, considering that the other Huxtable children (now adults of course) would still be there.

[bh7812]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

What would be really cool is a resurrection of The Cosby Show. Seeing the Huxtables again would be awesome.

Unbelievably, when NBC supposedly turned to him after Friends ended, that's exactly what they-again-supposedly offered him. His old show, same characters, same cast, same everything. It was to have been the Cosby Show continuing, like it had never ended. At that time Bill passed politely on it from what I read. If he had taken the offer, good God that's exactly what this network needed over those next several years.

IF and I do mean if this is what Carsey-Werner is cooking up it would one be the biggest secret in TV deals right now and two-barring something totally unexpected and unforeseen it'd positively be that long wished for hit at the network. I'm almost hoping that's what this indeed is but I doubt it. Regardless I will still definitely watch it! It's Bill Cosby!! 'Nuff said!

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by ladybug1980

Ideally, I'd love that too. I don't think Lisa Bonet and Bill Cosby have ever made amends though, have they? Without her on the show, I wouldn't enjoy it as much, considering that the other Huxtable children (now adults of course) would still be there.

I haven't heard if they ever made up. I hope so! The show hasn't been on in 20 years, and that's a long time to hold grudges!

I also wouldn't enjoy the show as much without her (her episodes during the middle era of the show were among the best), but I would tune in with or without her on a revived Cosby Show.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by bh7812

Unbelievably, when NBC supposedly turned to him after Friends ended, that's exactly what they-again-supposedly offered him. His old show, same characters, same cast, same everything. It was to have been the Cosby Show continuing, like it had never ended. At that time Bill passed politely on it from what I read. If he had taken the offer, good God that's exactly what this network needed over those next several years.

IF and I do mean if this is what Carsey-Werner is cooking up it would one be the biggest secret in TV deals right now and two-barring something totally unexpected and unforeseen it'd positively be that long wished for hit at the network. I'm almost hoping that's what this indeed is but I doubt it. Regardless I will still definitely watch it! It's Bill Cosby!! 'Nuff said!

I doubt it, too, but I can hope!