Bill Cosby

William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. (born July 12, 1937) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and author. Cosby's start in stand-up comedy began at the hungry i in San Francisco, and was followed by his landing a starring role in the 1960s television show I Spy. During the show's first two seasons, he was also a regular on the children's television series The Electric Company.

Using the Fat Albert character developed during his stand-up routines, Cosby created, produced, and hosted the animated comedy television series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, a show that ran from 1972 to 1985, centering on a group of young friends growing up in an urban area. Throughout the 1970s, Cosby starred in a number of films, occasionally returning to film later in his career. After attending Temple University in the 1960s, he received his bachelor's degree there in 1971. In 1973 he received a master's degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and in 1976 he earned his Doctor of Education degree, also from UMass. His dissertation discussed the use of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids as a teaching tool in elementary schools.

Bill Cosby 77

Bill Cosby 77 is an unreleased 2014 stand-up comedy film featuring Bill Cosby, filmed before a live audience at the San Francisco Jazz Center in California. Cosby chose the venue in honor of his friend Enrico Banducci and his establishment the hungry i. The comedian said his wife Camille Cosby helped with the editing process of the film. At approximately 60 minutes in duration, the film features Cosby pontificating on matters of children, romance, and matrimony. The film was named in honor of the fact that it was taped on Cosby's 77th birthday on July 12, 2014.

Cosby chose Netflix to release the performance because it would be able to be seen by viewers without interruptions for advertisements. On August 14, 2014, Netflix announced that Bill Cosby 77 would be made available to its subscribers on November 28, 2014. Netflix intended for the program to be made available to viewers so they could watch the film the day after Thanksgiving in the United States.

Netflix made public its decision on November 18, 2014 to delay release of the film. The announcement by Netflix came a matter of hours after celebrity Janice Dickinson came forward to publicly add her name to women who alleged that Cosby had sexually assaulted and raped them. Bill Cosby 77 was listed with status of "coming soon" as of November 20, 2014. Netflix released a statement to the press which said: "At this time we are postponing the launch of the new stand up comedy special Bill Cosby 77." Netflix was queried but did not elaborate further on its decision.

Bill Cosby: Himself

Bill Cosby: Himself is a 1983 stand-up comedy film featuring Bill Cosby. Filmed before a live audience at the Hamilton Place Theatre, in Hamilton, Ontario, Cosby gives the audience his views ranging from marriage to parenthood. The film also showcases Cosby's trademark conversational style of stand-up comedy. For most of the performance, Cosby is seated at the center of the stage, only getting up to emphasize a joke.

Many of the comedic routines presented in the film were precursors to Cosby's successful sitcom The Cosby Show. An album of the same name was also released on Motown Records.

The film is regarded by many as "the greatest stand-up concert movie ever."

Topics

Nearly all of the movie concerns the trials and tribulations of raising children, frequently illustrated with anecdotes involving his own family. Occasionally he compares these with stories from his childhood. Other topics include grandparents, going to the dentist, and people who drink too much or take drugs.

Himself (Bill Cosby album)

Himself is the 18th comedy album by Bill Cosby.

The album contains highlights from the stand-up comedy film of the same name. This is his only album released on Motown Records.

Track listing

External links