Bill Cosby Tickets Continued
Bill Cosby dropped out of high school and joined the navy to escape his poverty
sticken upbringing. He eventutally earned his high school diploma via correspondence. He
then attended Temple University on a football scholorship and supplimented his income
working nights as a bartender. While serving drinks, he quickly discovered his talent for making
people laugh and set out to become a comedian.
Bill Cosby's early routines drew from humorous childhood memories, setting him
apart from the other black comics of his generation who often based their acts on racial humor.
After a string of comedy albums, he entered the world of television in the late 60's, starring in the
sitcoms I Spy and The Bill Cosby Show. He next worked on several childrens programs
including The Electric Company and Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids. During this period, he also
found time to return to school and earn a PHD in Education. Bill Cosby next teamed up
with director Sidney Poitier for the films Let's Do It Again, Uptown Saturday Night and A Piece of
the Action.
Bill Cosby produced and starred in what is considered one of the decade's defining
cultural sitcoms, The Cosby Show, which aired from 1984 to 1992. The sitcom featured an
upper-middle class African-American family without resorting to the kinds of stereotypes
previously seen among African-Americans in prime-time television. While some argued that
The Cosby Show ignored the issues of racial inequity still prevalent in society, many agreed
that it showcased positive role models. Bill Cosby insisted on and received total
creative control of the series, and he was involved in every aspect of the series. Not
surprisingly, the show had parallels to his actual family life: like the characters Cliff and Claire
Huxtable, Bill Cosby and his wife Camille were college educated, financially successful,
and had five children. Essentially a throwback to the wholesome family situation comedy, The
Cosby Show was unprecedented in its portrayal of an intelligent, affluent, nonstereotypical
African-American family.
In addition, Bill Cosby has enjoyed multiple other television successes. In 1996, he
started the show Cosby, which ran for four seasons. In 1998, he also became the host of Kids
Say the Darndest Things. Bill Cosby has also appeared in a number of ads including
Jell-O. He continues to tour with his stand-up comedy act to this day.
