Bill Cosby is one of the great comedians of the 20th century who could give a one-man performance on stage and keep an audience in stitches with laughter for nearly two hours. His stories, from personal experience and observation, about family members and life were the best of that genre. And everyone could enjoy them.
I saw Cosby in person at just such a performance in Portland, Oregon, in the late 1990s. I'll never forget his routine about a man's wife being his best friend – or not. With a single chair and a flower vase on the stage, he entered to roof-raising applause. He got rid of the flower vase right away, and the chair was left there only so that he could sit down once in a while. He started by asking for a show of hands of men whose wives were their best friends. Then he began a long series of stories that had most of us nearly rolling in the aisles with laughter.
My family regularly watched Cosby's family TV show. I had seen other Cosby performances, and had bought records and tapes. That's way back in the days when they released comedy albums much like musical records. His Noah's Ark routine is unforgettable. But I don't think I've ever heard or seen any of his routines that was better than that live performance I attended in Portland.
This filmed performance from Toronto, Canada, in 1983 is very good. Cosby truly is one of the great stand-up comedians who could regale audiences without foul language or profanity. And, he could make fun of people and situations in all walks of life without condemning or insulting them. He didn't need to force comedy, for lack of intelligence or ability to make people laugh, by filling his time with derogatory diatribe, defamation or toilet humor.
Cosby has been an activist most of his life. He has campaigned for children's programs and education, especially for minorities. Since early in the 21st century, a number of allegations have been made that Cosby drugged and sexually abused women in the past. Unless such matters go to court, the public may never know if this was a dark side of a great comedian.
I saw Cosby in person at just such a performance in Portland, Oregon, in the late 1990s. I'll never forget his routine about a man's wife being his best friend – or not. With a single chair and a flower vase on the stage, he entered to roof-raising applause. He got rid of the flower vase right away, and the chair was left there only so that he could sit down once in a while. He started by asking for a show of hands of men whose wives were their best friends. Then he began a long series of stories that had most of us nearly rolling in the aisles with laughter.
My family regularly watched Cosby's family TV show. I had seen other Cosby performances, and had bought records and tapes. That's way back in the days when they released comedy albums much like musical records. His Noah's Ark routine is unforgettable. But I don't think I've ever heard or seen any of his routines that was better than that live performance I attended in Portland.
This filmed performance from Toronto, Canada, in 1983 is very good. Cosby truly is one of the great stand-up comedians who could regale audiences without foul language or profanity. And, he could make fun of people and situations in all walks of life without condemning or insulting them. He didn't need to force comedy, for lack of intelligence or ability to make people laugh, by filling his time with derogatory diatribe, defamation or toilet humor.
Cosby has been an activist most of his life. He has campaigned for children's programs and education, especially for minorities. Since early in the 21st century, a number of allegations have been made that Cosby drugged and sexually abused women in the past. Unless such matters go to court, the public may never know if this was a dark side of a great comedian.