Bill Cosby Special 76 years old.

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This evening I watched the Bill Cosby standup special on Comedy Central.

He's 76 years old now, and his "Stand up" was sitting down....

But he still has it. I've never seen anyone tell a story like Cosby.

He took maybe 15 minutes of real material, and used expressions, timing, and audience participation...to keep it going for almost 90 minutes.

You just have to watch or buy the DVD. Really. Absolute comedy Genius.

He may move a tad slower...but his mind is razor sharp. Today's comics should record his act and study it. You don't get better than this.

I have no idea what he's like as a person, I've only seen him a few times in movie cameos...but Man, can that guy make me burst out laughing.

Maybe Sam Kinison was as good. Maybe.
  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    Cosby has been "sitting down on the job" for years.

    He has been a comic and actor for decades. Played a black lead on a major tv show back when it was very rare.

    Just Saturday morning I had Nick Jr on and there was a show called Little Bill I think.
    Turned out it was a childrens show created by,you guessed it, Bill Cosby.

    And one of the best comics. You are right,he can tell a story.
    And he plays clean. Never uses blue material. I applaud him for that alone.

    Most comediams these days can't get through a set without using all 7 words that Carlin said can't be said on tv. (How things have changed).

    I have to disagree with Kinison. Never found him funny at all.
    Extremely overated.
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    • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
      Originally Posted by KimW View Post

      Played a black lead on a major tv show back when it was very rare.
      This one:

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    • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
      Originally Posted by KimW View Post

      Most comediams these days can't get through a set without using all 7 words that Carlin said can't be said on tv. (How things have changed).

      I have to disagree with Kinison. Never found him funny at all.
      Extremely overated.
      I'm not offended by swearing, but I don't think it make a joke funnier.

      I think if a different comedian read the same words Cosby used...the jokes would fall flat. I think in 90 minutes, he told three stories. A few times, I laughed so hard my chest hurt.

      About Kinison; I've only seen one act of his. And I was rolling on the floor.
      But, with Kinison, it was also all about delivery. His material was OK, but he made it inspired. Again, I only saw his one act.

      He certainly isn't for everyone. Cosby? His performance was for everyone.
      Carlin was brilliant too. In many ways, the same kind of humor as Cosby. Intelligent commentary. We laugh because of what they reveal to us, not because it was a joke. Of course, just the way I interpret it.
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      • Profile picture of the author KimW
        Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

        I'm not offended by swearing, but I don't think it make a joke funnier.

        I think if a different comedian read the same words Cosby used...the jokes would fall flat. I think in 90 minutes, he told three stories. A few times, I laughed so hard my chest hurt.

        About Kinison; I've only seen one act of his. And I was rolling on the floor.
        But, with Kinison, it was also all about delivery. His material was OK, but he made it inspired. Again, I only saw his one act.

        He certainly isn't for everyone. Cosby? His performance was for everyone.
        Carlin was brilliant too. In many ways, the same kind of humor as Cosby. Intelligent commentary. We laugh because of what they reveal to us, not because it was a joke. Of course, just the way I interpret it.
        Claude,
        I'm not offended by swearing either.
        If I was I would have to stop talking to myself.
        But rarely does the swearing make it funny,though many of todays comedians seem to think it does.

        I just think it takes a talent to entertain without using the swearing or blue material.


        Kinison's delivery was not to my taste. I had many friends that thought he was the greatest comedian of all time back them. I didn't get it then anI don't think I would today.

        But lets take 2 very old comedy teams, The Three Stooges and larel and hardy.

        I never liked nor understood the appeal of The Three Stooges,yet many to this day think they are the greatest comedy team ever.
        I always preferred Laurel and Hardy.

        I loved Carlin and Cheech and Chong. Again,totally different styles but both made me laugh my butt off.

        Humor is very difficult.
        A comedian that makes it look as easy as Cosby does is a master of his craft.
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        • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
          Originally Posted by KimW View Post

          But lets take 2 very old comedy teams, The Three Stooges and laurel and hardy.

          I never liked nor understood the appeal of The Three Stooges,yet many to this day think they are the greatest comedy team ever.
          I always preferred Laurel and Hardy.
          When I was a kid, I watched the Three Stooges, and laughed the whole time. As an adult, I found them on cable...and couldn't understand why I thought they were funny before. Laurel & Hardy? Still think they are funny.

          Most comedians deliver funny lines. But Cosby transcends all that. It's like a short one man play. You imagine the different characters......he gets you to laugh...and as the laugh starts to wane..there is another wave of laughter.

          I tried to tell my wife a line or two of one of his bits...but it failed miserably. Every laugh builds on the last ten laughs...like a progressively funnier story...which they were.

          I wonder if he writes his own material. I've forgotten just how good he is.

          By the way, to me telling jokes is pretty easy. The moron at the water cooler can do that. Telling funny stories, that build on themselves.....that's difficult. Maybe the hardest humor. Because if you miss a beat..the whole story kind of falls apart. But you can recover easily from a failed one liner.
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    • Profile picture of the author MikeAmbrosio
      Originally Posted by KimW View Post

      Cosby has been "sitting down on the job" for years.

      He has been a comic and actor for decades. Played a black lead on a major tv show back when it was very rare.

      Just Saturday morning I had Nick Jr on and there was a show called Little Bill I think.
      Turned out it was a childrens show created by,you guessed it, Bill Cosby.

      And one of the best comics. You are right,he can tell a story.
      And he plays clean. Never uses blue material. I applaud him for that alone.

      Most comediams these days can't get through a set without using all 7 words that Carlin said can't be said on tv. (How things have changed).

      I have to disagree with Kinison. Never found him funny at all.
      Extremely overated.
      and of course you remember the old Fat Albert cartoons - where he did (if I recall correctly) all of the voices. Another classic.

      Always loved his work.

      Edit: He did 3 of the voices according to Wikipedia
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    Cosby is awesome. When I was growing up, a friend's mom had a Cosby album with the 'NOAH' skit on it..."Voobaw/Voobaw/Voobaw"

    We must have listened to that 100X. Never got old.


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  • Profile picture of the author BlvdJeremy
    Wow I will have to check this out. Bill Cosby is awesome!
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