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Bill Cosby

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Cosby is, without a doubt, the best-selling comedian of all time on records

Bill Cosby is, by any standards, one of the most influential stars in America today. Whether it be through concert appearances or recordings, television or films, commercials or education, Bill Cosby has the ability to touch people's lives. His humor often centers on the basic cornerstones of our existence, seeking to provide an insight into our roles as parents, children, family members, and men ...

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...and women. Without resorting to gimmickry or low-brow humor, Bill Cosby's comedy has a point of reference and respect for the trappings and traditions of the great American humorists such as Charlie Chaplin, Will Rogers, W.C. Fields and Groucho Marx.

The 1984-92 run of "The Cosby Show" and his books "Fatherhood" and "Time Flies" established new benchmarks on how success is measured. His status at the top of the TVQ survey year after year continues to confirm his appeal as one of the most popular personalities in America. Cosby's believability and humor makes him most effective as the spokesman for Jell-O.

Cosby has authored "Little Bill," a book series designed to encourage literacy for children ages six through ten. "Little Bill" has been on The New York Times Best Seller List.

Cosby's initial immediate success began with "" And continued with many other comedy albums. He also has released a number of jazz recordings, including "" (released in 1997). Cosby has earned five Grammy Awards for the best comedy album.

Bill Cosby represents the voice of a vast, ordinary world. Everyone seems to easily identify with his characters and the situations they find themselves in. He gives the twist of the ridiculous to everyday faults, foibles and successes and makes them a recognizable slice of life. Bill Cosby points out the humor in our lives, and in doing so, he touches our hearts. Because of this, his appeal is not restricted to any specific group. His qualities have endeared him to people from all walks of life.

It is the fusion of these qualities that has resulted in television's biggest and most influential hit of the modern era, "The Cosby Show." The show was credited by many for single-handedly resurrecting the sitcom genre. Cosby's return to television after eight years was promoted by what he perceived as a lack of relevance and an abundance of superficiality in TV comedy programming. Week after week of #1 ratings and the almost unanimous critical acclaim only confirms that others agree with his opinion.

Life Magazine wrote: "Cosby's success may have changed the game as well as the scores. Before his show hit the air, many viewers had rejected prime time television as an electronic wasteland of crime, slime, glitz and glands…What Cosby offered instead was a gentle, whimsical, warm-hearted sitcom about family life that found humor in the little things that happen in every home and everlasting value in the love and trust that exist between parents and children… Nobody actually says this family represents the whole human family, but the delicious ordinariness of its pleasures and tribulations has given millions a fresh, laughter-splashed perspective on their own domestic lives."

His success on television, which had been a catalyst in promoting NBC to first place, has been matched in other areas. In 1986, he broke Radio City's 53-year-old attendance record for his concert appearance. In 1987, wife Camille Cosby produced a home video cassette called "Bill Cosby 49" which was distributed by Kodak and sold in the hundreds of thousands. A comedy album on Geffen Records, "Those of You With or Without Children, You'll Understand," sold close to a million copies, an almost unheard of phenomenon today for a comedy record.

Cosby is, without a doubt, the best-selling comedian of all time on records. During the mid-sixties, Cosby had as many as six albums on the charts at one time. Eight of the albums have been certified Gold Records by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Cosby attended Wister Elementary School along with his pals Fat Albert, Old Weird Harold, Dumb Donald, Rudy, Nolan and Weasel – all later immortalized by Bill Cosby's comedy routines. When school was out, they could all be found romping through the "projects" (four massive suburban tenement buildings with a cement playground in the center) or under the Ninth Street Bridge. It was there Cosby acquired his athletic skills and his lifetime love of sports. Cosby's sixth grade teacher must have sensed his genius when she wrote on his report card, "William is a boy's boy, an all-around fellow, and he should grow up to do great things."