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From StamfordPlus.com Entertainment
Bill Cosby’s successes, that span five decades and virtually all media, are remarkable accomplishments for a kid who emerged from humble beginnings in a Philly project. He is without a doubt one of the most influential stars in America today with an uncanny ability to touch people’s lives. Cosby does so without resorting to gimmicky or lowbrow humor, representing the voice of the vast, ordinary world out there while pointing out the humor in our lives. “I feel that in-person contact with people is the most important thing in comedy. While I’m up on stage, I can actually put myself into the audience and adjust my pace and timing to them. I can get into their heads through their ears and through their eyes. Only through this total communication can I really achieve what I’m trying to do, “ says Cosby about his performances. His stories are full of characters that are easy to identify with and situations that we can all relate to. Because of this, his appeal is not restricted to any specific group and is revered by people from all walks of life. His routines have rocked audiences with laughter at the top clubs and theaters around the country. Many of his expressions have even become part of the jargon of this generation, like his famous drawn-out “riiiiiiight.” A veteran stand-up performer, Cosby got his start at various clubs in Philadelphia and New York City, eventually landing a role in the 1960s action show I Spy. Cosby’s presence as the first black star of a dramatic television series made I Spy unique because he was able to break the racial barrier in television and be an equal co-star with a white man. Before the series ended he had won three Emmy Awards. Cosby’s greatest television success came in 1984 with the debut of The Cosby Show. The show has been credited by many for single-handedly resurrecting the sitcom genre, and helped lift NBC from last place to first in the ratings. The Cosby Show was unprecedented in its portrayal of an intelligent, affluent, non-stereotypical African-American family, and enjoyed years of number one ratings and nearly unanimous critical praise. Other barriers were broken when Cosby became the first African-American to be a major spokesperson for some of America’s most important consumer products corporations. Cosby has been featured in commercials for such products as General Foods and Jello, Ford Motor Company, Coca-Cola, and Kodak among others. A crusader throughout his career for a better world, his great success in the world of entertainment is complemented by his involvement with a host of charity organizations, making substantial gifts in support of education - most notably to predominantly black colleges and to various social service and civil rights organizations. Cosby brings a strong intention to all of his projects, whether entertainment or advocacy, and uses his talents and outreach to promote education and help expand human potential. Stamford Center for the Arts presents Bill Cosby is sponsored in part by Pitney Bowes, with additional support from the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism. For additional information (directions, parking, area restaurants and shopping) visit the SCA website at www.scalive.org or call 203-325-4466. © Copyright by StamfordPlus.com |
