Bill Cosby was once quoted as saying "In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure." He has definitely lived up to his own quote, as today he is one of the most loved comedians in America. The story of how he got there is an example of what a big heart, a strong will, and a generous amount of talent can accomplish. His comedy and acting career began in 1962 when he began to make appearances at New York's Gaslight Cafe, where Bill Cosby tickets first became available. He was so successful that he left his Alma Mater, Temple University, to pursue a career in entertainment. He went on to become the first African American actor to star in a weekly television drama, appearing in I Spy alongside Robert Culp from 1965 to 1968. He was on his way to becoming one of the great American icons of the 20th Century.
A year after I Spy went off the air, Cosby was bade the star of his own TV Show, The Bill Cosby Show, which ran from 1969 to 1971. In the show he played the part of Chet Kincaid, a gym teacher at a fictional Los Angeles area high school. Today it is known as one of the most underrated television shows in history. The show introduced a new kind of comedy, in which an average guy is surrounded by eccentrics. Though the show did not air for very long, it laid the groundwork for what would follow.
A year later Cosby returned on September 11, 1972, on CBS with The New Bill Cosby Show, considered by some to be his best TV show ever. It was a comedy variety show that was fun, funny and featured an all-star list of guest stars. These included Peter Sellers, Lily Tomlin, Buddy Hackett, Connie Stevens, Don Rickles, The Smothers Brothers and Teresa Graves to name a few. Though the show was excellent and well-put-together, it was given a poor time slot and eventually fizzled out after one season.
It was followed by a second attempt at a variety show, Cos, which was presented on television for the first time on September 19, 1976. The idea of this set was to appeal to a younger crowd. The show, unfortunately did not last long, finishing on Halloween night. All this was leading up to something big, however, and during that time Cosby did have a hit show Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, an animation which ran for 12 years, airing on Saturday mornings. It chronicled the educational adventures of a group of Afro-American inner city kids.
In 1985, Bill Cosby's most successful TV show was launched on September 20, 1984. The well-known show featured Cosby as an obstetrician, Dr. Heathcliff "Cliff" Huxtable, a man with a gaggle of children and a lovely and down-to-earth wife, played by the wonderful Phylicia Rashad. The successful, middle-class, African-American family presented a wholesome and humorous form of entertainment on the screen. Over the years the Huxtables raised their children, and had many others coming and going through their house. The Cosby Show became the top-rated show in America for five years, ending in 1992. In 2009 is still a fixture in the syndicated-rerun field. Today, Bill Cosby is still a favorite comedian, now with a Doctorate in Education. Tickets to his shows sell out fast, so make sure that you pick them up online soon while they are still available.
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