Bill Cosby’s Mark Twain Prize has reminded me of watching “I Spy” from ’65 to’68. And, although I realize there is still much racism in America, I believe that our generation was the generation that began to accept as natural and ordinary seeing black Americans on television. Perhaps I speak for myself, but for me, it was . . . natural. I was just seeing a good show. But what really sticks in my mind is Vicky Brown and Shawn Maughan and Jerry Nichelson and I at Jerry’s house , listening to Chicken Heart, Noah and various other Cosby albums, with side splitting laughter and then Jerry and Shawn continuing their Cosby banter, and imitating Cosby’s voice for days afterward. What fun and great times!
Don't forget Fat Albert, "Why is There Air?", "To Russell, My Brother, Whom I Slept With," The Green Hornet, Hofstra.
We used to catch his act in Denver at a nightclub called "The Turn of the Century." He would stop off there enroute to his gigs in Las Vegas to warm up. We'd spend the entire night howling. He's far funnier in person because you get to see his wonderful facial expressions.
We played his tape, "Natural Childbirth" at our Lamaze class once. Most of our fellow couples thought it was a scream. The instructor, for some reason, did not. I think that is one of his funniest routines.
