The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show
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TV Show Information
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The Cosby Show is an American sitcom starring Bill Cosby.
History[edit]
Bart and Homer were watching the final broadcast of The Cosby Show when a screen appeared displaying Cliff and the program's title and its original run dates. Remembering the series, Homer remarked that Little Theo had grown up before their eyes. Bart then asked why the show was ending, and Homer explained that Bill Cosby had decided to stop producing it before its quality began to decline. Bart disagreed, saying that if he had a television show, he would keep it running for as long as possible regardless of its quality. Homer responded by expressing his approval of that attitude.[1]
When Bleeding Gums Murphy was hospitalized at Springfield General Hospital, Lisa Simpson asked him when he had last worked. Murphy replied that it was in 1986, when he made a guest appearance on The Cosby Show. In a flashback to the appearance, Cliff Huxtable (Bill Cosby) introduced Murphy to the Huxtable children—Rudy, Theodore, and Denise—as "Grampa Murphy." Rudy responded that they already had three grandpas, and the children then dismissed him, saying in an indifferent tone that they all already had grandfathers. Cosby replied that Murphy was a great jazz musician, but the children remained uninterested. He then launched into a monologue explaining jazz by comparing it to commercial products such as Jell-O Pudding Pops, Kodak film, and New Coke, while claiming that children were no longer interested in jazz because of rap music. Throughout the scene, Murphy himself did not speak and was shown silently holding his saxophone while Cosby carried the conversation.[2]
Behind the Laughter[edit]
- The Cosby Show is a real TV show which aired from 1984 to 1992. For a few years, it was a competitor of The Simpsons.
- In the episode, the Cosby character compares jazz music to Jell-O Pudding Pops, Kodak film and New Coke. In real life, Bill Cosby was involved in advertising all three products.
- The Cosby character's line about rap music giving children brain damage is a reference to the line "All children have brain damage!" from Cosby's real-life comedy album and film Bill Cosby: Himself.
Simpsons Farewell[edit]
Around May 1992, which is when The Cosby Show last aired, The Simpsons' producers added a tiny clip at the end of a rerun of "Three Men and a Comic Book" a few seconds after the credits. In it, Homer and Bart are watching TV when an image of Cosby (captioned with the show's title and original-run airdates) appears. Homer and Bart then have the following conversation:
- Homer: Little Theo, you grew up before our eyes.
- Bart: Hey Dad, how come they're taking The Cosby Show off the air?
- Homer: Because Mr. Cosby wanted to stop before the quality suffered.
- Bart: Quality, shmuality! If I had a TV show I'd run that sucker down to the ground!
- Homer: Amen, boy. Amen.
Appearances[edit]
Episode – "Three Men and a Comic Book" (rerun)- Episode – "'Round Springfield" (flashback)
- Episode – "I'm Dancing as Fat as I Can"
