“At this time we are postponing the launch of the new stand-up comedy special Bill Cosby 77,” which was to have arrived Nov. 27. The move comes in the wake of yet another allegation (Janice Dickinson, a model and TV host, who told “ET” the assault on her took place in 1982.)
The move was absolutely expected — the Cosby camp canceled a scheduled appearance on “Late Show with David Letterman” that was to have happened Wednesday night, while reports seem to indicate that the decision to cancel or postpone the Netflix special was a mutual one.
The TV press is now holding a death watch on Cosby’s planned comedy for NBC, which has declined to comment (although I reliably heard in the wake of last week’s Meme social media fiasco that it remained on track.)
NBC appears to have a couple of options at this point: Wait for the firestorm to die down, then quietly pull the plug; or simply confirm that it is ending the program. Both options certainly hold risks — including financial (unclear at this point whether the sitcom, which was to arrived next year, was a “put pilot” deal, meaning NBC was obligated to air it, or pay a penalty in the event that it does not.)
Bill Cosby — as if this needs to even be spelled out — holds a unique position in NBC history: He was the first African-American actor to effectively break the “color barrier” in prime time, when he starred as colead on hit series “I Spy” with Robert Culp in the late ’60s; and of course, “The Cosby Show” catapulted NBC’s Thursday lineup to a leadership position that it held for well over a decade. His Saturday morning presence was equally indelible: “Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids” was one of NBC’s greatest animated successes, and remains in the minds of many millions, a very happy memory.
Thus to cancel a Cosby series holds — in no small measure — a degree of symbolism and even emotion for the network (and networks aren’t exactly beholden to either). He has been, quite simply, one of television’s most beloved and bankable stars over nearly 50 years. Cosby’s current travails — not to mention the pain others have been speaking of in recent weeks — has been a tragedy. NBC almost certainly is aware that anything it does or says at this point will or could compound that.
Nevertheless, the show — which was to have starred Mike O’Malley, and has been described as a multigenerational comedy — is almost certainly and effectively dead. All that remains is the news release confirming the end.
