Big discounts on
stuff you want!

Peabody & Sherman cartoons on DVD Car Battery Charger Carol Burnett Show on DVD Mary Tyler Moore Show on DVD After School Specials on DVD
Please consider a donation!

 

Bill Cosby Controversy
by Jim Longworth


Bill CosbyIt is ironic that an African American comedian is responsible for bringing down another African American comedian, but it looks like that's what has happened. Back in October during a stand-up routine, comedian Hannibal Burress referred to Bill Cosby as a rapist, not once, but several times. Said Burress, "Bill Cosby has the f**king smuggest old Black man persona that I hate. (he says) 'Pull up your pants Black people'. Oh yeah, well you raped women Bill Cosby. (he says) 'I don't curse on stage'. Yeah, but you rape
women".

Listening to the tape, audience laughter seemed a bit strained after Burress used the "R" word for the second time. They didn't seem to know whether he was making a joke, or opening up an incredulously sick can of worms. As it turns out, he did both.



Almost immediately after Hannibal's routine went viral, women from all over the country started coming forward to tell their stories of how the Cos allegedly raped them. To my knowledge, none of the women had ever met before, yet their tales of sexual assault were almost identical. Some of the incidents took place in hotel rooms, others in dressing rooms. One attack allegedly occurred at Cosby's New York city Brownstown, and another back stage at both the Carson and Letterman shows. But regardless of the venue, the common denominator was spiked drinks. Typically and allegedly, Cosby would give his "victim" a glass of wine laced with a date rape drug. Once drugged, most of the women had foggy memories, but recalled Cosby standing over them, disrobing, then getting on top of them. The next thing they knew it was morning, and they awoke either totally or partially nude.

Variations of that scenario have been recounted by former super model Janice Dickinson and (to date) 17 other women. Only one of the women, Louisa Moritz, says her alleged attack did not involve drugs or intercourse. In 1971, Moritz was preparing to make an appearance on The Tonight Show when, she says, Cosby entered her dressing room and forced his penis into her mouth. That incident, and all of the others (if true) speaks to the power and arrogance of a man who thought his fame and influence made him untouchable and unimpeachable.

The alleged rapes took place over a period of nearly 40 years, from 1965 to 2004, but during that time, only one woman went public. According to The National review, Andrea Constand, a former Temple University employee sued Cosby for sexual assault. The case was settled out of court in 2004. The question is, why didn't all of Cosby's alleged victims come forward immediately after their attack?

Perhaps the answer lies in a remark made by a former PR executive for the Coca Cola company, referring to a time when Cosby was a spokesperson for Coke, Jello, and numerous other products. According to The National Review, the executive said, "The three most believable personalities today are God, Walter Cronkite, and Bill Cosby". Translation? Any woman who tried to accuse Cosby of anything other than saintly behavior, would simply not have been believed. That's because potential judges and juries would have seen Bill as the kindly, caring TV dad
from "The Cosby Show".

Bill CosbyOf course, the entertainment industry is a small community, so even though Cosby's alleged victims didn't go public, news of the assaults were commonly known or suspected by numerous individuals, including some in the press. Last week, New York Times columnist David Carr apologized for the role he and his brethren in the fourth estate might have played in turning a blind eye to Cosby's many indiscretions. According to Fox news, even Cosby's biographer Mark Whitaker was feeling guilty. In a tweet to Carr, Whitaker wrote, "I was wrong not to deal with the sexual assault charges against Cosby, and pursue them more aggressively".

But even if the press had been more aggressive, it's unlikely they could have taken on the iconic Cosby at the height of his popularity. Last week, the New York Daily News reported that Frank Scotti, a former NBC staffer is alleged to have been a bagman for Cosby's pay-offs to women. According to the Daily News, Cosby gave Scotti bags of $100 dollar bills, which Frank then converted into money orders, and disbursed to Cosby's alleged rape victims, in order to buy their silence. Meanwhile, Cosby had his own direct system for keeping the media at bay, just in case the bribes didn't work. Last week, New York Post columnist Richard Johnson reported that in 1989, The National Enquirer called Cosby to tell the comedian they were about to break a story detailing his carousing with showgirls in Las Vegas. Cosby then allegedly made a deal with The Enquirer in which he would give them an exclusive story about his daughter Erin's drug problem, if the tabloid would drop the Vegas story. And just a few days ago, another bombshell hit.
It has been reported by the Associated Press that Cosby made a deal with the Enquirer in 2005 to kill a story about Beth Ferrier's charges that he had raped her, in exchange for an exclusive interview about the Andrea Constand case. The reason? Had Ferrier's accusations been published, it would have made Constand's charges more believable.

These alleged rapes, pay-offs, and cover-ups reveal a side of Bill Cosby that the general public never knew. But how could they? For decades, Cosby set himself up as our moral compass. He was our arbiter of social values, always criticizing others for their bad behavior, even though his own behavior was far worse. In a speech at Constitution Hall in 2004, for instance, Cosby admonished parents to teach their children better morals. He also scolded Black people for using incorrect English. And then there was his infamous lecture to Black youth to pull up their low hanging, saggy pants. Last week, SNL anchor Michael Che commented, "Pull up your own damn pants Bill Cosby". And during his glory days as a spokesman for Coca Cola, Cosby once called up Eddie Murphy and told him not to use profanity on stage. Murphy recounted the phone call to Richard Pryor who told Eddie to tell Cosby to "Have a Coke and a smile, and shut the f**k up".

It's not surprising, then, that Cosby's fall from grace is being celebrated in some quarters, and the fall-out is growing every day. Netflix postponed Cosby's Thanksgiving special, NBC scrapped a project that was in the works, TV land has removed "The Cosby Show" from its line-up, and most of Cosby's upcoming concert dates have been canceled. Cosby was also recently removed from High Point University's Advisory Board, and stripped of his title as co-Chair of University of Massachusetts' capital campaign. And though the statute of limitations will probably keep Dr. Cosby out of jail, some of his alleged rape victims are now considering a class action suit.

Cosby's attorney Marty Singer has tried his best to discredit the 18 women who have come forward, saying that their claims are "ridiculous". A frustrated Singer also posed the rhetorical question, "When will it end?" For Mr. Cosby's alleged victims, I hope the answer is "Very soon".

TVparty is Classic TV on the internet!
Classic TV on the Internet!

 

Read More from Jim Longworth at
Yes! Weekly - Every Week!

 

 

Video on Demand Rent or Buy

Entertainment Collectables

 

 

 

 

Local Kid Shows / Movie Stars on TV / Saturday Morning Shows / Video Vault / TV Goodbyes / Fabulous Fifties / Unseen Scenes / Game Shows / Requested Forgotten TV Shows / The Super Sixties / More Modern TV Shows / The New * * Shows / 1980's Wrestling / TV Blog

TVparty is Classic TV on the internet!
Classic TV on the Internet!

TV's Embarrassing Moments / Action Shows of the Sixties / TVparty Mysteries and Scandals / Variety Shows of the 1970s / The Eighties / The Laugh Track / 1970's Hit Shows / Response to TVparty / Search the Site / Add Your Comments

Hit Shows of the Seventies: Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy / Gene Roddenberry in the 1970s / 1977-1978 Superhero & Science Fiction TV Shows / Funniest SNL Skit Ever! / Remembering Suzanne Somers / Prisoner: Cell Block H / Why John Amos Left Good Times / Reviving Match Game / How Betty White's 'Happy Hommaker' Came About / Remembering Cindy-Williams / Creating The Rockford Files / TV Dads Talk Sex & Fatherhood / TV Shows We Watched 50 Years Ago / How Maude Came About / Rare Audio of Bette Davis' Broadway Bound Flop 'Miss Moffat' / Interview With Director John Erman / Orson Welles' Last Interview / Remembering Ed Asner / When PBS Got Naked: Steambath / Bruce Vilanch on Writing for Donny & Marie / Writing For Fernwood 2 Night / Kris Kristofferson vs Barbra Streisand on A Star Is Born? Kinda... / Remembering Gavin MacLeod / Cher Reviews Her Iconic Outfits Since 1965 / Best Columbo Episodes / Star Maidens Sci-Fi Series / Sonny Bono's Last Show 1974 / Interview with Cindy Williams (Lavern & Shirley) / One of the Most Controversial Episodes of All In The Family / Outside Chance / The Night Johnny Carson Broke Down / Real People / That's Incredible! / Gavin MacLeod on His MTM Castmates / Norman Mailer & Muhammad Ali / Charles Nelson Reilly Flops on Broadway / Chuck Norris vs Eva Gabor / Dear Detective / Dirty Sally / Peggy Lee & Anthony Newley's Weird Pre-Show Rituals / The Protectors / Chevy Chase Talks Hollywood Cocaine Parties / 1977 Season Show Openings / Love Boat's Oscar Winning Guest Stars / Henry Fonda's 4 Favorite Films / Tom Snyder Interviews Star Trek Cast & Harlan Ellison / The Corner Bar / Tim Conway's 'The Dentist' Sketch / Roy Radin Revue: Drunken Ronnie Spector / Henry Winkler on His Happy Days Audition / Patrick Duffy of Dallas Interview/ Mary Kay Place Albums of the 1970s / The Supremes - Mary Wilson vs Diana Ross / When Bruce Dern Killed John Wayne / 1974 Tom Snyder Our Gang Special / Bruce / Caitllyn Jenner? / Billy Crash Craddock Interview / Melissa McCarthy Almost Quit Acting Days Before Landing Gilmore Girls / Bar Rescue's Wildest Customers! / TV HITS - By the Numbers / Alex Baldwin On His TV and Film Roles / Ray Charles' BIG Problem With TV / Top Ten Sitcoms of the 1970s / James Cameron Made No Money for Titanic / Growing Up In The Playboy Mansion / Ed McMahon Drunk on the Air! / Lucy Interviewed by Barbara Walters / Valerie Harper Cancer / Jeff Bridges Breaks Down His Iconic Roles / Dallas vs Eight is Enough / 1974 MAD Magazine TV Special - Never Aired! / Iconic M*A*S*H Restaurant Coming To Kroger? / When Lucy Got Fired / Partridge Family and Brady Bunch at Kings Island theme park 1972-73 / Awkward Talk Show Moments / Allan Blye Interview / Jack Benny's Last Tonight Show 1974 / Patricia Heaton's Audition for Everybody Loves Raymond / Luke Perry's Last Role / Johnny Cash's Last Interview / Judy Garland's Last Film / Who Was Bob Gordon? / Richard Dreyfuss vs Bill Murray / Jeff Ross vs Everybody / Tennessee Williams 1972 Interview / Ed Asner Interview / Norm Macdonald vs OJ Simpson / Tony Kornheiser Interview / Freddy's Nightmares TV Series / Emmy Award Multiple Winners / Nathaniel Taylor aka Rollo Lawson / Mary Kay Place Albums of the 1970s / That Girl & TV's Single Working Women / Can You Identify These Stars? / Betty White vs Joan Rivers / Paul Lynde's Greatest Hollywood Squares Zingers / Sonny Comedy Revue / Star Trek Animated / Dark Shadows / Hal Linden Interview / Dark Shadows Movies / Dark Shadows Novels / The Night Stalker / One of the Funniest Carol Burnett Show Skits Ever / Fred 'The Hammer' Williamson / Johnny Carson interviews Lucille Ball / Dawn Wells / Betty White : An Appreciation / Bette Davis' 2 Best Interviews 1971 / Barbara Eden Interview / Gavin McLeod / Spider-Man 77 / The Next Step Beyond / The Music Dark Shadows / 1970 TV Shows / Mike Connors Remembered / Mike Wallace, Virginia Graham & Jim Longworth / Dick Clark / Woody Allen Hosts Tonight Show 1971 / Carson Tonight Show / Alan Alda Interview / Jackie Gleason Show / 1973 TV Shows / Thriller / Post Modern Sitcoms / Elvis in Greensboro / Remembering Dick Van Patten / TV Dating Shows / The Jacksons TV Show / Fall Previews of the 70s / Lance Link, Secret Chimp / Star Wars Holiday Special / Alias Smith and Jones / 1977 Year in Review / Top Ten 1970-76 / The Rockford Files / All in the Family / Sam Hall (Dark Shadows) Interview / Actor Ed Nelson / Death of Archie / Battlestar Galactica / Wonder Woman / Network Jingles / Class of '74 / Happy Days / Good Times / Mr. Bill / Dinah! / Maude / Doris Day Show / Pamelyn Ferdin Interview / The Bicentennial Minute / Jingles & Catch Phrases of the 1970s / Early Cable TV 1970s / TV commercials for Women / TV Moms / Red Skelton / George Lindsay / Country Music TV Shows of the 1960s & 1970s / Betty White Show / Shirley Jones Interview /Shirley Jones Interview / Rodney Dangerfield / How Sanford & Son Ended / Sanford & Son Spin-Off Grady / Great Memoirs / Virginia Graham Show / The "N" Word on TV / 10 Classic Comedy Routines You Have To Laugh At Before You Die / Hollywood Squares / 1970's Teen Idols & The Hudson Brothers / TV Stars with 3 Hit Shows / The Rookies / Unsold Pilots / Jackie Cooper / The Good Guys / Match Game / Make Room For Granddaddy / Mannix & Gail Fisher / Bette Midler in the 1970s / Bonus 1970's Stuff: Silent Star Marion Mack / Biff Burger / 1970s Fast Food Chains / Latin Casino / Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire / 1970's Daytime Talk Shows / The Fess Parker Show / Brady Bunch Sex Dungeon? / Love, Loss & What I Watched

Classic TV Commercials / 1950's TV / 1960's TV / 1970's TV / Groucho vs William F Buckley / / TV Games / Honey Boo Boo / Lucy Shows / Classic Cars / John Wayne / Gene Roddenberry / Rockford Files / Sea Hunt / 1970s Commercial Jingles / Superman on DVD / Toy Gun Ads / Flip Wilson Show / Big Blue Marble / Monty Hall / Carrascolendas / Mr. Dressup / Major Mudd / Chief Halftown / What's In Oprah's Purse? / Baby Daphne / Sheriff John / Winchell & Mahoney / Fireball X-L5 / Mr. Wizard / Captain Noah / Thanksgiving Day Specials / Disney's First Christmas Special / Saturday Morning Cartoons / The Magic Garden / Amahl & the Night Visitors / Holiday Toy Commercials / Lucy & Desi's Last Christmas Show / Joey Heatherton / Fat Albert / The Virginian / Bewitched / Death of John Wayne / 1974 Saturday Mornings / Chuck McCann / Rudolph Collectables / Shrimpenstein / Local Popeye Shows / New Treasure Hunt / 1966 ABC TV Shows / 1967 TV Shows / 1968 TV Shows / Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes & Baby Doll / Fridays / TV Moms / Red Skelton / Star Wars / KISS / Lancelot Link / Saturday Morning Cartoons / The Magic Garden / Wonder Woman / Classic Comic Books / Andy Griffith / Cher / TV Shows on DVD / Outtakes & Bloopers / 1967 TV Shows / Romper Room / ABC Movie of the Week / The Goldbergs / Daws Butler Commercials / Saturday Morning Commercials / Captain Kangaroo / Chicago Local Kiddie Shows / Boston Local TV / Philly Local TV / NYC Local Kid Shows / Amos 'n' Andy / Electric Company / Bette Davis / Judy Garland / Christmas Specials / Redd Foxx / Good Times / Sitcom Houses / What's Happening! / Winky Dink & You / Sonny & Cher / Smothers Brothers / Commercial Icons of the 1960s / Soupy Sales / TV Terrorists / Irwin Allen / The Untouchables / Carol Burnett Show / Batman TV Show / Green Hornet / Today Show History / Our Gang / Doris Day Show / 1970's Commercials For Women / Bill Cosby in the 1970s / The Golddiggers / Lola Falana / 1970s TV Shows / David Bowie on TV / Hudson Brothers / Jackie Gleason / Hollywood Squares / Match Game / Bob Keeshan / Gumby / The Flip Wilson Show / Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour / The Bobby Darin Show / The Richard Pryor Show / George Burns / Celebrity Commercials / Rudolph / Movie Posters & More!
  Everything
you're looking
for is right here:


Save money!
Carol Burnett Show on DVD inspector gadget DVD King Family Christmas on DVD Lost In Space on DVD “The Mr Peabody on DVD
TV Shows on DVD/ / / / / / / TV Show Reviews / / / / / / / Cartoons on DVD/ / / / / / / Holiday Specials on DVD / / / / / / Classic Commercials
Looking for classic TV DVDs?/See below:
TV Commercials on DVD Wrestling DVDs Classic TV Books