Bill Cosby, one of the most influential comedians and storytellers of his generation, will give a solo stand-up comedy performance - his only scheduled New York appearance - on Saturday, October 17, 2009, at 7:00 and 9:30 p.m. at Avery Fisher Hall.
The recipient of a Kennedy Center Honor in 1998, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002, and, in October 2009, the 12th Annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor from The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Mr. Cosby is known not only for his award-winning The Cosby Show but for his numerous books, animated series, and individual appearances over a lifetime of performance.
Mr. Cosby is being presented at Avery Fisher Hall by Princeton Entertainment and the New York Philharmonic. [Editors note: This is a solo appearance; the New York Philharmonic will be on tour in Asia at this time.]
Whether through concert appearances or recordings, television or films, commercials or education, Bill Cosby has the ability to touch people's lives. His humor often centers on the basic cornerstones of our existence, seeking to provide an insight into our roles as parents, children, family members, and men and women. Without resorting to gimmickry or lowbrow humor, Mr. Cosby's comedy has a point of reference and respect for the trappings and traditions of the great American humorists such as Charlie Chaplin, Will Rogers, W.C. Fields, and Groucho Marx.
The 1984-92 run of The Cosby Show and Mr. Cosby's books Fatherhood and Time Flies established new benchmarks on how success is measured. The Cosby Show, one of the most popular programs in the history of television, garnered 29 Emmy nominations, with six wins; six Golden Globe nominations, with three wins; and ten People's Choice Awards. His status at the top of the TVQ survey year after year continues to confirm his appeal as one of the most popular personalities in America.
Mr. Cosby's books include Come On, People! On the Path from Victims to Victors, written with Alvin F. Poussaint, M.D., professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and civil rights veteran - a message of hope and empowerment; Come On, People, published by Thomas Nelson, which provides real-life examples of the problems plaguing communities throughout America and the time-tested solutions that can help turn things around; Friends of a Feather: One of Life's Little Fables, a HarperEntertainment book released in 2003, in collaboration with his daughter, Erika, who created the illustrations; and I Am What I Ate ... and I'm frightened!!!, published by HarperCollins, which offers a hip, humorous, hard-earned wisdom on the healthy lifestyle and the behavior behind it. His book, Fatherhood, also became an animated series on Nick at Nite.
Mr. Cosby has touched the hearts of a new generation of young children with his Emmy Award-winning Little Bill animated series, which aired daily on Nickelodeon and Saturday mornings on CBS, and was based on Mr. Cosby's popular children's books.
His interest in young people also spawned his best-selling book, Congratulations! Now What?, published by Hyperion, which contains his take on college life and what lies ahead for the new graduate in the real world.
Bill Cosby Presents The Cosnarati: State of Emergency is a rap album made as a companion to Come On, People! The song story concepts were written by Mr. Cosby and were assembled by his longtime musical collaborator Bill "Spaceman" Patterson with guest rappers providing the rhymes about the value of an education, respecting one's self, and giving listeners a chance to raise their self-esteem and confidence.
Bill Cosby and his wife, Camille, produced a live action/animated Fat Albert motion picture in 2004. A box office success, the movie introduced a new generation to the loveable character and his friends initially made famous through the Cosby comedy routines about them.
Growing up, Bill Cosby often neglected his studies for athletics and, after repeating the tenth grade, he left school to join the Navy, finishing high school through a correspondence course while still in the service. After being discharged, he enrolled at Temple University with an athletic scholarship and earned academic honors. His goal was to become a physical education teacher, and he probably could have made it as a professional football player. He earned a master of education degree (M. Ed.) in 1972 and his doctorate in education (D. Ed.) in 1977 from the University of Massachusetts. His doctoral thesis was titled "The Integration of Visual Media via Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids Into the Elementary Schools Culminating as a Teacher Aid to Achieve Increased Learning."
