Don't Call It a Comeback, Bill Cosby's Been Here For Years

[Sawyer]

http://www.deadline.com/2014/01/bill-cosby-nbc-return-tv-series-star/

Bill Cosby Returning To NBC To Star In Family Comedy
By NELLIE ANDREEVA

EXCLUSIVE: In 1984, The Cosby Show revived the sitcom genre and fueled NBC‘s ratings resurgence. Three decades later, Bill Cosby is looking to bring some of that magic back to NBC, which has been going though a rough time with comedies. The network has made a deal for a half-hour family comedy to star Cosby. As he did in the ’80s, Cosby has partnered with producer Tom Werner, whose company with Marcy Carsey produced Cosby Show. The new comedy will be built around Cosby, who will play the patriarch of a multi-generational family and, like the comedian’s previous family sitcoms – Cosby Show and Cosby on CBS — The Cosby Show will channel his take on marriage and parenting. Cosby and Werner are meeting with writers on the project, which has been put on off-season development track.

Cosby and Werner had been mulling doing a family comedy for a while with the goal to reach a wide audience. “They would like to see a married couple that acts like they love each other, warts and all, children who respect the parenting, and the comedy of people who make mistakes. Warmth and forgiveness,” Cosby told Yahoo TV in November. “So I hope to get that opportunity, and I will deliver the best of Cosby.” In addition to the family comedy, CAA-repped Cosby also has been working on a reboot of his animated series Fat Albert And The Cosby Kids with writer-producer Tom Straw.

The question is: Does this stand any better chance of being successful than Michael J. Fox's show?

 

[Teelie]

I think it does. I saw his recent stand up performance a few months ago and he still has it. Of course it's stand up and not a sitcom but he's still very much Cosby and I think it would be great to have him back again.

Even better would be if somehow they pulled a hat-trick and got the original cast back for it.

 

[TX85]

A whole new series or especially continuing the old show would be great

 

[runawayboulder]

I respect Bill Cosby and adore Michael J Fox but NBC has it all wrong here.

The key demographic is 18-49. Bill Cosby is 76. How's he supposed to appeal to that age group?

 

[Sawyer]

Eh. James Spader is 53. The Blacklist is doing well for itself.

 

[Teelie]

I respect Bill Cosby and adore Michael J Fox but NBC has it all wrong here.

The key demographic is 18-49. Bill Cosby is 76. How's he supposed to appeal to that age group?

People who are in their late 20's through late 30's will still remember Cosby growing up while in the 80's.