Should we still watch The Cosby Show? Both sides of trying to separate the artist from the art
The Cosby Show is great, but it’s hard to watch something when its stars are all disgusting. This is a balanced view of the current situation.
Bill Cosby was born on July 12, 1937 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Temple University and got his start on NBC’s hit television show I Spy, becoming the first African American to win an Emmy. Cosby went on to create the legendary Fat Albert and The Cosby Show. Both shows provided a platform for African Americans while teaching them important life lessons about upholding one’s morals and the harmful effects of racism
Recently, however, Cosby has been accused of several extremely heinous crimes, including drugging and sexually assaulting women. In fact, he was convicted for his crimes but was later released, the verdict having been overturned. He will continue to defend the fifth person and maintain his innocence after the case is reinstated, but the damage has already been done. His career declined and much of the public turned against him, as they felt stolen and disappointed by America’s father.
Whether it exists or not, and regardless of what it means to a person, the very idea of ‘cancel culture’ has shaped many sociopolitical conversations. With social justice or simple outrage, it’s easy to understand why people wouldn’t want to work with Cosby. However, does that necessarily mean his work needs to be abandoned? Should fans completely reject The Cosby Show? What are the arguments?
As stated before, Cosby became a humorous and likeable character, something that hid the fact that he was a sexual deviant who preyed on impressionable women and used naivety. of them (and his power) to his advantage. Having assaulted dozens of women, it seems unlikely that Hollywood will be willing to welcome him back.
Before all of his misdeeds became public, Cosby seemed like a guy who stood up for the black community and devoted himself to many causes, including literacy, HCBU, health psychiatry and education. Although his work stands out in the communities he represents, all the goodwill and welfare in the world does not make up for the truth of his crimes, or what some call is “moral degradation”.
Having talent, money or power cannot absolve people from crime. R. Kelly and his music were kicked off the Spotify platform when he was branded a pedophile, Harvey Weinstein was jailed after raping multiple women, and Matt Lauer was fired from NBC for harassment . Actions have consequences.
Cosby’s image has been irreparably damaged, and it seems that, given his age, he won’t be able to bounce back (despite his own efforts). Watching his previous shows can seem jarring, understanding the history behind the creator. His actions, too, will certainly have consequences, and the consequences will be harsh.
‘The Cosby Show’ is still enlightening
Still image of Bill Cosby from We Need To Talk About Cosby Showtime
Despite what people may think of Bill Cosby himself, The Cosby Show remains enlightening and funny to this day, and truly helped people grow and develop at the time. A case in point: in one episode, Cosby’s Cliff Huxtable talks to his son Theo about his poor grades and what he plans to do with his life after high school. Theo explains to his father that he will not be going to college, which does not seem to surprise Cliff given his poor grades.
Theo explains that he will only get a mediocre job as a “normal person.” Cliff, using monopoly money as an example, offers an analogy of how Theo would hypothetically use his money if he only accepted a job that suited his skills and intelligence. Theo becomes depressed when all of his money is taken away at the end of the analogy. In that time, Theo learned the value of getting an education, the importance of being unstable, and the importance of striving for better.
Although it often seems cheesy in a ‘family sitcom’ kind of way, this is one of the good reasons why so many people consider Bill Cosby (or rather Cliff Huxtable, the idealized Cosby character he never existed) as “America’s Dad”. Appreciating these aspects of The Cosby Show could even be seen as an act of reclaiming the power that Cosby took from the memories of so many; In some arguable ways, letting him destroy the show that so many people love (besides his life) would help Cosby win. Perhaps there is still a way to cultivate healthy fiction.
It is obvious that whether ‘cancel the hnded for his crimes (and maybe, as some believe might happen, go right back to prison), that doesn’t necessarily mean that the created work should fall by the wayside. He was hardly the only person involved in The Cosby Show; the great work of co-creator Ed Weinberger and co-stars Phylicia Rashad, Sabrina Le Beauf, Geoffrey Owens, Lisa Bonet and numerous others shouldn’t be completely discarded because of Cosby, just as some of Mia Farrow’s greatest acting achievements shouldn’t be be tarnished because of the behavior of her abuser.
