Starring: Bill Cosby Average Rating: Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) Binding: VHS Tape Format: Color, NTSC Label: 20th Century Fox Number of Items: 1 Release Date: January 07, 1997 Running Time: 105 minutes Theatrical Release Date: May 20, 1983
Description: One of America's most popular comedians, Bill Cosby treats his fans to a funny, satirical and heart-warming concert at Toronto's Hamilton Place Performing Arts Center. His material ranges from marriage and the unending trials of parenthood, to the side-splitting antics of the very young, and a hilarious encounter with a dentist's drill and needle. Insightful and witty, this highly entertaining film is a rare cinematic treat, filled with all the spontaneity and electricity that only a live performance can provide.
Amazon.com: After I Spy and before The Cosby Show, Bill Cosby left his own inimitable mark on the arena of stand-up comedy in this live concert showcasing his down-to-earth observations on the rigors and joys of family life. Cosby, using only a microphone and a chair, discusses his take on raising kids and the illogical nature of children and the futility of trying to argue with a child that in the end may be smarter than you. Notable highlights include Cosby's ruminations on the meaning of the all-purpose phrase "I don't know" to kids, and Cosby describing the effect raising children has on his wife Camille's mental state and the pitch of her voice. Containing the basis for the humor of his long-running situation comedy, Bill Cosby: Himself is a polished, occasionally insightful, and frequently hilarious night of comedy from one of the longtime masters of the form. --Robert Lane
As Always, Himself I have always enjoyed the humor of Bill Cosby and wanted to see this video for quite some time. I was not disappointed! As a parent of teenagers, this video really hits the mark describing their growing years of elementary and adolescent days. I laughed so much that tears came to my eyes! My daughter enjoyed parts of it but the reality of the monologue was not lost on my husband and I - thank goodness for clean comedy!
A Classic This is such a great way to have a good laugh at the realities of life, especially parenthood. Makes for a wonderful gift to new parents. Clean humor at its best. This truly is the best stand up comedy I have ever seen! lol
Classic comdey at it's finest This is a must for any comedy fan. Bill Cosby had some of the best stand up ever. You can watch it with your older children and laugh for days!
Bill Cosby is Still Himself, These Days. I was three years old when Dr. Cosby gave this performance for HBO. The following year came the first season of The Cosby Show. It took me over twenty years to learn how closely connected Bill Cosby Himself was to the creation (and duration) of The Cosby Show (especially the pilot episode). For me during the 80's, it only mattered that this special didn't include Phylicia, Sabrina, Lisa, Malcolm, Tempestt or Keshia. (And of course, there wasn't Geoffrey, Deon or Raven.)
Then, we entered the 90's, and I fully awoke to the differences between situation comedy, film comedy and - ta da - stand-up comedy. Once I finally got the gist of stand-up routines, this show made all the sense in the world. And, I fully grew to love it. One of my favorite moments in the show is the segment, "Natural Childbirth." (It wasn't until right before I purchased my copy that I learned the origin of the cheer, "Push him out, shove him out, way out," which would appear in the Cosby Show pilot.) But, the reason I loved that segment best is that one of my siblings and I used to imitate Dr. Cosby's vigorous Lamaze breathing ("Push, push!). Between that chapter and the Dentistry topic, I almost started calling Bill "Bottom-Lip Cosby."
When this show was first recorded, I was so curious what it was like to fly on an airplane. After watching the "Little Jeffrey' chapter, I'm glad I didn't. I may not have behaved any better as a four-year-old than that kid, if I'd flown. Now, in my adulthood, that experience would just imbrue my joyous childhood recollections - even though I may have behaved no better than Dr. Cosby's actual children behaved. Now, how did some of you other Pepsi Generation kids behave with your parents or each other?
[And, it's not too often that you see envelope-controlled floodlights whose amplitude rises and falls based on what comes out of Bill's microphone.]
Well, it's time to head for the dentist. As the good doctor says, "Thank God for gravity!"
[On the way home, I'll probably stop at the pub to fill up my leg with liquar and befriend the toilet bowl. HA!!!]
Still Funny! I have seen this so many times in the 20+ years, but it still makes me laugh out loud! Bill Cosby at his best.
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