Bill Cosby speaks during a Veterans Day ceremony this year in Philadelphia. Photo provided by AP.
He’s innocent until proven guilty. But Bill Cosby has a PR problem at the very least. Now that special in light of mounting rape allegations, it’s NBC’s move.
it would scrap the planned Cosby concert, taped on the comic’s 77th birthday and initially slated to run the day after Thanksgiving. NBC, his old home, has been talking up a proposed comedy vehicle for Cosby, to be written by Mike O’Malley and Mike Sikowitz. The network may have envisioned another comedy revival sparked by its former star. Instead, NBC reportedly will have to pay Cosby a penalty if it doesn’t commission a pilot. Judging by the current climate, that would be worth every nickel.
Reportedly there’s no script yet, so NBC could easily scrap the project. To avoid the bad PR, the network is better off taking a loss and walking away.
The Peacock network, which Cosby powered to profits and ratings in the 1980s, had envisioned a sitcom for the beloved father-figure of “Cosby Show” fame, that might spark a comedy revival as Cosby did for NBC in 1984-92. But if you’ve checked the started by the comedian’s Twitter account, you’ve seen the PR disaster unfolding in real time.
The accusers are adamant. Barbara Bowman, who accused Cosby of rape 30 years ago, penned an op-ed for The Washington Post about her struggle to be believed. Publicist Joan Tarshis detailed her accusations to Hollywood Elsewhere. told Entertainment Tonight she was sexually assaulted by Cosby in 1982. Beth Ferrier has told People magazine and The Denver Post that she was drugged and sexually molested by Cosby when she was a model in the 1980s. The total number of women who have accused Cosby of rape is at least 14. Vulture posted a timeline Cosby canceled appearances on Queen Latifah and David Letterman and this week his when interviewer Scott Simon asked about the charges made a huge media stink.
Cosby’s lawyer, John P. Schmitt, has said that the accusations are “discredited” and that “Mr. Cosby does not intend to dignify these allegations with any comment.”
