We need to talk about Bill Cosby docu-series premieres on Showtime

[a_files06]

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-A four-part docuseries directed by W. Kamau Bell, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT COSBY wrestles with the conversations of the #MeToo movement, focusing on Bill Cosby’s descent from “America’s Dad” to alleged sexual predator. The series explores the complex story of Cosby’s life and work, weighing his actions against his indisputable global influence

Comments

[anterrabre]

I hope they cover the issues they had when they were making exhibits for the Smithsonian Af-Am History museum and wondered should they cover Cosby's achievements. On the one hand, you have this man who did horrible, terrible things. On the other hand, he did a lot of great things for Black people in media; should those accomplishments be lost to time? It's a very interesting question.

[gloeden2]

I think putting his legacy with that show strictly in the context of its time, as a TV show, separating the creation and its influence from any individual involved in its creation, is enough.
Anyone who expects creations to be tainted because of their creator(s) will have almost nothing creative to admire.
That's a choice, I guess.

[the_pinkdress]

Hm, I’m not sure it should be seen as this oppositional ‘he did bad things but also good things’, rather, these things were intertwined with each other, oftentimes functioned together, which is what makes reconciling his legacy so complex.

[anterrabre]

I also don't think that people (especially the below 30) crowd really understand Cosby's influence and "firsts" that went beyond and predated Cosby Show; he also was responsible for the first cartoon featuring Black people (Fat Albert) and was also the first Black man to win an Emmy in the 60s (I Spy) as well as being a major contributor to The Electric Company (aka "that children's show where all the adults in it was high for real"). The museum was thinking about doing a retrospective of his work in their media section and half were for it, and half against.

[a_files06]

Also had the first black stunt double. Something he demanded which i never knew about.