Given that when the 72-year-old took to the stage at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall he immediately took a seat, it could be said that Bill Cosby no longer does stand-up comedy. At that age, Cosby said, “when you stand up, people clap.”
His advancing years were a big facet of Cosby’s act — his two-hour set found him talking about cataract surgery, colonoscopies, grandchildren, and urinary flow issues — as was the manner with which he strung them all together. Cosby designed his set like an intricate series of nested non-sequiteurs: Telling stories buried within stories, Cosby comes across like the good-natured, old-school grandfather who occasionally loses his place — but that’d be wrong. Cosby has taken his already immaculate story structure and added a temporal playfulness.
Everything comes around in a Cosby show, sometimes when you least expect it. Including a little dig at the network he elevated to prominence in the ’80s. He started telling a story with “Some of you might’ve seen me talk about this on The Jay Leno Show. Or not. NBC? Whooooo! And they keep the same people there all the time.”
Cos spent a good 20 minutes laying on the ground, prone, to tell the story of when his wife asked him to chop down the family Christmas tree. As for his visit to the Mayo Clinic for his first colonoscopy: I have now seen two notable funny men (Bill Cosby and Kevin Smith) at two of New York City’s most celebrated performance spaces (Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall) and they both killed with elaborate, detail-laden, cringe-inducing poop jokes.
If you get a chance to see Cosby live, I can’t recommend it highly enough. He’s still got It — the It that captivated audiences in the ’60s (the legendary performances that were captured on albums like 1968’s Grammy-winning To Russell, My Brother, Whom I Slept With), and later in the ’80s, with his 1983 stand-up special Bill Cosby: Himself and then NBC’s The Cosby Show — but who knows how long he’ll keep it. “My grandfather told me about senility,” Cosby joked. “He said, ‘Junebug, don’t worry about senility — if you get it, you won’t know it.’” In case you’ve forgotten how masterful Cosby is on stage, here’s his Dentist bit — which he performed as an “encore” last night — taken from Himself:
I know it’s morbid to say, but Cosby was on my Bizarro Bucket List — entertainers I want to see live before they die. I missed Ray Charles and James Brown. I got Tony Bennett, Tom Jones, and Bill Cosby. Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, and Tina Turner are still waiting. Who’s on your Bizarro Bucket List?
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I saw him live at the State Theatre in NJ a few years ago. What a hilarious man.
Saw Bill Cosby at the Siegel Center in Richmond, VA earlier this year. That guy can tell a story and make the entire audience laugh with his wit and candor. So happy that I got to see him. If he could give me a sentence of humorous wisdom every day for a year, I’d be a better person because of it.
Seen him live twice, and he killed both times. Had To Russell, My Brother, Whom I Slept With nearly memorized word for word.
My Bizarro bucket list is Pink Floyd (if they get back together with Roger), Carlos Santana. Lewis Black and U2.
I kind of wish he was my third grandpa. I LOVE him. The Cosby show is usually on in the afternoons when I go to the gym, and it’s my favorite thing to watch while I punish my cardiovascular system. Of course, Phylicia Rashad has a lot to do with my enjoyment of that show as well.
Tina Turner was on my list. I never thought she would perform again in a venue where I could afford tickets. Then she decided to do the mini-tour last year and I just could not resist so I bought tickets for the Chicago show (I do not live near Chicago at all). It was so worth it – from Oprah to the encore that brought down the house. At some point in my life I also want to see Patty Griffin and Fleetwood Mac.
Danielle,
I am really happy you enjoyed seeing Tina Turner in concert. I have to point out though that her tour of over 90 dates in the US, Canada and Europe could hardly be called mini.
dctoronto : u didnt have 2 point that out. U just wanted to post.
Angela Lansbury is on my “Bizarro Bucket List.” Thankfully she’s almost always on Broadway.
Seen him live in MN twice. The second time he seemed a little befuddled as he started but he started talking about that being the sign of getting old and picked up from there. also he was supposed to do a 90 minute set as he had a 3 PM and 7 PM show. Well he went for almost 2 hours and 45 minutes!!! He did the Christmas tree bit. Also toward the end he had a hilarious moment. he finished with the story and everybody laughed of course. Then he said “I have one more thing I want to talk about, and then I’ll do the dentist”. The roar of applause was 3 times the one that had preceded it. Cosby looked around and sarcastically said “Well I’m sorry you all had to wait SO LONG!” Great stuff. He also did refer back to stories he had told at the start as proof of what he was saying in the moment. I always watch when he’s on TV and I always buy tickets when he’s in town. I’m almost sad when I walk out because he’s been so funny, I can’t remember it all.
A few years back I bought my then late 20ish nephew three of Cosby’s CDs so he could enjoy his routines the same as I did as a kid. He has; and, after reading the article, I think I may call to borrow them.
I am so glad I got to see him last year. Soooo hilarious.
I was in the audience at the Cow Palace when I saw Stevie Wonder. It was the night John Lennon was killed and Stevie did a tribute to him that everyone in tears. I also got to see the Purple Rain tour for my 21st birthday and I’ve seen Tina twice. All that’s left is to be able to see Madonna, but I doubt I could ever afford the tickets.
I still listen to all his old CD’s…”Dentists” is pure genius. Psyched to see him in Vegas at T.I. appearance with some old friends.
I’m surprisingly intrigued by his new positive hip hop album Cosnarati “State of Emergency” and interested to see what his more serious side has to say at his live online town hall monday night. I signed up and sent in my own question for the cos
Michael Jackson of all people was on mine. And now, Bill Cosby.
I saw him when he came to a casino that we have in our town and O my word was he awesome. The dentist bit was the funniest thing I have ever heard and that you for posting it on here, I laughed so hard again that i was crying. If you get the chance to see him, GO!!!!
I finally finally saw the Temptations and Four Tops — great shows. I haven’t seen Tina since she first became a big-a** star after the Ike days. I saw Cosby some years ago, and would like to see him again before he kicks the bucket.
So many on my list to see. Not enough time and money.
on my bucket list: Michael Jackson, Bill Cosby, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, Alicia Keys (I know she’s young, but she’s a legend in the making), Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Stephen Colbert, Earth, Wind and Fire, and Aretha Franklin.
And if Daniel Day-Lewis, Meryl Streep and Denzel Washington ever decided to do Broadway (DZ for the 2nd time I think) I’m definetly doing what I can to see them. Also Cate Blanchett. I think she’s going to perform A Streetcar Named Desire on Broadway soon, since she’s currently in DC.