Sitcoms Online Photo Galleries - Bill Cosby Show: Bill Cosby

The Bill Cosby Show ran from September 1969 until August 1971 on NBC.

Bill Cosby, The first black actor to Co-Star in an adventure series ( I Spy), returned to tv after a year's absence in this low-key situation comedy. In doing so he became the first black man to star in a comedy series since Amos 'N' Andy ceased production in 1953. Cosby played a high school, physical education teacher and coach, Chet Kincaid. The setting was a school in a lower-middle class neighborhood of Los Angeles. Chet's relationships with family, students, and fellow teachers were emphasized giving free reign to Cosby's gentle sense of humor and philosophy. His family life with his mother Rose( Lillian Randolph, and later Bea Richards), his brother Brian( Lee Weaver), who was a garbage collector and his sister-in-law Verna ( Olga James), were as much a part of the program as his professional life with the principal Mr. Langford ( Sid McCoy); the guidance counselor, Mrs. Peterson ( Joyce Bullifant); and lots of kids. In some episodes Chet was asked to substitute, and fill in as an algebra or English teacher. In one hilarious episode Chet was the Driver's Ed Instructor trying to teach a nervous student to drive. Thus the emphasis was on warmth rather than comedy. Among the guest stars who appeared on the show were Henry Fonda, Elsa Lanchester, Tom Bosley, Wally Cox, Cicely Tyson, Will Geer, Don Knotts and Dick Van Dyke.

The show's theme song " Hikki Burr" was written by Bill Cosby and Quincy Jones with Cosby providing the vocals. The Bill Cosby Show was notable for being one of the few situation comedies at the time that did not have a laugh track.

For more on The Bill Cosby Show go to www.tvparty.com/cosby1.html

For Bill Cosby's Official Site go to http://www.billcosby.com/