Bill Cosby Will Return to Primetime in New NBC Family Comedy
It was announced on Wednesday that Bill Cosby has signed a deal with NBC to star in a new half hour comedy. According to Deadline, Cosby and producer Tom Werner are currently meeting with writers on the off-season development project.
The description of the show is as expected:
The new comedy will be built around Cosby, who will play the patriarch of a multi-generational family and, like the comedian's previous family sitcoms – Cosby Show and Cosby on CBS —will channel his take on marriage and parenting
The 76-year-old actor expressed his interest in doing a family show last year, telling Yahoo TV that viewers are longing for a return of wholesome television:
"They would like to see a married couple that acts like they love each other, warts and all, children who respect the parenting, and the comedy of people who make mistakes. Warmth and forgiveness. So I hope to get that opportunity, and I will deliver the best of Cosby, and that will be a series, I assume, that we could get enough people week after week after week to tune in to, to come along with us."
With the low ratings and the looming cancellation of The Michael J. Fox Show, execs at NBC had to act fast to fill their flailing comedy lineup. Because if audiences didn't take to a show starring an aging and beloved NBC sitcom star last year, maybe they'll take to a show starring an aging and beloved NBC sitcom star this year? Worth a shot!
