Bill Cosby: Himself
Bill Cosby: Himself is a 1983 comedy film featuring American stand-up comedian Bill Cosby. Filmed before a live audience at Hamilton Place, in Hamilton, Ontario in 1981, Cosby gives the audience his views ranging from marriage to parenthood. The film also showcases Cosby's conversational style of stand-up comedy. For most of the performance, Cosby is seated center-stage, only getting up to emphasize a joke.
For the album, see Himself (Bill Cosby album).Bill Cosby: Himself
Bill Cosby
- Bill Cosby
- James B. Herring
Bill Cosby
Joseph M. Wilcots[1]
- Ken Johnson
- Steve Livingston[1]
- Bill Cosby
- Stu Gardner
- May 20, 1983
105 minutes[2]
United States
English
Many of the comedic routines presented in the film were precursors to Cosby's most popular sitcom, The Cosby Show. An album of the same name was also released on Motown Records.[3] The film was well regarded by comedians and critics, with some calling it "the greatest stand up concert movie ever."[4]
Themes[edit]
Nearly all of Cosby's routine concerns the trials and tribulations of parenting, frequently illustrated with anecdotes involving his own family. Occasionally, he compares these with stories from his childhood. Other themes include grandparents, going to the dentist (in which monologue he uses his "Mushmouth" speech pattern to imitate a dental patient anesthetized by Novocaine) and people who drink too much or take drugs.
Production[edit]
Written, directed, and produced by Bill Cosby, Himself is a live comedy performance film.[5] It was made from the highlights of four shows at Hamilton Place Performing Arts Center, Ontario in May 1981.[6]
Awards[edit]
Rolling Stone listed it at #7 in its list of the 25 Best Stand-Up Specials.[12]
Home media[edit]
The film also saw success on home video, and by 1989 had already sold 350,000 units and was the number #1 best seller according to trade journal Home Video Publisher. It was priced at $19.99 compared to $30-40 price range of video cassettes in the years before when home video releases for comedy were less common.[13] It was released on DVD in 2004.[14][15]