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Bill Cosby

Before the sitcom king, there was the great stand-up comic. Recorded in Toronto in 1981, Cosby stays seated while offering up hilarious commentary on everything from drugs to child-birth.

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90% liked it

6,398 ratings

Critics

80% liked it

5 critics

PG, 1 hr. 45 min.

Directed by: Bill Cosby

Release Date: June 1, 1982

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DVD Release Date: August 10, 2004

Stats: 392 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (392)

  • FilmFanatik
    October 26, 2011
    FilmFanatik
    When I was growing up, this was a definitive watch for the family and we laughed ourselves silly with it everytime. Whether he's being serious or just flat-out silly, Bill Cosby never misses his mark in what is considered by most to be his most definitive recorded performance (ou... read moretside of his album To My Brother Russell, Whom I Slept With). Looking at Bill Cosby: Himself today, I still find it just as much fun and just as hilariously entertaining as I did when I was a child. For the most part, I can't relate to a lot of things that he talks about, but thankfully one isn't required many of the experiences that he talks about in order to laugh. The man is just funny as a storyteller and that's where the genius of his comedy comes from. This landmark concert film should be required viewing for anyone who claims to be a fan of stand-up comedy, or in Bill's case, sit-down comedy. It's hands down one of the funniest and most engaging performances ever committed to film.
  • spielberg00
    September 22, 2011
    spielberg00
    Bill Cosby is the cleanest, most brilliant stand-up (or is it "sit-down"?) comedian. Hands down. A rarely-occurring situation of a stand-up comedy performance that was filmed and sent to theaters as a motion picture, the man (who credits himself under every crew role as "Willia... read morem H. Cosby, Jr.", as if that's going to make it seem like it was a two-man job) talks about his family in the most ridiculous ways possible. Actually, he starts out talking about people on drugs, and then he does a skit about dentists. THEN he makes us laugh at his family, and his comedic exaggeration (i.e. "I love it when mothers get so mad they can't remember your name: 'Come here, Roy, er, Rupert, er, Rutabaga...what is your name boy? And don't lie to me, 'cause you live here and I'll find out who you are!'", "My father established our relationship when I was seven years old. He looked at me and said, 'You know, I brought you into this world, and I can take you out. And it don't make no difference to me: I'll make another one that look just like you.'"). If you love the stand-up comedy of brilliant people such as Daniel Tosh, Eddie Murphy, Dave Chappelle, Gabriel Iglesias, and the like, but you don't want to hear all the foul and crude stuff that often offends more than making the audience laugh...rent BILL COSBY: HIMSELF.
  • mjgildea
    November 20, 2006
    mjgildea
    Funny stuff. The first stand-up I ever saw.
  • fb100002343630392
    July 24, 2011
    fb100002343630392
    a nonstop hillarious and spectacular comic event with bill cosby delivering huge laughes and entertainment in this comedic extravigent event for stand up comedy fans! A+
  • chadroesti
    August 7, 2009
    chadroesti
    Man! I watched this on my old man's stolen HBO when I was 8 and every time it came on for years. I still do the old quotes "Dad, Chocolate cake behind you!" that makes the GF look at me and shake her head and call me a dork. Come on! This is classic comedy! No swearing, no ... read moreviolence. And you all probably know this was the basis for starting the Cosby show.

    Comedy you can even watch with the kids!
  • SunilJawahir
    April 20, 2009
    SunilJawahir
    Good times. One of the rare standups that you can watch with family without cringing.
  • Dracula787
    January 5, 2009
    Dracula787
    I?ve spent a good portion of my life hating Bill Cosby and everything he represents, especially when he?s complaining about the ?filth-flarin?-filth? of other people?s work. Still, it seems like every time I hear a stand up comedian being interviewed they seem to love him and ci... read morete him as an influence. I finally got curious enough to check out what Cosby is like when doing standup, and this concert film is largely considered to be his definitive work. Did I find a new found respect for Cosby? Sort of, he at least seems like a reasonable comic here and not the curmudgeon I?ve come to know him as. Still, most of the material he?s talking about here are things I don?t really relate to, it?s comedy for and by middle aged people.
  • acenate
    January 4, 2009
    acenate
    Moderately funny anecdotes about Bill Cosby beating his children.
  • placeinthesun455
    December 13, 2010
    placeinthesun455
    this is just great comedy. Cosby has such simple yet thoughtful material and such a hysterical delivery that even the most mundane and quotidian becomes hilarious. that, I think, is the great gift of comedy--finding humour where there usually is none. and best of all, it's not ... read moreall sex and obscenities. true quality entertainment.
  • TheCreeper11
    September 23, 2010
    TheCreeper11
    This movie is one of the funniest ANYONE will EVER see! Cosby tells about life at its best and worst,from the birth of his kids o when they become teens. From a normal dentists appt. to a good time hugging the toilet. My favorite most def has to be the dentist. "My febice!" Bill ... read moreCosby truly is funnyman of the world.

View All Bill Cosby: Himself Reviews

Critic Reviews

Steve Crum
March 2, 2008
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Certainly a historic record of one of the all-time best comedians, and funny!

David Nusair
November 15, 2004
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

...an overlong concert movie... Full Review

Greg Maki
November 25, 2005
Greg Maki, Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)

No review available.

Emanuel Levy
July 24, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Jeffrey Westhoff
October 4, 2004
Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

No review available.

Jeffrey M. Anderson
May 26, 2006
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

Click to read the article Full Review

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