MUSEUM OF BROADCASTING SEMINAR SERIES, THE: COSBY: AN INSIDE LOOK {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in this series of seminars conducted by The Museum of Television & Radio, formerly known as The Museum of Broadcasting. In this seminar, held in New York, members of the creative team of "The Cosby Show" discuss that program and participate in a question-and-answer session with the audience. Museum President Robert M. Batscha introduces a series of clips. After the screening, he greets supervising producer and writer Carmen Finestra, writer Gary Kott, co-executive producer and writer John Markus, and executive producer Tom Werner. Werner moderates, opening the seminar by crediting comedian Bill Cosby as the genius behind the show that bears his name and calling the method by which the show is produced unique. Markus and Finestra discuss their collaboration with Cosby and the genesis of story ideas. Kott points out that the series is mostly invented as each season progresses, with little pre-planning, and Markus talks about the non-traditional structure of the show and its flow. Werner opens the seminar to questions, and one audience member asks how the program began. Werner explains that he and his partner Marcy Carsey were long eager to do a series with Bill Cosby, and he explains the history of their teaming with Cosby and describes the star's vision of the program. Additional topics discussed include: the writers used for the program; the actors' method of dealing with their erratic work environment; the effects of one team member's illness on the continuation of production; the reactions of the program's fans from around the world; the Shakespeare episodes; the opening credits; the lack of traditional "black issues" in the program's content; the career history of each panelist; the choice to shoot the series in New York instead of Los Angeles; a typical work week; and projections for the program's conclusion. Batscha concludes the seminar by thanking each of the panelists.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: September 20, 1989
- RUNNING TIME: 1:22:27
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:16728
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - Comedy
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Robert M. Batscha … Host
- Tom Werner … Moderator
- Carmen Finestra … Panelist
- Gary Kott … Panelist
- John Markus … Panelist
- Bill Cosby