Bill Cosby to receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor

There is no doubt that Bill Cosby is a standout among his peers. For nearly 5 decades he has made people laugh across the globe. He created the beloved cartoon Fat Albert, he broke racial barriers in television, and he created and starred in one of the most beloved shows on television since the 1980's (The Cosby Show). He is so well loved that he is often referred to as "America's Dad".

So there really should be no surprise that he will be receiving the 2009 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. In 2002 he received the highest civillian award possible, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. And then there are the three consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series he received for I Spy in the 1960's (a breakthru for the racial attitudes of the nation at the time), 2003 Bob Hope Humanitarian Award.

How well loved is Bill Cosby? Here is the announced list of enertainers that will appear at the awards ceremony:

Dick Gregory, Sinbad, Carl Reiner, George Lopez, Wynton Marsalis, Jimmy Heath, Willie Nelson, Len Chandler, symphonic orchestra conductor James DePreist, Phylicia Rashad, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Rita Moreno, Danny Glover, Jerry Seinfeld, and Chris Rock.

Talk about a line-up of the who's who in entertainment.

Of course Dr. Cosby (it is often forgotten that he did drop out of school, but returned and earned a doctotrate) is not without his own controversies. Most notable is his outspoken stance on "problems prevalent in underprivileged urban communities such as taking part in illegal drugs, teenage pregnancy, Black Entertainment Television, high school dropouts, anti-intellectualism, gangsta rap, vulgarity, thievery, offensive clothing, vanity, parental alienation, single parenting and failing to live up to the ideals of Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King, Jr. and the African American ancestors that preceded Generation X".

I personally find most of his views dead-on.

So I suggest that everyone keep an eye on PBS in November. The award will be televized Nov 4th 2009, though the ceremony will happen on October 26th.

What’s funny about abortion?

Well that was a question that was addressed by the one television show that could possibly find a funny angle to such a controversial topic. Family Guy. Of course the general public will never be able to see this on television, unless it comes out in a DVD (yeah, that won’t happen).

For those that somehow have missed this long running, 2x resurrected, animated comedy show you have no idea what you are missing. Don’t let the fact that this is animated beguile you into thinking this is just some kiddie entertainment. This even isn’t on the level of The Simpsons. No this is often high-brow, adult focused, risqué, pusing the edge comedy. With a bit of slapstick thrown in.

Some of the topics the show has dealt with are infidelity, swinging, gay lifestyles, nuclear holocaust, sex, BDSM, race relations, divorce, disabilities, pedophilia, various Rights and Liberties (taken to extreme), and television programming to name just the tip of the iceberg. To say this show often offends some viewers, on either side of the political scale, is to say that air is a nice thing to have.

Here are 2 examples of what I mean (though the video clip I wanted I can't find)





But the show hit a new point when they took on the abortion issue. Whatever actually happens in the show must have really sent the censors running as FOX will NEVER air the episodes on broadcast television. But they did provide this episode to the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences that will be voting for the Emmy for a comedic series. Family Guy is nominated in this category, the first time since 1961 that an animated show since The Flinstones has been nominated.

What I do know of the story is the following:

“Most of the episode dealt with matriarch Lois (played by Borstein) deciding to become a surrogate mother for her infertile friend — against Peter's wishes. After her friend is killed in a car crash, the Griffins are left with the difficult decision of what to do about the pregnancy.

At one point, Peter watches an anti-abortion video, which proclaims several people would be alive if abortion wasn't legal, including a fourth Stooge, the guy who would have killed Adolf Hitler and Osama bin Laden's America-loving brother, who could have prevented 9/11.”

According to the AP the viewers were in stitches, thus answering the question posed in the headline of this post. Which makes me all the more curious about what they did in this episode. But until the DVD comes out, or someone makes a bootleg on the internet – neither of which will happen anytime soon – we will never know.

Still, somehow, I expect that those for and against abortion will waste no time in attacking this episode of Family Guy, and/or anyone speaking about it.

Isaac Hayes, Bernie Mac - gone too soon

The past few days have been very sad on so many fronts. There was the surprising car accident that put Morgan Freeman into the hospital with a broken arm and shoulder. Then the Olympics were marred with the murder of an American father-in-law of the Men’s Volleyball Team coach. And now there is the back to back news of the sudden deaths of Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes.

This is a difficult week for many, and I offer my condolences to the families of all that are suffering.

Bernie Mac was just a few months short of being 51. Born in the South side of Chicago, he raised himself up from early childhood tragedies of losing his mother and the absence of his father. Though he started his comedy career in his teens, it was not until he was 32 that his career flourished. The perseverance that allowed him to follow his dream took him through a difficult road – at one time leading him to work for UPS and as a furniture mover. Yet it was this aspect of everyday struggles that helped to shape his comedy and give him an appeal that was as wide as the nation.

While I may not been the greatest fan of Bernard Jeffrey McCullough (his given name) in his stand-up comedy, I was among the millions that enjoyed his acting in movies as diverse as Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, Get on the Bus, Life, Ocean's Eleven (and it’s2 sequels), What's the Worst That Could Happen?. Even more people were able to learn of his ability in his television show, The Bernie Mac Show, in which he received 2 Emmy nominations, 2 Golden Globe nominations, and 7 NAACP Image Award nominations (of which he won 4) all for best comedic actor.

This says nothing of the fact that Bernie Mac was a father. While his fame came towards the end of his life, he raised a daughter with his wife that graduated from college with a Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling. That daugheter is married and made Bernie Mac a grandfather.

He was too young to leave us all.

Isaac Hayes was also a young robust 65. He first came to national attention in the 1960’s and has never been far from the ears of the nation, even if many had no idea it was him. He was a writer, singer, musician, composer and producer of multiple albums, leaving an indelible mark in music that still is reflected to this day. He received the first Academy Award received by an African-American in a non-acting category for his soundtrack to the film SHAFT as well as 3 Grammy Awards. But that was not the only source of his fame.

From the 1970’s on Isaac Hayes could be seen on television and in movies. Some of his most notable mvoie characters included is possibly most famous – the Duke of New York from Escape From New York. But he was as comfortable in a comedy (I’m Gonna Get You Sucka) as in sci-fi (Johnny Mnemonic).

Of course his television roles were equally as diverse. He appeared on The Rockford Files, The A-Team and Miami Vice before he captured a role on one of the most popular television programs for the modern generation of kids South Park – where he voiced Chef.

But all of these accomplishments should be no surprise as Isaac Hayes was a man of diverse abilities. Like Bernie Mac, he lived through the death of his parents and being raised by his grandparents. He was poor in his youth, and picked cotton for a time. Yet he sang for his church since he was 5, and taught himself how to play 4 instruments - piano, electronic organ, flute and saxophone.

Isaac Hayes was also like Bernie Mac in that he too was a family man. Hayes had 12 children, and had 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Considering all of his accomplishments Hayes still found time for humanitarian work. He was involved with Youth for Human Rights International and One Campaign among others. In fact he was made an honorary king of Ghana's Ada district in 1992 for his humanitarianism.

All of this and the fact that Hayes had suffered from a stroke earlier in his life.

He too has gone from us too soone.

But I want to emphasize something about these public men, something that I am sure can be said of Todd Bachmann as well. They all gave of themselves and helped to improve the world we all live in. Their struggles and accomplishments are testament to the things we all can achieve in our lives.

From being poor, to losses in youth, to struggles in work we each can rise up and become the dreams we have, and help others to live out their dreams – or just live better lives.

I am sad today because of their losses, but I am also happy knowing that these men gave us all something that has enrichened our lives. Again I give my condolences to their families and friends.