Preview Clips from Bill Cosby's Mark Twain Prize Ceremony
Bill Cosby is arguably the greatest stand-up ever. I use the world "arguably," because Pryor and Carlin fanatics love to argue with Cosby fanatics. It's basically like the Middle East (no, it's not). I think we can all agree with Sinbad (this sentence is going great so far) that Bill Cosby is an amazing stand-up.
Oh, Sinbad and his tennis jokes!
There's a lot more clips from the event. PBS is surprisingly on top of this YouTube thing. I guess their old-timey typewriters somehow receive an internet signal.
[videos via Punchline]
Click after the jump to catch more of the fast-paced action from The Mark Twain Prize For American Humor Awards Ceremony.
Here's Theo (a.k.a Malcolm Jamal-Warner) talking about The Cosby Show. Let's roll it, roller coasters.
Bill Cosby will stare at a thirteen year old kid directly in the eye and tell him to act like a human. Cosby don't care.
Here's Clair Huxtable (a.k.a Phylicia Rashad) talking about The Cosby Show.
Bill Cosby will look stare at a theater-trained actress directly in the eye and tell her to act like a human. Cosby don't care.
Here's a clip of Rita Moreno serenading Bill Cosby with crazy gibberish.
Rita Moreno will stand in front of a groundbreaking comedian and act completely not like a human. Moreno don't care.
Seriously, I was on board for all the other clips, but I have no idea what was going on in that last one, but I know it is very PBS-y. My favorite thing about the Rita Moreno clip is this comment left on it…
LOL! "I wasn't convinced when I heard Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld, two of the most respected comedy icons, will be honoring Bill Cosby, the most respected living stand-up, but then I saw that clip of Rita Moreno panting rhythmically and I was sold. I have to cancel my elderly yoga classes now!"
I'm not making fun of Rita Moreno (well, I am). She is talented and successful and I assume Cosby is a fan of her. She's already accomplished way more than I ever could! But I am young, and I am supposed to make fun of old people music. It is my job.
Here is some old people music from the event I did genuinely enjoy.
Also, check out this clip from the red carpet.
Awesome! Making a note now to be paying attention November 4 on PBS. This is a must see.
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(oops – double post of other comment)
Also I want to point out that Rita Moreno is obviously and absolutely dedicated to the music. She demonstrates how steeped she is in musical knowledge and in the knowledge of how to put the magic of a song across. Of course it involves theater — costume, gesture, expression. All right, OK, this is comedy central. But while would-be-successful comedians are cracking wise, as they "should" do perhaps (young or old), the smart ones will recognize that they'd benefit from studying the art and craft of theater from masterful performance like this one of Rita Moreno's.
Well I was deeply impressed by Rita Moreno's performance. She gave an authoritative account of that song — she told us what sexiness is. It was like she became an expert guide for the duration of that song. But for those young people who didn't like it or didn't get it, don't worry, it's not about your personal hormones or my older ones for that matter. Rather, it's a universal and timeless story and I thought Rita Moreno was a really powerful story teller. I watched the tv in awe.
Well I was deeply impressed by Rita Moreno's performance. She gave an authoritative account of that song — she told us what sexiness is. It was like she became an expert guide for the duration of that song. But for those young people who didn't like it or didn't get it, don't worry, it's not about your personal hormones or my older ones for that matter. Rather, it's a universal and timeless story and I thought Rita Moreno was a really powerful story teller. I watched the tv in awe.
The song was "Brazil"
I wanna know the name of that song Rita Moreno sang its stuck in my head like a nightmare and i need to face it.
I stumbled up on this last night… what a bloody treat! Does anyone know who the harmonica player was during the song with Willie Nelson?
Funny that you were crackin' on Rita Moreno. The only reason I found your little blog here was by searchin' for who that crazy old chick gettin' down on the Cosby special was. Rita Moreno.