1980 NOON on CBS: FAT ALBERT AND THE COSBY KIDS

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids was a Filmation animated series created, produced, and hosted (in live action bookends) by comedian Bill Cosby, who also did a huge chunk of the voices for the show (including Fat Albert himself). The show premiered in 1972 and *kind of* ran until 1985... See, up till 1983 they had been doing short-order seasons of the show - 6 to 8 new episodes per season - but then between 1984 and 1985 the cranked out some FIFTY NEW EPISODES of the cheaper, lower-quality "The Adventures of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids".

It should also be noted that this was the year that they replaced the "Junkyard Rock Band" segments of the show with Fat Albert and the gang rushing to their clubhouse to watch the latest episode of "The Brown Hornet" (Also voiced by Cosby).

What do you think? Have any good memories or thoughts to share about Fat Albert and the gang? Come at me with comments and fun, and if you're not careful you might just learn something before we're done. So let's get ready, okay? Hey, hey, HEY!

Comments

YYYEEEESSSSSSSSS

[volare.livejournal.com]

With the theme song kindly provided by none other than BOOTSY COLLINS.... Man, put this on and I'm staying PUT.

Between Fat Albert, the vinyl records of Cosby's stand-up routines (including the ones that led to the creation of the cartoon) that I played to death and still have, and his TV appearances on everything from The Electric Company to his own Cosby Show, the man was a gigantic part of my childhood and adolescence.

Was the animation itself groundbreaking art? No.
Was the content and structure? Absolutely.

"If you're not careful, you just might learn something" has been part of my vocabulary for nearly 40 years now.

I was rather inordinately content to be living around the corner from Cosby Ave when I had my dinky little offcampus apartment in Amherst MA, named for one of UMass's funniest alumni -- and not an honorary degree. He earned his doctorate in education there in the mid-70s; his dissertation included using Fat Albert as a teaching tool.

Na na na gonna have a good time....

Re: YYYEEEESSSSSSSSS

[aurora77]

I just learned something! I've always thought Bill Cosby was awesome, but now I'm even more impressed. I didn't know he earned a doctorate in education, but it makes sense. He's really been a great positive influence and I'm glad to have had the opportunity to experience his work. ^_^

Re: YYYEEEESSSSSSSSS

[volare.livejournal.com]

He is an amazing man in so many respects. He still shows up at UMass-Amherst alumni events when he's in the mood to, it's awesome XD