The Cosby Mysteries
| The Cosby Mysteries | |
|---|---|
 Intertitle | |
| Created by |
David Black William Link |
| Starring |
Bill Cosby Robert Stanton James Naughton Rita Moreno |
| Composer(s) | Craig Handy, David Weiss |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 20 (18 + pilot) |
| Production | |
| Running time | 60 minutes per episode |
| Production company(s) |
Sah Enterprises Columbia Pictures Television |
| Distributor | Sony Pictures Television |
| Release | |
| Original network | NBC |
| Original release | January 31, 1994 – April 12, 1995 |
The Cosby Mysteries is an American television mystery series that starred Bill Cosby. It is the first television series to star Cosby since The Cosby Show (which ended in the spring of 1992) and lasted one season (1994–1995).[1] Actor/Rapper Mos Def appeared in several episodes (credited as Dante Bezé).[2]
Premise
Cosby played Guy Hanks, a New York City Police Department criminalist who retired from the force after winning $44 million in the lottery. His peaceful retirement was frequently interrupted by his former colleagues, Detective Adam Sully (James Naughton) and Medical Examiner John Chapman (Robert Stanton), who ask him to consult on tough cases. As Hanks used his wits and his forensics knowledge to solve crimes, he dealt with his holistic housekeeper Angie (Rita Moreno) and his girlfriend Barbara Lorenz (Lynn Whitfield).[3]
The show was created by David Black and William Link. Link's previous series included Columbo and Murder, She Wrote. Link developed the series at Cosby's request, as Cosby wanted to make an intelligent, character-driven mystery series that did not rely on graphic violence.
The show began in January 1994 as a two-hour movie, and regular episodes began airing on NBC in September. Critics expressed hope that The Cosby Mysteries would fare better than Cosby's previous two ventures,[4] Here and Now and the game-show remake, You Bet Your Life. The Cosby Mysteries only lasted 18 episodes.
The Cosby Mysteries has been re-run in the United Kingdom on digital channel ITV1, and in the US on A&E and TVOne.
In popular culture
- In The Simpsons episode "Guess Who's Coming to Criticize Dinner?", Homer laments the cancellation of The Cosby Mysteries, saying "That show had limitless possibilities!"
- A Saturday Night Live episode hosted by Patrick Stewart on February 5, 1994, did a parody sketch of the Cosby series. Adam Sandler played Cosby as a buffoonish character who rambles on incoherently with dialog full of made-up nonsense words.[5]
References
- ↑ "The '95 TV Season: Who's Gone? Who's New? Who's Back?". Ebony. 50 (12): 94. 1995. ISSN 0012-9011. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
- ↑ "The Cosby Mysteries (1994) (TV)". The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
- ↑ Johnson, Robert E. (1994). "Bill Cosby Begins TV Season With New Mystery Series Co-Starring Lynn Whitfield". JET. 86 (21): 60–63. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
- ↑ Randolph, Laura B. (1994). "Activist-Actor Celebrates 30 Years of Wedded Bliss, Continues Fight Against Black Stereotypes on TV". Ebony. 49 (7): 104. ISSN 0012-9011. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
- ↑ "FuzzyMemories.TV – Saturday Night Live – "The Cosby Mysteries" (1994)". February 5, 1994. Retrieved 29 February 2012.