Earlier this week, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in D.C., legendary comedian, actor, author, television producer and activist Bill Cosby was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. Honoring Cosby that night were Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, Sinbad, Carl Reiner and Cosby Show alums Phylicia Rashad and Malcolm-Jamal Warner, among others. NPT and PBS stations nationwide will broadcast the ceremony on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. with an immediate encore at 8:30-11:00 p.m. ET, on PBS. The program, which recognizes the life and achievements of the beloved comedian also includes an assortment of classic film clips from Cosby’s career.
That the program is airing via PBS makes perfect sense. Cosby’s connections to PBS go way back, into the early 70s. He was a cast member of The Electric Company, where he was going up against himself long before Stephen Cobert would do so in his “Formidable Opponent” segments, and a frequent guest on Sesame Street, where his certainly-improvised “over and under” skit remains legendary in its perfect simplicity.
Over and Under on Sesame Street
The Cosby Twins on Electric Company – UN
Hey You Guys! from Electric Company, with Rita Moreno
The Cosby Twins on Sesame Street – Alphabet
