Review of Bill Cosby: Himself (1983) by Jack B — 20 Jul 2012

Bill Cosby is a comedic genius, that's about all I can say. His humorous insight about mundane things never ceases to make me laugh. This comedy concert is like a perfect symphony of his greatest material, and it still stands as one of the best comedy routines I've ever seen. His silly facial expressions and sound effects add a lot to the jokes and make it clear that he's not just talking about random stuff, but things he has genuinely experienced himself.

He opens by talking about vices and dentistry. Somehow those seem to work together. First he explains what outsiders see when they watch people drinking or doing drugs. Then he says what we all think but never say when going to the dentist. So already he has the audience rolling in the aisles, but then he really hits his stride.

The primary topic of the stand-up routine is brilliant. This is when he settles into talking about family. Clearly his family is just like any other, but he has the guts to say what no one says aloud because they love their kids/spouse...family can drive you crazy! I can't even describe how hard I laugh at this part of the routine. Even after dozens of viewings I still find myself tearing up because I've laughed so much. By the end my only complaint is that it had to end. That's how amazing I think this concert is, I've seen it dozens of times and still find it so hilarious that I just want more.