Backdoor Pilots: The Cosby Show Almost Gives Us a Sitcom With Two Latin Leads
Added 2023-09-09 11:44:01 +0000 UTC“Mr. Quiet” (May 2, 1985)
Trigger warning: We briefly talk about the sexual assault accusations against Bill Cosby, but also at several points in this episode, plot points interact with this real-life thing in ways that change this episode, so it does come up throughout.
Yes, we’re back on The Cosby Show, but for good reason: The penultimate episode to the first season features the Huxtables spending time at a community center run by a one-off character played by Tony Castillo (Tony Orlando). The show that this episode pitched would have starred that character’s girlfriend, Selena Cruz (Ada Maris), which means it would have been the first U.S. network sitcom starring a Latin couple. It did not come to pass, and in this episode we give an explanation for what we think happened — plus a primer to the music of Tony Orlando and Dawn!
Watch Phylicia Rashad’s audition to play Clare Huxtable.
Why Clare was, in fact, initially going to be a female Ricky Ricardo.
Linda November appears on Regis & Kathie Lee, performs the Meow Mix jingle.
From Dinosaurs: Way Too Complicated!
The theme song to this series was composed and performed by Meika Grimm. The art for the series was designed by Ian O’Phelan.
Comments
Wild. I have zero memory for this. I wonder what I was watching on Saturday nights instead, because I would have still been watching Empty Nest.
Drew Mackie
2023-09-11 20:14:16 +0000 UTCIt's funny, that Theo spin-off you were talking about where he works in a youth center did happen... sorta. It was called "Here and Now" where MJW was a recent college grad with a psychology degree, it aired the year after Cosby went off the air, aired on NBC and was produced by Bill Cosby. But it wasn't officially a spin-off. Only lasted 13 episodes, airing 8pm Saturdays in the recently departed Golden Girls timeslot.
Zach Wilson
2023-09-11 19:52:45 +0000 UTCThe episode I recorded today was season 5. GORGEOUS opening titles. I don't think they used these for syndicated reruns where I lived? 🤯 #FeliciaRashadShow
Benjamin Rippel
2023-09-11 04:06:53 +0000 UTC
