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| | CMT.com : Bill Cosby : Biography |
 | | Before Cosby, fl comics were largely relegated to the so-called "chitlin circuit" of fl nightclubs and theaters, their albums banned from white-owned record stores; after Cosby, comedians of all racial and cultural backgrounds found a home in the mainstream, and were even given the opportunity to prove their talents in major film and television roles. |
 | | Cosby quickly distinguished himself from his peers in a number of ways: not only did his relaxed, conversational style rely on warm, anecdotal childhood recollections instead of one-liners and gags, but unlike other fl comedians, he refused to tell racial jokes or use profanities, establishing himself as a talent suitable for all ages and backgrounds. |
 | | With the program, Cosby suffered his first major artistic setback; although NBC committed to two seasons of the show, ratings were weak, and at the end of the two-year period NBC pulled the plug. |
| www.cmt.com /artists/az/cosby_bill/bio.jhtml (905 words) |
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