| Bill Cosby is, by any standards, one of the most influential stars in America today. Whether it be through concert appearances or recordings, television or films, commercials or education, Bill Cosby has the ability to touch people’s lives. His humor often centers on the basic cornerstones of our existence, seeking to provide an insight into our roles as parents, children, family members, and men and women. Bill Cosby’s comedy has a point of reference and respect for the trappings and traditions of the great American humorists such as Charlie Chaplin, Will Rogers, W.C. Fields and Groucho Marx. The 1984-92 run of "The Cosby Show" and his books "Fatherhood" and "Time Flies" established new benchmarks on how success is measured. His status at the top of the TVQ survey year after year continues to confirm his appeal as one of the most popular personalities in America. Cosby's believability and humor makes him most effective as the spokesman for Jell-O. Cosby has authored "Little Bill," a book series designed to encourage literacy for children ages six through ten. "Little Bill" has been on The New York Times Best Seller List. Bill Cosby represents the voice of a vast, ordinary world. Everyone seems to easily identify with his characters and the situations they find themselves in. He gives the twist of the ridiculous to everyday faults, foibles and successes and makes them a recognizable slice of life. Bill Cosby points out the humor in our lives, and in doing so, he touches our hearts. Because of this, his appeal is not restricted to any specific group. His qualities have endeared him to people from all walks of life. It is the fusion of these qualities that has resulted in television's biggest and most influential hit of the modern era, “The Cosby Show." The show has been credited for single-handedly resurrecting the sitcom genre. Cosby's return to television after eight years was promoted by what he perceived as a lack of relevance and an abundance of superficiality in TV comedy programming. Week after week of #1 ratings and the almost unanimous critical acclaim only confirms that others agree with his opinion. In the publishing world, Bill Cosby has shattered records with each of his books. "Fatherhood," published by Doubleday/Dolphin in May of 1986, became the fastest-selling hardcover book of all time. It remained for over half of its fifty-four weeks on the New York Times Best Seller List as #1. It has sold 2.6 million hardcover copies and 1.5 million paperbacks (published by Berkeley). His next Doubleday/Dolphin title, "Time Flies," had the largest single first printing in publishing history – 1.75 million copies. Like its predecessor, it too remained at the top of the New York Times list. Bantam Books published the paper back version in the fall of 1988 and received the same rights for "Love and Marriage." | 
