Eighth Annual New Play Competition, by Teco Theatrical Production Featuring The Cosby’s: The Lost Episode

TheaterJones

by Mark Lowry
Published Thursday, February 11, 2010

Buster Spiller wrote and directs The Cosby’s: The Lost Episode, an inspired idea that imagines what might have happened had the groundbreaking TV show followed in the footsteps of previous African-American sitcoms, such as Sanford and Son, Good Times and What's Happening!! In other words, what if the Huxtables were blue-collar and uneducated? It presents the "lost" pilot, in which Theo (J.R. Bradford) is in junior college, Rudy (Bradford) gets knocked up and Clair keeps saying the phrase that also serves as the episode's title, "Mama gon' tear that ass up!" Akron Watson plays the big sweater-wearing Bill Cosby, who introduces the episode. He then slips into the role of Heathcliff, the husband who doesn't get enough, um, pudding pops from his worn-out wife. If this script were fine-tuned a little more and the episode not so broad, it could really be a strong commentary on portrayals of blacks in popular culture. It's still pretty funny, though.

Now running at the Bishop Arts Theater Center