It's a House of Cosbys

I've debated for months. I've fought with myself whether those who haven't heard of this fantastic creation, should.

I finally have decided...more people in this world need to know about The House of Cosbys.

Before Vh1's Acceptable .TV, a 30 minute comedic show featuring five three minute mini-shows, there was Channel 101. Channel 101 is a website where, similar to Acceptable.TV, folks can submit their own five minute pilots and viewers can choose what stays and what goes.

In 2005, Channel 101 young talent Justin Roiland created 'The House of Cosbys", a hysterical animated short about one Bill Cosby fan and his cloning machine that keeps producing Cosbys to entertain him. It's kind of like Multiplicity, except funny. Each Cosby has their own purpose, like dancing Cosby, moral support Cosby, Curiosity Cosby and Bath tub Cosby. They each resemble the comedian but in their own way, while consistently using the same words, "Theo" "Rudy" and "Ya see".

It was a success, following three more episodes-although the first one is the funniest in my opinion. The rest of the House of Cosby series is odd and random, featuring hundreds of more Cosbys such as Mood Swing Cosby, BC-D2, Data Analysis Cosby, Cosbyette, The Cosby Team Triosby and the Evil Cosby. As you can see, it gets pretty ridiculous.

But of course, the MAN had to step in and take legal action against the series; the man being Bill Cosby himself.

As if the whole world doesn't do enough Bill Cosby impersonations???

Channel 101's administrator Dan Harmon received a letter from Cosby's attorney:

We have just learned that you offer a deeply offensive animated film that you created, entitled "House of Cosbys". [...] As you are certainly aware, none of you are licensed or in any way authorized to use Mr. Cosby's voice, name, or likeness. [...] Therefore, we demand that you immediately cease and desist from any use of our client's name, voice, and likeness, including the development and distribution of the "House of Cosbys" series.

Bill must have not liked the idea of a house of credulous and crude cosbys running around like nutcases. Why?? So funny!

Harmon responded about the whole ordeal in a Statement on Channel 101, you can read it here.

The actions of Cosby's legal team are somewhat laughable, somewhat sad and ultimately symbolic of a quantum shift in the business of entertainment: The Internet is breaking a zillion dollar pinata, free candy is flying everywhere and the candy companies are understandably upset. You can't control digital information the way you can control radios, television and movies. Lawyers threatening web sites, the FCC clamoring to regulate cable, record labels making speeches about mp3s: I hear it all as a death rattle. They have my sympathy but not my respect.

The rest is history. And although House of Cosbys is not shown on Channel 101, you can find it almost anywhere on the web. And bless those crazed and maniacal, kooky kids at Channel 101 for standing their ground, fighting for their creative justice and giving the world the gift of House Of Cosbys.

Unfortunately I can't post the video here because it's kind of sick and twisted and may be offense to some. That's probably why it's so great!

You can watch House of Cobsys here,
and don't forget to get yourself a jell-o pudding pop ya see.