House of Cosbys

Infobox Television
show_name = House of Cosbys


caption = Intertitle
genre = Science fiction
creator =
developer =
presenter =
starring =
voices = Jeff Davis
Justin Roiland
narrated =
theme_music_composer = Nick Haas, Matias Drago, Amy Metcalf, Justin Roiland
opentheme =
endtheme =
composer = Glenn Morrissette
country = USA
language = English
num_seasons = 1
num_episodes = 5
list_episodes =
producer =
executive_producer =
location =
camera =
runtime =
network = Channel 101
picture_format =
audio_format =
first_run =
first_aired = January 30, 2005
last_aired = June 26, 2005
preceded_by =
followed_by =
related =
website = http://www.channel101.com/shows/show.php?show_id=121
imdb_id =
tv_com_id =

"House of Cosbys" was an animated cartoon about a Bill Cosby fan who creates a cloning machine to clone a series of Cosbys, each with a different personality.

There were four episodes made by Justin Roiland, each about five minutes. An unofficial fifth episode was also made.

It was first aired on the internet television channel Channel 101, and was the first of Channel 101's programs to spend three consecutive months at number 1.

Title music

The theme song is done in a mostly shouting tone, the words are "He was a Cosby fan at heart it's clear. He searched and found a Cosby hair. He spent 10 long years and built a cloning machine! And now he's accomplished his wonderful dream -- to make a house of Cosbys. It's a House of Cosbys...."

Plot

quote box
width = 30%
quote = You see, Theo, each Cosby is getting worse than the last, you see.
source=Cosby 1The cartoon features main character Mitchell Reynolds (voiced by Jeff Davis) who invents a cloning machine in order to create his own personal Bill Cosby to entertain him. He then begins cloning several more Cosbys to help him around the house, much like in the plot of the 1996 film "Multiplicity". However, the quality of the clones seems to deteriorate as the process is repeated, and he decides to stop using the machine, but when one of the clones subversively activates it, he discovers that every tenth Cosby he clones has super powers. At the suggestion of Data Analysis Cosby (the first super-powered Cosby) they decide to continue cloning Cosbys so that their super powers can be used to help the world.

At the end of every episode scenes from the next episode are shown. However, these scenes are never actually shown in the next episode.

Clones

The following is a list of the Cosby clones. It is uncertain whether more than 100 clones were created.

Cease and desist

"House of Cosbys" was cancelled when series creator Justin Roiland and Channel 101's site administrator Dan Harmon received a cease and desist letter from Bill Cosby's attorney in June 2005: Quotation
Dear sirs, we are counsel for Mr. William H Cosby, Jr. 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.
Very truly yours,
John P. Schmitt [Episode 5]

One of the issues under contention is whether "House of Cosbys" is covered under the fair use, as parody. Supporters point out that many TV shows like "Family Guy" and "The Simpsons" have used Cosby's likeness, and have not been sued. However, there also is the factor that HoC also used risque subject matter not in accordance with Cosby's character and comedy.

As a result of the cease and desist letter, the fifth episode was created by a different contributor and functioned primarily as an attack on Bill Cosby and his attorney.

References

External links

* The [http://www.channel101.com/shows/show.php?show_id=121 Episodes] and [http://www.channel101.com/articles/article.php?article_id=70 Statement on Cease and Desist order] at Channel 101.
* Waxy.org's [http://www.waxy.org/archive/2005/11/12/house_of.shtml refusal to take down "House of Cosbys", claiming fair use] , despite a cease and Desist Letter.
* New York Times article [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/06/business/06cosby.html about the cease and desist letter] (note: requires login)
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2006/jul/22/comedy The kings of dot-comedy] , The Guardian