He has a stand-up routine about Seattle, where he talks about the rain, like most people do, but there’s a little something in between the lines. The lines themselves are pretty funny, to be sure, but the observational power really comes through in the subtle details, and this is what marks Bill Cosby as one of the great comedians of our time, and time will tell, perhaps of all time.

He’s coming to Seattle again in June, for two shows on the same day, at Benaroyal Hall , and for anyone who’s ever laughed at anything, this is something not to miss. That might be saying that everyone in the world should go, and maybe that’s true. Everyone in the world should listen to this comedian. In his 70s now, his mind is still so quick and bright, betraying the doctorate he earned in the 1970s for his dissertation on his own television show, Fat Albert. He’s also a national treasure, and his achievements are great, and seem to be continuing to build.

The tributes to him as he moves on in the years are building up, and they always suggest that it’s time for him to accept the awards and take it easy, but he’s not resting on laurels. Instead, he’s entertaining everyone who’s lucky enough to live here, as well as anyone who might be staying in town at one of the hotels in Seattle .

This is a town that’s had a remarkable history, that almost dovetails with his own career. It has a long past of social action, especially when it comes to Civil Rights, and also has a fantastic jazz scene, past and present. Cosby’s always been a jazz lover, giving time and money to that causes for promoting the music, and his breakthroughs for other African-Americans have been substantial.

He is a beautiful man, and still so very, very funny.

No related posts.