Hello, Bill Cosby

One of my favorite perks of being a correspondent for two local newspapers is the opportunity to receive press passes when bands and celebrities come to town.

One of my first press passes was for a Lynyrd Skynyrd show, and that press pass gave me the best seats in the house for the first two or three songs (typically, press passes only give you so much time to make other fans super jealous). I felt like a million bucks as I took photo upon photo of a band that my dad listened to throughout my childhood. I like them too, of course, so that press pass was more than just an "I'm on the job" sticker; it was a golden ticket for a fifteen-minute thrill.

Tonight was no different. When I was little, I remember my mom and aunts watching The Cosby Show on a regular basis. And there I was this evening, watching Bill Cosby--albeit an older Bill Cosby--cracking jokes in front of a nearly sold-out audience. It took me back to the living rooms in which I played with my sister and cousins. I can still see those TV screens and hear his voice coming through them. It was like he never went away.

And he really didn't. Not at all. You can bet that Bill Cosby still makes everyone sitting in their seats touch their heads to their knees in laughter.

Again, what a thrill.

Here are two photos that I took tonight; the first was taken from the side of the stage and the second from front row (one of my favorite shots):

Here's to Bill Cosby: a legendary comedian who has charmed America for decades.