We Need To Talk About Cosby

From Jell-O pudding to 60+ allegations of sexual abuse.

It’s like “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” meets “Finding Neverland”.

This is the best documentary I’ve seen that dives into the existential question:

Can you separate a comedy legacy from a man accused of monstrous acts?

Trailer for “We Need To Talk About Cosby”

Watch “We Need To Talk About Cosby”

You can watch “We Need To Talk About Cosby”: on:

You can find the latest streaming options at https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/we-need-to-talk-about-cosby

Ratings:

  • My Rating: 92/100
  • IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
  • Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 78/100 (Users); 99/100 (Critics)

Release Date: January 30, 2022 (Sundance Film Festival premiere)

My Review of “We Need To Talk About Cosby”

The Setup

“We Need to Talk About Cosby” is a four-part, 240-minute documentary directed by W. Kamau Bell (known for “United Shades of America “(2016) and “Sorry to Bother You “(2018) .

Through interviews and archival footage, Bell asks: how could someone be both a cultural hero and an alleged sexual predator?

At his peak, Cosby’s The Cosby Show attracted 65 million viewers per episode—a staggering quarter of the U.S. population. To put that in perspective, the Big Bang Theory finale drew 25 million in 2019.

You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up

On the Positive Side;

  • Bill Cosby was the first Black man to star in a TV series, I Spy (1965-1968). He didn’t just star in it; he pushed Hollywood to break its racist traditions by demanding a Black stuntman. Before Cosby, studios often painted white men in blackface to double for Black actors. Calvin Brown became Cosby’s stuntman, making history.

On the Negative Side:

  • On Cosby’s 1969 comedy album It’s True! It’s True!, he joked about using Spanish fly to incapacitate women. Years later, promoting his book Childhood, he laughed about Spanish fly on Larry King Live. Incredibly, the book mentions Spanish fly 15 times.
  • Cosby recorded the 1971 album “Bill Cosby Talks to Kids About Drugs”, explaining uppers and downers to kids. The irony is haunting, given the accusations that he drugged women.
  • The doc explores Cosby’s moral policing. He infamously called Eddie Murphy to scold him for using profanity in his comedy acts.
  • Hannibal Buress publicly linked Cosby to rape allegations in a 2014 comedy set at the Trocadero in Philadelphia—Cosby’s hometown. Buress ended his act saying, “Google ‘Bill Cosby rape.’ This sh*t has more results than Hannibal Buress.” The clip went viral, reigniting public interest in the allegations.
  • In July 2015, 35 women appeared on the cover of New York Magazine, claiming Cosby sexually assaulted them. Their similar stories painted a chilling timeline of alleged abuses, starting as early as Cosby’s I Spy days.

More Highlights from the Doc

  • Despite the allegations, Cosby continued touring in the 2010s, often facing protesters outside venues. The film highlights the stark contrast between the adoration inside the arena and the outrage outside.
  • In 2018, Cosby was convicted for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand. However, in 2021, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned the conviction, citing a prosecutorial deal that should have protected him from charges.
  • Even during the height of the scandal, Cosby’s influence in entertainment persisted. The doc captures the tragic irony of his fall from grace.

Lesser-Known Details from the Doc

  • Cosby’s 1969 skit about Spanish fly was far from a one-off joke—it was part of a pattern. His obsession with the substance appeared in stand-up routines, interviews, and his book.
  • Despite protests during his final tours, Cosby performed to packed audiences, underscoring how polarizing his image had become.
  • Prosecutors failed to honor an apparent promise not to charge Cosby, leading to his release in 2021—a legal technicality that further divided public opinion.

Wrap Up

“We Need to Talk About Cosby” examines a man who simultaneously broke barriers and shattered trust. W. Kamau Bell pushes viewers to confront the paradox: how do we reconcile the achievements of a pioneer with the allegations that have tarnished his name?

My only disappointment in this doc is that more A-Lister celebrities didn’t agree to be interviewed (see the list below of who did appear). Plenty of people close to Cosby are in it — and that’s brave.

Here’s the list of who appeared in the doc (sorry if I missed any):

  • Joseph C. Phillips (actor from The Cosby Show)
  • Lily Bernard (actress who appeared on The Cosby Show, also an accuser)
  • Eden Tirl (actress who appeared on The Cosby Show, also an accuser)
  • Marc Lamont Hill (professor at Temple University)
  • Renee Graham (journalist)
  • Todd Boyd (commentator)
  • Jamilah King (journalist)
  • Tressie McMillan Cottom (academic)
  • Jelani Cobb (academic)
  • Matt Williams (producer of The Cosby Show)
  • Gloria Henry (actor)
  • Doug E. Doug (rapper)
  • Sonalee Rashatwar (sexual assault expert)
  • Victoria Valentino (former Playboy bunny and playmate, accuser)
  • Lise-Lotte Lublin (former model, accuser)
  • Jemele Hill (journalist)
  • Roland Martin (television host)
  • Godfrey (comedian)
  • Chris Spencer (comedian)

Thanks for reading!

Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc