There is increasing pressure on NBC to make some kind of decision about its planned Bill Cosby sitcom. With the comedian under fire for rape allegations, the peacock network has remained mum about its next move.
The untitled family sitcom would have Cosby, 77, playing a grandfather. Yes, Dear star Mike O’Malley has been heavily involved in development and will be credited as co-creator. It was first announced in January, with the idea of it launching in fall 2015.
However, with now two women claiming that Cosby raped and drugged them when they were teenagers, NBC is under pressure to pull the plug on its plans.
According to Variety, NBC hasn’t said anything about its plans, but many think that the show can’t make it to air.
But NBC is in a strange position, Variety reported, since it signed a contract with Cosby that requires him to get paid even if the show doesn’t even get a pilot. The penalty would be paid directly to Cosby, not Sony Pictures TV, which is producing the show.
Netflix also hasn’t made a decision on its comedy special starring Cosby. It will be available on Nov. 28.
Cosby has cancelled appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman and The Queen Latifah show in recent days and probably should have cancelled an NPR appearance this weekend. In that interview, Cosby refused to say anything about the allegations and remained quiet.
Cosby’s attorney also tried to put an end to the allegations, calling them “decade-old, discredited” rumors.
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