Could'a been Cos in the pilot.....

[Kalel]

I'm sure there's more rumor to it than anything else, but we've all heard how Cosby was approached to play Bill's former/dead partner in the pilot episode... and, as much as I still love seeing Mr. Culp and Mr. Cosby together, I wonder if it might've ruined the actual scene. Don't get me wrong, the little hairs on my arms would've been on end with excitement, but I wonder now if I would've been more caught up in the two actors and ignored the characters and the scene they were trying to show me.

[Lupin]

Kalel said:

I'm sure there's more rumor to it than anything else, but we've all heard how Cosby was approached to play Bill's former/dead partner in the pilot episode... and, as much as I still love seeing Mr. Culp and Mr. Cosby together, I wonder if it might've ruined the actual scene. Don't get me wrong, the little hairs on my arms would've been on end with excitement, but I wonder now if I would've been more caught up in the two actors and ignored the characters and the scene they were trying to show me.

Culp was guest app. in Cosby's show in 1987 in a scene where they dine at a restaurant.

Probably the idea of having Cosby playing Bill's partner could mean a logical transition of Bill/Kelly from I-Spy to Tgah but it did work equally well without Cosby on the payroll.

The couple as we remember it in I-Spy is great together. Cosby had a great chance for being selected for the Cosby show as this boosted his career but I prefer Culp and I think [personal opinion] he's a far better actor than Cosby.

[The J-Man]

Cosby's presence in the pilot would've only been a distraction.

[Maxwell - F.B.I.]

I agree. It would have added a 'comic' sort of tone to the scene and ruined it (for me anyway).

[Lupin]

I dunno if it was Cosby's or his show producers' idea to have Culp as guest appearance in that episode but it was certainly to raise the audience of the show by showing them both on screen together because of the I-Spy series.
But let's face it: Cosby's presence would have spoiled the pilot, both for his acting and his connection with Culp. The script was not intended to make the audience imagine TGAH as the logical successor of I-spy and Cosby's appearance would have been therefore costly and pointless.
Culp is an actor for all seasons.. he makes the show doesn't matter with whom he's teamed up with.

[scenario]

I don't think it would have worked having Bill Cosby in the Pilot either. Certainly as kids we would have all recognized him as the Jell-o-pudding pop man, and from his old 70s Cosby show, and the Fat Albert series,...so that would have ruined everything.

It's like, wtf is he doing here giving Ralph the suit? The skinheads are about to gun down Cosby? Comedic actors and GAH don't go well together in my opinion either. The humour in GAH worked so well when the actors weren't trying to "be funny", but the situations in themselves were just so damn funny.


-scenario-