Watch We Need to Talk About Cosby

We Need to Talk About Cosby is a Showtime original documentary series from 2022 that unpacks the rise and fall of one of television's most renowned figures, Bill Cosby. Blending biography, social commentary, and legal analysis, the documentary conducts a deep, no-holds-barred inquiry into Bill Cosby's life, career, and the sexual assault allegations that irreparably tarnished his legacy.

Part biography and part investigative report, the documentary was created, directed, and narrated by Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker, W. Kamau Bell. It dives into the complicated issues surrounding Cosby's rise to fame and the shattering accusations that led to his downfall. It serves as both a critical examination of the man who was once America’s beloved dad and as a conversation about race, class, gender, celebrity, and the damaging silences around sexual assault.

Bell intrically lays out Cosby's trajectory, starting with his humble beginnings in Philadelphia to his breakthrough on I Spy, his creation of the groundbreaking educational cartoon Fat Albert, and his ultimate attainment as the patriarch of The Cosby Show. This Emmy-winning sitcom not only broke racial barriers but defined the 80s family ideal while solidifying Cosby's position as America's Dad.

Yet, the series doesn't shy away from Cosby's controversial side. It unflinchingly explores the shocking allegations of sexual assault and misconduct that surfaced against Cosby in 2004 and provides a stark contrast to his iconic Dr. Huxtable character. Interviews with some of Cosby's accusers are woven into the documentary, giving them a voice and adding palpable gravity and legitimacy to the accusations that put Cosby behind bars.

Bell also probes the societal impact of Cosby's fall from grace. He interviews a host of notable figures, including comedians, actors, journalists, and scholars. Among the interviewees are Keisha Knight Pulliam, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, and Phylicia Rashad, who reflect on their time working with Cosby on his show. Other interviews include legal pundits and historians who discuss the broader cultural context behind Cosby's career and the allegations against him.

Moreover, We Need to Talk About Cosby at times serves as a confessional for Bell himself, a long-time fan of Cosby who grapples with the dissonance of admiring Cosby's groundbreaking contributions to the entertainment industry and the disturbing realities of his personal life. Bell’s personal navigation of Cosby's dichotomous character serves as a microcosm of the public sentiment, venturing to reconcile Cosby's fame and what it has meant to people, especially within the African American community, with the harm he allegedly inflicted upon so many women.

We Need to Talk About Cosby does more than depict a man’s incredible ascent and shocking descent—it presents a portrait of America’s intricate relationship with celebrity culture and how often society turns a blind eye to the flaws of those adored by the public. It is equal parts a sobering narrative about the derailment of a man once considered a cultural icon, and a thought-provoking commentary on the conversations and debates Cosby’s story has ignited.

While the ultimate judgment of Cosby is left to the audience, the series provides a comprehensive and highly intense rumination on the bipolar nature of Cosby's life and legacy. The four-part series We Need to Talk About Cosby forces viewers to confront uncomfortable truths, sparking debate, facilitating a broader conversation and questioning the responsibility we as a society bear when we elevate individuals to the status of icons while overlooking their inexplicably horrendous actions.

Though centered on Cosby, the series transcends the individual to become a reflection on society, an introspective on the powerful, and significantly, a discourse on victims and silencing. Through a mix of interviews, archival footage, and candid commentary, it manages to tear down the illusions of television fame, reminding us that our heroes are never as perfect as we like to imagine them. Showtime's We Need to Talk About Cosby promises to instigate crucial dialogues about fame, power, race, and the responsibility of media, making it a must-watch for those invested in cultural discussions.

We Need to Talk About Cosby is a series that ran for 1 seasons (4 episodes) between January 30, 2022 and on Showtime