Editing Bill Cosby (section)

=== 1980s: ''The Cosby Show'' ===
Main articles: The Cosby Show and Bill Cosby in advertising

Cosby's greatest television success came in September 1984 with the debut of ''The Cosby Show''. Cosby, an advocate for family-oriented humor, co-produced the series, held creative control and involved himself in every aspect of production. Plots were often based on ideas that Cosby suggested while in meetings with the writing staff. The show had parallels to Cosby's actual family life: like the characters Cliff and Clair Huxtable, Cosby and his wife Camille were college-educated and financially successful, and they had five children. On the show, Cosby played the role of an obstetrician. Much of the material from the pilot and first season of ''The Cosby Show'' was taken from his video ''Bill Cosby: Himself'',<sup>[''citation needed'']</sup> released in 1983. The series was an immediate success, debuting near the top of the ratings and staying there for most of its eight-season run.<sup>[''citation needed'']</sup>

In 1987, Cosby attempted to return to film with the spy spoof ''Leonard Part 6''. Although Cosby himself was the producer and wrote the story, he realized during production that the film was not going to be what he wanted and publicly denounced it, warning audiences to stay away. The film was however marked the first project for Columbia to be greenlighted by studio executive David Puttman. Later in the 1980s, Cosby served as an advisor to the Los Angeles Student Film Institute.