NBC and Netflix Cancel Bill Cosby Projects: Is His Career Over?

Here at Popculturology, I've avoided touching on any of the recent Bill Cosby news. Like with the Kevin Clash scandal in 2012, it's hard to see an icon that you admire turn into a villain. Charges of rape can't be ignored, though. With each day that goes by, the case against Cosby has grown stronger and stronger. A lifetime of making people laugh through comedy will never trump sexual assault.

Cosby has already isolated himself when it comes to accusations of rape, canceling an appearance with David Letterman on Late Show and refusing to answer questions during an interview with NPR. The two remaining projects he had in the pipeline ended on Wednesday, with NBC dropping its plans for a new Cosby sitcom and Netflix postponing a Cosby standup special.

According to The New York Times, NBC didn't comment on the cancelation of the Cosby sitcom. The network began working on the project this past January, with plans for for a comedy to "be centered on Cosby, who will play the patriarch of a multigenerational family, like he did on NBC's Cosby Show and CBS' Cosby, and will include his take on marriage and parenting." Over the past few years, Cosby has kept his relationship with NBC alive, appearing on Jimmy Fallon's Late Night and The Tonight Show frequently.

As for Cosby's Netflix special, the streaming service released a statement saying: "At this time we are postponing the launch of the new stand-up comedy special, Bill Cosby 77." The special was originally scheduled to be available beginning on Nov. 28.

While charges of sexual assault had dogged Cosby for decades, it wasn't until comedian Hannibal Burress started bringing up Cosby's skeletons in his own standup bits. Since then, additional women have come forward with charges against Cosby.

It's hard to believe, but it looks like this is the end for Cosby's career.