Cosby: Comic and critic

Five minutes into our phone interview, Bill Cosby is mad at me.

I'm unsure if he's pulling my leg or genuinely disgusted, but when I say I don't know who Damon Runyon is, well, he kind of flips out.

"Get your father on the phone!" he barks, mumbling to himself about how awful this is. "I should come over there and cut your toenails too short!"

Laughing nervously and offering lame excuses as to why I can't conference-call with my dad, ("Call his cell, then!"), Cosby instead makes me Google Runyon's name and listen to a short lecture about the famous writer (who, for my fellow unenlightened, inspired "Guys and Dolls" and created legendary characters like "Good Time Charley.")

Cosby is not only teaching me something (he does have a doctorate in education), but he is making me laugh. He's mixing tough talk and comedy. And that, right there, is Bill Cosby in a nutshell.

Most people are familiar with Cosby's impressive and groundbreaking 50-year career, which includes everything from hawking Jell-O Pudding Pops to playing the role of one of TV's most famous dads, Dr. Cliff Huxtable on "The Cosby Show."

Since becoming the first black man to win an Emmy, for "I Spy" in 1965, he's gone on to become one of the world's most beloved entertainers and best-selling authors.

In recent years, Cosby's name appears in the news section as well as the entertainment pages because of the harsh remarks he's made about the black community.

In 2004, he gave a public speech that wagged a finger at today's black parents, and in particular, young black men, for not staying in school, learning proper English or taking responsibility for their children.

His comments started a heated debate that continues today, with one side cheering his tell-it-like-it-is criticisms and the other calling his speech elitist and inappropriate.

Cos's passionate speeches on the topic continue, and are included in his new book, due out next week, "Come on People: On the Path from Victims to Victors."

Cosby, now 70, makes no apologies for anything he's said. He also puts his money where his mouth is, donating millions of dollars to colleges (including his alma mater, Temple University). Last month, he launched a new, animated, educational show for preschoolers on the Noggin channel called "Little Bill." There's also an accompanying book series.

Whether you agree with his message or not, Cosby remains, above all, a smart and hilarious comedian and he'll be in town this weekend to perform two stand-up comedy shows Saturday at the Rosemont Theatre.

His shows continue to be profanity-free, slow-spoken and brimming with funny stories about human behavior.

Below is an edited version of the interview:

Q. Which comedians do you like now?

A. They're all gone. You can't really be entertained that much like the old days. The Johnny Carson days. Radio stations used to play comedy records on drive-time, along with music. And the music wasn't factory-hammering and a buzz sound that makes you feel like someone's trying to break into your car.

Q. Tell me a little about the stand-up show you're doing here. Is it all comedy? Or is it comedy, preaching and politics?

A. No. Strictly comedy. Just come on and see it. We're going to have a good time. This other stuff we're not going to be discussing.

Q. It seems every few months, there's a story in the news about "Bill Cosby said this," or "Bill Cosby said that." Are you getting more outspoken as you get older?

A. Well, I am getting older. I'm at the mercy of the pen. It's what people want to write about. I've been saying the same thing, but all the stuff that happened in 2004 ... then you're at their mercy of whatever it is they want the reader to see.

Q. If you could get the everyday black leaders together for one day, what would you tell them?

A. It's inertia, entropy, love and respect for the children. It's integrity for the community. It really is. That's what it's all about. Gandhi, Dr. King, et. al, were working to conquer violence. White, Asian black, brown, red ... we've got to start from grade K all the way through, no matter what, making violence a not-wonderful thing for human beings to think of.

Q. Do you think your criticisms of black men and black families is helping?

A. I don't know. Go do your homework. We're making an awful lot of people feel that, you know what? Maybe I should get rid of this inertia. How long will it take? There are some people who have spoken, and some who have made changes and some who are not about to budge. Some are sitting and saying, 'Hey man, this whole country is against me and it's not about to budge.' There are many, many people who feel that a change is needed and that corrections have to be made. It's just not lower economic and lower-middle. It's hidden because the media doesn't talk about it.

Q. Have you ever had any political aspirations?

A. Why would you come by and blow your nose on my pizza while I'm eating?

Bill Cosby

Where: Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont

When: 4:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday

Tickets: $40-$50. Available at the Rosemont Theatre box office or through Ticketmaster, www.ticketmaster.com or (312) 559-1212

Info: (847) 671-5100