W. Kamau Bell Investigates Bill Cosby's Complicated Legacy in New Docuseries

Emmy-winning director and stand-up comic W. Kamau Bell introduces four-part docuseries We Need to Talk About Cosby.

Nearly a year after it's premiere at Sundance Film Festival 2021, the docuseries We Need to Talk About Cosby has landed a home on Showtime. Created by director, stand-up comic, author and United Shades of America host W. Kamau Bell, the series will chronicle Bill Cosby's prestigious comedy career and his recent controversy surrounding sexual misconduct of more than 60 women.

As an aspiring comic raised in the 1970s, Bell admits in a new teaser for We Need to Talk About Cosby that he considered Cosby a hero.

“What do we do about everything we knew about Bill Cosby and what we know now? How do we talk about about Bill Cosby?” Bell questions towards the end of the 50-second teaser.

In a recent statement, Bell stood by his decision of making the docuseries, which features appearances from Jemele Hill, Jelani Cobb, Godfrey and others.

“As a 'child' of Bill Cosby, I was a huge fan of all of his shows and wanted to be a comedian because of him,” Bell said. “I never thought I’d ever wrestle with who we all thought Cosby was and who we now understand him to be. I’m not sure he would want me to do this work, but Cliff Huxtable definitely would.”

Vinnie Malhorta, executive vice president of nonfiction programming at Showtime Networks also added his support of Bell:

“Kamau has bravely ventured into a very complicated and nuanced area of the Bill Cosby story, which has yet to be explored in this depth. It’s an important and under-reported perspective on the legacy of one of history’s most iconic African-American entertainers.”

We Need to Talk About Cosby will be executive produced by Bell, Andrew Fried, Katie A. King, Dane Lillegard, Jordan Wynn and Sarina Roma, with Geraldine Porras serving as co-executive producer.

The announcement of We Need to Talk About Cosby comes six months after rumors of a Cosby comeback tour. We Need to Talk About Cosby is set to premiere on January 30 at 10 PM.