"A Different World," a half-hour sitcom about students at fictional Hillman College, was on the air from 1987 to 1993. It was the creation of Bill Cosby and originally served as a spin-off venue for then Cosby kid Lisa "Denise" Bonet.

However, it wasn't until Lisa Bonet was booted from the show (due to a pregnancy) that "A Different World" really took off in popularity. Fueled by a core ensemble cast of likeable characters - Dwayne, Whitley, Freddie, Kim, Jaleesa, Ron, and Walter - "A Different World" was in the top 10 shows in the Nielsen ratings for five of the six years it aired.

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Country singer Faith Hill was forced to cancel her performance at a tribute to soul legend Aretha Franklin after contracting a bronchial infection.

The 40-year-old was scheduled to join American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino, John Legend, Herbie Hancock, Shirley Caesar, The Blues Brothers and Bill Cosby on Friday to honor the "Respect" hitmaker as 2008's Person of the Year award, as named by MusiCares, a Recording Academy charity supporting music education.

Hill says, "I am devastated and deeply disappointed. I have been looking forward to being part of this event for months, and ...

Comedian Bill Cosby is set to record a hip-hop album - despite his stance as a long-time critic of certain forms of rap music.

The 70-year-old will address current social issues, such as parenting, teen pregnancy and drug abuse on State Of Emergency - his 35th album since releasing his first comedy LP Bill Cosby Is A Very Funny Fellow in 1963.

The actor will reportedly completely avoid the use of profanity in his lyrics - a topic he has been very vocal about in the past, according to AllHipHop.com.

-Check out Bill Cosby's Discography

(This news article provided ...

Veteran funnyman Bill Cosby's mother begged him to quit show business for a "proper" career and even left him money in her will in case he failed. The TV star was already hugely successful and a multi-millionaire when his mother Anna passed away in 1991, but she was still convinced he would never make it.

Cosby jokes, "No matter how big you get in the business, I think your mother never believes you're going to make it. All mothers would sooner you just pulled out now. She begged me to quit. My mother never had a job in her life. We wrote her cheques, so she never wanted for anything. ...

There have been some truly phenomenal television shows produced over the last 10 years. Works of art that will continue to be appreciated and discussed for years to come. But what's the fun in talking about that?

For each great show created since 1998, there have been at least five or six terrible ones. Often these truly odious programs have a mercifully short lifespan. Occasionally, one will unexpectedly survive and thrive, shining proudly on screen and mocking the infinitely more creative, entertaining and intelligent programs that it has outlasted.

Acknowledging the fac...

Jerry Minor is one of the most talented and versatile comedic actors working today and has been ever since his television debut on HBO's Mr. Show with Bob and David. Whether it's on Saturday Night Live, Comedy Central's Crossballs, or HBO's Lucky Louie, Jerry stands out, even when surrounded by some of the biggest names in the industry. Currently, Minor portrays Aubrey on ABC's Carpoolers and will be appearing in the forthcoming Judd Apatow penned-John C.Reilly comedy Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story and the Will Ferrell vehicle Semi-Pro. Starpulse spoke with Jerry about the development of h...

On his debut comedy album, Party, Nick Swardson claims that it's ironic that he's a comedian because off stage he's not a good story teller, but in this Starpulse Q and A he proves otherwise.

Swardson's career itself is an interesting tale. Performing improv at sixteen and then delving into standup several years later, Nick achieved the distinction of being the youngest comedian to have his own Comedy Central Presents.

One night, Adam Sandler saw the special and was so impressed by the performance that he phoned him the next day, leading to a partnership that allowed Nick to act...

Snakes On A Plane star Kenan Thompson has embarked on a strict diet so he can parody presidential hopeful Barack Obama on the upcoming season of satirical show Saturday Night Live.

The heavyweight SNL regular, who has poked fun at African American icons like Revd. Al Sharpton, Bill Cosby, Don King and Aretha Franklin on the show, knows he has to slim down to play Democrat Obama.

Thompson says, "It's going to be a real political year and I'd hate for the show to have to seek somebody out to play Obama when they have me sitting there."

The funnyman hopes to lose 60 pounds of...

Happy Birthday to actor Erik Per Sullivan (1991), British teen singer Gareth Gates (1984), "Lost" actress Michelle Rodriguez (1978), "That 70s Show" actor Topher Grace (1978), WWE wrestler Brock Lesnar (1977), singer Tracie Spencer (1976), British actress Anna Friel (1976), US figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi (1971), actress Lisa Nicole Carson (1969), Dream Theater guitarist John Petrucci (1967), singer Robin Wilson (1965), Soul Asylum guitarist Dan Murphy (1962), singer Sandi Patty (1956), "Charlie's Angels" actress Cheryl Ladd (1951), actor/radio DJ Jay Thomas (1948), fitness guru Richard S...

Terrence Howard once challenged TV star Bill Cosby when a scene on The Cosby Show featuring the back of his head was cut. Howard told his family and friends to watch the show and was left red-faced when his scene didn't appear, so he went to the TV studio to personally complain to Cosby.

Howard recalls, "He lets me come in and talk to him and was like, 'What's on your mind?' and I said, 'I watched the show last night... It was good but y'all cut me out.' He was like, 'Well, that happens,' and I said, 'I told everybody in my school that I was on the show and I was embarrassed.' He said...

Forest Whitaker and Jennifer Hudson picked up acting prizes at the NAACP Image Awards on Friday, just six days after their Oscar wins.

Whitaker was named Best Actor for his performance as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King Of Scotland, while Hudson garnered Best Supporting Actress for her role as Effie White in Dreamgirls, at the star-studded ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Accepting his award, Whitaker said, "Doing this role gave me so many blessings. One was being able to go back to Africa and touch my roots."

Hudson gushed, "There is nothing li...

Drew Barrymore bought Hugh Grant an electric piano as a wrap gift after the couple had finished shooting Music & Lyrics together. As a child, Grant, who actually plays the piano in the film, was taught by Andrew Lloyd Webber's mother.

Actor and comedian Bill Cosby's six-year-old Dandie Dinmont terrier, Harry - named after British royal Prince Harry - has won Best of Breed at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York City.

Former Frasier star Peri Gilpin will play Patricia Arquette's mother in an upcoming episode of hit TV show Medium.

Burt Reynolds' 1972 Cosmopolitan n...

Comedian Mark Curry contemplated suicide last year and credits pal Bill Cosby with bringing him back from the brink. The Hangin' With Mr. Cooper funnyman's depression began when a can of spray starch exploded, setting fire to his California home and leaving him with second-degree burns across 18 percent of his body.

While in the hospital Curry began collecting painkillers in a bid to overdose - but Cosby and fellow comedian Sinbad's regular visits helped him laugh through his pain.

The 42-year-old tells TV presenter Montel Williams, "It was so bad... that pain was so excruciatin...

Bill Cosby has upset rapper Fat Al by insisting he changes his moniker because people may confuse him with the comic's Fat Albert cartoon character. The teenage rap star has been forced to change his name to Al Fatz after Cosby's protests. The rapper tells Billboard.com, "I guess he doesn't like rappers. I'm just trying to come up and Bill Cosby was hating."

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)

Bill Cosby has settled a civil lawsuit filed by a woman who said the entertainer drugged and sexually assaulted her at his home outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Terms of the settlement will remain confidential, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by the woman's law firm.

Cosby's publicist David Brokaw confirmed the settlement and said there would be no further comment. The woman claimed that Cosby, 69, assaulted her at his mansion in Cheltenham in early 2004, after giving her pills. Attorneys for Cosby say he gave the woman over-the-counter sleeping medication Benadryl, af...

Known just as much for his permed hair as he is for his animated performances and quick wit, comedian Katt Williams has been making his mark in Hollywood for over 10 years. Beginning his career at an age when most teenagers are seeking their drivers license, the young comic quickly discovered that he had a gift for making people laugh. Inspired by the likes of great humorists such as Richard Pryor, Don Knotts, Eddie Murphy, Bill Cosby, George Carlin, Thomas Marshall, Jeff Foxworthy, Whoopi Goldberg and Dave Chappelle, whom he calls the Malcolm X of comedy, Katt Williams entertaining standup...

Bill Cosby lashed out at parents and teachers in Los Angeles on Saturday, declaring they are to blame if their children and pupils turn to crime. The moral campaigner spoke at a forum called 'Education Is A Civil Right' at the Maranatha Community Church.

Cosby said, "We've got parents who won't check the bedrooms of their children to see if there's a gun."

The star, 69, urged teachers to explain why children need to learn English and algebra. He explained, "If you teach English and you can't answer this child, then you're in trouble, and we've been in trouble. We can't answer th...

Bill Cosby spurred Detroit, Michigan, residents towards self-improvement and community spirit as he addressed an empowerment workshop in the city on Saturday. The impassioned speech in front of 600 mainly black people saw Cosby reiterate previous directions.

He visited Detroit in October 2005 as part of a tour to encourage community involvement, while in January 2005 he urged black people to be more responsible for their children' futures.

Speaking at Wayne County Community College District's campus, Cosby said, "When I come back and come back and come back I'm making a statemen...

Happy Birthday to actor Erik Per Sullivan (1991), British teen singer Gareth Gates (1984), "Lost" actress Michelle Rodriguez (1978), "That 70s Show" actor Topher Grace (1978), WWE wrestler Brock Lesnar (1977), singer Tracie Spencer (1976), British actress Anna Friel (1976), US figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi (1971), actress Lisa Nicole Carson (1969), Dream Theater guitarist John Petrucci (1967), singer Robin Wilson (1965), Soul Asylum guitarist Dan Murphy (1962), singer Sandi Patty (1956), "Charlie's Angels" actress Cheryl Ladd (1951), actor/radio DJ Jay Thomas (1948), fitness guru Richard S...

Comedian Bill Cosby is calling on African Americans to be proactive within their own communities rather than blaming outsiders for their problems. The star made his comments at a forum on family and education in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.

He explains, "I have a problem with people sitting there and saying God and Jesus will find a way." Cosby also slammed "churches who allow drug dealers to set up two blocks away."

The star was appearing at the University of the District of Columbia as part of his nationwide tour, "A Call Out With Cosby." The forums are designed to spark deba...

Americans chose Faith Hill over Angelina Jolie as hottest celebrity mom in a survey recently conducted by Vonage and Kelton Research. The survey also discovered that American kids would prefer their moms to receive a surprise Mother's Day call from Bill Cosby over George Clooney.

Who's a Hot Momma

* Faith Hill narrowly beat out Angelina Jolie and Catherine Zeta-Jones as the hottest celebrity mom (19% vs. 15%) each for Angelina Jolie and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

* Other hot moms trailing these three were Reese Witherspoon (14%), Pamela Anderson (5%), Britney Spears (4%) and Kimor...

Comedian Bill Cosby visited a university in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Thursday to urge parents of troubled children to take control of their offspring. The star spoke in front of 1,200 people, imploring parents to involve themselves in every aspect of their kids' lives. He said, "If you're not doing that, then you should be ashamed of yourself."

The 68-year-old's visit to Xavier University is part of a nationwide tour on parenting, education and social responsibility, called "A Call Out With Cosby." He also spoke to a troubled 18-year-old, Rodney Lee, for 45 minutes while a question and an...

At a rally on Saturday, Bill Cosby urged residents of hurricane-ravaged New Orleans, Louisiana, to "cleanse" themselves from the city's past criminal reputation. Over the past two years, Cosby has caused controversy during a series of talks across the US, in which he told young African-Americans to avoid negative role models in the rap industry, refrain from violence and underage sex, and instead focus on education and morality.

At a weekend rally in New Orleans - which was severely damaged following Hurricane Katrina last August - Cosby told 2,000 people in front of the Convention Ce...

As the highest eBay bidder for the celebrity-autographed Harley Davidson motorcycle from "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno, Waste Management Inc. donated more than $800,000 for charity and plans on "paying it forward." The motorcycle is signed by some of the nation's most famous people.

Presidents George H.W. Bush and William J. Clinton and other famous celebrities like Donald Trump, Nicole Kidman, Bill Cosby, Jamie Foxx, Demi Moore, Tim Robbins, Ashlee Simpson, Jimmy Buffet, Denzel Washington and future baseball Hall of Famer Roger Clemens of the Houston Astros signed their John Hanco...