Students laud Cosby in new game show

Although over 50 students gambled away their evening by attending comedian Bill Cosby's new show You Bet Your Life, everyone said they came out a winner. And while the students raved about Cosby's improvisational humor, many gave the show's concept low marks. "The game show part was stupid," College freshman Cari Emery said. "But the interviewing part was funny and that's where Bill Cosby was at his best." Before taping began, Cosby briefly welcomed the University students and assumed his role as host. "We thank some of the kids from the University of Pennsylvania for coming out this evening," Cosby said. "Get it all out before midterms." Students said they enjoyed being on the set of a gameshow where they were able to get a "backstage" feel for how it is produced. But many students learned, after standing in the lobby of WHYY television studios for nearly one and one-half hours, that the celebrity world is not always exciting, and often demands that one "hurry up and wait." "We were waiting so long that I thought the Cos overdosed on Jello Pudding Pops," College freshman Ryan Jaffe said. You Bet Your Life is actually a revival of an old game show where contestants with bizarre occupations are paired up to answer trivia questions on various topics. Much of the show's emphasis and appeal is the interaction between Cosby and his contestants, students said. The freshmen said they were most entertained by the conversation between Cosby and a gravestone saleswoman from Detroit. For nearly fifteen minutes the two humored the audience as the saleswoman explained her business to the animated Cosby. She attempted to sell a stone to Cosby, who she said falls into the "pre-need" category. The crowds reaction was loudest when Cosby uncharacteristically shouted "bullshit" in response to the contestant's claim she felt sorry for her deceased clients. Other contestants included a 60-year-old skydiver and a cow-manure-throwing-contest judge. The students' reasons for attending the event were as varied as the contestants. "I had nothing to do and it was free." said College freshman Melissa Spindle. But Stewart Meyer said toungue-in-cheek that he attended since he could not locate a copy of the pornographic magazine which claims to feature a naked University sophomore. "7-11 ran out of Hustler, so I decided to come here instead," the College freshman said last night. The trip to the studio was organized by David Shane, Community House's social events coordinator. "We brought a Community House T-shirt for Bill Cosby," Shane said. "And were hoping to get a little bit of free publicity for Penn." The shirt was given to one of the audience coordinators. You Bet Your Life coordinators said they were unsure when this episode would appear on television.

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