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NBC Scraps Bill Cosby Comedy, TV Land Pulls “Cosby Show” Amid Sex Assault Claims

NBC has scrapped a sitcom that was in development with comedian Bill Cosby and TV Land will stop airing reruns of "The Cosby Show," both networks confirmed on Wednesday.

The announcements come as the performer deals with increasing pressure surrounding sexual assault allegations from his past.

NBC spokeswoman Rebecca Marks said Wednesday the Cosby sitcom "is no longer under development." A TV Land spokesperson said the shows will stop airing immediately for an indefinite time. "The Cosby Show" also was to have been part of a Thanksgiving sitcom marathon.

The news came a day after Netflix said it would be postponing the Nov. 27 premiere of Cosby's comedy special.

A sold out comedy show in Melbourne, Florida this Friday will go on as scheduled, Cosby's management told NBC News. Another performance at the Treasure Island in Las Vegas is also still on.

Three women have recently come forward claiming 77-year-old Cosby, a Philadelphia native, sexually assaulted them. The comic has never been charged in a crime.

Actress Janice Dickson said Tuesday that her assault took place in 1982 in Lake Tahoe, California. Cosby's attorney, Marty Singer, said Dickson's accusations were a "complete lie."

A Pennsylvania woman and former Temple University employee came forward in 2005 after an alleged assault took place in Cosby's Elkins Park home the year prior. She told prosecutors that the actor drugged and sexually assaulted her.

The Montgomery County District Attorney investigated the claims, but declined to proceed with the case over a lack of evidence.

Speaking to NBC10 this week, Bruce Castor, the district attorney at the time, said he still believed something inappropriate took place.

"I didn’t say that he didn’t commit the crime,” said Castor. “What I said was there was insufficient, admissible, and reliable evidence upon which to base a conviction beyond a reasonable doubt. That’s 'prosecutors speak' for 'I think he did it but there's just not enough here to prosecute.'”

Cosby and the woman settled a civil lawsuit in 2006. The terms were not disclosed. His representatives did not comment on Castor's claims.

"We appreciate that NBC and Netflix have taken these allegations seriously and think that they've made the responsible choice by canceling these shows," said Katherine Hull Fliflet, VP of communications for the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network.

"The coverage of the Bill Cosby story has already led to a significant increase in the number of survivors reaching out for help through the National Sexual Assault Hotline," she said.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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