The Cosby Show Producer Hopes People Will Still Watch the Show

Bill Cosby | Photo Credits: Corbis

This article, The Cosby Show Producer Hopes People Will Still Watch the Show, originally appeared on TVGuide.com.

Producer Tom Werner, who worked with Bill Cosby on The Cosby Showand Cosby, has spoken out in the wake of the overwhelming rape allegations against the comedian.

Though many networks have pulled reruns of The Cosby Show, Werner told The Hollywood Reporter that he hopes the case against Cosby doesn't completely tarnishThe Cosby Show's legacy.

"The legacy of the show is obviously very important to me because the show was a groundbreaking show and it portrayed a middle-class African-American family in a very positive way," Werner said. "It had a lot of stories that resonated with families because people watched it together. Obviously it's a challenging time for Bill Cosby and a challenging time for the show, but I'm hoping that people will still be able to watch the show and identify with the Huxtables."

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This is the first time Werner has addressed the dozens of allegations by women who have accused Cosby of drugging and raping them over the past five decades since the scandal first gained national attention in November.

"The Bill we know was a brilliant and wonderful collaborator on a show that changed the landscape of television," Werner said in a statement with producing partner Marcy Carsey at the time. "These recent news reports are beyond our knowledge or comprehension."