Bill Cosby’s Show Remains a Mystery : Television: NBC pulled the ‘failure-proof’ star’s drama after it floundered but plans to bring a revised show back in March. Still, some believe if Cosby returns, it should be in a sitcom.

This is a ratings sweeps month, a time when networks quietly remove their struggling shows and bring out the sexy, the successful, the safe.

NBC has taken Bill Cosby off the air.

Yes, the man who in the 1980s not only saved that network but also resuscitated the situation comedy at the same time is in need of some resuscitation himself in the ‘90s. His revival of the game show “You Bet Your Life” was an embarrassing flop in 1992 and now his drama, “The Cosby Mysteries,” is floundering.

While no one in the industry wants to criticize Cosby publicly, there is the feeling that, at best, this is a case of “right star, wrong show.”

“A failure never helps anyone, but I don’t think anything can ever change the legacy of Bill Cosby,” says Grant Tinker, who ran NBC at the time “The Cosby Show” ruled the ratings and Thursday nights. “He’s probably more failure-proof than anyone.”

The current NBC management hopes that’s true, since it plans to bring back “The Cosby Mysteries” in revised form March 8. But the real truth may be that audiences simply don’t want to see Cosby veer too far from what they know best.

“His (popularity) scores are still very high, but he’s become typecast as far as network television is concerned,” says Paul Schulman, a New York advertising executive. “Not only does ‘The Cosby Mysteries’ have low household levels, but the audience it does get is undesirable--very few people between 18 and 49. I don’t think it’s time for a benefit for Bill Cosby, but if he comes back, it better be in a situation comedy.”

Cosby’s current troubles began about a year ago with Cosby wanting to do a detective series. His company, along with Columbia Television and NBC Productions (the network’s producing arm) came up with the idea of Cosby as a forensic expert. The plan was to do four two-hour movies throughout the season, but after the pilot, everyone decided to go full-throttle and 13 episodes were ordered.

The series premiered last September, airing Wednesdays at 8 p.m. The ratings have been lukewarm; it ranks 54th among the season’s network prime-time series.

Now the show is at a crossroads. Executive producers William Link and David Black have been shoved aside while two NBC Productions writer-producers, George Schenck and Frank Cardea, have been dispatched to New York to try to retool the show for seven additional episodes.

The intent seems to be to allow Cosby to do what he does best and what viewers obviously like to see him do. Writers more attuned to sitcoms have been added to the staff. “We’re trying to find more humor coming out of the mysteries themselves,” Schenck says.

While Cosby is said to be resigned to let these new folks have a crack, his own clout has never been questioned, though he has used it sparingly. What has confused many on the show is why neither he nor NBC has really put themselves out there to help the series. Link says the time slot has been deadly from the beginning.

“We always saw the show as a literate man’s detective show and you can’t do that at a time the kids control the sets,” Link says. “We’ve also gotten so little promotion from NBC. The premiere show was never sent out and I had television editors from all over the country calling me to say they had no show to review--so they never did.”

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NBC Entertainment President Warren Littlefield denies that the network has shortchanged the show.

“ ‘Matlock’ worked for many years at that time and so has ‘Murder, She Wrote,’ ” he says. “It’s an ideal time to bring in an adult audience against Fox (‘Beverly Hills 90210’) and the kiddie sitcoms. We own the show; do you really think we don’t want it to succeed?”

Littlefield claims the series was adequately launched (“we ran the two-hour pilot several times”) but, he points out, Cosby himself “has done very little publicity on his own and that’s his call.”

As powerful a promotional tool as they come, the star has seemed strangely silent. Not only has Cosby turned down all interviews (except for one with the Atlanta Constitution), he has made visits to the late-night shows without mentioning the series.

Cosby is still not talking as he heads into urgent waters but when told, through a spokesman, that many on the show feel he has not promoted it, he sent the cryptic retort: “That is correct.” His spokesman pointed out (unnecessarily) the ambiguity of the remark.

Despite the current push--Littlefield promises major promotion for the show’s “relaunching”--some of those involved worry that it may be too late.

“Unless these guys--whom I wish well--can pull some rabbit out of the hat, I don’t see the show getting renewed,” says Link.

NBC says it has reason to believe people do want the show.

“Our data tells us we have a star the country knows and loves, a central character they like, and a concept that’s not been rejected,” explains Littlefield. “What we’re seeing is a show that hasn’t reached our expectations. I think our relationship with Bill is very good. These seven episodes will tell us whether we have a renewable show but, obviously, we want to stay in business with someone who is the godfather of this network.”

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What’s going through Cosby’s mind no one seems to know. Those on the show say he does not act like a man who doesn’t care. “I’ve never worked with anyone more decent than Bill Cosby,” says Link. “This guy gives 200%.” Agrees Ed Tivnan, a former writer on the series: “I’d heard he was difficult to work for, but he was an absolute pleasure and loves working with writers. There’s no star b.s.”

What everyone seems to agree on is that the new show--at least thus far--does not present Bill Cosby in his most appealing light.

“It’s a misuse of his talents,” says veteran producer Sheldon Leonard, who created Cosby’s first hit, “I Spy.”

“Bill’s great talent is bringing in the comic experiences we all grew up with. This show gives him none of those opportunities. But he’s one of the most charismatic people in entertainment today and that will always serve him.”

“People may not want to see him in a murder mystery,” agrees Leslie Moonves, president of Warner Bros. Television, “but he will always be able to do whatever he wants and there’s no one in this business who wouldn’t work with Bill Cosby.”