Pervy Cos.

Current Wiki description :“William Henry Cosby Jr. (/ˈkɒzbi/; born July 12, 1937) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, musician, author, and convicted sex offender.”

Listening to an interview with Bill Cosby from 2011 where the comedian/sex offender discussed his long career of achievement brought to mind a thought: should the work of an innately bad person be completely dismissed, no matter how important? Cosby, throughout his career, from his early breakthrough years as one of the first hugely successful African American comics, his chart-topping comedy albums, groundbreaking television shows (including Little Bill, which my kids loved) - should all these works be boycotted and never watched or appreciated again? Same as the films of Roman Polanski or Woody Allen or Harvey Weinstein (which, at the very least, would include all the works of Quentin Tarantino), the paintings of Pablo Picasso, The music of Michael Jackson, the works of Lewis Carroll, - it goes on and on. I’m asking, not telling. How do we approach the heritage of a deeply flawed genius?

The Incomparable Mr. Shatner

And now, Let us all bow to that god among men -  William Shatner.

Mr. Shatner cracked my iphone. Well, not really. His presence cracked my iphone.

This Summer, the Leopard was invited on board the Intrepid aircraft carrier near the West side highway in New York for a screening of a new documentary, ‘The Captains”- essentially interviews with several actors who played “captains” on various Star Trek TV shows and movies – directed by the original Captain himself, Shatner.

While waiting outside the vessel among hordes of  Trekkers and Trekkies, a black van pulled out by my group outside the gates. Sure enough, emerging from its confines was the man himself. Rotound, balding, well-dressed and radiant. It was a surreal experience to see. This man, whom I have watched on various screens for most of my life, was standing 6 inches in front of me.  With that unmistakable smile, he offered a beefy outstretched hand for me to clasp. At that moment, my iphone slipped away, falling to the ground, and I could tell by the sound it made that the glass had shattered.

By the time I reached down to pick it up, Captain Kirk was gone. But it was worth it. For now, every time I answer the phone or make a call, the memory of my brush with greatness brings a tiny smile.