PBS says in a statement: “PBS, WETA, and the program producers are in the process of turning last night’s The Mark Twain Prize live event into a broadcast show. Our intention is to include Mr. Murphy’s acceptance speech in its entirety. In order to comply with FCC regulations regarding profanity, audio bleeps will be used as necessary.”
This is sort of the final crushing blow to Cosby, who was a PBS stalwart for decades on programs like “The Electric Company.” It’s also a blow to him from the Kennedy Center, which has awarded him both the Twain prize and Kennedy Center Honors. The decision whether or not to include Eddie’s impression– which in its entirety is scathing and funny– was from both institutions.
Cosby had already lost all his educational institutions and sponsors. These were pretty much the last two. Even new depositions won’t sting as badly as this.