Topic: Bill Cosby

Christopher Dorner: Hollywood anti-hero casts self in real-life drama (+video)

Christopher Dorner remains a fugitive, a three-time murder suspect. But to some Christopher Dorner's manifesto raises real issues: He accused the L.A. police of racism and other abuses, and weighed in on his favorite movies and celebrities. Is that why actor Charlie Sheen reached out to Dorner?

Change Agent 'Parent power' film stirs hopes among education reform activists

Reviewers called it trite and dull, but education reformers on both the left and right have hailed 'Won't Back Down' as a potential game-changer for public education.

Modern Parenthood The Week the Women Went: More male image stereotype?

The Week the Women Went is a new reality show in which all the women in a town go away for a week leaving it to the guys and dads. It could reinforce a negative male image stereotype, or the men could prove their potential with the women around – even if a 4-year-old has a cup of coffee.

Mother’s Day: From June Cleaver to Gloria Pritchett, 5 great TV moms

Why settle for one great mom when, as any TV viewer knows, you can adopt a series of them?

'Top of the Rock': 8 inside stories about NBC's 'Must See TV'

From 'Friends' to 'Seinfeld,' Warren Littlefield delves into the world behind NBC's blockbuster Thursday night comedies in 'Top of the Rock.'

Trayvon Martin case: sparks of racial violence appear

Police report isolated incidents of blacks attacking whites in the name of 'justice for Trayvon Martin.' The incidents are rare, but they indicate frustrations in the African-American community. 

Bill Cosby says Trayvon Martin case is about gun ownership, not race

Comedian Bill Cosby says the Trayvon Martin case is not about racism, it is about gun ownership. The Trayvon Martin case has also put a spotlight on Stand Your Ground laws.

The Last Holiday: A Memoir

Music legend Gil Scott-Heron's poignant memoir.

Philadelphia 'flash mobs': black mayor takes aim at black community

The crackdown on 'flash mobs' by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has put him in the center of a debate about how black leaders should respond to violence within their own community.

Mila Kunis says yes to date with Marine who asked via YouTube

Milas Kunis accepted a YouTube invitation from Marine Corps Sgt. Scott Moore to attend the Marine Corps Ball in North Carolina in November. If she does attend, Kunis will become the latest addition to the tradition of Hollywood stars entertaining US troops.

Strauss-Kahn and five other vexing sexual assault cases

Sexual assault cases rank among the most difficult to prosecute, as the one against ex-IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn is demonstrating. Held under house arrest since being charged with sexual assault of a maid at a New York hotel, the French politician was released on his own recognizance Friday amid questions about his accuser’s credibility. The “he said, she said” nature of such cases is one complicating factor (as is getting victims to report sexual assaults in the first place). But so are prosecutorial zeal, power politics, personal troubles of accusers, and even false accusation. Here are five high-profile sex-crime cases that fell apart, in which one or more of those factors played a role.

Esperanza Spalding: Grammy talent evident, back in 2008

Esperanza Spalding won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist Sunday night in Los Angeles. Just a few years ago, Esperanza Spalding spent time in Boston - first as a student, then as a teacher at the world-renowned Berklee College of Music.

Tina Fey thanks Sarah Palin for top comedy award

Tina Fey is the youngest (and the third woman) to win of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

Willie Nelson and Tupac in the Library of Congress?

Willie Nelson, Tupac Shakur, and Creole Jazz were included by the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry, highlighting 'diverse beauty, humanity and artistry" of the American soundscape.

Father's Day: For Obama, more than just a card and tie

Addressing fatherlessness has been a priority of the Obama administration. A day after Father’s Day, Obama announced the President’s Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative.

Gary Coleman: child star appeared at pivotal time

'Diff'rent Strokes' star Gary Coleman, who died Friday, became a household name at a transitional period for black child actors.

Tina Fey to get prestigious Mark Twain humor prize

Tina Fey joins the ranks of Bill Cosby, Steve Martin, Lily Tomlin and others who have won the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

Hello Jell-O! Bill Cosby and Jell-O are back together again

It's been 10 years, but Bill Cosby and the Jell-O brand are back together in a "Hello Jell-O" campaign.

Six Picks: Recommendations from the Monitor staff

Wallace & Gromit track down a 'cereal killer,' 'Cosby Show' marks 25 years, Lev Grossman's latest novel is like 'Narnia' for adults, and more.

What has America learned from Obama's 'teachable moment'?

The three men who will picnic at the White House Thursday have all made mistakes – and shown that talking about race is still complicated.

Bill Cosby 'shocked' at Obama's statement on Harvard prof's arrest

Bill Cosby gives Obama benefit of doubt on Harvard prof arrest

Obama calls for 'new mind-set' at NAACP's centennial

He emphasized the continuing need to close racial and ethnic disparities while also talking about personal responsibility.

Obama as "first dad": Will he overdo it?

As Father's Day nears, he is promoting responsible fatherhood at a host of events.