NBC firmly shuts door on Bill Cosby

FILE - This photo taken Nov. 6, 2014 shows entertainer Bill Cosby gesturing during an interview about the upcoming exhibit, Conversations: African and African-American Artworks in Dialogue, at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art in Washington. BC's top entertainment executive says the door is firmly shut to Bill Cosby's return to the network. In the wake of new and renewed allegations of sexual assault against Cosby, NBC executive Bob Greenblatt said Friday that it was "safe to say" NBC would never air a project with the comedian. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

By Associated Press January 16, 2015 1 min read

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) – NBC’s top entertainment executive says the door is firmly shut to Bill Cosby’s return to the network.

In the wake of new and renewed allegations of sexual assault against Cosby, NBC executive Bob Greenblatt said Friday that it was “safe to say” NBC would never air a project with the comedian.

NBC had previously announced it was dropping its plans to develop a new sitcom with Cosby, whose “The Cosby Show” was a smash hit for the network 30 years ago.

Cosby’s planned return to NBC was announced last year, before the rising tide of accusations against Cosby by women claiming he drugged and assaulted them. Cosby, who has denied some of the allegations, has never been charged in any of the alleged assaults.