Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids "The Weird Harold Special"

This original production cel from Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids “The Weird Harold Special” (Filmation, 1973) features William “Bill” Cosby Jr. and his brother Russell riding an improvised go‑cart down a steep, debris‑strewn slope. The special, based on Cosby’s 1966 award‑winning Wonderfulness comedy routine, follows the kids as they repurpose stolen wheels into an epic off‑road race, folding slapstick action into a broader narrative about choices and consequences in their South Philadelphia neighborhood. Painted on a 12‑field, 3‑peghole acetate cel, the two full‑figure images of Bill and Russell measure roughly 3.75" x 3.5" combined, their motion and posture conveying the chaos and exhilaration of the race sequence. The frame appears around the 5:49 mark of the special as the kids descend a steep incline, and here the characters are paired with a printed background from the show for display purposes, highlighting the dramatic drop and the layered textures of trash, discarded furniture, and urban rubble. Within The Askia Jones Collection, this piece underscores the importance of Fat Albert as Black‑centered educational animation, capturing how humor, danger, and moral lessons were woven together through both voice and visual design in early‑1970s Saturday‑morning television.