Bill Cosby's OBKB now streaming on your iPhone

The message of Bill Cosby's timeless rapport with children and families may not have changed, but the medium has. OBKB is his latest creation that brings to on-line media the same special qualities that made The Cosby Show and Fat Albert iconic television favorites the world over. Through your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, Cosby’s inimitable storytelling and priceless interactions with young people—plus Fat Albert’s “Hey! Hey! Hey!”—are now available as a weekly streaming series on demand at your fingertips.

Fans can now download the OBKB mobile app, which also features rare videos, audiobooks, news updates, fan wall, alarm clock and more at Apple’s iTunes for a cost of $1.99. This new series is presented as part of the entertainer’s renewed association with JELL-O, one of America’s most beloved brands. The title “OBKB” is drawn from the “Fat Albert” cartoon character, Mushmouth, saying “OK.”

“You can now have me in the palm of your hand,” said Cosby in announcing the new apps in a 75-minute live streaming webcast earlier this summer, hosted by Mashable via Ustream. “This is a new time, a new year and a new day. There are many things I have to say without going through the national networks. This way, I can convey my thoughts and performances directly for the purpose of making you laugh and feel good.” Cosby and JELL-O also embarked on a 23-city live casting call this summer to select America’s best giggle, with the wining giggle, selected by Mr. Cosby, to be featured in a national JELL-O TV commercial later this year.

Cosby has been raising his online presence in recent months, expanding his reach with fans both old and new. Last year, he released a social-themed hip-hop CD, Bill Cosby Presents the Cosnarati: State of Emergency. He has also built an extensive social media network, by linking his own www.billcosby.com with Ustream.tv, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, 12 Seconds, CinchCast and now Apple’s iTunes. A Cosby-hosted virtual town hall meeting in N.Y. last October in support of the CD logged a total of 1.3 million views this year and over 700,000 unique visits during the 90-minute live streaming event last July. At the time, the webcast was the third most popular online live event ever hosted by Ustream, just behind President Barack Obama’s inauguration and a Jonas Bros. chat.