Saturday night’s “Reaching for the Stars” benefiting the Catholic Charities proved that the folks behind the scenes put up with all types of things to make an event a success. But more about that later.

It was a record-breaking guest count at the Hilton Anatole for the annual Bishop’s Gala. With a mix of black tie, suits and cleric collars, the common look was happy folks. During the pre-dinner reception, Marti and Jim Burke (pictured left with Marti Burke) were one of the happiest couples in the place. When asked if they were there for the evening’s entertainment, Bill Cosby, they said it was largely to support Catholic Charities. Besides being CEO for TXU Energy, Jim’s also a heavyweight at Christ the King and one of Fr. Don Zimmerman‘s chief cheerleaders.

Bishop Kevin Farrell (pictured) arrived and was greeted like a rock star. There’s just something about the twinkle in his eye and that touch of Irish accent that knocks you out. Just ask him to say, “charity.”

The Dallas Cowboys were well represented. Biddie and Lee Roy Jordan were talking with Marianne (pictured left with from the left Lee Roy  and Biddie Jordan) and Roger Staubach. The Staubachs will be wearing several hats in the Super Bowl days to come — hosting Jones Lang LaSalle corporate types, heading up Super Bowl committee obligations and being Dallas Cowboy alums. Why, next Friday alone they have three parties to juggle.

Across the way in front of the hallway leading to the Sapphire Room, two official types stood allowing only v-e-r-y special people in. But more about that later.

Just as the reception seemed to be over capacity, the doors to the Chantilly Ballroom opened and the crowd flowed in. After the guests took their places and dinner was a done deal, a game of “Heads and Tails” was played. Colleen Barrett and Herb Kelleher (pictured right with Colleen Barrett) stepped outside, so she could grab a quick smoke.

Lillian Taylor-Blackmon was thrilled about the evening of Cosby entertainment. It was an early birthday gift from her date/husband, Deloitte manager Matthew (pictured). Lillian laughed, “You gotta love the Catholics. There are 10 bars and four drink tickets for each guest.”

Then the live auction commenced at 8:10 p.m. with everything from elk hunts, Mavericks packages, a Notre Dame football weekend, and trips galore. Fr. Josef Vollmer-Konig‘s (pictured) bringing ingredients to the winner’s home and creating a custom gingerbread house was so popular, it sold twice to the John O’Dwyers and Thomas Valentas.

The auction ended with the selling of two red Catholic Charities’ sweatshirts signed by Cos for $7,000+.

Finally the show was going to start with a lone chair draped in one of the sweatshirts on stage. Cosby entered wearing the other sweatshirt and helped Catholic Charities’ Sr. Mary Anne Owens (pictured right with Bill Cosby) announce the endowment campaign of $5 million had been reached thanks to an anonymous person’s $2.5 million challenge. Cos asked the question on everyone’s mind, “Who gave $2.5 million?” Answer: “It was anonymous.” Without missing a beat, Cos said: “What’s his last name, then?”

After the check and Sr. Mary Ann left the stage, Cos settle back to provide more than an hour of non-stop humor. The only time he hesitated was when he took a swig from his water bottle.

One of the auction items was a call from Cos on stage to the winner’s person of choice. That one went for a nifty $5,000 to Cathy and Dan Basso. A perfect match. Cosby invited Cathy (pictured center with, from the left, Bill Cosby and Dan Basso) to the stage to help with the call. A spunky Cathy appeared without hesitation and notified Cos that he would be calling her son, Franklin, who was at his 40th birthday party at a bar across from Baylor Hospital. The exchange was priceless including Cosby telling Franklin, “Your dad spent $5,000 to call you. There goes your trip to France. . . Somebody’s trying to get in heaven.”

If the show had stopped there, many would have gone home happy. But, no. They were in for an evening of laughter sans profanity or suggestive stories. For instance,

• In Philadelphia, Cosby said he went to public schools, where their teams played Catholic schools and the Catholic schools always won. So he had a dislike for the Catholic people. “They even beat Wilt Chamberlain!”
• He pointed out the difference in the ways that Protestants and Catholics worship. “Our pastors talk to God and Jesus, Catholics have signals. Protestants have no signals. That’s why they yell: ‘Jesus!’ I was in boot camp with an Italian fellow and we got to be friends. He was from Pittsburgh and said Catholics go to church for 48 minutes on Sunday. ‘You’re lying,’ I said. In the Corinthian Baptist Church, at 48 minutes the choir’s just coming down the aisle!”
• “My waistline is dyslexic. Used to be 24; now it’s 42.”
• At their wedding, “Camille (Cosby’s wife) started crying when the priest said, ‘Do you promise to obey?’ She cried because she knew she was lying when she said, ‘Yes.’”
• Talking about marriage in general, Cosby told the men, “It was right there in front of your eyes all along, but you didn’t see it: your mother manipulating your old man.”
• Camille to their kids: “Don’t worry about him (Cosby). I’ll take care of him.”
• “Regardless of what women do to us, we still have instinct that helps us survive. I had a horrible thought at the dinner table one night: ‘If I wasn’t working, these people would have me killed.’”
• “Behavior of the male is very important. If you think you’re the boss, my advice is to ‘Forget about it,’ because eventually she’s going to own you. Your wife is not your ‘friend.’ A diamond is a girl’s best friend; you gave her that ring and in return she gave you … nothing. She’s gonna be your wife, not your friend. I can get a friend with a beer. She’s a wife, way above a friend.”
• “The (bride)groom has no power. He does only one thing at the wedding: picks out the groomsmen. Because it’s the last time he’ll ever see them. Except maybe as a pallbearer.”
• At the wedding the groom’s father should be replaced with the groom’s mother, because then he (the groom) can see his whole life in front of him — “The woman who brought him into the world, and the woman who’s going to take him out.”
• He told the story of his friend named “Ed,” who volunteered to pick him up in middle of night after Cosby’s car broke down. Whereas Camille gave Cos static for not listening to her about fixing the car, and told him to call AAA.

Then it was over and Cosby exited the stage quickly. Just as quickly City Council members Pauline Medrano and Dwaine Caraway arrived on the stage to present Fat Albert’s friend with the key to the city for all he has done for humanity. But it seemed that Cos had headed straight to his car. Somehow, they managed to get him back. Looking at the key securely suspended in a clear paperweight case (pictured), Cos said, “I can’t get it out and open anything!”

Pauline asked where he was going to put it. Cosby responded: “On my desk, where my wife will touch it.” He then thanked all the volunteers, saying, “You don’t need money; you just need intelligence, good instincts and yourself to make a difference.”

With that he was gone.

Ah, but you want to know about those “More about that later’s.” Follow the jump. [Read more...]