Bill Cosby to get Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at Emmys

<br>LOS ANGELES (AP) _ There's no punch line here: Bill Cosby will be honored with the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at this month's Emmy Awards. <br><br>``Bill Cosby, like Hope, has not only made

Thursday, September 11th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ There's no punch line here: Bill Cosby will be honored with the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at this month's Emmy Awards.

``Bill Cosby, like Hope, has not only made Americans laugh over a long career, but he has also used his stardom to shine a light on strengthening the family values which make our country great,'' National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Chairman Bryce Zabel said in a statement Wednesday.

Cosby's television success includes the groundbreaking ``I Spy,'' which in the 1960s became the first drama to feature a black actor, and the hit 1980s family sitcom ``The Cosby Show.''

He has supported education through donations to colleges and scholarships and the Hello Friend-Ennis William Cosby Foundation, named for his son, Ennis, who was killed in 1997, the academy said.

Cosby, 66, is the second recipient of the award given by the academy in honor of Hope, who died in July at age 100. Talk-show host Oprah Winfrey received the inaugural award last year.

Ray Romano of ``Everybody Loves Raymond'' will present the award to Cosby at the Emmy Awards on Sept. 21.