Bill Cosby [ tickets ], who's been spreading the laughter across America, will continue his stand-up comedy tour well into 2009.

It looks like the 71-year-old icon will break for the holidays following a pair of Nov. 28 performances in Ottawa, Ontario, and then return to the road Jan. 16 in Elizabeth, IN. His current itinerary (listed below) shows a steady stream of dates through late April, with one-off stops in May, June and September. Nearly all of the engagements include two performances. Further details are available at Cosby's website.

The veteran comedian/actor/author focuses on making his concerts as intimate as possible.

"I feel that in-person contact with people is the most important thing in comedy," Cosby said in his bio. "While I'm up on stage, I can actually put myself into the audience and adjust my pace and timing to them. I can get into their heads through their ears and through their eyes. Only through this total communication can I really achieve what I'm trying to do."

Cosby, also known as an influential social activist, has been in the headlines recently in stories discussing his impact on racism in America. There's been an argument circulating that '80s television sitcom "The Cosby Show" laid the groundwork for President-elect Barack Obama by presenting an appealing black family to young viewers who grew up equipped to thwart stereotypes and barriers, according to the Associated Press. Writer Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez calls her theory "the Huxtable effect."

Though Cosby has been a vocal supporter of Obama, he passes on politics in his current comedy routine, as has been the rule for the vast majority of his career, according to various reports.

This month saw the release of "The Cosby Show: 25th Anniversary Commemorative Edition" DVD collection, which comprises 26 discs spanning eight seasons. The set includes every episode of the No. 1 sitcom, and an exclusive interview with the Cos himself.

During his career, which spans five decades, Cosby has been honored with a slew of awards, including nine Grammys, the Kennedy Center Honors Lifetime Achievement Award and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

• Get real-time updates on Twitter
• Visit us at Facebook