While the 1980's have often been called a renaissance era for comedians, the 1970's were a great time for comedy. Three comedy albums have achieved immortality by setting a standard that has not been matched since - Steve Martin's A Wild And Crazy Guy; George Carlin's Class Clown; Richard Pryor's That Nigger's Crazy. What was most interesting was the career arc these three gentleman pursued over the ensuing years. All three continued to do comedy, although Martin pursued an acting career of variable success. He also is a best-selling author. Carlin continues to do stand-up, appearing on HBO pretty regularly, while also appearing in a few movies (Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure being his best known appearance). Pryor did several very funny movies with Gene Wilder, and some lesser efforts (including an odd scene with Margot Kidder in a tub full of bubbles I once saw parodied beautifully in National Lampoon).
Yet, despite multiple personal problems including a near-fatal accident while free-basing cocaine, Pryor came out in 1982 with a triumph, the greatest comedy concert movie ever, Live On The Sunset Strip. My best friend and I went to see it on a beautiful early June Friday evening at our local drive-in. Unlike Martin, who is quite serious and thoughtful, and Carlin, who just seems to get more and more angry, Pryor was funny and light-hearted (contrast his attitude with the near-manic antics of Robin Williams and Jim Carrey, both of whom seem to think that everything they do must be FUNNY). The following clips are from that movie. Watching them to get ready for this post took me back to that warm night with a dear friend now gone 21 years. As this is Richard Pryor, it should go without saying that this is for adults only; if you are offended by strong language or sexual references, you might want to just skip this whole thing.
Having made his comedy bones by giving some kind of authenticity to the word "nigger", during the course of the movie, Pryor recounted a trip he made to Africa and his revelation in regards to that word. I think this is a clip that needs to be seen and heard by all those who think the word appropriate - Pryor has a lesson here for all of us.
He was a national treasure. I am grateful that he has left behind a body of comedy work that we can see, again and again, that shows us how people can grow and change and still be hysterically funny.
Virtual Tin Cup
