RichardPryor.com Forums

Reg_Man_98 and everyone else,

Yeah, I saw the Foxx special. That one was a blatant rip off. Murphy, of course, did the same thing. But at least he prefaced the bit by acknowledging Pryor. He even mimicked Pryor's speech in reciting the defecation jokes. I wouldn't mind so much, of course, if they compensated the man. But they don't. In the music industry, artists pay one another all the time to sample material. Comedians deserve the same respect.

Chris Rock had a similar problem with his bit on N*ggas and Black people. He sued and got his money. Unfortunately, that's what it takes nowadays: litigation. Another thing that bothers me is the guys stealing his stuff are pawning it off on the youthful masses as their own. That takes the cake! People are getting rich and famous off someone else's work.

Finally, Bob Marley, MLK and Newton all have loved ones. I think their family should be the ones to protect their legacies. Coretta Scott King has certainly done a good job at it.

Jennifer,
You think eddie stole from Richard I am wondering if you saw Jammie foxes last hbo special! Damn it was like Richard was a puppet master and Jammie was his puppet. It was like all of Richards material just updated a bit. Jammie should have just went up there dressed as Richard and told the audenece welcome to Richards Pryors Material done in theft minor! I Hate it when i see that. Richard is the king! There would have never ever been a kings of comedy with out Richard and there shouldn't have been one without him anyway!
Love ya Richard
Peace
Mark

UBLAKMUTHAFUCKA!,
Great reply! Perfect and accurate. It is so important to have guides but even more important to try your best to be original. It is hard work but you got to love it.

That Old Hippie Chick,
There's a difference between stealing a joke and using it as an outline. For example, I don't know who originated the list of three, but every comic does it now. Not the exact same joke of course, but the structure -- the form -- the outline. The content, however, should be off limits -- that's thievery!

All comedians, especially new ones, have structuring problems and rely upon templates originated by others. Here's a poor example of what I mean: "My girl told me she goes to church 3 times a week. THREE TIMES A WEEK! Can you believe that? The only way you'll get me in church that much is if it's part of my community service!"

The structure for the previous joke can be used in a number of different ways. "They were selling an autographed Jordan jersey for $8,000. EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS! If I pay $8,000 for a Jordan jersey, Juanita's vagina better come with it!" Okay they're both lousy jokes. But the point is joke structures, e.g. callbacks, are community property. Specific content, however, isn't!

The examples cited above of Murphy and Jamie Foxx are blatant rip-offs of Pryor's material. There's no way around it. Both artists are thieves and should compensate Pryor for using his material. It's no different from Michael Bolton stealing from Isley.

BTW, I never cared too much for Williams either. Nothing personal against him, just don't like his humor.

in the sac comedy scene I've seen a few comics bite off of Richard Pryor. What disturbs me more is the big comedy names I've seen doing it. Some people think if something is over 20 years old the crowd won't notice, but we by god will notice. I think what get's me and other people so heated when we see people steal from Richard is that what Richard did was so real, so beautiful, it's like seeing someone piss on the mona lisa when they steal his jokes.

Reg_Man_98,
oh shit and fa shizzle... motherfucker-that one really pisses me off...Jamie LIFTS WHOLECLOTH---NOT A SPIN ANYWHERE IN SIGHT...RIPPINGEST OFF MOTHERFUCKER THAT EVER WAS--BUT THEN AGAIN HE AINT'T NO FUCKIN STAND-UP-sorry for shouting...

Murphdogg,
well, many of em think, and wrongly, cause Richard is sick and isn't on the scene, no one is gonna call them on their shit, like a certain closeted comic who is claiming he wrote a lot of Richard's shit...bring it on...cause we are here and ready to defend ....

That Old Hippie Chick,
You would think they would be shamed to steal from the master...but that just proves: no integrity, no conscience, no talent...oops...

mojones,
Murph has never even sent RIchard a bottle of wine!!!

Jennifer,