How I discovered Richard
Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 8:02 pm
I'm a Canadian living in Hong Kong.
I stumbled across a Margaret Cho DVD, remembered her from her TV days and decided to buy it. I watched it and saw someone who'd risen to another level. In the extra features section she talked about how she wanted to pay homage to the great comedians of her time and emulate the comedy shows that inspired her and she singled out Richard Pryor and I think she specifically mentioned Live on the Sunset Strip. I have always heard Robin Williams talk about Richard (along with his other favourite idol Jonathon Winters) as well but nothing made sense until then. I didn't know Richard Pryor had done live comedy which I could get and watch. I thought he was just a kind of funny guy who was in a few movies and never really understood why other comedians kept bringing his name up so much.
I did some more research and went out and bought my first Richard Pryor - Live on the Sunset Strip. I began to see what was going on here. This was another man. I know there may be fans of the movies out there, but for me, nothing holds a candle to Richard live. Here was something so new, different, profound and eye-opening. So relevant, still today. An original. I love originals.
The other thing that also impressed me is the relationship I see him having with his audience in these films. It's quite amazing. I haven't seen an equivalent in another performer. In one of his live shows, someone comes up and gives him a crab. Richard doesn't bat an eye, puts the little guy on a stool and makes a touching funny bit out of it before getting the little creature to a more comfortable place. A guy even shouts out that Richard hasn't given up drugs like he says he has. He simply responds, has a little conversation with the guy and all the others like him in the room, 'Oh I know some of you don't believe me.' and keeps going. He creates this room full of humans, all having soem real honest banter and laughing together. It's a gift.
Also, listen to Margaret Cho or Robin Williams, you'll hear the voice of a black woman coming from them pretty often. Somehow, I think it's a transmuted voice of Richard coming out. It seems to me that the only truly American dialect is an African American one. All the other ones come from somewhere else. That one built itself up from scratch in the belly of your country.
Wonderful stuff.
So glad I found Richard Pryor live.
I stumbled across a Margaret Cho DVD, remembered her from her TV days and decided to buy it. I watched it and saw someone who'd risen to another level. In the extra features section she talked about how she wanted to pay homage to the great comedians of her time and emulate the comedy shows that inspired her and she singled out Richard Pryor and I think she specifically mentioned Live on the Sunset Strip. I have always heard Robin Williams talk about Richard (along with his other favourite idol Jonathon Winters) as well but nothing made sense until then. I didn't know Richard Pryor had done live comedy which I could get and watch. I thought he was just a kind of funny guy who was in a few movies and never really understood why other comedians kept bringing his name up so much.
I did some more research and went out and bought my first Richard Pryor - Live on the Sunset Strip. I began to see what was going on here. This was another man. I know there may be fans of the movies out there, but for me, nothing holds a candle to Richard live. Here was something so new, different, profound and eye-opening. So relevant, still today. An original. I love originals.
The other thing that also impressed me is the relationship I see him having with his audience in these films. It's quite amazing. I haven't seen an equivalent in another performer. In one of his live shows, someone comes up and gives him a crab. Richard doesn't bat an eye, puts the little guy on a stool and makes a touching funny bit out of it before getting the little creature to a more comfortable place. A guy even shouts out that Richard hasn't given up drugs like he says he has. He simply responds, has a little conversation with the guy and all the others like him in the room, 'Oh I know some of you don't believe me.' and keeps going. He creates this room full of humans, all having soem real honest banter and laughing together. It's a gift.
Also, listen to Margaret Cho or Robin Williams, you'll hear the voice of a black woman coming from them pretty often. Somehow, I think it's a transmuted voice of Richard coming out. It seems to me that the only truly American dialect is an African American one. All the other ones come from somewhere else. That one built itself up from scratch in the belly of your country.
Wonderful stuff.
So glad I found Richard Pryor live.