Richard Pryor

Did anybody see the thing about Pryor on bbc2 last night :D

Yeah, very informative programme. I love those comedy history documentaries. Is anyone here a particular fan of Richard Pryor? I must admit that I've not seen much of his stuff.

I recorded the stand up footage that was shown afterwards (really funny) but didn't bother with the documentary as it was narrated by Lenny Henry and I if I never see him doing his schtick again I'll be a happy man - bet he did that annoying fake laugh whenever possible and probably resorted to his Frank Spencer impression.

Watching Pryor I always felt that his misogyny was too serious to be funny. In the myth of the the wind and the sun, I see comedians like Pryor as the blunt cudgel of the wind trying to tear off the man's coat. I prefer the sun anyday.

Yes, he had problems but they should have been explored on a psychiatrist's couch, not the stage. The story about Pryor having a 'heart attack' in the club backroom was seedy, and not the way Pryor (or anyone else) would want to be remembered. >_<

Anyway, that was my tuppence.