Comedic legend, Richard Pryor passes away at 65
JC
Bloomberg.com reports on the death of Richard Pryor. He is recognized as one of the first people to really deal with race in comedic acts in the 70s and early 80s. He paved the way for other comics like Eddie Murphy to do the same.
Pryor died of a heart attack this morning at a hospital near his home in Encino, California, spokeswoman Karen Finch said in a statement.
He found comedic material in the often-harsh realities of African-American life, when black comedians like Bill Cosby avoided race and politics to appeal to white audiences. He became known for his rubbery facial expressions, scathing humor, and quick, bombastic delivery. In his routines, Pryor recounted vivid, often hilarious tales where pimps, deadbeats and drunks evoked sympathy and ridicule.
“He created a biting, scatological comedy defined by the linguistic and stylistic patterns of poor and working-class black folks,” wrote Salon’s Jill Nelson in 1998. “He was often raunchy, sometimes bitter, frequently political and always honest, sometimes painfully so.”
UPDATE/NOTE FROM CVK
Did anyone catch the really short segment on Monday’s Today Show on Pryor? It was the least enthusiastic and most ambivalent eulogy/remembrance piece I have ever seen. After showing clips from his old shows, Matt Lauer said something like, “A lot of comedians saw Pryor as a role model. Whether he was a role model in real life of course, is questionable.” And then Katie Couric said something like, “A lot of people liked his comedy. But whether you like it personally is a question of taste.” I’m paraphrasing here, but I have to say I was shocked by the lack of respect displayed for him.
Colorful Comic Darky wrote:
Does anyone ever think that post-Civil Rights Ear Black showmen are largely neo-Black minstrels putting on “n*gga-face” and Blaxploitating for White America? That in fact, juxtaposing such 1-dimensional urban stereotypes with White suburbia - is the very same thing as what the old minstrel shows did? And in fact, a proven formula to appeal to the most lucrative White mainstream audiences (not avoid them)?
“Minstrel shows began in the 1830s, with working class white men dressing up as plantation slaves. These men imitated black musical and dance forms, combining savage parody of black Americans with genuine fondness for African American cultural forms.”
Hmm, sound familiar? Only, now it’s Black men who have replaced “working class white men.”
50% of humor in America these days merely involves people aping urban Black stereotypes. Take a look at half the “funny” pics & videos on the internet. Watch some “Martin” or “Fresh Prince” re-runs. For some reason, people find the poor or exaggerated imitation of Black youth subculture inherently funny. But when I walk through the hood, I don’t feel the uncontrollable urge to laff?
Posted 13 Dec 2005 at 11:03 am ¶
Lyonside wrote:
Lauer and Couric? Not shocked there - they are some of the best examples out there of TV personalities who lack… well, personality. Their TV personas are so bland that either they really DIDN’t understnad him, or they understood him too well, but they know that their personas depend on “Middle America” liking and identifying with them.
Most of morning “news” shows sound so scripted anyway, that I wonder if anything that was said was their real opinion.
Posted 13 Dec 2005 at 2:48 pm ¶
Lyonside wrote:
>Does anyone ever think that post-Civil Rights Ear Black showmen are largely neo-Black minstrels putting on “n*gga-face” and Blaxploitating for White America?
I agree. It’s why “Martin” as a show (and Lawrence’s stand up) left me cold. With sitcoms, I always try to find the standup routine or earlier work of the “star,” see if I like them w/out scriptwriters. Sometimes I like them better, sometimes I can’t see the appeal.
For myself, I want smart and clever real-life commentary comedy, I want someone to be absurd to prove a point, and I want someone to think that the audience might just have a brain and have learned something once, even if they left it at home. It helps if they can be easily quoted.
Hunh. That’s probably why I like Eddie Izzard.
Posted 13 Dec 2005 at 2:52 pm ¶
Joel Stein Vs Bruce Lee wrote:
“It was the least enthusiastic and most ambivalent eulogy/remembrance piece I have ever seen.”
Umm, have you ever read Joel Stein’s backhanded “celebration” of Bruce Lee as one of TIME magazine’s 100 most important people of the century filled with thinly-veiled insults, unsubstantiated rumors and cheap shots?
http://www.time.com/time/time100/heroes/profile/lee01.html
No other profile roasted the dead VIP so slanderously.
For example, they could have similarly roasted MLK with KNOWN facts like these:
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/030502.html
But instead, they just gave him a slobbering BJ, like every other celeb covered…except Bruce.
http://www.time.com/time/time100/leaders/profile/king.html
Posted 14 Dec 2005 at 2:10 pm ¶
TMJ wrote:
Pryor’s wife was on BET’s 106th & Park (don’t ask, it was a weak moment) talking about him and she said she was totally disgusted with Couric that morning. She said that Couric was being real prissy about Pryor’s language and she was pissed! I missed it becuz I usually watch cnn, but they do suck.
Also, yes, dark comic all that crap is minstrelsy! I don’t want to hate Martin but damn his movies suck. They are making a big momma 2! WHY!! WTH!!! All his recent movies (blue streak etc.) all have a stepnfetchit feel to them. The MAJORITY of television shows with Black folks are that way, and we laugh at ourselves while we cry inside.
But that’s why I admired Chappelle’s move so much. His show was great—but it was ugly. The fact that he could step back and see his show–or see how others who didn’t feel that pain might see it–was a wonderful show of integrity. What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, if he loses his soul?
Posted 21 Dec 2005 at 2:41 pm ¶
Jay Smooth wrote:
wow I am sooo glad i did not see that Couric thing.. I have to reach for my heart pills just about it, lol..
Posted 22 Jan 2006 at 9:33 pm ¶