The Richard Pryor Show (1977)
The Richard Pryor Show is an American comedy variety series starring Richard Pryor. It premiered on NBC on Tuesday, September 13, 1977 at 8 p.m. opposite ABC's popular television shows Laverne & Shirley and Happy Days. The show was produced by Rocco Urbisci for Burt Sugarman Productions. It was conceived out of a special that Pryor did for NBC in May 1977. Because the special was a major hit, both critically and commercially, Pryor was given a chance to host and star in his own television show. TV Guide included the series in their 2013 list of 60 shows that were "Cancelled Too Soon".
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Episode 1 - (Episode 1)
Release Date: 1977-09-13Guests: --Paula Kelly (singer-dancer) --The O'Jays - sing ""Work on Me"" Sketches: --""Star Wars Bar"" - Mudbone (Pryor) works as a bartender at the galactic bar from ""Star Wars."" --Presidential Press Conference - The first Black president (Pryor) holds a press conference. (Marsha Warfield, Robin Williams, and Sandra Bernhard appear as reporters.) --""Club Harlem"" - Paula Kelly plays a chanteuse in a WWII era nightclub.
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Episode 2 - (Episode 2)
Release Date: 1977-09-20Richard Pryor is a Black samurai, a Mississippi prosecutor, the owner of a pet head, an archeologist in Egypt, a come-from man, and a rock-star from Black Death.
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Episode 3 - (Episode 3)
Release Date: 1977-09-27Richard Pryor is a diner who uses his food as foreplay; a caveman who discovers fire; Mr. Fixit; and Little Richard. A woman describes a lesbian encounter.
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Episode 4 - (Episode 4)
Release Date: 1977-10-20Richard Pryor is a Chinese chef, a wino, El Neggro, a ranch owner, a survivor of the Titanic and Santa Claus. The cast roasts him. Charlie Hill tells jokes.
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Episode 5 - (Episode 5)
Release Date:Sketches: Pryor plays former Ugandan President Idi Amin Dada and a clergyman hustling for donations; Belushi portrays the master of a slave ship. Also: the Pips demonstrate how they would sound without Gladys Knight.