The Richard Pryor Show
| The Richard Pryor Show | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Created by | Richard Pryor |
| Starring | Richard Pryor |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 4 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 45–48 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | NBC |
| Audio format | Monaural |
| Original release | September 13 – October 4, 1977 |
The Richard Pryor Show is an American comedy-variety show starring Richard Pryor. It premiered on NBC on Tuesday, September 13, 1977 at 8 p.m. opposite ABC's 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".
The Richard Pryor Show lasted four episodes during the 1977 season.
Industry observers questioned NBC's decision to put one of America's most controversial and profanity-laced artists in the middle of "family hour" on Tuesdays.
The main cast consisted of Pryor as various characters. Some of the more popular characters were Pryor playing a money-seeking priest, a wino, and a white-hating rock star. The rest of the cast consisted of comedians, some of whom went on to have popular careers in Hollywood.
Pryor filmed only four episodes of the show, and there were controversies beyond the first episode's title-card scene. A skit in which Pryor appeared as a machine gun-toting rocker who kills all of his white fans also caused a stir. The third episode also featured a controversial skit that showed a woman describing what her first lesbian experience was like in a park. Probably one of the most shocking and revealing skits of the show came during the last episode. The skit featured a roast (similar to ones by the Friars Club or hosted by Dean Martin). The show's cast roasted Pryor, who sat with his head down laughing mildly while regulars on the show either had kind remarks or very scornful ones.
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