Richard Prior

[vc1111]

As we all know, this man died recently.

I had come to admire him a great deal. He displayed his warts and shortcomings in bold living color and laughed at them all. To me that is a sign of a certain type of brilliance because we are all horribly flawed and vulnerable.

Prior was a pioneering sort in the same vein as Rush Limbaugh save for the use of different tools and a different agenda. He kicked open a lot of doors and paved the way for comedic social commentary for people of all race, creed, and color.

I am a great fan of comedy and having been in the US Navy for a number of years, do not blush easily. As a result can wade through the "blue language" that is commonplace in today's comedy, although I firmly believe that strong base expression, regardless of the hue, relativity, and poignancy, has a time and a place. (For example, though I have been known to cuss with the best of them on occasion, I am disappointed at the use of certain, relatively benign profanity on this board...another thread perhaps.)

We have within the various formats and venues a number of great comedians (and OK, "comediannes" too). They add a certain twisted an simple poetry to our 21st century existence.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail:

Sir Bedevere

: What makes you think she's a witch?
Peasant 3: Well, she turned me into a newt.
Sir Bedevere: A newt?
Peasant 3: ...I got better.
Crowd: [shouts[/i]] Burn her anyway!

[mr-pirk]

I agree Richard Prior broke new ground. Have you watched any interviews with Jackie Gleason?
I love those old Honeymooner re-runs.

One thing that always struck me about Jackie Gleason's style while being interviewed.
You know how Barbra Walters never thinks she has done her job unless she manages to find a tear or two? Mr. Gleason more or less told, the interviewer, that he didn't have time for such non-sense and he had no real regreats. Mr. Gleason said he lived his life as he had wanted to and he was very satisfied.

I remember a interview between John Wayne and Mike Wallace(I think).
Mr. Wallace asked John Wayne how he would have handled the request for Nixon's tapes. It was pretty clear that the tapes were being requested just for "dirt" value. Nixon had already turned over the tapes concerning
Watergate,

John Wayne told Mr. Wallace bluntly that, had Wayne been president, he would have burned the tapes on the White House lawn before he would havegave them up.

The release of those tapes was the begining of the end for any expected decency and respectful right to privicy in politics and the reporting of such.

It has gotten ulgier and baser ever since.

I wish WJC would have had the noodles to have just simply told Walters that any questions concerning His and Hillery's fidelity<sp> were none of anyones business.

If the gossip rags ever need more reporters, they can find what they are looking for in a lot of the current political reporters we have.

How would have JFK or FDR fared today? I dare say not very well. John Wayne would have though, he would have looked them straight in the eye and said "Well pilgram Thats none of your business".

Thanks
Mr-Pirk

[mr-pirk]

Another show that I think broke new ground and made us examine our values was "All in the Family".

Thanks
Mr-Pirk

[burniegoeasily]

Funny you posted this. I was feeling a "Pryor Jones" and just a few days ago, Ipulled out some of my old Pryor Lps wishing I could listen to them. I do notown a record player anymore so I was out of luck, but it did cause me to change my sig.. Love the old Mudbone stories. And yes, you hit the nail on the head. He brought to light many social problems in a comical manner.

Love the Python quote. I will probably die with The Holy Grail and Life of Bryan on my all time favorite list.

[vc1111]

Mr Pirk, I haven't seen the Gleason interviews but he had a great run and was really one of tv's first ever comics.

All In The Family was truly a piece of television history. I wouldn't doubt that its already made it into certain college classes as a study of social stagmatisms of the 60's. We've had a few "Archie" types show up on the board over the years too. [8D]

One of my favorite lines of his was when he was asked by "meathead" how he would take care of airline security. He replied, "Once everyone gets on board, pass out the pistols."

Burnie, you ever seen "Jabberwocky?"

[burniegoeasily]

Burnie, you ever seen "Jabberwocky?"

Not in years.

[gonzodemon]

Richard Prior was one of the funniest human beings ever . He spared no one not even himself from ridicule and jokes. i think my first comedy lp i got was a double album of Richard Prior and Flip Wilson they were two funny cats.