Would BGOL hate Richard Pryor if he debuted in 2019?

[Rembrandt Brown]

Richard Pryor: Live & Smokin, a 1971 American stand-up comedy concert filmed in New York City in early January 1971, is the first of Richard Pryor's four filmed stand-up comedy acts. This was the first stand-up act that Richard Pryor did before he hit the mainstream audience. With only 48 minutes of footage, it is the shortest of Pryor's stand-up routines.​

I'm watching his debut right now... I knew Pryor wrote about the stuff that he discusses at 14:51 but I didn't know he so explicitly discussed it in his act.

It reminds me of when I posted a Top Four Stand Up Specials thread and was castigated for the audacity of not having a Richard Pryor special in my top four. Now I suspect many of the so-called Pryor fans aren't even all that familiar with his work.

If Richard Pryor made his debut in 2019, no matter what he did after it, a significant percentage of BGOL would dismiss him like they do Lil Nas X. And very few would embrace him as their favorite comic.

It ended for me when he came out as a cock sucka

Clown ass, faggot ass nigga.

He wants that ‘gay icon’ annuity check.

*places everyone that caped for this clown on ignore*

Dam Skippy...I Neva fucked wit him.. brah

 

[Jumbodicc]

Richard would've been "cancelled" the second he uttered faggot during a set.

 

[killagram]

He would definitely have to tone it down..or stick to the underground circuit...dam good postin..brah

 

[Simply_Black]

He would definitely have to tone it down..or stick to the underground circuit...dam good postin..brah

This ^^^

 

[lightbright]

Richard would've been "cancelled" the second he uttered faggot during a set.

or when he did that "Monkey called friend" skit ….

​

.

 

[BAG]

Richard Pryor: Live & Smokin, a 1971 American stand-up comedy concert filmed in New York City in early January 1971, is the first of Richard Pryor's four filmed stand-up comedy acts. This was the first stand-up act that Richard Pryor did before he hit the mainstream audience. With only 48 minutes of footage, it is the shortest of Pryor's stand-up routines.​

I'm watching his debut right now... I knew Pryor wrote about the stuff that he discusses at 14:51 but I didn't know he so explicitly discussed it in his act.

It reminds me of when I posted a Top Four Stand Up Specials thread and was castigated for the audacity of not having a Richard Pryor special in my top four. Now I suspect many of the so-called Pryor fans aren't even all that familiar with his work.

If Richard Pryor made his debut in 2019, no matter what he did after it, a significant percentage of BGOL would dismiss him like they do Lil Nas X. And very few would embrace him as their favorite comic.

Well, I would have to say he was high as giraffe pussy when he wrote this routine, but I can't co-sign him if he indulges in dick sucking!

 

[footloose]

Well, I would have to say he was high as giraffe pussy when he wrote this routine, but I can't co-sign him if he indulges in dick sucking!

Tyler the creator. Jaden Smith young thug. And a bunch of others. That shit might of just fit in these times. No one would of knew if he was serious or not

 

[CrucialOne]

My wife and I have discussed Richard Pryor a few times. I listen to Kevin Hart's Sirius XM station and Richard Prior skits are played often. I always tell my wife that I no longer find Richard to be funny. To which she replies, "he was funny at that time, but his observational comedy didn't stand the test of time." I whole-heartedly agree with that. Don't get me wrong, his stuff was genius, but I think most young people today (people under 35) would have a hard time understanding and relating to the topics he explored.

 

[Rembrandt Brown]

He would definitely have to tone it down..or stick to the underground circuit...dam good postin..brah

"Richard Pryor is, in my mind, the most honest comedian. He bared his soul to people. I think that's why everybody loved him so much." -Joe Rogan​

It would be a shame if Pryor was less free to be honest-- less free to be himself-- today than he was 50 years ago.

Fortunately, I don't think that's the case. I think he would be bigger in society as a whole, since America is more accepting of alternative sexuality than it used to be. (Then again, he'd probably offend some of his allies at times-- It would be interesting.)

Ironically, the older generation that yells at anybody who doesn't have Richard Pryor in his top four is the group that would actually be less accepting of him.

 

[Rembrandt Brown]

Richard would've been "cancelled" the second he uttered faggot during a set.

Have you seen Chappelle's Netflix specials? This is clearly not true. Just because something causes Twitter outrage doesn't mean it actually has an impact.

 

[neptunes007]

There is no definitive way to answer this question

 

[REDLINE]

Richard would adapt to the times so he’d be just fine.

 

[Rembrandt Brown]

Richard would adapt to the times so he’d be just fine.

Isn't being ahead of his time what made him Richard?

I don't think being fine was his highest aspiration and I think it is to his credit that he'd probably be himself and not adapt.

(Of course, who he was would be different if you make him a figure of this century rather to the last. It's like when people say what they would do in the slave era or during the civil rights movement. Richard Pryor himself couldn't tell us who he would be-- None of us can say definitively.)

 

[Rembrandt Brown]

There is no definitive way to answer this question

As for how BGOL would judge him, we can judge pretty clearly based on current examples. What would happen if this was a piece in Eddie Murphy's comeback routine? What if Chappelle said things like this in his upcoming Netflix episode? We all know the BGOL thread on it would read like the trail of tears. Disavowal would be rampant.

 

[REDLINE]

Isn't being ahead of his time what made him Richard?

I don't think being fine was his highest aspiration and I think it is to his credit that he'd probably be himself and not adapt.

(Of course, who he was would be different if you make him a figure of this century rather to the last. It's like when people say what they would do in the slave era or during the civil rights movement. Richard Pryor himself couldn't tell us who he would be-- None of us can say definitively.)

One would have to assume that he wouldn’t still be saying “Jive Turkey”, so it’s safe to assume he’s adapt to the times and be “Fine”.

 

[Rembrandt Brown]

One would have to assume that he wouldn’t still be saying “Jive Turkey”, so it’s safe to assume he’s adapt to the times and be “Fine”.

That would be an example of him evolving differently, not adapting to the times.

As I said, of course he would not be the exact same person. He might not even be a comedian. But adapt suggests conformity. Am I misunderstanding you? Because if by adapt you mean mold himself based on current norms, I think it is safer to say that he would rebel against them and be who he was even if shocking or unacceptable to others since that's exactly what he did against the conventions and norms of the larger society in his time. He was honest and distinct, not repressed or at all striving to be "fine" to the squares.

 

[REDLINE]

That would be an example of him evolving differently, not adapting to the times.

As I said, of course he would not be the exact same person. He might not even be a comedian. But adapt suggests conformity. Am I misunderstanding you? Because if by adapt you mean mold himself based on current norms, I think it is safer to say that he would rebel against them and be who he was even if shocking or unacceptable to others since that's exactly what he did against the conventions and norms of the larger society in his time. He was honest and distinct, not repressed or at all striving to be "fine" to the squares.

He was a comedian that was good with words, he’d be aight.

You’re making the word “Fine” to be something of a negative. I’m simply saying he’d do what he does as all comedians do.

 

[Shaka54]

subbed

 

[Rembrandt Brown]

...


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