With Dangerfield, Bruce, Pryor, and Hicks you can bet that someone is getting one heck of a show up there.

At least he doesn’t have to suffer with MS anymore.

Although I’ve never been much for Pryor as a movie actor, or even as a sketch comic. His standup is what really showcased his brilliance. Personal, raw, incisive, socially and politically explosive, and hellaciously funny.

There was no one else who could take his childhood sexual abuse or his own cocaine problem and make it so goddamn funny. Whoever said this stuff wasn’t funny didn’t listen to Richard Pryor.

Damn, now only Carlin is still left standing.

The other thing I remember is when he talked about going to Africa. In a hushed tone, he said, “And then I realized something… I didn’t see any niggers.” A hush fell over the crowd, and then tumultuous applause.

Now every comedian curses like a 14 year old in their basement, when their parents aren’t home.

Six months later I saw Pryor on late night do the bit: It was his heart attack story. I thought it was one of the funniest and most touching comedy bits that I’d ever heard.

I will never forget seeing Pryor on stage at the Comedy Store. It was like watching Einstein figuring out relativity. Pure genius at work.

(P.S. If anyone knows how to get a copy of Pryor’s first television special, let me know. I remember among his guest stars were the Pips, not Gladys Knight, just the Pips.)