Title | : | Richard Pryor: Live in Concert |
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Release | : | 1979 |
Rating | : | 8 |
Language | : | English |
Runtime | : | 78 |
Genre | : | Comedy,Documentary |
Following a performance by singer Patti LaBelle, comedian Richard Pryor walks on stage at the Terrace Theater in Long Beach, California. He opens the show by comparing the public behavior of white people and African-Americans and imagines a white man in the audience behaving nicely when he finds an African-American has stolen his seat.Pryor remarks on his recent trouble with law enforcement, which involved shooting at a car while intoxicated. He describes his difficulty in finding a watchdog to protect him from police canines and remembers beloved pets, such as his lustful squirrel monkey and a miniature horse named Ginger that dogs mistook for a canine.The comedian recounts having a recent heart attack and enacts his emergency telephone call to God. Amid the hostile environment of the hospital, Pryor demonstrates that only the resilient John Wayne can defeat death. On the subject of dying, he recalls that his father passed away while having sex, which Pryor argues is a better option than being hit by a bus. Returning to the subject of race, Pryor impersonates the frenzied mourners of an African-American funeral and states that his grandmother used the same behavior to make him flush cocaine down the toilet. Although his grandmother disciplined him with switches and douche bags, Pryor preferred her punishment to the scare tactics of his father. Segueing to the topic of nature, the comedian is grateful that his father introduced him to the outdoors and illustrates the difference between men and women urinating in the woods.Furthermore, Pryor claims African-Americans are rarely bitten by snakes because their stroll is too "cool." He impersonates two bumbling hunters tracking a deer and warns that one has to be careful among wild animals, unless you look like fearsome boxer Leon Spinks.Next, Pryor recalls the championship match between Spinks and Muhammad Ali and mentions that he was once in the ring with Ali. Although the event was a benefit, Pryor relates that the heavyweight champion was still intimidating. During his youth, he remembers being a good boxer in the gym, but a punching bag in the ring. The comedian then explains why running is not always an attractive sport and mimics a white man jogging. However, Pryor says that running is an important skill when you need to escape from a scary situation and advises against trying to be a "macho man" and fighting back. He comments that using your fists is ineffective against today's youth who know martial arts. Another useful skill is exercising in the pool, but Pryor admits he cannot swim. He recalls that his children laughed as they watched him almost drown. Unlike his parents, Pryor admits he is not a strict disciplinarian and imitates how children fib to get out of trouble.Next, Pryor introduces Huey P. Newton in the audience. After speaking to an Hispanic man in the crowd, Pryor states that there are only forty Mexicans in the world when compared to the billions of Chinese. He does impressions of a Chinese man with a stutter and a Chinese waiter, who screams if you do not eat all of your food, then very calmly presents the bill. Pryor closes the show by discussing the topic of sex and orgasms. He assumes the character of the "macho man," who is confronted by fear, ego, sensitivity, and back strain in the effort to please a woman.
Paul Mooney, Richard Pryor