Much Love from a Fellow Peorian and Actor
Posted: Mon May 24, 2004 6:00 am
Dear Richard,
When I was growing up in Peoria, you were the biggest thing around. My senior year of high school at Peoria Central was the same year that you were filming "Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling." I remeber being in awe by your talent and career path. I knew that one day I would get out of Peoria and make something of myself as a comic actor like yourself.
Flash forward 18 years and I am a comic actor/writer living in Chicago and working for the Second City. I was just bitching to some of my friends about the quality of comedy currently in the US, especially amongst people of color. It seems that most people are just writing and producing shit with no purpose but to make a dollar. Well, this past weekend I rented "The Richard Pryor Show" on DVD and it changed my life. I was too young to watch the show in 1977 but I loved the episodes today in 2004. The show was funny and smart and it really was ahead of its time. I love the Chappelle show but basically Dave is doing a 1/2 hour version of your old show. He also has the good fortune to be doing on cable TV. I can't believe the things you were trying to get on NBC. I can't imagine the censors allowing that kind of shit on network tv today, especially with the way the FCC has been going nuts lately. Thank you Richard. Thank you. Thank you. You have given me inspiration again. I want to write and perform material that can stand up over 25 years later like you did Mr. Pryor. Again I say thanks.
pip
When I was growing up in Peoria, you were the biggest thing around. My senior year of high school at Peoria Central was the same year that you were filming "Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling." I remeber being in awe by your talent and career path. I knew that one day I would get out of Peoria and make something of myself as a comic actor like yourself.
Flash forward 18 years and I am a comic actor/writer living in Chicago and working for the Second City. I was just bitching to some of my friends about the quality of comedy currently in the US, especially amongst people of color. It seems that most people are just writing and producing shit with no purpose but to make a dollar. Well, this past weekend I rented "The Richard Pryor Show" on DVD and it changed my life. I was too young to watch the show in 1977 but I loved the episodes today in 2004. The show was funny and smart and it really was ahead of its time. I love the Chappelle show but basically Dave is doing a 1/2 hour version of your old show. He also has the good fortune to be doing on cable TV. I can't believe the things you were trying to get on NBC. I can't imagine the censors allowing that kind of shit on network tv today, especially with the way the FCC has been going nuts lately. Thank you Richard. Thank you. Thank you. You have given me inspiration again. I want to write and perform material that can stand up over 25 years later like you did Mr. Pryor. Again I say thanks.
pip
