CanadaSucks 08/24/2008
"Steve Martin theory" - better in movies than in stand-up. I find Pryor talented and funny- but some of his work in movies (even the really dated ones) overshadows some of the stand-up stuff.
Helpful
Funny
Agree
Disagree
Spike65 08/23/2008
A brilliant guy who like so many others of the last 25 years ended on a sad note of drug abuse and self-destruction. He was outstanding before the coke and crack fried his brain. After the fire which nearly killed him, he was never as good. And to all who dislike his language he could be very funny without using bad language. See his appearances on Saturday Night Live or his short-lived t.v. show.
Going2Oahu 12/24/2007
Dirty mouth. Alot of people loved him but I didn't like his language.
angryjed 12/03/2007
The world could not handle another Richard Pryor
sarahsmiles 09/14/2007
flipping funny man...we miss ya dude!
Schadenfreudia nSlip 05/23/2007
Why oh WHY did he team up with Gene Wilder? Okay, it was the money (but I wonder how much those flicks really grossed).
Derek880 02/12/2007
No one else even comes close. Had the most natural talent of any comedian ever, and could ad-lib an entire comedy show. Brilliant. There will never be another like him
lebo 02/04/2007
Pryor is one of the funniest comedians ever. His shows are still funny today and you simply cannot get tired of them. From his vocal parodies to the stinging truths about American society, Pryor reigns supreme. What made is great is the fact that he was multidimensional. I take my hat off to this genius.
JackyBoy 11/10/2006
Basketball had Michael Jordan. Boxing had Muhammed Ali and Football had Pele. Stand-Up had Richard Pryor.
numbah16tdhaha 08/30/2006
I'll give him the fifth star. numbah cares not if somebody has filthy language thanks to military service. We jarheads like the curse words.
louiethe20th 08/30/2006
One of the funniest guys that ever lived. I must take off a star Richard, for the horrible language.
Snagboy 07/25/2006
the only comedian that could so 2 hours of standup comedy and be funny as hell 90% of the time!! At the end of the show, your ribs hurt and your jaw was sore from smiling and laughing.
doobiesNhof 04/02/2006
Pryor was a comic genius. He paved the way for comedians like Robin Williams and Eddie Murphy. He was vulgar but he spoke his mind and struck your funny bone with his approach of human's flaws and shortcomings.
Silver Eagle 252 04/01/2006
If you are easily offended or don't like profanity, then you're not going to like Richard Pryor. To truly appreciate his comic genius, you would have had to have grown up in the era when he was in his prime. He will reamin on my list of all time greats.
Wid71 12/12/2005
He wasn't afraid to speak his mind and shake things up. He was an inspiration to many young comics out there. He will definitely be missed. RIP
scarletfeather 12/10/2005
I am very sad to hear of his passing, though I know he has been in poor health for some time. He was incisive and unique, and one of my favorite comedians.
PlanetaryGear 12/10/2005
A trail-blazer and pioneer in the field of comedy. His stand-up routine was groundbreaking and set the mold for funny-men and women for years to come.... Just found out that he past away today...Rest in peace.
Alltheworldsac ritic 12/05/2005
I saw Silver Streak as a kid and laughed my ass off. I have also enjoyed Pryor's stand-up comedy. I think it's interesting that most reviews in here are either 5-star, or 1-star (with most of those taking offense to the "foul language.") From all of the famous comedians who honor him, I understand that his contribution to comedy has been great. However, Lenny Bruce also was a great influence in comedy (especially darker, social commentary). He came before Pryor and unfortunately was not allowed to pursue his career by the government's emphatic persecution under its censorship laws. Pryor is definitely an original, and he completely stood out among the rest during his time. However, now there are other comedians that make me laugh harder.
Randyman 05/07/2005
The man is iconic and a true comedic genius. At his peak he was the best.
infinity3344 04/11/2005
Pryor was the best and the most original.
Skizero 03/17/2005
a vulgar genius turning a keen eye toward himself and society.
StevePI 01/22/2005
When he was on, which was most of the time he was simply the best. Also a great performance in a little known and overlooked drama Blue Collar, where he matched up well with Yaphet Kotto and Harvey Keitel. A versatile and talented performer, it mystifies me that some would be intimidated or afraid of him. Hard edged urban humor yes, anti white or dangerous no. In the end, it is sad that his personal demons and bad luck with physical health have brought him down.
edt4 01/14/2005
The best. Still.
ChrisO1981 01/12/2005
His comedy hours are probably the best of all time. He wasn't a racist, he was making jokes. I am white and I laughed my ass off at some of the stuff he said. Get over the racist thing, its a non-point.
tocwelsh 12/28/2004
Not at all funny, one of the worst in USA...............
The Slacker 12/23/2004
After seeing him on comedy central saturday at 1am, I cant believe anyone would give him under a 4. His comedy is still heard even 30 years after it was spoken. One of the greatest comics ever.
McGowan 12/02/2004
Wasn't the first black racist comic (That goes to the likes of godfrey cambridge,dick gregory,moms mably,and others,all equally unfunny as well),but,probably because of the timing ,of all the cultural destruction,and other similar, anti-White-isms, brought about by the evil '60's libertines , he was the first to popularize it,opening the flood gates of the anti-White , black comic ; badly done set-ups to the punch lines ,leaving out of lots necessary details , all delivered with a nearly total impatience to do that,leading to a rushed hurrying to the punch line - mostly, style-over-substance.But don't tell that to them,because they all have the attitude that other blacks don't need to hear all the details, so that makes them hipper than White comics/audiences. And, of course,call you racist , and most likely ,try to kill you. And, most importantly, being racist,racist and racist, against Whitey,with the horriblly innaccurate imitations/mockery,of Whites;how we walk,sing,dance and of course,how we talk(Like we all have kazoos up our noses) - there might as well be a class ,called black racist stand-up 101, because those are the bread-and-butter, of black racist stand-up, and we have the likes of pryor , to thank for it. So,thanks for nothing, and you deserve to have MS.
uneek 11/27/2004
How could this guy not be #1? He just holds your attention better than anybody else.
Djahuti 10/07/2004
One of the funniest standups ever.Brilliant!Not quite as good in films,but that could be the fault of the scripts.
southparker9 08/24/2004
One of the best of all time. Cursed too much. This man could make swearing work. One of the funniest men you will ever hear.
ClassicTVFan47 07/10/2004
Trashy and unfunny, Pryor's drug-addled antics shouldn't be held in such high regard.
Rater04 06/29/2004
he was good in his time, but the drugs really messed him up, sad to say!
marcm9999 06/18/2004
A has been racist.
faceman 06/16/2004
I think that Richard Pryor is one of the greatest comedians of all time.
spirit510 06/08/2004
Richard Pryor, what can I say about him that hasn't already been said. He was extremely funny, the cursing didn't bother me, sh*t we all curse. I enjoyed almost all of his movies except The Wiz which was really was no good. If his part had been bigger, the movie might have gone some place. He cracked me up in Hear No Evil, See No Evil where he played the blind guy. If anyone has that one watch the part where he trips over Dave (the deaf one) while running looking for him. Also in Stir Crazy, the scene where him and Gene Wilder first go to prison and walk real tough to keep off the other prisoners. Classic! He did physical comedy too which was underrated. Man I love Richard...
CapAnson 04/30/2004
I never really got his poor wounded black man the-world-is-against-me act, but everyone says he's the greatest so I'll give him 5 stars
Indio70 04/29/2004
Wow, I'm surprised Richard barely makes the top TEN. I think you've got to put Richard into the context of the 60's & 70's, coming out of a time period when in certain areas it wasn't really a big deal to kill one of African - American descent, and also out of the civil rights era of the 50's & 60's. For someone to be able to take these hot topics of race, reality & culture and make them not only funny but acceptable is PURE GENIUS. He is the originator of this lasting comedy genre, I think it gets on somes nerves b/c their is always a bitter truth there. I think it continues to prosper b/c that bitter truth is still a reality to many. If it were not marketable it would not sell. The fact that so many mimic his style (and often tell the same/similar jokes -- directly from his stacks) and get away with it is only further testament to his lasting GENIUS. The REAL #1!
e-bone2 04/29/2004
Maybe Richard Pryor was great in his day, but let's face it, he opened the flood gates on the worst comedy ever (i.e. Black Guy/White Guy comedy If nobody else did his material after him he'd have been better, but nearly every black comic that comes down the pike now parrots what Richard Pryor did 30+ years ago. Pryor should march on D.C. and stop black comics from ripping him off.
Sk8er1272 04/26/2004
Hey southernmisstate63 if you think he has a dirty mouth why not visit a high school. Suck it up, if my 4 year old nephew can stand hearing cuss words then so can you. Richard Pryor is one of the greatest comedians. Same goes to you southernpatriot. Listen to the joke, the words just spice it up. So unless you are a old sob or don't know comedy you will like Richard Pryor.
rayru 04/18/2004
Hands down the greatest standup comedian of all time. He took comedy to a different level than anyone before him. His ability to incorporate personal triumph and failure in his act is unmatched before or since. No comedian has delved as deeply into himself as Pryor has. As for the fretting over profanity and vulgarity, I say, do you want truth or watered down inanities such as those spewed by so many other so-called comedians.
jgls 12/22/2003
a pioneer.
KathyT 12/02/2003
Richard Pryor is the BEST! He is a comical genius! He and George Carlin rate #1 with me! Shooting the car story is the funniest thing ever...if you never heard it..it's on Pryor live 1979....
jackblack35 11/11/2003
Flat out..the best stand up comedian of all time...if you don't believe that..ask the guys that do it for a living who the best was!
totallyreel 09/01/2003
I am a true Richard Pryor fan. The man was a comedian. His job was to make you laugh. He did it better than any other comic then, or since. He was the best at what he did. No other has come close. profanaty was part of his act. But he still got his point across. True icon of the game. He wrote the book.
Redoedo 06/01/2003
Richard Pryor truly is an enigma. I am all to often offended by his constant use of foul language, but before I even get a chance to complain, he manages to make me laugh once again. I thought that his show on Sunset Strip was one of his best, and his commentary on sex, drugs, violence, crime, religion and politics were all right on target and funny as hell. I loved his closing joke on his Sunset Strip show: he lit a match and then shook it around and said: "What's this? It's Richard Pryor running down the street on fire". I loved how he was never afraid to make fun of himself. A good comedian.
Moosekarloff 05/30/2003
Pretty funny guy, with a script or not. A little too dependent on filthy language, but not as bad as others. I'd really like to see someone come along who can make you laugh without using four-letter words or referring to bodily functions.
Gups11 05/15/2003
My favorite pryor line : Get a coke, smile and shut the BEEP up
reeny 05/09/2003
A comedic genius. Richard Pryor could make jokes about anything no matter how ridiculous and it would be funny, and so what if he swears in his comedy. Over half the people in this country swear, who cares, it's a part of his comedic charm and it's hilarious! My father has every Richard Pryor record he ever mad and I never get tired of them. Politics, Sex, Race, Religion, it was open season on everything with Richard Pryor.
BassHawg 02/28/2003
one of the best at making an ordinary situation seem unbelievably funny....
The Real Truth 02/23/2003
Great. But the cursing and vulgarity is forgettable. Deer in the woods is classic.
74 reviews! « Previous | Page of 2 | Next »
Sort by Newest Oldest Most helpful Least helpful Highest rated Lowest rated