The Richard Pryor Show is an American comedy variety series starring Richard Pryor. It premiered on NBC on Tuesday, September 13, 1977 at 8 p.m. opposite ABC's popular television shows Laverne & Shirley and Happy Days.
The show was produced by Rocco Urbisci for Burt Sugarman Productions. It was conceived out of a special that Pryor did for NBC in May 1977. Because the special was a major hit, both critically and commercially, Pryor was given a chance to host and star in his own television show.
TV Guide included the series in their 2013 list of 60 shows that were "Cancelled Too Soon".
Best Episodes of The Richard Pryor Show
(Episode 4)
S1 Ep4
8.8
20th Oct 1977
Richard Pryor is a Chinese chef, a wino, El Neggro, a ranch owner, a survivor of the Titanic and Santa Claus. The cast roasts him. Charlie Hill tells jokes.
Worst Episodes of The Richard Pryor Show
(Episode 1)
S1 Ep1
6.7
13th Sep 1977
Guests: --Paula Kelly (singer-dancer) --The O'Jays - sing ""Work on Me"" Sketches: --""Star Wars Bar"" - Mudbone (Pryor) works as a bartender at the galactic bar from ""Star Wars."" --Presidential Press Conference - The first Black president (Pryor) holds a press conference. (Marsha Warfield, Robin Williams, and Sandra Bernhard appear as reporters.) --""Club Harlem"" - Paula Kelly plays a chanteuse in a WWII era nightclub.
The Richard Pryor Show Episode Guide
(Episode 1)
S1 Ep1
6.7
13th Sep 1977
Guests: --Paula Kelly (singer-dancer) --The O'Jays - sing ""Work on Me"" Sketches: --""Star Wars Bar"" - Mudbone (Pryor) works as a bartender at the galactic bar from ""Star Wars."" --Presidential Press Conference - The first Black president (Pryor) holds a press conference. (Marsha Warfield, Robin Williams, and Sandra Bernhard appear as reporters.) --""Club Harlem"" - Paula Kelly plays a chanteuse in a WWII era nightclub.
(Episode 2)
S1 Ep2
7.8
20th Sep 1977
Richard Pryor is a Black samurai, a Mississippi prosecutor, the owner of a pet head, an archeologist in Egypt, a come-from man, and a rock-star from Black Death.
(Episode 3)
S1 Ep3
7.4
27th Sep 1977
Richard Pryor is a diner who uses his food as foreplay; a caveman who discovers fire; Mr. Fixit; and Little Richard. A woman describes a lesbian encounter.
(Episode 4)
S1 Ep4
8.8
20th Oct 1977
Richard Pryor is a Chinese chef, a wino, El Neggro, a ranch owner, a survivor of the Titanic and Santa Claus. The cast roasts him. Charlie Hill tells jokes.
(Episode 5)
S1 Ep5
Sketches: Pryor plays former Ugandan President Idi Amin Dada and a clergyman hustling for donations; Belushi portrays the master of a slave ship. Also: the Pips demonstrate how they would sound without Gladys Knight.
