2/10/16 O&A NYC WILDIN OUT WEDNESDAY: Richard Pryor and Maya Angelou FromThe Richard Pryor Special? (1977)

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The Richard Pryor Special? aired on May 5, 1977, and created an immediate sensation for NBC. The network had given Pryor an hour in prime time to put on a show of his choice. Pryor chose to bring his irreverence humor to a nation mainstream television audience- explosive! His gut-wrenching honesty  coupled with Pryor’s ability to deliver authentic pathos are the hallmarks of his comedy. One such moment was the sketch featuring Maya Angelou.

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The 11 minute sketch opens in a local bar three drunk regulars and the bartender (John Belushi) Willie (Richard Pryor) returns from the bathroom after getting sick. Pryor, the consummate storyteller, masterfully creates a three-dimensional character, who ranges from hapless to hopeless. 

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Willie arrives at home, where his wife (Maya Angelou) expresses her feelings to him while he is passed out on the sofa. The scene becomes a four-minute soliloquy for Angelou, who masterfully turns a comedic skit into a moment of sheer pathos. 

Richard Pryor and Maya Angelou FromThe Richard Pryor Special? (1977)

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