Revolution Televised.pdf

That Nigger’s Crazy 167
an, who certainly would have had little opportunity for mainstream
exposure otherwise. However, the centerpiece of the final episode is
a roast of Pryor given by the cast of the show.
Clearly, from the beginning the cast knew that working on The
Richard Pryor Show was going to be a short-lived experience, and
during the roast they acknowledge the challenges of working on
the show, the ratings, and what it means to work with Pryor. Paul
Mooney introduces the cast and explains that they are there to pay
their respects to Pryor and to clear up public misconceptions about
the show. Mooney sets the jovial tone for the roast, giving some
interesting biographical information about Pryor, such as his birthplace,
Peoria, where “half the children call him a superstar and the
other half call him daddy.” He also makes fun of Pryor’s early career
as a Cosby imitator. Each regular performer is given the opportunity
to address Pryor. Tim Reid and Alegra Allison read supposed
telegrams sent to the show. Allison says that she is going to read the
nicer ones, of which there are only two. The first is from President
Carter: “Just wanted to tell you that Miss Lillian [Carter’s mother]
loves your show. We are putting her in a home in the morning.”
The other says, “Dear Richard, thank you for canceling your dates
in South Africa, especially the one with my daughter. Signed Ian
Smith.” Smith, a white supremacist and supporter of apartheid was
the prime minister of Rhodesia in the previous decade. 31 Tim Reid
reads another telegram and does so, as he explains, in the manner
in which it was meant to be delivered:
Dear Richard,
Is about time that these honkeys heard the truth, brother. See, you’re
a man who stood up, got down, and told it like it was. Yeah. You
know you refused to lick the boots and stuck to your roots. We
know where you’re coming from, because you see you haven’t forgot
where you came from. Right on, brother!
Signed Miss Anita Bryant
Anita Bryant was an American icon and Grammy-winning vocalist
as well as a notorious antigay crusader in 1977. 32 Reid’s allusion to
her support referred to Pryor’s recent exhibition at a gay rights rally.
In Pryor’s autobiography, he states that, on Lily Tomlin’s request,
he agreed to perform at a gay liberation benefit at the Hollywood
Bowl. However, when he arrived he was angered at the racism he
perceived toward one group of black singers; he also admits to