We just lost a legend.

[Phlip]

Think back with me, if you will, for a short while:

Take:
-Dave Chappelle's witty assessment of race relations and comparisons.
-Mix that with (early career) Ediie Murphy's foul language.
-Chris Farley's physical humor.
-Bill Cosby's ability to tell a story and paint a picture while doing so.
-Rodney Dangerfield's self-loathing, but honest assessment of himself.
-Belushi's drug habit, plus some.
-Interpersonal honesty to be be respected damn near universally across the very industry that this individual would come to change for all of us.
Mel Brooks once joked "I wrote all the black jokes, pryor wrote all the jewish ones."
Mel had ORIGINALLY selected Rich to play the Sherriff in "Blazing Saddles," a part that Richard had co-written and would have been best for, but eventually had to let it go when the studio refused to insure Richard.
-Place this individual in a position in time to have influenced ALL of these very people. So much to the point that ALL of them make (or have made, for the ones that are no longer with us) no qualms about admitting to this influence.


... we lost a genius this morning, people. Rest in peace, Richard Pryor.