nbc gave him "the richard pryor show." (upbeat jazzy music) - so "the richard pryor show" was ahead of its time. they were doing sketches about "star wars." they were doing sketches about a black president. that sketch show was incredible. - yeah, what is it? - mr. president, you've been courtin' an awful lot of white women. will this continue? - mm. (audience laughing) as long as i can keep it up. (audience laughing) - for the kids that are coming up now, look to the dave chappelle show, and to me, richard was the chappelle show before the chappelle show. and he knew how to take what was deemed taboo, what was deemed dangerous, and make it hilarious. - four years later, pryor's influence was seen on "saturday night live" in a 19-year-old black comic named eddie murphy. - this is how you answer a door in my neighborhood. who is it?! (audience laughing)