Richard Pryor News

Southampton Cultural Center Presents The First Annual Illuminator Awards Celebration In Collaboration with childHELPparternship. Illuminator Award recipient, author/celebrity, Richard Pryor Jr. will be reading excerpts and answering questions from his highly acclaimed book 'In a Pryor Life.' and is available for interviews anytime between now and then.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will present the 22nd annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor to Dave Chappelle on Sunday, October 27, 2019 in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. The Prize, which is named to honor one of the world's greatest humorists, will be given at a gala performance featuring some of the biggest names in comedy. The program will be broadcast on PBS stations on January 6, 2020. On-sale and ticketing information for this event will be available at a later date, and sponsorship packages for the Mark Twain Prize gala performance are on sale now.

On Thursday, May 2nd, Richard Pryor Jr. offered fans, friends and some of his farther's co-stars a glimpse into the life of his iconic parent, Richard Pryor Senior, discussing his own self-proclaimed 'Freakish Life' that paralleled his namesake and famous father's life in many ways, found in his new memoir. In A Pryor Life, already in its second printing only days after its release. The event began with the unveiling of a costume worn by Richard Pryor Jr in the film "College Debt" co-starring Lucille Ball's granddaughter, Katherine Luckinbill, Janet Carroll and Academy Award winner, Celeste Holmes, in what would be her last film. The costume will be included in the museum's upcoming Real to Reel: Perceptions and Portrayals of LGBTQ History in Film and Television.

Alyssa Sequoia presents "Can I Tell You Something?" a monthly comedy series, with its latest event scheduled for the Hudson Valley Writers Center Saturday May 4th 7:30pm. Performers on the bill that evening are award winning comics Eddie Brill, Mary Dimino and Alyssa Sequoia.

Showtime Documentary Films today announced a four-part documentary series that will chronicle the history of the iconic L.A. club The Comedy Store, directed and executive produced by Mike Binder (Black or White) and executive produced by Oscar®nominee and Emmy® winner Mike Tollin (THE FRANCHISE). The project is expected to premiere on SHOWTIME in 2020.

This May, BAM continues two ongoing monthly programs: Beyond the Canon on May 18 with a double bill of searing self-portraits, Bob Fosse's All that Jazz (1979) and Richard Pryor's Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling(1986); and on May 28, Screen Epiphanies returns with John Landis' An American Werewolf in London (1981), chosen by author Victor LaValle.  

Richard Pryor, Jr visits Los Angeles with IN A PRYOR LIFE as part of multi-city tour. The book released on April 8th has already sold out its first printing and into its second.

Today SiriusXM and Netflix announced the launch of Netflix Is A Joke Radio, a full-time comedy channel to air exclusively on SiriusXM ch. 93. This is the first time the streaming company has worked in unison with another major subscription media company to create a new outlet for their content. The channel, which will feature highlights from top Netflix talent including Adam Sandler, Aziz Ansari, Bill Burr, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Ellen DeGeneres, Gabriel Iglesias, Jerry Seinfeld, John Mulaney, Ken Jeong, Ricky Gervais, Sarah Silverman, Sebastian Maniscalco, Trevor Noah, Wanda Sykes, and more, launches on April 15, 2019 on SiriusXM.

Richard Pryor, Jr returns to his home town of Peoria to share the Glitz, the Glamour and The Gutter of IN A PRYOR LIFE, then onto Altoona Iowa

The Music Business Association (Music Biz) today announces this year's inductees for its Music Business Hall of Fame, including the late Sir George Martin, who will be inducted by his son Giles Martin. This year's honorees will be recognized during the Music Biz 2019 Awards & Hall of Fame Dinner -- sponsored by BuzzAngle Music, City National Bank, Cracker Barrel, Jammber, and TiVo -- as part of Music Biz's Annual Conference on Tuesday, May 7 at 7 pm.

'These words might be more offensive now than they were back then,' ponders playwright/actor Ronnie Marmo in the guise of one of 20th Century America's most controversial artists in his (mostly) solo performance, I'M NOT A COMEDIAN... I'M LENNY BRUCE.

Richard Pryor, Jr Recently Announced the Publication of IN A PRYOR LIFE: Richard, Jr.'s self proclaimed 'Freakish Life' paralleled his famous father's and namesake in many ways. A Peoria whorehouse, abuse, alcohol and drug addition, as well as frequent bad decisions. However, he survived. And that's what his book is about, a real-life story of overwhelming obstacles, surviving, and thriving.

Charismatic actor and comedian, Cedric "The Entertainer" is best known for his crowd-pleasing performances in hit films and television shows such as Barbershop, Be Cool, The Original Kings of Comedy and TV's #1 new comedy The Neighborhood on CBS, to mention just a few of many more. Cedric will be performing at Mohegan Sun Arena on Saturday, May 11th at 8:00pm.

Yakov Smirnoff, who shot to international fame playing opposite Robin Williams in Moscow on the Hudson, Tom Hanks and Shelly Long in The Money Pit, Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson in Heartburn, Richard Pryor and John Candy in Brewster's Millions, as Yakov Korolenko in the award-winning TV sitcom Night Court, his Showtime Special Yakov Smirnoff From Moscow... Idaho, and starring in the sitcom What A Country!, is back in New York City! The comedy legend will bring his Happily Ever Laughter tour to the beautiful Schimmel Center stage March 23rd for a night of fun and laughter.

Richard Pryor, Jr Recently Announced the Publication of IN A PRYOR LIFE: Richard, Jr.'s self proclaimed 'Freakish Life' paralleled his famous father's and namesake in many ways. A Peoria whorehouse, abuse, alcohol and drug addiction, as well as frequent bad decisions. However, he survived. And that's what his book is about, a real-life story of overwhelming obstacles, surviving, and thriving.

Born in Peoria, Illinois, on April 10, 1962, at only 6 months, the first-born son of Richard Pryor and his first wife, Patricia Watts, had to stay in the hospital for several weeks until he reached 5 pounds - and he was so small, his parents had to buy doll socks to fit his feet. 

This week's decluttering is only freeing up a tiny bit of space in my collection, but it represents an enormous place in my heart. The only version of The Wiz I have on CD is the AMAZING/IF YOU DON'T KNOW IT, YOU'RE NOT A REAL BROADWAY FAN original cast album starring Stephanie Mills. I do have the movie soundtrack in my iTunes and the soundtrack of 'The Wiz Live!' is on Apple Music, so let's dive in.

This February, every Sunday from 10pm-Midnight ET, getTV will air variety specials featuring legendary African-American entertainers including Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, Dionne Warwick, Flip Wilson, Sammy Davis Jr, Luther Vandross and more.

Red Bull Music Festival Los Angeles (RBMF LA) returns to the City of Angels next Thursday, February 7. Today, additional programming for the ambitious Center Channel film series--taking place at the historic Ukrainian Culture Center from February 8 - 20--has been announced. Tickets for all RBMF LA events are now available via www.redbullmusic.com/los-angeles.