Paul Mooney on his career and relationship with Richard Pryor

On April 6, 2007, comedian Paul Mooney reflected on the mechanics of stand-up comedy and his unique role as best friend to comedy’s all-time greatest, Richard Pryor. Interview conducted by director Michael Kantor for the six-hour PBS comedy series, “Make ‘Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America” (2009). Chapters: 00:00 Mooney finds comedic timing in […]

The post Paul Mooney on his career and relationship with Richard Pryor appeared first on American Masters.

On April 6, 2007, comedian Paul Mooney reflected on the mechanics of stand-up comedy and his unique role as best friend to comedy’s all-time greatest, Richard Pryor. Interview conducted by director Michael Kantor for the six-hour PBS comedy series, “Make ‘Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America” (2009).

Chapters:

00:00 Mooney finds comedic timing in school and Army
03:00 How Mooney became a confidant of comedy’s giants
04:29 Mooney’s lifelong friendship with Pryor
07:09 Mooney and The Richard Pryor Show
09:25 On Pryor’s self-doubt and helping him accept his greatness

The American Masters Digital Archive includes over 1,000 hours of never-before-seen, raw interviews: a treasure trove of the movers and shakers of American culture, including Maya Angelou, Gloria Steinem, Patti Smith, Mel Brooks, Carol Burnett, Matthew Broderick, Carl Reiner, Joan Rivers, Dionne Warwick, Lee Grant, Sidney Lumet, Betty White and many others.

The post Paul Mooney on his career and relationship with Richard Pryor appeared first on American Masters.