On A Pale Horse

As a kid I watched a lot of Richard Pryor movies on channel 50, either Saturday or Sundays. To me, Richard Pryor didn't make funny movies, he made movies that were bleeped and that were a little choppy. It wasn't until the advent of cable television and Movieland stores that I understood why my mom was getting so upset every time she saw that I was watching one of his films.

It would be pretty crazy for me to go over the rise of this great American comedian so I'm just going to direct you to his website.

He had a pretty prolific career, starring in numberous movies, doing countless dates of stand-up, winning an Emmy, five Grammys, getting married seven times to five women and having seven children.

He was also involved in trying to get one of my favorite movies to the big screen, Blazing Saddles. But after being turned down, specifically because of Richard Pryor being attached to the project, he handed it over to someone else.

Mr. Pryor passed away on December 10th after a cardiac arrest.

December 1, 1940 - December 10, 2005
RIP

Labels: 1940 births, 2005 December deaths, actor, cardiac arrest, comedian

I have a thing for schmarmy guys, you know, those guys that leave an oil slick behind them when they walk, the kind of man that is crafty but a bit on the stupid side. My dating history is filled with schmucks like this and it's no wonder that some of my favorite movies include guys like this. Charles Rocket played a great schmarmy guy in movies such as Dumb & Dumber, It's Pat(i), Earth Girls are Easy and one of my all time favorites How I Got Into College. His career started in the 1970's with a stint as a Colorado newsanchor and then got his big break as the second generation of castmembers on Saturday Night Live. His claim to fame on that show was dropping the 'f' bomb on live TV (video) he was fired shortly after this uh-oh.

Mr. Claverie took his own life on October 7th by cutting his throat.

August 27, 1949 - October 7, 2005
RIP

Labels: 1949 births, 2005 October deaths, comedian, suicide, television

My favorite thing to watch nowadays (besides bad amateur porn) is the Game Show Network. I love it when they show all the cheesy 1970’s B&C list celebrities spouting off answers to inane questions. I know, I know, there are still many celeb’s doing the same thing but they’re not quite the caliber as Paul Lynde, Rose Marie, Charles Nelson Reily & Mr Nipsy Russell.

I don’t want to remember Mr. Russell for his performance in ‘The Wiz’ but for his poetic answers to such questions as ‘Mary, Mary Quite Contrary couldn't make her garden grow with water, so she used *blank* instead (courtesy of IMDB) and in ‘Car 54, Where Are You?’ & ‘Wild Cats’.

Mr. Russell passed away from stomach cancer.

October 13, 1924 – October 2, 2005
RIP

Labels: 1924 births, 2005 October deaths, actor, cancer, comedian