"A New York Treasure" --Village Voice

Hope I’m Funny

 

Thanks to Matt B for pointing this out:

4 comments

1 garydsimms   ~  Feb 20, 2013 12:54 pm

and thanks, Alex, for sharing. Richard is so young, so unaffected, so funny.

2 Alex Belth   ~  Feb 20, 2013 1:49 pm

Yes, he was good. I remember my father telling me that he liked Pryor back then before he cursed so much in his act. You often here that when people talk about Cosby.

"He was so funny AND he didn't need to curse."

That always rubs me the wrong way. As if people who use foul language are inherently unfunny or lazy. Or that people who don't curse are harder-working and funnier. I get the sentiment and there is some truth to it. It's not cursing, it's about cursing so often that the words lose their impact and become dull.

Cosby did curse occasionally, though mostly he had a clean act. But I don't think his lack of cursing is what makes him great. The fact that he's funny as hell makes him great. Pryor cursed a ton in his 1970s prime. Also great. Just different. But no less great.

3 Alex Belth   ~  Feb 20, 2013 2:22 pm
4 Boatzilla   ~  Feb 20, 2013 9:04 pm

[2] I totally agree with you, Alex.

I saw Whoopi live in Las Vegas once with my 60+ parents, and it was one of the raunchiest acts I have ever seen. She was very funny, though. One of her bits was about cunnilingus.

After the show I asked my Dad, who never talked about sex with any of us (at all), what he thought, and he said, "Pretty rough," shaking his head and grinning.

I suppose it all depends on what you are used to what what baggage you're carrying around.

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