‘The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson’ welcomed the fantastic comedian Richard Pryor in 1968 for his first appearance. Richard walks out wobbling and flailing his hands in his typical silly way to greet Johnny.
He greets everyone and tells Johnny, “I was in show business since 1946. Maybe some of you read about it.” He pauses with a concerned look, and the audience is quiet. “I was in a play called Rumpelstiltskin. I was the wind.”
Richard said, “It was exciting because my parents came. You know, I never saw them before.” He has a somber look on his face throughout the whole interview, even though he’s obviously joking with Johnny.
He impersonates how the beginning of the show ‘Rumpelstiltskin’ went down, including the kids’ introductions. Richard steps up as a kid, has a high voice, and continues saying all of the kids’ names, alternating between high-pitched, lisps, and deep voices.
Eventually, the silliness of the bit cracks Richard, and he breaks character, laughing at his own joke. Then, he begins to sing the first song of the musical. “My name is Rumpelstiltskin, and I’m a meany!”
He wiggles his fingers by his head while making a scary face, making the crowd laugh hysterically. Johnny loves it too, and Richard ends up successful on his first Carson appearance.
Of course, Richard became a huge success, starring in stand-up comedy specials and movies over decades. Comedy Central and Rolling Stone Magazine listed him as number one on their list of all-time greatest comedians. In 1968, we can already see the beginnings of brilliance by a young Richard Pryor.
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