Pryor's Place is an American children's television series that aired for one season in 1984 on CBS. The live-action series starred comedian Richard Pryor.
Overview Despite a reputation for profanity from Richard Pryor, Pryor's Place was aimed at children. Like Sesame Street, Pryor's Place featured a cast of puppets hanging out and having fun in a friendly inner-city environment, along with several children and characters portrayed by Pryor himself.
The theme song was performed by Ray Parker Jr.Retrojunk.com - Pryor's Place (intro)of Ghostbusters fame, who also appeared in the show's opening credits. The series was also fitted with a laugh track. Commercial-bumpers were announced by an uncredited Rick Dees.
Pryor's Place was broadcast on Saturdays on CBS (at 11:30 AM Eastern/10:30 AM Central) from September 15 to December 8, 1984, with repeats airing until June 15, 1985.TV Party - Saturday Mornings 1984 It was replaced with reruns of another Krofft show, Land of the Lost. Four VHS videotapes of the show were released between September 1997 and June 1998 by Rhino Entertainment, each containing one episode of the series.
Plot
Richard Pryor will tell the viewers of things that had happen to him in his neighborhood when he was a child and the experiences that he had. Pryor also portrays different people that interact with his younger self and also meets other people that give advice on how to get through each plight.
These events were mixed with an assortment of different puppet characters that would commentate on what is happening.
Characters
Richard "Richie" Pryor (portrayed by himself as an adult, Akhil Prince as a child) is the main protagonist of the series. Richard will recap on life in his neighborhood during his childhood days while encountering different people. Bummer (portrayed by Richard Pryor) is a homeless man that Richie interacts with. Carlotta Knows (portrayed by Richard Pryor) is a street fortune teller that Richie interacts with whose crystal ball sees all and knows all. Chills (portrayed by Richard Pryor) is a street saxophonist in dreadlocks that Richie interacts with. Wally (portrayed by Cliffy Magee) is a friend of Richie. Al and Marge are two mice that live beneath the street. They commentate on what happens in the street above their house in a sewer drain. The Bakery Food are an assortment of baked goods that reside in the widow of the local bakery. They consist of a chocolate cake, a boule, a pan of cornbread muffins, a basket of French bread, a pumpernickel bread, and a sourdough bread.
Episodes
Cast Richard Pryor as Himself, Bummer, Carlotta Knows and Chills Akili Prince as Little Richie Pryor Cliffy Magee as Wallace "Wally" Walker
Special guest stars Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as himself (episode "Too Old Too Soon, Too Smart Too Late") Ron Cey as himself (episode "Sax Education") Scatman Crothers as Uncle Mose (episode "Too Old Too Soon, Too Smart Too Late") Sammy Davis Jr. as Smooth Sam (episode "To Catch a Little Thief") Kim Fields as Cousin Rita (episode "Cousin Rita") Shirley Hemphill as the Shopkeeper (episode "Sax Education") Pat McCormick as King Empty-Head (episode "Voyage to the Planet of the Dumb") Jeremy Miller (episode "Sax Education") Pat Morita as Joe (episode "Voyage to the Planet of the Dumb") Willie Nelson (episode “The Showoff”) John Ritter (episode "The Showoff") Rip Taylor (episode "Sax Education") Lily Tomlin (episode "Cousin Rita") Robin Williams as Gabby (episode "Sax Education") Henry Winkler as himself (episode "Home Free")
Recurring cast Marla Gibbs as Ms. Stern (episodes "Voyage to the Planet of the Dumb," "Kimosabe Blues," "Sax Education") Danny Ponce as Charlie (episode "Voyage to the Planet of the Dumb") Danny Nucci as Freddy (episode "Voyage to the Planet of the Dumb") Angela Lee as Sheri (episode "Voyage to the Planet of the Dumb") Patty Maloney as Dummy #1 (episode "Voyage to the Planet of the Dumb") Jimmy Briscoe as Dummy #3 (episode "Voyage to the Planet of the Dumb") Tony Cox as Allen/Dummy #2 (episode "Voyage to the Planet of the Dumb") Spring Mooney as Denise (episode "Cousin Rita") Lily Mariye as Lily (episode "Cousin Rita") Regina Hooks as Regina (episode "Cousin Rita") E. Hampton Beagle as Anything Shop Owner (episode "To Catch a Little Thief") Milt Kogan as Solly (episodes "To Catch a Little Thief" and "High Noon at 5:30 p.m.") Stephen Rumph as Jake (episode "To Catch a Little Thief") Chez Lister as J.D. (episode "To Catch a Little Thief") Carol Lipin as Woman in Prison (episode "To Catch a Little Thief") Keland Love as Meatrack (episode "High Noon at 5:30 p.m.") Elliot Sarkin as Ronny Chung (episode "High Noon at 5:30 p.m.") Scooter Stevens as Kid #1 (episode "High Noon at 5:30 p.m."), Sid (episode "Kimosabe Blues") Leanne Richelle as Patty (episode "Kimosabe Blues") Sean Garrett McFrazier as Marty (episode "Kimosabe Blues")
Puppeteers Carl Johnson Wayne Kaatz Michael Sheehan Van Snowden Allan Trautman Harry Waters Wendee Winters
References
External links
Writer Mark Evanier on working on the show