RICHARD PRYOR TAKES ON THE TITANIC
Richard Pryor had a special talent for turning familiar subjects into unexpected comedy.
In 1977, he brought that talent to The Richard Pryor Show with a sketch about one of the most famous ships in history: the Titanic.
The subject was already well known to audiences.
The Titanic represented luxury, tragedy, survival, and one of the most famous disasters ever recorded.
But Richard Pryor was not interested in telling the story in a traditional way.
Instead, he created a comedy situation around a Titanic survivor.
The result was a strange, unpredictable, and memorable piece of 1970s television comedy.
A FAMOUS STORY WITH A DIFFERENT TWIST
Everyone knows the basic story of the Titanic.
The enormous ship left Southampton on its first voyage in 1912.
It was considered one of the most impressive passenger ships of its time.
Then disaster struck.
Because the story is so familiar, audiences already know the serious background before the sketch even begins.
That makes Pryor's approach especially interesting.
He takes a story that normally belongs to historical drama and moves it into the world of comedy.
The contrast immediately creates an unusual atmosphere....
