Richard Pryor and NBC

Richard Pryor's 1977 NBC variety show is the stuff of legend -- both on-screen and off.  It was preceded by a TV special which contained, among other moments, The Pips... without Gladys Knight!  This works on so many levels.

Pryor's special aired the same night as Chevy Chase's (May 5, 1977), and here they both are promoting the specials on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.  Chase's segment pops up online occasionally and features a very rambling explanation and demonstration of his SNL falls; there's also a funny John Belushi cameo.

In the segment with Pryor, he clearly has little respect for Chase.  A few years later, Richard was back and had a more worthy sparring partner in guest-host Steve Martin.