The Richard Pryor Special?

The Richard Pryor Special?
NBC
May 5, 1977
Variety
VHS
C+

I don't know if the question mark represents the meta-ness here, with Pryor planning his special and receiving unwanted advice from everyone, or if they're telling us they're not sure if this is really that special.  In any case, this uneven program, which was successul enough to lead to Pryor's troubled weekly show later that year, is now mainly of interest for its guest stars, including:

• Maya Angelou delivering a serious monologue as the wife of an alcoholic;
• John Belushi as a slave-driver and a bartender;
• 21-year-old Sandra Bernhard, instantly recognizable in her tiny role as the one white woman among the black militant writing staff;
• Mike "the better Lionel Jefferson" Evans as one of the writers;
• Shirley Hemphill moonlighting from ABC as Pushy Fan from Tour Group;
• 10-year-old Kristoff St. John, later of the interracial soap opera Generations, as one of the kids doing the musical number celebrating multiracial contributions;
• LaWanda "Aunt Esther" Page as Sister Mabel Williams; 
• and the Pips, minus Gladys Knight, which luckily means exactly what you think it means.

Also, Brady Bunch fans will recognize the Security Guard John Wheeler, who played three roles on Bunch.