Knight: Logic and lying with Richard Pryor

More and more, so many media so deftly defy logic, the smooth-talking liars on radio and cable seem like the man in the old joke by the late, great comic Richard Pryor. His wife catches him betraying her and he coos, "Who you gonna believe: me or your lyin' eyes?"

Pryor is the subject of a new documentary produced by his seventh (and fourth) wife Jennifer, Richard Pryor: Defy the Logic, scheduled to premiere at 8 p.m. (Central Time) on Showtime on Friday, May 31.

The only time I lied as a journalist was in the summer of 1985 when I was a cocky reporter who'd worked in Washington, D.C., and returned to Illinois to cover entertainment for the Peoria Journal Star. Pryor, a native Peorian, returned to town to shoot his movie Jo Jo Dancer: Your Life Is Calling. It was a big deal – and a big story.

However, Pryor refused to talk to the newspaper, against which he held a grudge, I found out later.

Day after day, I went to his locations and hotel, talking to his publicist, his management, old friends he'd grown up with, co-stars.

Nothing.

My editor became angry that I wasn't getting an interview.

"'S'matter, hot shot?" said Ed Lembeck, grinning as he ripped me a new one. "Can't do your job?"

Frustrated, I tried to think what Pryor would want.

Or – what he'd like.

So, covering Cubs Hall of Famer Ernie Banks – in town for a charity – it dawned on me. After Banks' appearance, I briefly interviewed him and then blurted out that Richard Pryor was nearby and he'd like to see him.

Pulled that out of my ear.

Banks perked up and said, "Great; I'll follow you over." I drove to the location and got the attention of Pryor's publicity flack -- who'd been totally uncooperative – and said Ernie Banks was coming over and would like to see Richard.

Again, had no basis for that. The crew stopped filming, Banks came in and photojournalist Renee Byer (who went on to win a 2007 Pulitzer Prize at the Sacramento Bee) got a nice photo of them shaking hands.

The picture was published – and the grudge was dropped. Pryor phoned me in the newsroom that morning, thanked me and asked me to come by to talk for a story.

I believe I got that story because I put myself in someone else's shoes, and I've tried to remember that lesson since.

Pryor had many more lessons to offer many more people, teaching not so much about coarse language but about tender connections. In fact, Jennifer Lee Pryor, his widow, thinks she has enough material for a follow-up documentary, and she's starting work on a feature film that Forest Whitaker may direct. So there could be more about Pryor, a talent who defied the odds as well as the logic, and a skilled, instinctive teacher.

For now, here's Showtime's (Central Time) schedule for "Richard Pryor: Defy the Logic" --

Friday, May 31, 8 p.m. ShowtimeSaturday, June 01, 11 p.m. ShowtimeSaturday, June 01, 5:30 p.m. Sho 2

· Saturday, June 01, 9 p.m. Showtime

Monday, June 03, 11 p.m. Showtime ShowcaseMonday, June 03, 7 p.m. Sho 2Tuesday, June 04, 7 p.m. ShowtimeWednesday, June 05, 9 p.m. Showtime ShowcaseSaturday, June 08, 7 p.m. Showtime ShowcaseMonday, June 10, 7:30 p.m. ShowtimeTuesday, June 11, 8:30 p.m. Sho 2Monday, Jun 17, 2:30 A.m. Sho 2Wednesday, June 19, 7:30 p.m. ShowtimeSaturday, June 22, 2 a.m. Sho 2

About the Author

Bill Knight recently retired after a couple decades teaching journalism at Western Illinois University. Now, you might find him strolling through the streets of Elmwood with his wife and fellow writer, Terry Bibo, along with their son, Opie, and his beloved collie, Lassie.* *Actually this last bit isn’t true. Not to mention the fact that our writer got “The Andy Griffith Show” and “Lassie & Timmy” mixed up.