A Saturday Night Live sketch from 1975, starring Richard Pryor and Chevy Chase, has been named the top sketch of all time, decades after its original airing. The clip, known as “Word Association,” features Chase’s character interviewing Pryor for a janitorial job and administering a word association test, an exchange that quickly escalates into sharp racial humor.

The sketch was daring for its time. Pryor, the first Black host of SNL, had a brief but unforgettable stint during the show’s first season, and this particular performance showcased his precise comic timing. Few viewers know that because NBC feared Pryor might be too profane and unpredictable, showrunner Lorne Michaels arranged a five-second delay so any curse words could be beeped. Pryor famously avoided four-letter words but slipped a three-letter word starting with “A,” which, along with a few other bits, was edited out of the West Coast broadcast.

The sketch, written by Paul Mooney, drew directly from his experiences interviewing with NBC, turning a simple word association game into a pointed commentary on racism. USA TODAY described it as “a daring, boundary-pushing sketch that would never make it to air in modern times, and not just for the use of a racial slur. Pryor’s reaction to the worst slur imaginable is so immediate that the audience doesn’t even have time to be shocked before bursting into laughter.”

Fans continue to praise the sketch for Pryor’s facial expressions, improvisational genius, and impeccable timing. Reactions online highlight his influence on future generations of comedians:

“The comic timing here is brilliant. Pryor’s comeback is instantaneous—he doesn’t give the audience a chance to be shocked.”

“Richard Pryor was a pioneer. He would say what everyone else was scared to and still have everyone laughing.”

“Pryor’s facial expressions are masterful. He could say so much with just a look.”

“It still blows me away that they were able to air this on national television… He was such a talented and funny man.”

The sketch was featured as part of SNL’s 50th anniversary celebration, during a montage hosted by Tom Hanks highlighting characters and sketches that “have aged horribly.” The “Word Association” clip, however, stood out as a piece that not only survived the test of time but helped define modern sketch comedy, influencing comedians like Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Eddie Murphy, Jordan Peele, and Keegan-Michael Key.

Richard Pryor, a Peoria native, is widely regarded as a towering figure in American comedy. Though he hosted SNL only once, his appearance left an indelible mark on television and comedy history. The “Word Association” sketch is remembered not just for its shock value, but for its brilliantly crafted social commentary, comic precision, and fearless confrontation of racism, a template that continues to inspire performers decades later.