Revisionist History (6/9): Richard Pryor on fire at Sunset Strip
Also: “Fear and Loathing at the Chocolate Factory”
On this day in 1980, comedian Richard Pryor suffered severe burns from freebasing “milk and cookies.” (Video: Richard tells the G-rated version of his near-death, coke-smoking adventure.)
On this day in 1954, Army Counsel Joseph N. Welch asked Red Scare disinformationist Sen. Joseph McCarthy, “Have you no sense of decency, sir?” McCarthy replied simply, “Nope.”
On this day in 1969, the Senate confirmed Warren Burger as chief justice of the Supreme Court. Upon taking the oath, Burger pledged to recuse himself from any cases involving McDonald's, Burger King, or Wendy’s.
Today’s Birthdays:
Aaron Sorkin, 63: Oscar- and Emmy-winning storyteller, creator of “The West Wing” and its surreal spinoffs about a schizophrenic country gripped in political insanity, “The Right Wing” and “The Left Wing.”
Michael J. Fox, 62: actor, played a furry, finance-focused high school student in “Teen Wolf of Wall Street.”
Johnny Depp, 61: actor, played Hunter S. Thompson as a magic mushroom candy connoisseur in “Fear and Loathing at the Chocolate Factory”
Natalie Portman, 43: actress and hardcore rapper.