The idea for SNL's infamous "WORD ASSOCATION" sketch featuring Chevy Chase and Richard Pryor began with Pryor's personal comedy writer Paul Mooney and Mooney's dislike of Lorne Michaels. Pryor, who was set to host, demanded they hire Mooney to help write to Pryor's voice but Lorne was skeptical so he personally interviewed Mooney to see if he should hire him for the episode, which Mooney felt was more an embarrassing examination based on his race than talent. Mooney said, "After all the bullshit I've been put through to get here, the fucking cross-examination Lorne subjects me to, I decide to do a job interview of my own."
The sketch was ranked in Rolling Stone magazine as #10 for their 50 Best SNL Sketches of All-Time list.