When Richard Pryor appeared as a black president in a skit on "Saturday Night Live" in 1977, it was his angry black street patter that got the laughs. Now that the one-time fantasy has become reality, African-American keepers of the national funny bone are having to reassess much of their material.

If the 2008 election signals a sea change in American racial and class attitudes, the first signs are likely to come from African-American comedians. At comedy venues all over Los Angeles, they're trying out new material about Obama -- his nearly angelic politeness, his youth, vigor, good looks, and model family.

"So now we finally have the nation's first black president and what's he do? He's going to go green," intones D.J. Lemon, a New York-based comedian at his showcase at L.A.'s Laugh Lounge.