Spotlight: Chappelle's Show

Warning: This post contains the "N" word. And by "N", I mean niggar. There I said it.

Dave Chappelle is the funniest guy on TV. So far Chappelle has graced us with two seasons of his hit TV show on Comedy Central. Both seasons are currently available on DVD and if you haven't done so, go pick them up. The DVD's contain all the sketches and musical guests from the show, plus deleted scenes, outtakes and just more of Chappelle. There is also commentary from Dave and Neal Brennan (friend and co-writer). For the uninitiated, I will go through some of my favorite sketches, in no particular order.

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Popcopy - It's one of the first sketches from Season One and I still love it. Anyone that has worked in customer service or retail will love this sketch. It is basically a training video that shows you how NOT to serve the customers. You are encouraged to talk inappropriately in front of customers, tell them the computers are down and claim to be the manager before kicking them out of the store.

The Niggar Family - Dave makes fun of racism in many of his sketches and this is no exception. This sketch is about a caucasian family with the name Niggar. They talk about a bunch of stereotypical characteristics and features, but they are projected onto this white family instead. "I'm sure you'll get the finest table a Niggar has ever gotten in this restaurant."

Clayton Bigsby - Clayton is born blind in the South, so to make it easier on him and the other kids, the teachers at his school for the blind tell him he's white. He grows up to become a white supremacist, writing several books and becoming a lightning rod for the Klan. That's until he pulls his hood off at a rally to reveal he's black. He then divorces his wife for being a "niggar lover."

Wayne Brady - "White people love Wayne Brady, because he makes Bryant Gumbal look like Malcolm X." After Dave quits his own show, the network executives replace him with Wayne Brady. When Dave confronts Wayne to get his show back, there is a flashback to Wayne and Dave hanging out on the town. Wayne makes fun of his clean cut image by pimpin' hos, making Dave smoke Mary Jane laced with PCP, killing a cop and of course shooting a few people including Dave. It is hilarious.

Trading Spouses - A black family and white family trade husbands. The white boy tells his "new" Dad that he's "from the streets, yo." So his Dad takes him to the projects and returns him to the streets. "Sell rocks, that's how they make money down here." The wife tricks him into going to couples therapy, which upsets him and he admits he's crazy. The white Dad uses time out as a punishment for his son and that goes horribly wrong. He also is excited about his first taste of "brown sugar."

Rick James - There are several Rick James skits as part of Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories. There are additional stories as extras on the Season Two DVD also. The interviews with Rick James (the real Rick James) are hilarious as he comments on and rebuts Charlie's stories. Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories also include a couple of stories about Prince and his brother Eddie Murphy.

Go buy these DVD's.

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Where the Hell is Dave Chappelle?
No this is not a new geography game. I really want to know where he is. Rumor has it Dave cracked up under the pressure of his new 50 million dollar Comedy Central contract and has checked into a looney bin. I don't buy it. Dave has been funny for years. And based on the skits and commentary track, he has very much enjoyed his new found success. Another rumor has Dave in conflict with Comedy Central over the the racially charged content of his show. The network wants to reel him in a little. Plausible, but I'm still not buying. Chappelle's Show is a cash cow for Comedy Central and if it ain't broke, don't fix it. It could be Dave's taking a sabbatical to Africa? Why not? If a trip to Africa, Aruba, Kentucky or Kansas gets me my Chappelle's Show fix, then let it be done. Just come back soon, Dave. Afterall, "no need laying around gatting a suntan. Won't do you no good, no how."