Dave Chappelle on Inside the Actor's Studio

[WordMan]

Compared to what I read about his appearance on Oprah - covered in a thread here a week or so ago - his stint on James Lipton's Inside the Actor's Studio was really good. I normally despise Lipton, but he was not so bad this time.

But Dave Chapelle came across as very smart, very articulate, able to discuss his situation, his show, etc. I can't quote exactly how he explained his Africa trip, but basically it came down to him feeling that he felt too much like "product" and needed to re-locate a sense of what he wants to do.

All in all, it was a very interesting show and I thought he came off really well.

[corkboard]

Saw it. I thought the explanation of the Africa trip didn't quite add up, but I agree he came across as articulate and intelligent. I don't know if the real reason he skipped out is quite as cloak and dagger as some have theorized (http://www.chappelletheory.com, for instance), but I found his story a little thin.

And I thought Lipton's use of "honky" was pandering.

[WordMan]

Originally Posted by McNew

Saw it. I thought the explanation of the Africa trip didn't quite add up, but I agree he came across as articulate and intelligent. I don't know if the real reason he skipped out is quite as cloak and dagger as some have theorized (http://www.chappelletheory.com, for instance), but I found his story a little thin.

And I thought Lipton's use of "honky" was pandering.

Heck, for Lipton, who is capable of smarmy sycopancy the likes of which is rarely seen, that was incredibly low key!

And I am sure there is a LOT more to the whole Africa story, but I like what he had to say for the most part...

[Improv Geek]

I caught most of it last night, came in about twenty minutes late. I enjoyed it, there were moments that Dave had me rolling on the floor laughing. James Lipton was humorous as he seemed to enjoy the ability to use cursewords normally out of his reach with other guests. Though I think seeing him do some ballet and fancy hand waving was quite memorable.

I agree that he seemed much more together during the interview than he did while on Oprah, though there were times where he would make a wild transition. I can't remember the context, but Lipton asked something about Half Baked I think, and Chappelle gave a partial answer and then was off ranting about people calling him crazy and I got completely lost in the transition.

I enjoyed it overall. There's no denying that Dave Chapelle is a funny funny man. I can accept his explanation of the Africa trip, I may think there's more to it, but I think he's giving the majority of the truth.

[Marley23]

I wish I'd seen this. Did Lipton ask any questions about Chappelle's iconic performance in the classic Robin Hood: Men in Tights?

[toadspittle]

Here's what I got from his Africa explanation:

He likes being famous (mainly, he likes being able to perform in front of big audiences that love hime). But when someone suddenly offers you $50 million for a show ... that's tough to get your head around, and they start demanding a lot of you, and the negative side of fame becomes more apparent. So he went to Africa, where he had some friends who didn't care about his fame and an entire country/continent of people who didn't know who he was. So that was restful.

[corkboard]

toadspittle- I hear ya, and if a guy goes from standup straight to $50M and people making demands on how you do what you do, then I can see how anyone would want to check out for a while & get their head right. But I don't think it happened that easily.

From everything else he was saying, it was clear that he had been working on his fame for a while- from standup, to movies, to a series, to a 2nd season, more movies, etc. There was a buildup. Maybe he was a little rattled over the size of the contract, but to just duck & run? He sent his wife/family elsewhere when he went to Africa, I think. Wouldn't you want your strongest support structure with you in that situation?

I guess it's possible that it happened just like he said. I'm not normally a conspiracy theorist, but I just feel there's a pantload of missing info there. I'm not down on the guy, he did what he felt he had to do. Just curious about the real story.

[Liberal]

[slight aside]

Hi. My name is Lib, and I like James Lipton. [...ouch, those tomatoes hurt!...]

[/slight aside]

[Marley23]

I don't hate Lipton. His demeanor just invites mockery.

[Liberal]

Originally Posted by Marley23

I don't hate Lipton. His demeanor just invites mockery.

Well, I do agree with that. Now... tell us where you were born.

[Rubystreak]

Did anyone else see this? Chappelle talks about why he went to Africa, rumors that he had gone crazy or had a crack problem, and pretty much everything else during the 2 hour interview. Dave seemed sane, grounded, honest, and open. He talked about his family, which is quite accomplished, his early career, and where he's going. He acknowledged Bugs Bunny as a huge influence on him, which on consideration makes a lot of sense.

Of course he still has no idea where he's going next. I suspected that he was having a healthy if extreme reaction to his success and just needed some time away from it before he'd be back. Turns out he was freaked out by not the fame as much as by the money. He said when you pass a certain economic threshhold you automatically will have problems in your personal life. He prefers a more open life than he could have, post Season 2, and said, "I don't want my life to become about enforcing boundaries." He had to get far enough away so that he could just be himself for a while, which was why he was in Africa.

I liked his reflection on the word "nigger"-- he said he realized that people aren't responsible enough for it yet, and that the backlash from his own family and subsequent dialogues with them have turned him off from using the word. It'll be interesting to see what his work is like devoid of that word and all the ways he played with it. I'm not sure what it means that he came to this realization, but it's definitely going to be something I think about. He is 100% right, IMO, that America needs to be honest with itself and have an open dialogue about racism, white privilege, and social inequities, so it can move forward. As he said, "The best way to find out where the line is is to cross it, " which is what he was doing with his show. Maybe not so much anymore, though.

Also, Lipton asked to talk to Clayton Bigsby, which was fun. He said, "I have tasted brown sugar and I'm not going back." Chappelle getting Lipton to drop the f-bomb just before he broke it down also cracked me up.

In the convo about Dave's favorite curse word, "fuck," of course:

DC: I'm trying not to curse.
JL: Really?
DC: Nah, I'm just fuckin' witcha.

After this exchange, Chappelle says he and Lipton should do a cop movie together. I couldn't quite make out what he said when Lipton asked what he'd like God to say when he got to Heaven. Did anyone catch it?

Overall, it was great to see Dave back on TV. I hope he can go back to Comedy Central, but if not, I know he'll be doing his thing soon enough, whatever that turns out to be. Good for him for taking a break just when things seemed irresistibly hot.

[Tenspace]

I saw pieces of it. When Lipton told Dave what Richard Pryor said - that he passed the comedy torch to Dave - wow... it brought a tear to my eye when they played "The Niggar Family" clip.

[Rubystreak]

Originally Posted by Tenspace

I saw pieces of it. When Lipton told Dave what Richard Pryor said - that he passed the comedy torch to Dave - wow...

Yeah, that was intense, and well-deserved. I'm glad Dave knows Pryor said that. I hope it keeps him going as he said Pryor's example had in the past.

it brought a tear to my eye when they played "The Niggar Family" clip.

Right there with ya. I miss Dave.

[Rubystreak]

I did a search and this thread didn't come up, probably because you spelled Chappelle's name wrong I inadvertantly opened a new thread on it, which I guess will get closed. My comments are there. Sorry about that.

[fluiddruid]

I went ahead and merged the two threads on this topic.

[PunditLisa]

Saw it. Haven't seen Chappelle's show, but he seemed quite articulate and insightful.

[PunditLisa]

Originally Posted by Marley23

I wish I'd seen this. Did Lipton ask any questions about Chappelle's iconic performance in the classic Robin Hood: Men in Tights?

Hope you don't get to the game too late, but the interview repeats tonight (Mon) from 9-11pm on Bravo.

[Mr. Blue Sky]

Originally Posted by PunditLisa

Hope you don't get to the game too late, but the interview repeats tonight (Mon) from 9-11pm on Bravo.

It will also repeat 2/19 at 10am (est).

[Marley23]

I didn't get to this thread until about 20 minutes ago, but at least I'm seeing this much of it. Chappelle is a little goofy and aloof by nature, I think, but he does seem like he's sane and on the level. And I guess he was very amused by the fact that he was on the show in the first place. I'm tempted to read a lot into what Clayton Bigsby said.

[JeffB]

Originally Posted by Rubystreak

I couldn't quite make out what he said when Lipton asked what he'd like God to say when he got to Heaven. Did anyone catch it?

"Congratulations, Bill, you're a Law." (reference to Schoolhouse Rock)

[Rubystreak]

Originally Posted by JeffB

"Congratulations, Bill, you're a Law." (reference to Schoolhouse Rock)

THANK YOU. I got the "Congratulations, Bill," but I couldn't make out the rest. Now it all makes sense.

[lissener]

Yes, very articulate. Also, he wore shoes and didn't rape any white women while the cameras were actually rolling.

[MrDibble]

Originally Posted by lissener

Yes, very articulate. Also, he wore shoes and didn't rape any white women while the cameras were actually rolling.

Does it hurt when your knee jerks like that?

Even I, who have never seen the man's show, know that there were rumours that he'd had a breakdown (mostly since he was reported to have come here).

Do you think there's the teeeeeniest possibility that this meant "articulate" vs. "batshit insane", rather than "articulate" vs. "Steppin Fetchitt"?

[Coin]

I just want to thank Dave Chappelle for inspiring me to stumble drunkenly home on the streets of Hiroshima last weekend, mumbling "Hai", "Yatta", and "Sumimasen" to myself in my best Lil` Jon voice.

Okay, it was lame and stupid, but it amused the hell out of me at the time.

[Rubystreak]

Originally Posted by lissener

Yes, very articulate. Also, he wore shoes and didn't rape any white women while the cameras were actually rolling.

Anyone who expects Dave Chappelle to be anything other than articulate doesn't know Dave Chappelle. However, he did articulate more about what he's been thinking and going through than I thought he would. I think he was quite frank about his boundary-crossing humor and reflecting on his impact in a racist culture, not to mention the price of fame and fortune for someone who values being a regular guy doing what he loves. I hope he can continue to break ground as Richard Pryor's worthy successor.

[WordMan]

Originally Posted by lissener

Yes, very articulate. Also, he wore shoes and didn't rape any white women while the cameras were actually rolling.

Wow - was that directed at me? Really?

Well if it was, it seems mis-directed at best, and inappropriately baiting at worst. To Mr. Dibble's point, I meant "articulate" vs. "insane" NOT "articulate" vs. "inarticulate racist stereotype."

Let me be clear: unlike Rubystreak, I do NOT know Dave Chappelle - heck, I didn't even spell his name correctly when I started the thread. I have seen a few of his shows and thought he was funny. Very, smartly, funny. But I heard about the appearance on Oprah - didn't see it - and between that and all the stuff about disappearing to Africa, I understood that he had a rep for being a little out there. When I stumbled onto the Actor's Studio interview and watched it, it was clear to me that his intelligence extends beyond his comedy and into his everyday speech. Unlike, say, Andy Kaufman, whose comedy was intelligent, but it was very difficult to break through his characters and hear him articulate his own thinking. Chappelle was very, well, articulate. Deal with it. And please don't paint me with your brush - it is hurtful and undeserved.

[Rubystreak]

Originally Posted by WordMan

Let me be clear: unlike Rubystreak, I do NOT know Dave Chappelle - heck, I didn't even spell his name correctly when I started the thread.

Hey, I don't want you to think I was attacking you. I agree that Dave Chappelle is articulate and don't think you were trying to be patronizing. I think lissener is being unfair to you or whomever he's giving thes in this thread.

Chappelle himself made a joke about how people always say that famous African Americans, like Colin Powell, are so "well-spoken," as if to say that it's surprising and noteworthy that a black guy should speak so well. Maybe that's what was behind lissener's comment. In any case, I think it's a misplaced criticism in this particular instance.

I personally was pleased that Dave was able to articulate his feelings so openly, but that's because his whole disappearance to Africa was shrouded in mystery and wild speculation. This interview laid some concerns to rest that I had about his well-being. That's all.

[WordMan]

Originally Posted by Rubystreak

Hey, I don't want you to think I was attacking you. I agree that Dave Chappelle is articulate and don't think you were trying to be patronizing. I think lissener is being unfair to you or whomever he's giving thes in this thread.

Rubystreak - absolutely no worries. I only cited your post to point out that I am not knee-deep in Chappelle knowledge. Sorry if it came across otherwise...

[Askia]

I read lissener's comments as referential humor of a Chris Rock bit (that wasn't a Chappelle joke, sorry) and whoosh -- damned if some of y'all didn't get sucked in! I gotta use that "dubious" smiley more often. Y'all don't overreact at all.

[WordMan]

Originally Posted by Askia

I read lissener's comments as referential humor of a Chris Rock bit (that wasn't a Chappelle joke, sorry) and whoosh -- damned if some of y'all didn't get sucked in! I gotta use that "dubious" smiley more often. Y'all don't overreact at all.

Well, if that is the case - you're right, I was totally whooshed. I see a "rolleye" as a comment on the poster - in this case, I assumed me - not on the meta-thinking of a difference reference...

[Rubystreak]

Originally Posted by Askia

I read lissener's comments as referential humor of a Chris Rock bit (that wasn't a Chappelle joke, sorry) and whoosh -- damned if some of y'all didn't get sucked in! I gotta use that "dubious" smiley more often. Y'all don't overreact at all.

It's tough to know when people are joking about RACISM, it being a touchy subject and all. You're right, Chris Rock made the "well-spoken" joke about Powell; Dave Chappelle traded him and Condi Rice to the whites in the Race Draft.

[PunditLisa]

It did surprise me that Chappelle was articulate, but not because he was black. I was just as surprised to see Johnny Depp and Charlize Theron speak articulately when they were on the same show. I guess I expect actors to be stupid.

So I'm prejudiced, but not especially racist.

[USCDiver]

I think part of Dave's reasoning for leaving the country and walking away from the show was that he didn't want the fame to get to him. He referenced Martin Lawrence and Mariah Carey several times and their respective breakdowns on the streets of Hollywood and on TRL. He realized he could be headed towards a similar meltdown and decided to back off while he still could.

I especially enjoyed the story he told about when he was discussing going to the school for the arts with his father. His father said something about how difficult it was to be successful and Dave said "If I can make a teacher's salary doing comedy, I'd rather do that than be a teacher."