THANK YOU. I got the “Congratulations, Bill,” but I couldn’t make out the rest. Now it all makes sense.
Yes, very articulate. :rolleyes: 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”?
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.
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.
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.
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 :rolleyes: 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.
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…
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. :rolleyes:
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…
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.
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.
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.”