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HARK!
I hear...an explosion…
Before getting into the local stand-up scene, we must address the elephant farting in the comedy room.
That would be Dave Chappelle, blowing bombs.
Gilbert Gottfried mortifying a New York crowd with a 9/11 joke weeks after the attack, the late Norm Macdonald being intentionally repulsive at a University of Iowa gig … (check it out here)
When a stand-up intentionally insults an audience, fellow comics call it “suicide by cop.” Forget that, Chappelle went “suicide by army.”
With “The Closer,” the brilliant comic--with almost meticulous execution--cancels himself. (View trailer here)
There is no other way around it.
Is he hilarious?
Yeah!
And offensive?
To paraphrase one of his jokes, Beyond Offensive...
After taking a casual swipe or two at Jews, in his new Netflix comedy show Chappelle jabs at gays before unloading on trans people.
And the Michigan crowd he filmed in front of roars in laughter as he tells about beating up a woman in a bar. (Funny--or maybe not--how many of his self-anecdotes are set in a bar…) Whether or not he knew at the time the woman was actually a woman--and whether the story is true or just a would-be-comedic invention--is irrelevant. It combines all that is horrible about this genius in a 3-minute bit.
In Chappelle’s world, there are no women; just “bitches.”
Made to be slapped, he'll tell you.
One (unintentionally) hilarious irony about his concert is Chappelle returning again and again to a complaint by the trans community that he is “punching down” on them.
He has a brilliant mind, but he simply can’t grasp the concept; or, probably, just refuses to--because he is a sociopathic comic, incapable of admitting he’s wrong. Because, of course, he never is!
He’s got a rapper-size ego, referring to himself as “The GOAT.”
The Greatest of All Time? Hmmm...The GOAT of stand-up comedy, in my book: Richard Pryor.
And yes, at times, Chappelle approaches Pryor territory; this dude’s even crazier…
But one of the things I love most about Pryor is his humility: not only does he seem genuinely appreciative, he loves making fun of himself.
Chappelle, on the other mitt, from high atop Mt. Ego is punching down on EVERYONE.
But it’s his persistent, incessant attacks--cheap shots as well as attempts at philosophy--on the trans community that likely will blow up in his face (insert Richard Pryor emoji). Sure, even with an employee walkout brewing, the head of Netflix is defending Chappelle--now. Just wait until a “turn off Netflix for a day” (or a week, a month?) movement.
Once Netflix sees a hiccup in its revenue stream….It's been swell, Mr. Chappelle, but ....
Chappelle in two years: “OK, everybody, I’m sorry! Now can I have my fame and money back???”
DC in five years: “Hello, Allentown! It’s great to be back at Rusty’s Bar and Grill--and f#ck all those bitches at Netflix! Netflixes get stitches, I went in there after they canceled me and slapped them up…”
On the local front, HARK Valley comics will be grinding it out for laughs at local clubs. Any destined for Netflix specials?
Post-football laughs with this big lineup this Sunday at the Breakroom. Facebook comedy group post: “Make sure y’all come out to the Breakroom Bar & Grill 8pm showtime. Text 480-570-2333 to RSVP for entry and Free Wingz. #ondagas Where can you get Some good Laughs and Free wings.”
For some milder, “PG-13” comedy, check out Jarrod’s in Mesa, open mic Saturday.
And some comedy in Gilbert at JP's Comedy Club, Oct. 21-23:
