Comedian Dave Chappelle Tries “to Reinvent the Wheel”

Picture a stock boy in a toy store.
You watch this guy every Friday and Saturday yelling at kids for stealing, placing Nintendos inside cases and Barbies and G.I. Joes on the toy store’s shelves. Then, one night, the guy in the toy store quits after earning $50 at a comedy club. We’re talking about the hilarious Dave Chappelle.
Born in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 23, 1972, Chappelle started out telling jokes on the streets and later progressed to opening in local comedy clubs. His first comedy hour, on HBO in 2000, was “Killin’ Them Softly,” where he discussed his personal life and gave detailed observations about characters on the children’s show “Sesame Street.”
Some fans may remember him as a regular act on “Russell Simmons’ Def Comedy Jam.”
“Def Jam didn’t give me my start like it did Chris Tucker and Bernie Mac,” said Chappelle during a phone interview. “If you did Def Jam on Friday, people will notice you at the mall or buy tickets for your show in that area, but that’s it.”
Chappelle is most known for his film roles in Mel Brooks’ “Robin Hood: Men In Tights” (1993), “Half Baked” (1998) and “Undercover Brother” (2002). He has also played opposite Eddie Murphy and Tommy Davidson.
Chappelle’s comedic material is so wild that when he guest-starred on “The Best D**n Sports Show,” they tried to censor him. “I don’t know why they bleeped my comments out. They asked me what was my sports fantasy and all I said was a three-way with Venus and Serena,” said Chappelle.
Chappelle has been staying busy with his new “The Dave Chappelle Show” on Comedy Central.
“We’ve already done 10 shows, expect some material on Michael Jackson because that guy is taking up time on two different networks,” said Chappelle. “I want this show to be funny while I talk about life, stuff I’m going through and just have fun with the audience.”
Asked at Howard University what separated his television show from other variety programs, he said, “I’m just trying to reinvent the wheel, push the envelope, and be funny.”
Chappelle spoke about a street comedian named Charles Burnett, who he said was legendary.
“I was 18 and I used to watch him perform comedy on the train and in the streets. He actually showed me how to perform with no microphone, cover charge or drinks in front of you,” said Chappelle. “He stayed in the hospital from ’92 to ’95 and then he died. If I stopped doing television and movies today, because of him I would still be able to make money doing street comedy.”
 
Q&A: For Chappelle, “The Focus Is on Funny”
Dave Chappelle discussed his goals, his comedy and his use of the N-word in an interview with The Hilltop at Howard University.
Q: When did you first get the idea to do the television show?
Chappelle: Well I have wanted to do my own show since 1992, but back then I was more focused on my stand-up act, and I really did not have the resources to do my own show. After the success of “Half Baked” [in 1998], Comedy Central gave me the opportunity to do the show and I jumped on it.
Q: Toward what audience is your show geared?
Chappelle: People my age; young people are much bolder and accepting of my style of comedy.
Q: What is the main objective of the “Dave Chappelle Show?”
Chappelle: Just to be funny and get my point of view on certain situations across without preaching.
Q: A lot of people argue that half an hour is only enough time to get a taste of what Dave Chappelle has to offer. Have you ever thought about expanding the show?
Chappelle: Yeah, I have thought about it, but a half hour alone is murder, between Neal [Brennan] and myself, we do all the writing for the show, so at this point it would be too big of a load to try and expand the show.
Q: So how much control do you actually have over the decisions in regard to the show?
Chappelle: I have a lot of the creative control on the show. A committee votes on everything, but I have the final say.
Q: One of the things that the show has been criticized for is the heavy use of the “N-word,” how do you feel about that?
Chappelle: The word means a lot of different things to different people. That word is probably a lot harsher to my grandmother, who had to endure being called all types of names, but I grew up in an era where that is a word we use to show our camaraderie to one another. My main reason for using it on the show so much is to erase the hate behind the word and take away the power it once had.
Q: What separates the “Dave Chappelle Show” from other variety shows such as the “Cedric the Entertainer Show” or “In Living Color?”
Chappelle: I’m just trying to reinvent the wheel, push the envelope, and be funny. It’s a comedy show; the focus is on funny.
“The Dave Chappelle Show” airs Wednesdays at 10:30 p.m. Eastern time, the show encores on Thursdays. at 12:30 a.m., Saturdays at 12:30 a.m., and Sundays at 1:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. He is on a “Black Villa” comedy tour, which includes a number of HBCUs.