Posted on Friday, 27th August 2010 by Suminder Sandhu

For those who are unsure of ’s acting credentials, a combination of James Lipton interviewing the comedian for Inside the Actors Studio is surely bizarre. And you’d be forgiven for thinking why ‘Half Baked’, ‘Blue Streak’, ‘Con Air’, or the ‘Nutty Professor’ warranted a 90 minute feature. But, as any avid Chappelle watcher will know, his intelligence, incisive social commentary and undoubted comedic talents – largely misrepresented by his film credits – coupled with his explosive ascent and mysterious exit from Hollywood’s unscrupulous stare makes this more than compelling watching. It’s an education.

The obvious question many viewers want answered: why did he walk away from a $55 million contract for his hit ‘Chappelle’s Show’, mid production? The answers, because there is a multitude, are only implied. Yet when hearing his candid, often hilarious but equally poignant, discussions on racism, fame, and the pressures that accompany such an astronomical contract I wasn’t left asking why he walked away. I was left wondering why so many more haven’t done the same.

In 2003 the ‘Chappelle’s Show’ debuted on Comedy Central. The first two seasons garnered award nominations and critical acclaim, and the DVD became the best-selling DVD of a television show to date. This prompted a staggering $55 million contract to be tabled for work on the show for the next two years. However, in early 2004, rumours began to circulate of a delay in production and in April Chappelle abruptly walked away from the show. Relentless media speculation ensued about drug use, his mental stability, a possible breakdown and his whereabouts. Chappelle resurfaced in Africa and denied the allegations. Then he was silent. For almost a year Chappelle had not been heard or seen until an interview on Oprah in February revealed that excessive stress from network execs and overwhelming pressure had forced him to walk away.

“Everybody’s waiting to see how crazy I am”, he tells Lipton’s university student audience. The topic of discussion ranges from the customary exposition of his past, his education, his rise on the stand-up circuit, racism in Hollywood and the reasons behind going to Africa. His earliest memories of stand-up are from an open mic Tuesday night as a young teen:

“I was 14, probably looked like I was 11. I was telling jokes about Jesse Jackson running for president, an Alf spaceship landing in a black neighbourhood.”

"Gun store, gun store, liquor store, gun store"

His subject content at such a tender age is a precursor for the success of his racial commentary as an adult. But even as a young man Chappelle’s dream was based on the method rather than the monetary as he recalls a conversation with his father after High School graduation:

“My dad says, ‘to be an actor is a lonely life. Everybody wants to make it and you might not make it’. Then I said to my dad, it depends on what ‘making it’ is. He says, ‘what do you mean?’ I said, well you’re a teacher. If I can make a teacher’s salary doing comedy I think that’s better than being a teacher. And he started laughing.”

His father’s advice, though, grows in significance when considered alongside the backdrop of Chappelle’s latter successes:

“He said ‘Name your price in the beginning. If it ever gets more expensive than the price you named, get out of there’. Thus Africa.”

The pressure of network executives was a prominent theme throughout Chappelle’s professional dealings. One such pilot, based on Chappelle being booed off stage at New York’s Apollo Theatre, had backroom discussions relating to the lack of white people in the sketch. The network wanted more ‘universally appealing’ characters, i.e. white people. The pressures and the reality of Hollywood, something Chappelle calls “a very powerful illusion”, can be highlighted by its effect on people. People like Martin Lawrence, whom Chappelle said to be mentally and emotionally strong:

“I saw him [after his stroke in 1999] and I said ‘Oh my God, Martin, are you ok?’ and he said ‘I got the best sleep I ever got in my life’. That’s how tough he is. So let me ask you this – what is happening in Hollywood that a guy that tough will be on the street, waving a gun, screaming ‘they’re trying to kill me’? What’s going on? Why is Dave Chappelle going to Africa? Why does Mariah Carey make a $100 million deal and take her clothes off on TRL? A weak person cannot get to sit here and talk to you. Ain’t no weak people talking to you. So what is happening in Hollywood? Nobody knows.”

Was Chappelle ‘crazy’, as so many rumours had suggested?

“The worst thing to call somebody is crazy. It’s dismissive. I don’t understand this person so they’re crazy. That’s bullshit. These people are not crazy. They are strong people. Maybe the environment is a little sick.”

"Sugar, water, purple"

Chappelle’s interview with Lipton contains more truth than most would be comfortable to accept. Like his comedy, his answers force us to ask questions about an industry so many crave to break into and the repercussions that actually breaking into it have. At a very basic level it’s about the trouble that arises when creative integrity and corporate interests meet. But it would be tragic to render such an issue purely ‘black or white’. Chappelle invites us into a dialogue about personal limits, social responsibility, and preconceived notions of fame. He does admit that he’s unsure if some of his professional and personal decisions were right or wrong and in doing so we can glimpse how nearly two decades of work in such an environment can result in needing some perspective.

Does he still love comedy?

“When I’m on stage I get real happy up there. Maybe it’s the only time in my adult life that I feel like myself.”

For all the latest articles, updates, and news please follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/SuminderSandhu

Tags:
Posted in Blogs, Other | Comments (3)

3 Responses to “Dave Chappelle: Inside the Actors Studio”

Leave a Reply