You’re going to be in Chicago. Have you been to Chicago before?
Several times. I love the city. I love the loop. I love the food. Chicago is a good town, man.
Do you have any specific places you like to go when you’re here?
One of my favorite places is Army and Lou’s. Anytime I go to Chicago I have to eat there. …It’s a soul food restaurant. I think the owners may have passed away cuz they were old so they may have passed away but that was my favorite restaurant in Chicago. This restaurant was so clean you could go in, anybody at any time could get up and walk in the kitchen, it was no problem.
Can you describe your comedy style for me?
It’s Charlie Murphy. For me to describe it, you’d have to see me. You know what I’m saying? Describe my style, it’s not like anyone else that’s out there, it’s me. You know? And the best description for the person that’s coming to the show to check it out is come check me out. If you like me…if you like my form of humor, whoever comes to the show for the most part they’ve either seen me do something before, or they heard about something. Whatever your idea is, come let me build on it. Come down to the show and you know have a good time. Because as far as me giving a description of my comedy, there’s no one I’d compare myself to to give you a description. It’s me. It’s my thing. I’m not trying to be like anybody else. I don’t remind you of anybody else, but I do what’s supposed to be done which is make you laugh.
So I know you’ve done acting, screen writing, and stand up. How long have you been doing stand up?
This is my fourth year doing stand up.
What was the first thing that you did? Did you start with acting or writing?
Writing first. I started the writing back in the 80s. I started with the writing in movies. I just finished having one of my biggest successes as a writer this year and that was ‘Norbit’. I was a co-writer on that and that movie has made up to 146 million dollars worldwide so I’m really really really proud of that. So my writing career couldn’t’ happen at a better time.
What’s your favorite thing to do out of all of it? Out of acting, and stand up, and writing…
Working! Everything is working. I don’ t have a - I’ve not been given the luxury of having a say in things. Every area that I’m in I’m competing with everyone else… and I’ve never been given like ok “Charlie you want to be an actor?” .. I don’t get that kind of love. You don’t see me getting booked movie after movie after movie. Some of the guys all they do is act…. With me, you may see me in some movies this year and you may see some movies next year that I wrote. I’m a totally different animal.
Eddie Murphy, is that your brother?
Yeah. It’s my younger brother.
Does anyone ever try to compare you to him?
Yeah, you’re doing it right now. [laughs]
I’m not trying to compare you. I’m asking if anybody does.
Of course they do that. That’s human nature. But I let people know that that’s not something I entertain. I don’t compare myself to anybody because there’s only one me. There’s only one you. I can’t compare myself to you. I can’t compare myself to nobody. But my own level of standard that I set within my self, I measure myself against that but not against another person. Because, you know, what am I trying to gain there, you know what I’m saying? Everybody’s art is a talent, is a blessing. And all you’re doing is displaying your talent. It doesn’t have to be compared to another person. This guy’s like this and this guy’s like that. They’re different. That’s all.
Is there anything that you’d change about your career?
No, there’s nothing that I’d change about it. My career is like - I go with the flow. I go the way the wind is blowing me and I wouldn’t change that. Some people are afraid to relax and go like that or they don’t have the option. But I’m neither so I just go with it. Right now I’m getting ready to start writing another film, you know. Over the course of the next four or five weeks while I’m doing these shows… it’s not like I just go ‘I’ve got work…’. It’s a hustle.
What do you think we can expect from your shows this weekend?
To laugh. What more can you expect than to laugh? I mean, I’m a comedian, you’re coming there to laugh. You’re coming there to hear something funny and to laugh and to have a good time. If you’re expecting more than that, I don’t know what to tell you. That’s what comedy is all about…come get your laugh on.
Is there anything you want anyone to know about you that I haven’t covered?
We’ve covered pretty much everything. I’m coming. I can’t wait to get there. Every time I come to Chicago I enjoy myself. I’m familiar with the territory. And I’m glad to be coming through.
