Dave Chappelle covers a lot of bases. Not only is his Comedy Central sketch comedy show a huge hit among those under 35, but the DVD of its first season is a huge seller, best in the category this year. The success of the show in both formats prompted the cable network to sign Chappelle to an unprecedented $50 million contract, covering two more seasons.
Moreover, while Chappelle can do the hip-hop gangsta misogynist as well as anyone, it’s not his only act. Chappelle exploits the reverse racism rule – the one that allows black comics to lampoon white people without being hated – so well because his large white following (not to say he doesn’t have a following among African Americans) gets it that we deserve a taste of our own medicine. And that it’s funny as hell.
The guy sets up an everyday family or dating or workplace situation and throws it for a loop with sudden, clear, but irrational responses. Although he grew up in DC, he now lives with his family on an Ohio farm. So anybody looking for street cred can find it in his upbringing and anyone looking for middle America wholesomeness can find it in his current lifestyle. Chappelle gets under the skin without putting fear in his viewers’ hearts.
We also get, from his sendups of characters of his own race, that he wants us to laugh at them, too. Nothing like a little deadly irony to help sell your act, either, as when Rick James, subject of Chappelle’s fabulous tagline, “I’m Rick James, bitch!” up and died earlier this year. Creepy-cool.
Adding to the comedian’s mystique is his involvement in a wild array of movies over the past decade. So he wasn’t the star of “You’ve Got Mail” or “Robin Hood: Men In Tights” – but those films are big in the rental market and, between them, have been seen by a whole lot of demographics. “Half Baked,” which Chappelle co-wrote and did star in, will be watched for decades by high school and college-aged stoners who won’t care when it was made. Throw in “Joe’s Apartment,” “Con Air,” “Blue Streak,” and “Undercover Brother,” and the man’s reach becomes truly nationwide. And reaching into the hearts and television sets of such a wide variety of Americans is, we must admit, cool.
Finally, Dave Chappelle started his career as a teenager, with the full support of his mother, swears as much as he wants, but never sets out to hurt or belittle anyone – plus he orchestrated a Fugees reunion for a recent music and comedy concert project. This is quite a balancing act for which the man should be commended. And commendations are – that’s right – cool.
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