Viewpoint: That's What I Call Funny

One of America's hottest comics on how he translates sore points into comic relief

By Dave Chappelle, As Told To Christopher John Farley Sunday, Jan. 09, 2005

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    There are some things you don't want to do to get a laugh. Every once in a while, you'll have what my writing partner Neal Brennan calls "buyer's remorse," where I'll say something, and it'll get a laugh, and after that I'll regret it and think, "Oh, I shouldn't have said that." Sometimes it's obvious to you, and you've got to call foul on yourself. Generally, I like the jokes to be empowering or enlightening on some level. But then again, part of being a comic is saying things that people haven't said before--so you're gonna say inappropriate things from time to time. The trick is not to pay too much attention to the boundaries. When your humor becomes too self-aware, you might be less effective.

    The happiness that humor brings doesn't have to be temporary. You take a guy like Chris Rock--people quote him all the time. People quote Mark Twain or Will Rogers to this day. And I'm sure my kids will learn about Richard Pryor. So there are guys who are like that, whose comedy kind of endures. If it's a good point and it's eloquently said, then people will remember it. --As told to Christopher John Farley

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