Dave Chapelle didn't change with the times, and that's the problem..

[JHan]

by Damon Young: http://www.gq.com/story/dave-chappelle-netflix-standup

Perhaps my expectations were too high. I hoped that Chappelle, now entering his mid-40s, would have used his signature slyness and world-weary insights to tackle subjects more daunting than the low-hanging and dated comedic fruit of trans people, rape, and famous black men (O.J. Simpson and Bill Cosby) accused of horrific crimes against (mostly) white women. Especially after taking a full decade away from the public microscope. And especially during a time when there seems to be so fucking much—politically, culturally, and racially—for a black comedian as sharp and shrewd as Chappelle to dive into. His focus on the horror of political correctness, instead, felt like something you’d expect to come from a megarich 43-year-old man from the outskirts of Ohio. Who, instead of evolving with the world, has remained stagnant and believes the world has gone mad while pining for time when things were simpler. Which is who he is.

I recognize the presumption and perhaps even self-indulgence of suggesting that I know what Chappelle should have been talking about better than he does. There are no emails and comments I hate worse than “Why did you write about this thing instead of this other thing I wanted you to write about?” and I’m doing this now. I do not wish to be that guy, especially when discussing Chappelle, a man whose break from the public came as a result of corporate forces trying to tell him what he could and couldn’t—and should and shouldn’t—talk about. He is a public figure whom we (black people) have collectively and justifiably circled the wagons for; sensitive to his wish for peace of mind, and his attempt to possess it; ultimately aiming to protect one of our icons from the scourge of capital letter Whiteness attempting to transmute him.

I just... I don’t know, I just would like for him to join us in 2017. There’s so much he can do here.

[ret5hd]

1. I watched his netflix show...i was disappointed in some things, but...

there was one segment which particularly impressed me. I stopped, rewound, and had my wife come watch also.

It was the segment concerning the killings of JFK, RFK, King, Kent State, etc etc. He told it in such a serious emotional manner that it really struck me. He has such talent to be able to move from comedy to "education", and I wish that people with this particular talent would use it more...educate our younger (and older, like me) on why particular events are so important. We live in such disturbing times, and some of that is caused by not knowing ourselves or our history.

[JHan]

3. true, it's also important because of all the cynicism that's going around.

[ExciteBike66]

2. I for one am just glad he is back...

He could just play Silky Johnson for the rest of eternity, for all I care!

[JHan]

4. I'm glad he's back too but like the author said..

he also sounds dated, out of touch*

[elfin]

5. Haven't seen his Netflix or his SNL appearance

Used to be an avid fan before he took off. Thought he was brilliant.

Will check in to the Netflix shows. Will be a shame if he has lost his hilarious and edgy take on core issues of the day.

[rogue emissary]

6. One caveat that people should consider is this special is two or three years old.

Chappelle was on Kimmel and said two of the three specials he sold to Netflix were filmed years ago. So the material isn't going to be that fresh.

[JHan]

8. still I think the author's point stands..

even if it's a couple years old, he's out of touch and sounds like it. "Fag" and "Tranny" , rape jokes, etc, all tiresome. Relishing in it because he thinks it's a grand statement against political correctness makes it even worse.

[Hoyt]

7. I thought he was good on SNL. Haven't seen him in awhile, but he was still quite funny.

Here's one segment. There was another piece that was classic Chappelle where he played a number of characters.

[Eliot Rosewater]

9. Glad he is back, give him time, he is gonna knock us off our feet eventually!