Every day seems to find a new way to make me feel older than dirt, and today we have the realization that July 2026 will mark 20 years since all-time great sketch comedy Chappelle's Show wrapped up its disjointed third season on Comedy Central, a year after its namesake Dave Chappelle took a mental health break in South Africa. Since that tumultuous time, the show's icon status has only grown, even as the comedian himself has become more of a lightning rod for self-provoking controversy. So what’s all this about a revival?

For many years, Chappelle has bypassed the idea of bringing the sketch comedy back for today’s audiences, but something must have inspired a turn of the cheek, as he shared a different viewpoint in an interview with AP, saying:

It's a gobsmacker of an update, in part because Chappelle has largely been out of the acting game for a decade or so, at least outside of sporadic Saturday Night Live appearances, where his monologues end up getting more attention than the sketches. But also because so much of the attention garnered by the comic over recent years has come from his hugely popular Netflix stand-up specials, tied to his envelope-pushing views on the trans community and other LGBTQ+ figures.

As such, here's why this project can only go one of two ways, without even the tiniest sliver of middle ground to stand on.

Why Chappelle's Show Revival Could Be The Best Thing Ever

Simply put, there are never enough POC comedies on TV. Chappelle's Show took the reins from In Living Color, with A Black Lady Sketch Show and Astronomy Club taking the mantle years later. So to bring back one of the best to ever exist seems like a no-brainer.

Chappelle didn't divulge any further details about such early-forming considerations, such as whether or not he’s been in touch with fellow co-creator Neal Brennan, but I think it'd be vital to bring back as many of the creative minds that helped give the flagship run so many memorable sketches even beyond the most viral ones (such as anything involving Prince, Rick James, or Li'l Jon).

With or without Brennan, the revival would presumably take aim at the past 20 years of pop cultural and societal highlights and lowlights. And I'd genuinely love to see topics like AI, influencers and the world of streaming services get skewered through this particular prism. Just imagine the Diddy freak-off parodies....

If a new iteration of Chappelle's Show was even a fraction as good as the original, it would realistically still be the best sketch show on TV, if not among the best series overall.

Why Chappelle's Show Revival Could Be The Worst Thing Ever

On the flip side of the coin, if Dave Chappelle brings Chappelle's Show back to TV (or streaming) specifically to amplify the most polarizing subject matter from his stand-up act, solely for the sake of pissing off a ton of non-jugmental people, that's the worst-case scenario.

The original series largely took aim at racial issues, and there are still more than enough of those in the world to focus on in any revival series without the need to slam LGBTQ+ folks or other communities without provocation.

If everyone involved goes through the efforts to bring this revival to life, I want it to be the kind of show that draws audiences in through understanding and agreement, rather than pitting one group against another. (Racists notwithstanding.) I would not be enthused to witness weekly social media wars based on a Heated Rivalry sketch or whatever the case would be.

To be fair, Chappelle makes a point during the interview to say that striking up controversies was never an intention with his stand-up act, so it's possible he'd approach a return to sketch comedy with a less antagonistic mindset. If so, then it just might be the best TV show of the 2020s. (Assuming it doesn't take another four years to make it happen.)

For now, the three seasons of Chappelle's Show can be streamed via Paramount+ subscription.

While not a stoner myself, I love stoner movies! And, even though I'm a massive Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle fan, I would still say that Half Baked is the definitive stoner movie. I mean, it just has everything that I find hilarious in a film.

While rewatching it the other day, I somehow only noticed for the first time that it was directed by a woman, but immediately put all my attention into learning more. Because while Half Baked might not be the most game-changing film with a woman at the helm, I do love it when I learn that some of my favorite movies of all time were directed by female talents, especially when it comes to comedies.

The filmmaker who's kept me chuckling all these years is Tamra Davis, whose most familiar work to people of a certain generation is likely 2002's Britney Spears comedy-drama, Crossroads. Once I learned that she also directed Half Baked, however, it led me down the intriguing rabbit hole that is her career, and now I'm even more impressed than ever.

Not Only Did She Direct The Definitive Stoner Movie In Half Baked. She Also Directed The Definitive Rap Satire In CB4

Oh, my God. Have you ever watched CB4? If not, it's arguably the best rap movie of the ‘90s.

Essentially the rap version of This Is…Spinal Tap, CB4, which stars Chris Rock and Charlie Murphy, is a mockumentary about three struggling rappers who pretend to be recently released jailbirds (Straight out of LoCash!) and their rise to fame.

The film documents their ascension up the charts, and also the tension within the group. What's great about this movie is that, similar to the musical satire This Is…Spinal Tap,, it taps into a lot of what was going on at the time behind the scenes and within the fandom of genre that it’s parodying.

For example, a politician played by Phil Hartman (R.I.P.) goes after the group litigiously for being too obscene, which was a big thing back in the ‘90s for groups like N.W.A., and 2 Live Crew.

The film is utterly hilarious, and to learn that the same person who directed the outrageous Half Baked also directed CB4 utterly blew my mind. However, now that I’ve looked deeper into Davis’ career, it's not surprising that she made such a good music movie. And that’s because…

She Started Out By Cutting Her Teeth On Music Videos -- More Than 150 Of Them!

Once I went down the Tamra Davis rabbit hole, I discovered that she really got her start making music videos, to which she directed a whopping 155 of the mini-movies.

As a huge fan of music videos growing up, I just had to see some of Davis’ work, and I was surprised to find that she went as far back as 1986, as she directed Depeche Mode’s “But Not Tonight.”

I’m familiar with Depeche Mode, but I’d never seen that video before, so I was impressed by just how expressive the video is. That was interesting, but when I scrolled down the list of some of her other videos, I was blown away when I learned that she directed Young M.C.’s “Bust A Move,” which I am VERY familiar with.

The most shocking video in her catalogue, though – for me, anyway – is 1997’s “MMMBop” by Hanson, which (Okay, I’ll admit it!), I was a huge fan of back in the day. She also directed “Movies” by Alien Ant Farm, which is low-key one of my favorite music videos of all time.

So, it was delightful to go down memory lane and find that Tamra Davis had a hand at directing some of my favorite videos on MTV. That was fun to learn!

She Also Directed My Favorite Adam Sandler Movie, Billy Madison

Now, I’m a teacher outside of writing for this website, and it’s interesting to note that my students, who are mostly 12, have a very different idea of Adam Sandler than I do.

For them, the Sandler they connect with starred in movies like Pixels, Hubie Halloween, and as a voice in Hotel Transylvania. But for me, the best Adam Sandler has ever been was in 1995’s Billy Madison, and would you believe that Tamra Davis directed that, too?

The story of a rich dimwit who has to go back to school in order to inherit the family business, Billy Madison was pretty much my introduction to the man-child archetype. And, while Jim Carrey will likely always be the most important actor who defined my childhood, Sandler is a close second, and Billy Madison (Not SNL) was my first time seeing the actor.

And, guess what? Billy Madison, despite unmistakably feeling like a ‘90s flick, is still one of Sandler’s best movies. It’s just so goofy. That said, while it’s not as profane as CB4 or Half Baked, you can still see Davis’ imprint all over this film as the comedy in Billy Madison is slightly off-kilter in the same heightened way, which I never noticed before until I actually thought about it.

Later Sandler movies like Happy Gilmore, and The Waterboy would also skew slightly strange, with Sandler and Tim Herlihy co-writing both screenplays. But, I’m now under the impression that Davis’ direction on Billy Madison helped get the cinematic ball rolling for this specific silly tone for Sandler, as it carries throughout those movies as well. Again, it’s just an impression, but it’s one that I now have.

I Want To Check Some Of Her Documentaries as Well Now

I love a good documentary, so I’m now enthused to check out some of the ones that Tamra Davis has directed.

The first one I want to check out is her most recent one, that being 2024’s, Larger Than Life: Reign of the Boybands. It features stars from groups like *NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, and New Edition, among others (ahem, Hanson), and seems to celebrate, rather than deride, boy bands, which I find refreshing.

I then want to go backward in her catalogue, as there’s a documentary called The Punk Singer, which is about Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill, and Le Tigre-fame, two bands that I’ve been meaning to check out for awhile now.

But, the ones I’m most interested in are her documentaries about the late artist, Jean-Michel Basquiat, as I’m only really familiar with him through the movie starring Jeffrey Wright.

So, it looks like I have Davis’ documentaries to look forward to as well now.

Her Work In Television Also Can't Be Overlooked

Is there anything Davis can’t do? Not only has she directed movies, documentaries, and music videos, but she’s also done SEVERAL episodes of TV shows, many of which I’m a fan of.

For example, in 2004, she directed the episode “One Tree Hill” of Method & Red. And as a huge Method Man fan, you know I was tuned in to FOX on July 7th when that episode originally aired.

She also directed episodes for shows like My Name is Earl, Everybody Hates Chris, Grey’s Anatomy, and Ugly Betty, all in the early 2000s.

Her biggest contribution to TV though was the mostly VH1 show, Single Ladies, to which she directed 21 of the show’s 43 episodes (She was also an executive producer for the show).

So, filmmaker, documentarian, music video director, and TV director? Is there anything else she’s done? Well, yes! Yes, there is!

As A Major Foodie, I'm Happy To Know That She Even Has A Cooking Show!

Though the videos go pretty far back, I’m happy to report that Tamra Davis even has a cooking show!

Now, as somebody who is a major foodie (Who is trying to cut back on meat), it’s cool to know that Davis made multiple videos on healthier, vegetarian options for meals, such as her video on Thanksgiving Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie, or her Kung Pao Un-Chicken.

While not a great cook myself, Davis breaks her steps down very simply so that even I could make any of these meal plans.

So, yeah, that’s Tamra Davis. Thanks for joining me on my journey!

Just trying to put myself in the shoes of an SNL host right before their monologue scares me. So, I can’t imagine what it’s like to actually walk through that Studio 8H door. However, Dave Chappelle just made it a bit easier to picture as he explained why it’s always “a little terrifying.” And I have to say, after learning how he prepares for that moment, I totally get why.

Earlier on the 2025 TV schedule, Dave Chappelle was one of SNL’s Season 50 hosts, which marked his fourth time doing the gig. So, at this point, he knows what to expect. However, while chatting with Mo Amer during Variety's Actors on Actors, he got real about what it’s like to prepare for the job and then walk onto the stage. He started by explaining that live television is a different sort of beast for a stand-up, saying:

Well, hearing that he’s kind of “winging it” and he won’t do his monologue in rehearsal partially explains why it’s “a little terrifying.” However, it also speaks to the trust Lorne Michaels has in Chappelle (who is currently one gig away from joining SNL's Five-Timers Club) to deliver when he walks through that door to kick off the show.

After explaining that he’ll simply use his rehearsal time to check the sound and get used to the space, the stand-up went on to discuss why hosting SNL is both “exhilarating” and a bit scary. Noting the pressure and boundaries that come with live TV, he said:

Now, considering Chappelle’s stand-up specials (you can watch them with a Netflix subscription) almost always cause debate among viewers, I assumed he picked his jokes carefully for SNL. So, I was shocked to learn that he doesn’t rehearse it in front of others before the taping. However, as he said, he’s been doing this job long enough that his “experience” has prepared him for these moments.

Overall, he reiterated that while it’s a sort of terrifying experience, it never goes as bad or as good as he thinks it will:

He’s right, I find that when a stand-up hosts SNL, their monologue is almost always one of the strongest points of the episode, because it’s the time where they’re truly in their element. However, even though they’re doing what they’re great at, they still have to face new challenges.

For example, when Chappelle hosted right after the 2020 election, he had to prepare two sets because the race wasn’t called on election day. He said:

Yeah, that sounds scary too! However, it went well, and clearly SNL thought so too, because the comedian has returned to host the show four times between 2016 and 2025.

Overall, I totally get why Dave Chappelle said doing SNL is always sort of scary. Hearing about how he preps and the circumstances he’s hosted under, it makes perfect sense. Now, I’ll 100% be thinking about all of this as I re-watch the show with my Peacock subscription and wait for Season 51.

I'd imagine that, in many respects, the life of a celebrity certainly has to be unusual. The only people who are really going to understand what it’s like are your fellow stars, so it’s not exactly a shock when different stars become friends with each other. Having said that, some celebrity friendships, like the Rock and Kevin Hart's, make sense, and others seemingly come out of left field. When it comes to the latter point of thinking, it can be applied to the apparent relationship between Justin Bieber and Dave Chappelle.

The 51-year-old comedian and the 31-year-old singer were recently spotted hanging out together at a recent L.A. hot spot. And, according to OK Magazine, this apparently wasn’t just two celebs crossing paths. An unnamed source claims the pair have actually become quite close in recent years. The source said…

One may not necessarily imagine Justin Bieber and Dave Chappelle running in the same circles, if only because of their 20-year age difference. However, it seems at some point the pair became close. It's worth noting that Chappelle did attend the Comedy Central Roast of Justin Bieber a decade ago, but only as an audience member. It’s unclear if the pair have been friends that long.

There’s certainly no argument that the "Yummy" singer has gone through quite a lot in his life that few others could comprehend. One must remember that he's been famous since he was a kid. His music was a viral sensation arguably making him one of the most famous names in the world at one point. In recent years, his focus has seemingly been less on his music and more on her personal life.

The same can be said of Dave Chappelle. At the height of his fame from his acclaimed series, Chappelle Show, the comedian largely walked away from Hollywood. There have been rumors of mental health issues or drug use, but Chappelle has always denied them. The comic has continued to work consistently, though, some of Chappelle's stand-up work has garnered backlash.

Meanwhile, reports suggest that Justin Bieber has been in legal battles with his former representatives while also contending with rumors of problems with his marriage to wife Hailey. Whether or not the gossip is true is perhaps less important than the fact that Bieber has to deal with the rumors at all. All in all, Bieber has seemingly been trying to be less in the public eye of late, similar to Chappelle.

As somebody who has had to navigate Hollywood and constant rumors as well, Dave Chappelle certainly may be in a good position to offer support and advice to Justin Bieber. That aside, though, these two could just enjoy chilling and shooting the breeze. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter where you find your friends, it’s just important to have them.

Here’s the thing: I love Con Air. I was blown away by the all-time great action movie when I first saw it as a kid back in 1997, and 28 years later, I’m just as obsessed with it. Even though some things will never make sense about the star-studded action flick, there’s so much to love. You’ve got one of the wildest Nicolas Cage characters, an amazing John Cusack performance, and quite possibly the most ruthless group of villains of all time led by John Malkovich’s Cyrus “The Virus” Grissom.

Though Cyrus is quite possibly one of the most charismatic, intelligent, and meanest bad guys of the ‘90s, I don’t think he’s the worst of the worst aboard the “Jail Bird.” Sure, he’s the ringleader of it all and adds more notches to his kill count than anyone else in the movie, but there are some runaways on the plane that are far more rotten. Let me explain…

Cyrus ‘The Virus’ Grissom

While it is true that Cyrus “The Virus” Grissom orchestrated the whole hijacking, killed an ungodly number of people, and has a rap sheet longer than just about anyone in Con Air, it’s argued in the movie that he’s a “true product of the system.” It doesn’t absolve this show-stealing villain of his crimes, but it’s all he’s ever known.

The 11 inmates killed during his stints in prison, three riots, and two escape attempts won’t put him on the “nice” list, but unlike some of his co-conspirators and fellow passengers, John Malkovich’s utterly insane character did at least have standards. Despite having “killed more men than cancer,” Cyrus despises assalters, has no time for white nationalists, and is incredibly loyal to those who have his back (just don’t turn against him).

Nathan ‘Diamond Dog’ Jones

Nathan “Diamond Dog” Jones, Ving Rhames’ militant domestic terrorist in prison for blowing up an NRA meeting, is nearly as charismatic and devilish as Cyrus, and he also has quite the bite. One of the orchestrators of the prison transport plane takeover, Diamond Dog is pretty much The Virus’ right-hand man. And despite being a very, very bad man, his charm, wit, and smile make it hard to hate on him too much.

Yeah, he kills a lot of folks, adds several more felonies to an already impressive list, and makes life a living hell for Cameron Poe (Nicolas Cage), but again, it’s hard to keep this dog down.

Earl ‘Swamp Thing’ Williams

Earl “Swamp Thing” Williams (M. C. Gainey) is one of the hijackers we learn the least about in Con Air. Outside of being a skilled pilot (and knowing how to properly remove a plane’s transponder) and fellow inmate, nothing much is said about him before or after he hitches a ride in Carson City. However, his crazy sense of humor, facial hair, and general disdain for authority put him in the middle of the pack as far as terribleness goes.

Joe 'Pinball' Parker

I miss the days when Dave Chappelle would randomly show up in movies like You’ve Got Mail and Con Air, because he had a perfect batting average in the late ‘90s. Though Joe “Pinball” Parker doesn’t get a whole lot of time in the movie before he gets crushed by the landing gear and ends up smashing through that old dude’s car, he does play a key role in taking over the plane.

The serial arsonist catching a fellow inmate on fire kickstarts the whole takeover of the plane, and him quickly grabbing a guard’s keys allows the more violent offenders to escape their cages. If he’d kept his mouth shut (and that balloon of fuel and matches) in his stomach, Cameron Poe would have made it home on time.

Francisco Cindino

Francisco Cindino (Jesse Borrego) is only in Con Air for a short while before he gets turned into a pile of ashes by Cyrus Grissom, but this guy had it coming. A South American drug lord and terrorist who helped finance the whole operation, Cindino made the mistake of trying to double-cross one of the most ruthless men to ever go through the United States Penal System.

William 'Billy Bedlam' Bedford

Okay, now it’s time to talk about the bad of the bad when it comes to Con Air villains. First up is William “Billy Bedlam” Bedford (Nick Chinlund), a man with absolutely no redeeming qualities. He’s not bright, he’s not funny, he’s not nice, and he has one of the most disturbing reasons for being in prison in the first place.

This guy didn't kill his wife after catching her having an affair, but instead drove four towns over to her family's house where he killed her parents, her brothers, her sisters, and even the dog before it was all said and done. Plus, he didn't put the bunny back in the box when Cameron Poe politely asked him to leave his stuff alone.

John ‘Johnny 23’ Baca

Danny Trejo may be a badass in real life, but his character in Con Air was one depraved sicko. John “Johnny 23” Baca, whose name would be “Johnny 600” if the authorities knew how many women he had assaulted before being caught, even has a tattoo representing each of his victims on his arm.

The serial assaulter, who mostly just looked scary and made multiple threats to Guard Sally Bishop (Rachel Ticotin) on the flight, showed not even a sliver of remorse from start to finish, which made him one of the worst of the worst on “Jail Bird.”

Garland ‘The Marietta Mangler' Greene

Steve Buscemi’s Garland Greene is introduced as “The Marietta Mangler” when he is brought aboard the plane like Hannibal Lecter halfway through Con Air, and instantly becomes one of the most insane and unforgettable convicts on the escape path. While the man responsible for countless murders does seem to be one of the nicer convicts on the flight (at least on the surface level), that's far from the case.

Despite his friendly demeanor, keen observation skills, and ability to point out irony in the worst of times, I can’t set aside the fact that Greene bragged about driving through multiple states wearing a victim’s head like a hat. But his successful escape at the end of the movie does have me bummed we never got a Con Air sequel.

So, Who's The Worst?

If Cyrus “The Virus” Grissom isn’t the worst of the worst from Con Air, then who is it? Well, after thinking long and hard about this, I firmly believe that it’s Billy Bedlam who is the sickest, most depraved, and unlikable convict aboard the plane. Not only did he kill his wife’s family (and dog) so that she would suffer even more, and not only was he a chicken shit throughout the movie, but he also messed with Cameron Poe’s attempt to do the right thing and ruin his surprise for his daughter.

Johnny 23 and Garland Greene weren’t far behind, but Billy Bedlam was just the worst…

Bonus: DEA Agent Duncan Malloy

Before I go, I just have to point out that DEA Agent Duncan Malloy (Colm Meaney) has to be the biggest jerk in Con Air and possibly in any ‘90s movie. It’s partially his fault that everything got chaotic in the movie, and his “AZZ KIKR” license plate gives off some serious inferiority complex like he’s Kirk Millhouse sleeping in a racing car on The Simpsons. However, his introductory line of “this is spectacular” when describing his car is one of the best parts of the movie.

I know Cyrus “The Virus” Grissom is a terrible guy who deserved to go out by getting crushed by some random piece of equipment off the Las Vegas Strip, but there’s no denying he’s one of the best villains of all time.

Sean “P. Diddy” Combs’ legal woes have been discussed by fans and celebrities alike, at this point.. Comedian Dave Chappelle is one of the most prominent names to speak out or more specifically, joke about it. During his latest Saturday Night Live hosting stint, Chappelle unloaded on Diddy using his monologue and mused that even Family Matters star Reginald VelJohnson was invited to the rapper’s “freak off” parties. Now, VelJohnson is shutting down the rumor while also sharing what he can “appreciate” about the joke.

What Did Dave Chappelle Say About Reginald VelJohnson During His Monologue?

Ahead of Dave Chappelle’s gig as an SNL Season 50 host, it was likely assumed that he’d have a few things to say about the “Workin” performer. He did so in a major way at Studio 8H, as he didn’t mince words on the “enormous amount of trouble” that Diddy is in. The comic eventually began to specifically discuss the freak off parties, where women were allegedly weighed before being hired or coerced into performing (recorded) sex acts for guests. While joking that he was never invited, Chappelle mentioned some gossip he read:

The joke generated plenty of laughs from attendees. Also, this isn’t the first time Reginald VelJohnson (who played Carl Winslow on Family Matters’ nine seasons) has been tied to Diddy. He initially had to shoot down rumors in 2024 and did the same following the Chappelle’s Show creator’s set. However, VelJohnson also shared a level-headed response.

How Did Reginald VelJohnson React To The Comedian’s Freak Off Joke?

72-year-old Reginald VelJohnson is still widely known for his work on Family Matters and his performance in Die Hard (which he has used to get out of a traffic ticket.) VelJohnson, who entertained audiences with his Bruce Willis tribute and more on DWTS last year, reiterated to THR that he has no ties to Sean Combs. Nevertheless, he couldn’t help but find the humor in the way that Dave Chappelle presented his take on the rumor:

Based on those comments, it sounds like the Hart of Dixie alum is choosing to take the comedian’s comments in stride. Nevertheless, he still remains unclear as to how the freak off party assumptions were sparked in the first place:

P. Diddy himself remains behind bars at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where Luigi Mangione is also being held. The Grammy winner is facing federal charges of alleged sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, racketeering, arson and more. A stream of lawsuits have also been filed against Diddy, with some of the claims of sexual violence and abuse being linked to the freak offs.

What lies ahead for Sean Combs at this point is hard to say, but what’s known for sure is that his sex-trafficking trial will begin on May 5. Meanwhile, even though Reginald VelJohnson can see the humor in Dave Chappelle’s comments, he appears to be making it clear that he has no personal links to Combs.

Dave Chappelle returned to Studio 8H for his fourth time hosting Saturday Night Live, and as per usual, he did not hold back in his opening monologue. During an over seventeen minute masterclass that was hilarious, thoughtful and touching, the comedian talked about the Los Angeles fires, Donald Trump returning to office, Jimmy Carter, Haitian immigrants and Diddy. Oh buddy, did he go in on Diddy.

Chappelle devoted about five minutes of his monologue to a full analysis of the Diddy situation and how much trouble he’s currently in. He said he’s had his share of controversies and been in trouble before, but he’s never seen anything like this Diddy situation. You can read a portion of his quote below…

In typical Chappelle fashion, however, he took an abrupt 180 and hilariously said his initial reaction was that he must be considered ugly not to be invited to these freak off parties. He said he had no idea what was going on, and to find out everyone in Hollywood was having orgies behind his back “hurts.” He called it a “tough way” to find out no one considers him attractive. You can read more of his quote below…

Chappelle later focused on the fact that Reginald VelJohnson, who played Carl Winslow in Family Matters, was accused of being at the parties and not him. Veljohnson, who also played a key role in Die Hard, has denied he was involved, and Chappelle said it was probably just an internet rumor, but regardless, he just can’t get over living in a world where VelJohnson might have gotten invited to an orgy and not him. He admitted that made him reconsider whether it was actually a matter of handsomeness and instead might be because his face has “snitch energy.”

You can watch his hilarious monologue below. The Diddy stuff is roughly between 9:00 and 14:00 and includes a hilarious bit near the end where he talks about how he’s all for giving people a chance to grow and learn from their mistakes as they get older, but if you’re 55 and have 1,000 bottles of baby oil, you probably “can’t stop, won’t stop.”

It definitely wasn’t only comedy in Chappelle’s monologue though. The comedian paid a very touching tribune to Jimmy Carter, where he talked about how people disagree about the former President’s quality as an actual President but said he started crying when he saw a picture of him walking through Palestine with almost no security back in the day, surrounded by thousands of people. He complimented him for being a good man that did the best he could before closing with some thoughts on incoming President Trump.

Chappelle was very measured with his words and with trying to bring people together; so, I’ll let his quote speak for itself…

Saturday Night Live will return next week with a brand new episode that’ll be led by the next upcoming host Timothée Chalamet. This’ll be the third time the Complete Unknown star has hosted, and if it’s anything like the last times, it should be fantastic.

Saturday Night Live is finally returning on the 2025 TV schedule to resume its 50^th season, and the first two episodes should be exciting. The hosts and musical guests for SNL's milestone season have already been incredible, from series alumni to Five-Timers Club inductees, as well as plenty of surprises and cameos. It was just recently announced that Dave Chappelle and Timothée Chalamet are returning to host and, now, fans are asking all the right questions.

Dave Chappelle is hosting on January 18 with musical guest GloRilla, while Timothée Chalamet will be pulling double duty on January 25, serving as host for his third time and as musical guest for his first time. This may not be too surprising to some, considering Chalamet vocally channeled Bob Dylan in the biopic A Complete Unknown. Since he will be performing twice throughout the episode, many are wondering whether Dylan's music will be somewhere in the mix:

• Oh man what Dylan songs is he going to perform? The soundtrack kicked ass and to hear it live will be phenomenal -NnchlntNrwhl182
• WHAT IS HE SINGING??? 😭😭😭 -loveisabeauty23
• Wait is timmy gonna do Bob Dylan songs because if he is that fucking rules -HiattPurcell
• I'm guessing Timothee Chalamet will be performing songs from 'A Complete Unknown'? -kemp_travis
• Guessing Chalamet will be performing a Dylan song? -sjfostersound
• Hope he will sing ‘Hot To Go’ 🙌🏻 -iamedwardth

It sounds like most people are indeed of the thinking that Timothée Chalamet will perform Bob Dylan songs with his spot-on Dylan impression. Of course, this is all an assumption for the moment, but it would make sense. If that's the case, there's still the matter of which songs he'd actually perform. The A Complete Unknown soundtrack contains over 20 songs, most of them performed by Chalamet. So there's plenty to choose from. It's hard to say just what the star has planned, but I'd wager that it'll remain under wraps until the big night.

On the other hand, there's always slight possibility that the Dune star will not sing any songs from James Mangold's musical biopic. As previously mentioned, the actor has actually released other songs, and it'd certainly be interesting if he decided to perform something original.

It may be pretty obvious that Timothée Chalamet will be performing Bob Dylan songs, but some people still aren’t too sure. His stint as musical guest may not have been on some people's bingo cards but, given, how much music has been a part of the Oscar nominee's career, it's cool to see him stretch his wings. Other than A Complete Unknown, Chalamet does have a solid discography, including Wonka and even his previous SNL appearances with his Rap Roundtable, which constitutes a great sketch from an A-list host.

As for Dave Chappelle, this will mark his fourth time hosting the sketch comedy series. What's interesting about his specific hosting date is that it'll come just days before the U.S. Presidential Inauguration. With the veteran comedian's reputation for dishing out political commentary, it's likely that he'll have some things to say in his monologue. Surely, viewers will be curious to see what he has to say.

Going back to Timothée Chalamet, there's definitely a level of uncertainty involving his performance. Still, I'm curious to see how it all plays out when his latest episode of SNL premieres on January 25 on NBC a week after Dave Chappelle's episode airs. Both installments will also be streamable with a Peacock subscription.

Since the dawn of television, comedians have been around to bring the funny, but comedy greats don’t always have broad appeal. If you’re looking for some of the more divisive or perhaps cutting edge comedy programs out there, this isn’t the list for you. Instead I wanted to put together a list of programs both the critics and audiences can agree on, which means some names like Ricky Gervais – whom critics notably hate but audiences still love – did not make the final roundup. Nor did some who received audience love but not much notice from critics on an aggregator, given critics roundups are still a relatively new concept. (My apologies to Patrice O'Neal and George Carlin!)

I know it doesn’t happen totally often, but here’s a list of comedy specials in the modern era which both critics and audiences can agree are worth throwing on. There’s some greats that came around long before the Rotten Tomatoes era, and plenty more that comedy lovers enjoy but critics often ignore. Regardless, when there’s overlap amidst both groups, you can find some names with broad appeal.

Bo Burnham: Inside

Bo Burnham’s 2021 musical comedy special was filmed and taped during the COVID pandemic, and as such it has a very different feel than most other comedy specials. That’s a good thing, as both audiences and critics are bullish on the Netflix original. It also has one of the most similar audience and critics scores, with critics weighing in at 93% and 95% respectively.

Ramy Youssef: More Feelings

Ramy Youssef may not have brought in the biggest SNL ratings during his stint as host, but Youssef has really started making a name for himself in the industry. A lot of people tuning into his stand-up like what he brings to the table. His 2024 special More Feelings dives into a divided world and other topics that lots of people latched onto, including 100% of critics who reviewed, and a fairly similar 91% of audiences.

Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special

Norm Macdonald churned out conceptually hilarious comedy for years before the 2022 release of Nothing Special, taped just before his death at 61 (and originally planned to be recreated in front of a live audience). The run-through was released posthumously, and both critics and audiences latched onto it, with 100% of critics giving a thumbs up and 86% of audience members enjoying the unorthodox platform for joke-telling, too. Norm has plenty of other great content, but this is the standout in the review aggregator era.

Ali Wong: Baby Cobra

A personal favorite of all the recent comedy specials (at least on Netflix), Ali Wong’s Baby Cobra was taped while she was pregnant (and still married to then-partner Justin Hakuta). The comedy special really speaks to women in a particular time in their lives, but it’s also just great enough to be broadly appealing, landing a 100% rating with critics and a still positive 74% from the crowd.

Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel

You really can’t go wrong with Jerrod Carmichael specials. Both critics and audiences really like his bent, and he has multiple specials in this aggregator era that were liked by both. The HBO 2022 original Rothaniel edges out the others with a 100% critics and 84% positive Rotten Tomatoes scores.

Jim Gaffigan: Quality Time

Jim Gaffigan’s funny in almost any context, and he’s been rolling out comedy specials for more than a decade, many of which have landed him Grammy nominations. His 2019 special Quality Time has hit in the review aggregator era, and landed him 100% from critics and a solid 88% from the fans who watched. Not bad for his seventh at bat.

Patton Oswalt: Talking For Clapping

We have a tie here, ladies and gentleman. While Talking For Clapping didn’t quite push over the coveted 90% mark, both 86% of critics and 86% of audiences who tuned in enjoyed the actor and comedian’s 2016 Netflix special. Still a strong and notable score.

Wanda Sykes: Not Normal

Wanda Sykes’ 2019 comedy special hit the spot for many. While subsequent standup specials have lower audience scores than critics scores, Not Normal stands out with a high critics score of 100% and a relatively high audience score of 84%. Though I'd still recommend checking out older pre-aggregate era stuff, like I'ma Be Me.

John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous At Radio City

John Mulaney has a lot of must-watch comedy specials, including the outstanding New In Town special, but his later 2018 special Kid Gorgeous At Radio City came late enough that both critics and audience members weighed in on aggregates, and very positively (at 100% and 91% respectively). It's a great follow-up and much better reviewed than his most recent special Baby J.

Tig Notaro: Happy To Be Here

Tig Notaro's pace and tone is pretty unique, and her stand-up has not always been for everyone (critics love her but audiences are sometimes less enamored). But her 2018 special Happy To Be Here earned high marks from critics and audiences alike. Though, if you want to get away from just her TV specials, many fans would recommend Live, the viral performance she recorded after her breast cancer diagnosis.

Richard Pryor: Live In Concert

The first full movie to hit theaters that featured a stand-up special, Live in Concert is a notable show from an all-time great comedian. Coming in at a whopping 93% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics and 92% from audiences, the movie has continued to draw eyeballs since its 1979 release.

Nate Bargatze: The Greatest Average American

Nate Bargatze's first TV special The Tennessee Kid was largely ignored by critics, but they'd caught on by the time The Greatest Average American came out on Netflix in 2021. With a 100% critics score and a 90%, there's no doubt there's a broad audience from the comedian, who often jokes about relatable topics like buying clothing and learning from his kids' homework.

Mike Birbiglia: My Girlfriend's Boyfriend

There are very few standup specials that came out more than 10 years ago that have an aggregation score, but Mike Birbiglia's My Girlfriend's Boyfriend has such an interesting theme -- about falling for women dating two men and finding the right priorities in life -- and format that it's been popular for years. With a perfect review from a small pool of critics and an 86% from a large swathe of audiences, it's one to watch.

Chris Rock: Kill The Messenger

Chris Rock's been around long enough that even some of his older specials were heavily watched and have been reviewed by critics and audiences alike. The most popular of these is Kill The Messenger, with a 100% critics score and an 89% audience score. This was Rock's fifth special and it was taped over the course of a few nights in a few different cities. The end result is nothing short of spectacular.

Anthony Jeselnik: Thoughts And Prayers

Given Jeselnik's often dark jokes, I actually wasn't sure if the audience and critics would be on the same page, but both seem to have gone in for Thoughts and Prayers, his 2015 standup on Netflix. It was his second special after coming to prominence on Last Comic Standing, and critics and 88% of audiences who watched gave it a thumbs up.

The Original Kings Of Comedy

An all-time comedy classic, Spike Lee's stand-up movie (that also features BTS footage) has an all-time murderers' row of comedy talent. Steve Harvey. D.L. Hughley. Cedric The Entertainer. Bernie Mac. While some of the jokes haven't aged as well, it's still an all-time classic, and it's no wonder 83% of critics and 79% of audiences enjoy it today.

Adam Sandler: 100% Fresh

While Sandler's amusingly titled 100% Fresh doesn't quite get that perfect aggregation score, it's pretty dang close. Coming in at a very similar 90% critics and 91% audience score, the Netflix special landed the longtime comedian an Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special nomination at the Emmys in 2018. And Dan Bull and his longtime comedy buddy Rob Schneider pop in to boot!

Eddie Murphy Delirious

Oft found on greatest standup comedy show lists of all time, Eddie Murphy's hour-long+ 1983 standup yet features some great jokes and a memorable fashion moment from the comedian. Intriguingly the audience score is a little higher on this one at 90%, but critics come pretty close, with 83% reviewing the special highly.

Rory Scovel Tries Stand-up For The First Time

Many people know Rory Scovel as an actor in shows like Robbie (Comedy Central) and Physical (Apple TV Plus). The funnyman is a good writer, too, and he's put together a slew of standup specials between 2015 and 2024. One of those is Rory Scovel Tries Stand-up for the First Time, a bit of a misnomer given his 2015 comedy special The Charleston Special is also standup. This 2017 one is a little zanier and keeps the audience guessing, ranking in at 89% of critics, and a less stellar but still solid 75% of audiences.

Hannah Gadsby: Douglas

Their first special Nannette won them a Peabody Award and a Primetime Emmy. But Hannah Gadsby's second special Douglas is one they toured extensively for after it blew up, selling out early in many cases. Douglas has a 93% rating from critics, and a 66% rating from audiences.

Bill Burr: Paper Tiger

Bill Burr's been on the standup beat a long time, but it's his pre-Covid comedy special that's drawn recent attention on Netflix. The 2019 special cracks jokes about anger management (and even jokes it's going to be his last comedy special), but he's still going strong. This one's a little higher with audiences, with 96% loving it and only 86% of critics getting down. Still strong scores either way.

Sincerely, Louis C.K.

You may have heard Louis C.K. got canceled, but he's been churning out his own content regardless. His two comeback standup specials Sorry and Sincerely have been well reviewed by both critics and audiences alike and are doubtless not the end for the comedian.

Jerry Before Seinfeld

Jerry Seinfeld's been doing standup for years, but even his more recent comedy sketches haven't been slouches, either. His 2017 special --and his first with Netflix -- Jerry Before Seinfeld landed him a whopping 95% with critics and a solid 75% with audiences too. It's cool, too, as he takes us back through his childhood and teen years before becoming the Seinfeld, and standup star fans know and love. It even landed him a Grammy nom.

Chris Rock: Bigger And Blacker

Chris Rock's Bigger and Blacker is an all-time classic in the realm of standup. I was actually a little surprised to see it at a similar 86% of critics and 89% of audiences still giving it a thumbs up. It's also worth noting it makes a lot of classic standup lists.

Iliza: Elder Millennial

Known for other Netflix projects like Spenser Confidential, Iliza Shlesinger also has some notable standup routines to her name. Elder Millennial is one with a great name and funny materials, landing both a positive review from critics and audiences.

Hasan Minhaj: The King's Jester

The Daily Show correspondent is known for a lot of TV work, but his stand-up is notable too. The King's Jester is his second Netflix special, memorable for jokes at Starbucks' expense and also just how active Minhaj is onstage. It's no wonder it has an 86% from critics and an 80% from audiences.

Kevin Hart: Laugh At My Pain

Many of Kevin Hart's standup specials seem to be liked by critics more than by audiences, but one exception is Laugh at my Pain, the comedian's 2011 standup film, with special appearances from Taraji P. Henson and RuPaul. Critics were at a reasonable 71%, but more than 5,000 audiences ratings mark this special highly at 84%.

Chris Gethard: Career Suicide

Chris Gethard's Career Suicide is part funny and part sad, exploring themes like depression, alcohol abuse and suicide attempts. HBO filmed a special after he debuted the material at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and critics were all over the material. In fact, it has 100% from them. The audience is at 74%.

Mae Martin: SAP

Mae Martin's comedy special SAP was their first. Hitting in 2023, the title comes from a reference in the special that involves a story about a man facing two beasts, finding an upside in tasting sap from a tree instead. The special nabbed them an 80% from critics, with a still-positive 62% from audiences.

Dave Chappelle: 8:46

Dave Chappelle famously has a no-phone policy at shows, but some of them still get recorded for audiences later. His special in 2020 is notable for being filmed outdoors during the Covid pandemic, and also for featuring a mix of comedy with social comedy, making it a hybrid of sorts. Reviews for both aspects were positive, with the special landing 90% from critics reviews and 85% from audiences.

Katt Williams: Great America

Katt Williams has created a lot of standup specials over the years, but his 2018 switched him from HBO to Netflix and attracted some new notice and fans. A solid 80% with critics, Great America was also 62% with audiences, and if you like what you see here, I totally recommend you go back in his specials list, as he's been churning them out since 2006.

Sam Jay: 3 In The Morning

SNL writer Sam Jay keeps very busy with gigs both writing and producing, but in 2020 she took time to film 3 In The Morning, a comedy special for Netflix. The special earned an 86% from critics and 62% from audiences. The shirt she wore is giving me early aughts vibes too.

When Dave Chappelle isn’t doing massive Netflix specials or selling out small comedy clubs in the United States, he is taking his comedy voice elsewhere. The controversial comedian recently did shows in Nairobi, Kenya, at the Punchline Comedy Club alongside Kenyan acts. This is a unique choice, as oftentimes comedy can be culturally specific. This truly shows Chappelle’s reach as a comedian, and how his sense of humor translates worldwide. However, he had a very notable stipulation when it came to his performance: no cell phones. 

A report by the Kenyan Times (via MSN) published some of the restrictions that would take place at Chappelle’s shows in Nairobi, including his restriction of cell phone use during his set. He also banned any recording devices including cameras and smartwatches at the venue. The devices would be confiscated at the beginning of his show and returned to audience members after his performance. The comedian has been doing this for a while, and explained his reasoning during a Jimmy Kimmel Live! interview in 2017. He said: 

This makes a lot of sense, especially for a comedian like Dave Chappelle. His comedy has become incredibly controversial in recent years, and his specials have sparked outrage amongst the LGBTQ+ community for some of his material. He was even attacked on stage in 2022 for one of his jokes. 

When audiences decide to attend a Chappelle show, it is likely because they think he is funny despite the controversy. He would probably rather work through jokes with an audience that has already signed off on his sense of humor, rather than spark outrage with a viral joke filmed from one of his shows. 

Chappelle also explained to Jimmy Kimmel that the internet and viral clips from sets is actually harmful to comedy in general, saying it ruins the surprise and timing that makes stand-up jokes work. He said: 

No comedian wants to be telling an audience jokes that they’ve already heard before, as it likely will diminish the intended effect. 

Chappelle isn’t alone in this thought process. Comedians like John Mulaney and Chris Rock have also banned the use of cell phones during their touring shows, only allowing filming when it is time to record a much-watch comedy special or album. Not only does it diminish the likelihood of a joke going viral before a comedian is ready to make a special, but it also forces the audience to pay attention to what is in front of them, something rare in the digital landscape. 

As more comedians adopt a cell phone policy, maybe this is just the beginning for live performances. I doubt cell phones at concerts will ever go away, but it would be unsurprising if movie theaters, film festivals, or other performance-related showcases start becoming cellphone-free spaces. Nobody wants a movie spoiled, but when it comes to comedy, this policy is important because a comedian needs space to fail in front of an audience to improve their craft. 

Fans of Dave Chappelle can see his latest comedy special The Dreamer now with a Netflix subscription, along with his other popular specials. Comedy fans should also check out our feature on some of the funniest stand-up specials streaming on the platform now for more from their favorite comics. 

It was two years ago that Dave Chappelle was wrapped up in a situation involving a performance he gave at the Hollywood Bowl. While performing his set, a man took to the stage and tackled him. The individual was subdued by security guards, who found that at the time, the attacker possessed a replica handgun with a knife in it. The man eventually accepted a plea deal on two misdemeanor charges and was sentenced to 270 days in jail. Now, he’s filing suit against the venue that welcomed Chappelle in the first place. 

Isaiah Lee, the person who took to the stage in 2022, filed suit against the Hollywood Bowl on the grounds of alleged negligent security and battery. The filing, which TMZ obtained, includes purported details of how he was treated by the security team. Lee asserts that he was excessively hit by those who pulled him from Dave Chappelle and even alleges that the entertainer’s own team was allowed to beat him. With that, Lee claims his elbow was intentionally dislocated during the tussle. He says that not only is he still dealing with that purported injury but also back pains and mobility issues. Additionally, Lee says that he was spat on while being subdued.

The now-50-year-old comedian was performing as part of the Netflix is a Joke Festival when he was attacked by the then 23-year-old man. Shortly after, Isaiah Lee explained that he tackled the comic because of jokes the comic apparently made at the expense of the homeless and LGBTQ+ communities that evening. In his filling, Lee mentions that he’s bisexual and was also previously homeless. Through his suit, he argues that the Bowl was aware that the Chappelle’s Show creator had a tendency to tell offensive jokes and should’ve taken measures to prevent that from happening. 

Details involving the replica gun that the plaintiff had during the show are also mentioned in the suit. He states that the knife gun only fell out of his pocket while he was being subdued and that he didn’t actually wield it while tackling the comedian. 

What should be made clear is that Dave Chappelle has not been named a defendant in this case. Isaiah Lee’s gripes only seem to be with the Hollywood Bowl at this point. On that note, the funnyman himself has not commented on the matter as of this writing. Chappelle’s lawyer issued a statement on the matter years ago, after the prosecutor declined to pursue a felony case against Lee. They found the decision on the DA’s part to be a “travesty.”

The incident sparked a number of responses from notable names within the comedy community. Also present at the event was Chris Rock, and he cracked a joke about the ordeal, saying “Was that Will Smith?” He was, of course, referencing his own on-stage situation from the 2022 Academy Awards. David Letterman also joked about the matter when he appeared at the Netflix is a Joke Festival himself that year. When responding, Kevin Hart said he didn’t find it “scary” and expressed his belief that the attacker “getting they ass whipped” sent a message.

Dave Chappelle’s on-stage attack coincided with a wave of controversy that surrounded him due to comments he made about transgender people in some of his stand-up specials at the time. Many have taken issue with sentiments he’s shared and has since opened up about people protesting his comedy. Chappelle explained in early 2023 that he’s not upset that people dislike his work, though what bothers him is the notion that he’s not allowed to say it because there are those who take issue with it.

As for Isaiah Lee and his lawsuit, only time will tell how it progresses and whether he’ll seek the restitution he desires. The Hollywood Bowl has also yet to provide comment on the matter, as of this writing.

Dave Chappelle has made a cottage industry for himself releasing sporadic Netflix stand-up comedy specials that will knowingly spark backlashes and debates — such was the case with his internet-dividing special The Dreamer that capped off 2023. Meanwhile, fellow comedian Jerrod Carmichael has largely aligned himself with HBO and Max, which released his emotional Emmy-winning set Rothaniel, and where he now hosts his unscripted effort Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show. And while the bad blood between them hasn’t made waves like other celebrity feuds, the LGBTQ+ comedian says Chappelle is apparently still feeling bitter about past comments, and Carmichael sounds sick of it all.

In a lengthy and candid interview with Esquire, Carmichael speaks to many of the rewards and challenges that come with living such a public life, and admits there’s still some difficulty in plainly stating that he’s gay. The Emmy winner famously came out during the aforementioned Rothaniel, and says a reactionary comment from Dave Chappelle at the time of its release remains a sticking point in his brain. And it’s the comment that more or less incited this somewhat low-key discord.

What Dave Chappelle Said About Jerrod Carmichael’s Rothaniel

Having previously revealed having relationships with both men and women in his docu-series Home Videos (available to stream with a Max subscription), Carmichael went the full nine yards and addressed his gayness head-on for Rothaniel, a thread he continues to pull and shape in his most recent series. And for all the fanfare, critical acclaim and accolades he received, the special earned merely a backhanded compliment from Dave Chappelle.

Carmichael reflected on that comment to Esquire, saying:

The Poor Things co-star prefaced those thoughts by pointing out how gay jokes with a negative bent still loom so large in the comedy community, to the point where part of him remains scared to be so open, with so many people still treating sexuality as a joke. In his mind, as long as “people continue to laugh at it and mock it,” the situation will remain a troublesome one for him and others.

How Jerrod Carmichael Reacted To Dave Chappelle’s Comment At The Time

In June 2022, two months after Rothaniel hit HBO, Jerrod Carmichael took part in a GQ profile in which he shared his take on comedians creating boogeymen to sell tickets in a world where cancel culture thrives. In it, he called out Dave Chappelle for seemingly having no issue with his comedy legacy being so intertwined with controversial opinions on the trans community in particular. In his words:

While Dave Chappelle isn’t necessarily one to take tons of interviews where he calls out other celebrities who have done him perceived wrongs, he apparently didn’t take too kindly to Carmichael’s comments. And not exactly in a self-reflective way, as the 36-year-old comic went on to explain.

Jerrod Carmichael Clarified His Previous Chappelle Comments

Nearly two years after that GQ profile, Jerrod Carmichael is hopefully in a better place where such thoughts are concerned, and in looking back at his past comments, he offered up a more thoughtful paraphrasing about why he’s disappointed in Chappelle’s current career cycle, before revealing that the Half Baked vet is allegedly looking for Carmichael to make amends. In his words:

Just in case anyone may have expected Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show to feature a segment where the titular star sets up a soapbox in Times Square and hollers out apologies to Dave Chappelle, maybe go ahead and put those expectations away. It remains to be seen if Chappelle will have any thoughts to share about these latest comments, but he’s rarely been one to hold back on anything.

Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show airs new episodes on HBO on Friday nights at 11:00 p.m. ET. Head to our 2024 TV premiere schedule to see what else is on the way.

When it comes to the best movies of the 1990s, Clueless is definitely up there! It’s not only a hilarious high school comedy with all its quotable lines and fashion moments, it’s a pop culture minefield of the era! While the original cast of Clueless is absolutely perfect, over the years, it's been revealed that numerous big name actors were almost in the classic ’90s movie. From Reese Witherspoon to Gwyneth Paltrow, a lot of massive stars crossed paths with the Beverly Hill-set film before Alicia Silverstone, Paul Rudd and more were officially cast. 

Next time you watch Clueless, which is currently available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription, you can imagine how these other major actors would have been like as the main cast. Check them out: 

Reese Witherspoon 

Years before Reese Witherspoon starred in iconic movies like Legally Blonde, Election and Cruel Intentions, the actress auditioned “so hard” for Clueless, clearly to play Cher Horowitz. While talking to BuzzFeed, she shared the role that got away. It’s not hard to see her as the leading character, but of course she’s gone on to have a fabulous career without wearing that yellow plaid matching set. At the time, casting director Carrie Frazier recalls Witherspoon was “amazing,” but Alicia Silverstone was ultimately the right Cher. 

Kerry Washington

At the same time Reese Witherspoon shared her audition for Clueless, her Little Fires Everywhere co-star Kerry Washington explained that she tried out for a role in the comedy as well! We can totally see Washington rocking the role of Cher’s best friend Dionne Davenport, but it was, of course, Stacey Dash’s part to win. While realizing their unique connection, Witherspoon and Washington joked they should “recreate” a Clueless scene together. 

Ben Affleck 

Another big name that could have been in the 1995 movie is Ben Affleck! At the time, Affleck was just stepping into the Hollywood scene with roles in School Ties and Dazed and Confused when he was considered for Paul Rudd’s part as Josh. Reportedly, Affleck passed on the role in order to do his first movie with Kevin Smith, Mallrats, as well as Glory Days. But as casting director Carrie Frazier said, per ET, she was “really trying to get” Affeck for the part and was “heartbroken” when it didn’t go to him at first.  

Terrence Howard

Before Donald Faison earned the role of Murray in Clueless, Terrence Howard was reportedly a “top contender” for Dionne’s boyfriend. At the time, Howard was also pretty new to Hollywood, but he’d done guest spots in All My Children, Living Single and Family Matters. While Howard didn’t get the role, he would go on to be part of Mr. Holland’s Opus, which became a part of the 1995 award season conversation. 

Zach Braff 

Speaking of Donald Faison, the actor’s future BFF and Scrubs co-star Zach Braff was also up for Clueless as Josh as well. All we know is that he auditioned for Paul Rudd’s part, but didn’t get it. Braff and Rudd certainly look somewhat alike, and we have to wonder if Faison and Braff passed each other at the casting office years prior to meeting on Scrubs. 

Angelina Jolie 

Carrie Frazier has also revealed in the past that Angelina Jolie was among the actors who auditioned for Cher Horowitz at the time. However, the casting director shared that she felt Jolie was “too knowing” for playing the high schooler and found her to be “exactly the opposite” of what they needed for the role. 1995 would become the year Jolie first starred in a movie, but it was for Hackers instead. 

Jeremy Renner

Another memorable member of the Clueless cast was Breckin Meyer’s Travis Birkenstock, who played the school’s resident stoner/skater kid. According to ABC, the eventual Avengers actor “came down to the finals” to play Travis at the time and was “very funny” in his audition. If he had gotten it, it would have been Renner’s first movie. Instead, 1995’s National Lampoon’s Senior Trip was his first film! 

Keri Russell

Director Amy Heckerling reportedly had her “heart set” on Alicia Silverstone quite early on for Cher Horowitz (per ET), but she was asked to “explore” all the options, so she went ahead and did so. Among the names she has shared that auditioned is Keri Russell, who would of course go on to star in another iconic coming-of-age leading role with Felicity. 

Sarah Michelle Gellar

Another future ‘90s TV icon who auditioned for Clueless just a couple of years before getting her big break leading a show was Sarah Michelle Gellar. The Buffy the Vampire Slayer actress auditioned as Cher’s nemesis at school Amber, which Elisa Donovan ended up playing. In this case, Gellar was actually offered the role before Donovan, but she had to pass it up due to a role she had at the time on All My Children.  

Seth Green 

Another actor that was reportedly up for Travis Birkenstock along with Jeremy Renner before Breckin Meyer, was the actor’s pal Seth Green. While he didn’t get the part, the actor would star in another iconic ‘90s teen movie in 1998’s Can’t Hardly Wait which starred the likes of Jennifer Love Hewitt.

Dave Chappelle

Dave Chappelle could have been in Clueless too in Donald Faison’s role of Murray. The director apparently met with the comedian while casting for the part after being a fan of Robin Hood: Men In Tights. However, what allowed Faison to win over him was his more “innocent” appeal. She felt Chappelle was a bit too edgy for the high school role. 

Gwyneth Paltrow 

Lastly, we also know that Gwyneth Paltrow was also in the running for Cher. It sounds like the studio really wanted her to be in the movie after she had been in 1993’s Flesh And Bone. However, the director shared she never actually got to see Paltrow audition. Paltrow would go on to star in Se7en that year!

So many huge actors were considered for Clueless. While it’s fun to imagine these other great talents as these iconic characters, the casting team of the comedy really made some incredible choices. We wouldn’t want it any other way! 

Fame is a tricky thing, and sometimes the biggest stars in the world can lose it all. Personal problems, changing times, and other factors can lead to a once-promising career disappearing almost over night. These stars, however, reversed their trajectories and came out on top after enduring rough times, in this list of actors who made remarkable career comebacks. 

Robert Downey, Jr.

Robert Downey, Jr was one of the most promising young actors in Hollywood in the 1980s, starring in films like Less Than Zero, Chaplin, and Natural Born Killers. In the mid-90s his life went infamously went off the rails with substance abuse problems. When it looked like he'd thrown it all away, he cleaned up and his fame exploded as he became one of the highest-paid actors in the MCU.

Jane Fonda

Jane Fonda has had a few ups and downs in her career. After breaking out as a star in the '60s, she was later shunned by many for her notorious trip to North Vietnam during the war. She rebounded and starred in hits like 9 to 5 and On Golden Pond. In 1991, Fonda married Ted Turner and completely stepped back from acting. She didn't appear in anything at all until after their divorce in 2001, but roared back to prominence in the 21st Century. 

Rob Lowe

As a member of the "Brat Pack" in the 1980s, Rob Lowe was on top of the world. That all came crashing down when a videotape of Lowe in a compromising situation was leaked. His hard partying had caught up to him, and though he got sober in 1992, he would spend much of the decade playing smaller roles or in direct-to-video movies. In 1999 he landed the role of Sam Seaborn in The West Wing and was once again on top, where he's stayed ever since. 

John Travolta

In the late '70s, there was no bigger star than John Travolta. From Welcome Back, Kotter to Grease and Saturday Night Fever, Travolta was in some of the biggest pop culture touchstones of all time. Then the '80s came and his career hit a serious lull. While he was in the hit Look Who's Talking and its sequels, it was 1994's Pulp Fiction that vaulted Travolta back to the top. 

Natasha Lyonne

In the late '90s, Natasha Lyonne was one of a group of budding stars in American Pie and other movies like Slums Of Beverly Hills before health and addiction problems derailed her career. Thankfully for all of us she came out of those those stronger and has since starred in fantastic shows like Orange is the New Black and Russian Doll. 

Brendan Fraser

Brendan Fraser winning the Oscar for 2022 The Whale capped off one of the greatest comeback stories in Hollywood history. His work had all but completely dried up in the late '00s and 2010s, but his career has had the most incredible resurgence in the 2020s. 

Winona Ryder

Winona Ryder defined "movie star" for late Gen Xers in the '90s, but after her infamous arrest for shoplifting in 2001, her career nosedived and she didn't appear in a movie for about three years after. For the next decade or so, she worked steadily but didn't regain her star power from early in her career. That changed when she starred in Stranger Things, starting in 2016, and she once again became a huge star. 

Dave Chappelle

In 2003 Dave Chappelle debuted Chappelle's Show on Comedy Central and it became a massive hit. Despite the network throwing tens of millions of dollars at the comedian to keep the show going, he turned it down and walked away. Chappelle stayed away for most of the next decade before reviving his standup career, and while Chappelle continues to garner controversy, it's safe to say he's as big as ever. 

Betty White

When Betty White died in 2021 she was mourned by millions. The beloved actress had been a television star since the 1940s, but not all of those years were in the spotlight. After early success in the '50s in Life with Elizabeth and other sitcoms, White's career hit a lull for more than a decade. She returned to the big time with her role on The Mary Tyler Moore Show in the '70s, The Golden Girls in the '80s, and then later with Hot in Cleveland in the 2010s.

Ke Huy Quan

There is no more heartwarming story than that of Ke Huy Quan's resurgence. the actor, who first found fame as a child in The Goonies and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, completely disappeared from Hollywood. For twenty years, he appeared in not one TV show or movie, before returning in 2021 with a role in Finding ʻOhana, and then winning an Oscar for his performance in 2022's Everything Everywhere All At Once. 

Michael Keaton

Michael Keaton was a controversial choice when he was cast as Batman in Tim Burton's Batman in 1989, but it shows just how famous he was at that time. After Batman Returns, Keaton's star faded and he starred in a run of films to mixed reviews. In 2014 Keaton starred in the very meta Birdman, as a former superhero star looking to regain his fame. It worked, at least for Keaton. 

Katharine Hepburn

Anyone with a career as long as Katharine Hepburn's is bound to have some slow periods. The most amazing fact of the legendary actress' career was the 34-year span between Best Actress Oscars. She won in 1934 for Morning Glory and then again in 1968 and 1969 for Guess Who's Coming to Dinner and The Lion in Winter, respectively. She would win her fourth 13 years later in 1982 for On Golden Pond. 

Mickey Rourke

In the 1980s Mickey Rourke starred in a string of hits. Eventually, though, his reputation as being difficult to work with overshadowed his performances and he was left in the Hollywood wilderness until triumphantly returning to his past glory in 2008 with The Wrestler.

Sidney Poitier

Sidney Poitier was one of the biggest stars of the '50s, '60s, and '70s. Then came the '80s, when he stepped away from acting and concentrated on directing, to mixed reviews. In 1988 he turned back to acting and had a wonderful late career resurgence with films like Shoot To Kill and Sneakers. 

Jason Bateman

In the 1980s it looked like Jason Bateman was a surefire bet to be a huge star. Then the '90s came and his career pretty much dried up. He had some guest spots on TV shows, but little else. He was all but forgotten. In 2003, Fox debut a show you may have heard of, Arrested Development, with Bateman as the star, and he's been huge ever since. 

Keanu Reeves

It's hard to remember a time when Keanu Reeves wasn't one of the biggest stars in the world, but after his success in the '90s and early '00s with The Matrix and Speed and more, he starred in a slew of commercial and critical failures. Thankfully for Reeves fans everywhere, John Wick came along and Reeves was back on top of the mountain, where he still is. 

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore almost became a Hollywood child star casualty after her string of hits as a kid in the 1980s. She had a rough childhood that led to substance abuse problems as a teenager. Against the odds, she got through it all and became an even bigger star on the other end. 

Neil Patrick Harris

Neil Patrick Harris first got famous as a child prodigy playing a prodigy on Doogie Howser, MD. After the sitcom ended in 1993, he struggled to regain that popularity. That is, until he played a fictionalized version of himself in Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle in 2004. Soon after he landed the role he's best known for, Barney Stinson on How I Met Your Mother. 

Matthew McConaughey

Most of Matthew McConaughey's early career was made up of starring roles in rom-coms. In 2009 the Lincoln Lawyer star took a two-year acting hiatus to re-evaluate his career. He emerged in 2011 by taking on more serious roles and leaving his rom-com leading man reputation behind. Since the so-called "McConaissance," McConaughey's become on of the most acclaimed actors of the 21st century. 

Nicolas Cage

By 2009 Cage was one of the biggest action stars in Hollywood, and one of the highest-paid actors in the business, but it seems he couldn't curb his spending and ended up in debt to the IRS and other creditors. As a result, Cage seemingly took every job offered to him, and he put out an immense catalog of straight-to-video movies that few people have ever watched. Finally, in 2022, Cage revealed he was finally debt-free and started being more selective with his roles. this led to acclaimed roles in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent and 2023's Dream Scenario.

Mandy Moore

Mandy Moore's career started like a comet as a singer in the late '90s which she parlayed into an acting career. That career slowed way down in the early 2010s, only to be revived in a massive way with her starring role on the NBC hit This Is Us. 

Christian Slater

With starring roles in Heathers, Pump Up The Volume, and Gleaming The Cube, Christian Slater became a Gen X icon. He scored a number of high-profile roles in big-budget movies in the '90s, before work started drying up in the early 2000s. He returned to Hollywood prominence with his award-winning role in Mr. Robot and has maintained it ever since. 

Luke Perry

Luke Perry was one of the biggest television stars of the 1990s as part of the cast of Beverly Hills, 90210. After the show ended though, his star faded some. That is, until he was cast in the CW's Riverdale and he was discovered by a whole new generation of fans. Tragically, Perry died in 2019 at age 52. 

Christina Ricci

Childhood success for Christina Ricci didn't immediately translate to success as an adult. She's always worked steadily, but her fame never quite reached the heights of her early career in The Addams Family. That changed in 2021 with Showtime's Yellowjackets. 

Michelle Yeoh

Michelle Yeoh first found international fame with her roles in the James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies and Crouch Tiger, Hidden Dragon. She maintained a level of success, but she exploded to new heights with her Oscar-winning turn in 2022's Everything, Everywhere, All At Once. 

Neve Campbell

Neve Campbell was huge in the '90s with her starring role in the show Party Of Five and movies like The Craft and Wild Things. In the early 2000s, she starred in the Scream franchise, but hit a lull after that. Recently, she's been back on top with roles in The Lincoln Lawyer and Twisted Metal. 

Channing Tatum

Fans might not think that Channing Tatum has never had a career lull, but he has actually had a couple. He's always had to fight the idea that he's all looks and little substance (which is far from accurate), and that has affected his career at different points. He's always rebounded with strong performances like the one in Foxcatcher, however. 

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence's career hasn't really had a financial downturn, her lull was completely her choice. After a couple of poorly reviewed films and becoming the most famous victim of the iPhone hacking scandal, Lawrence stepped away from acting for two years in 2019. She triumphantly returned in the great movie Don't Look Up in 2021. 

Patrick Dempsey

Patrick Dempsey was first famous for starring in teen comedies like Loverboy and Can't Buy Me Love. He bounced around for a few years after that, working steadily but hardly a star. That changed in a big way when he landed the role of Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd in 2005 on Grey's Anatomy. 

Marlon Brando

The 1960s weren't kind to Marlon Brando. After establishing himself as a bonafide star and one of the finest actors of the 20th century in the '50s, his mercurial nature earned him a reputation as difficult to work with. A string of box office failures didn't help. Famously, he pushed hard to get the role of Vito Corleone in The Godfather, and wow, was that the right move! He won an Academy Award and reminded everyone how great an actor he was. 

David Carradine

Leave it to Quentin Tarantino to help revive a star's career like he did with John Travolta. David Carradine was huge in the 1970s as the star of Kung Fu, and while he always found work, it took until Kill Bill in 2003 that he found that same level of fame again. 

Kiefer Sutherland

After becoming one of the biggest teen idols of the '80s, Kiefer Sutherland spent most of the '90s in smaller, supporting roles. In 2001, however, he landed the role of Jack Bauer in 24 and it became the part he's most known for, becoming a television icon over the run of the show. 

Fame, as they say, is fleeting, and these actors prove there can always be a second act in Hollywood. 

With the 2022 Academy Awards seeing the Will Smith/Chris Rock Oscar slap take place in real time, the world went from amused to stunned with blazing speed. The moment seemed to happen so fast that people like comedian Dave Chappelle didn’t think it was a real altercation in the moment. 

However, during his recent new on Netflix special Dave Chappelle: The Dreamer, the comedian clarified how he confirmed Smith’s slap was indeed real. Furthermore, Dave shared how he sees both men almost two years after the incident. 

How Dave Chappelle Confirmed Chris Rock's Slap Was Real

With The Dreamer instantly dividing the internet, the stand-up outing has been courting controversy since day one. That much was true when former congressman Madison Cawthorn responded to Chappelle, as a joke involving his physical disabilities was part of the show. 

So when it came to Dave’s thoughts on the slap heard ‘round the world, this story from the special explains how Mr. Chappelle navigated himself to the truth:

To be totally honest, Dave Chappelle's evaluation of the moment is pretty spot on; especially if you were watching the U.S. broadcast version of events. While it wouldn't take long for uncensored videos to hit social media, the immediate chain of events was so quick and so confusing that many viewers couldn't make heads or tails of what had happened. 

Once the truth was established, it set off a chain of events, and the eventual anticipation of what Chris Rock would have to say about the moment. Chappelle went on to discuss how, while touring with Rock in the post-slap era, he too was looking forward to what the legendary comedian would say about the matter. That moment would eventually arrive through Rock’s remarks during Selective Outrage, a comedy set that, as promised, became the Netflix special that broke his silence. 

Naturally, Dave moved into some more light-hearted humor surrounding Chris' remarks on tour. Seeing as he was talking about his friend, and how he chose to discuss the shocking moment, it wasn't going to be a totally somber affair. That being said, Chappelle's friendship with the actor didn't change the fact that as the night would go on, he'd take a moment to reflect on how he saw both the comedian and actor Will Smith almost two years on from this incident.

How Dave Chappelle Sees Chris Rock And Will Smith After The Slap

At the same time, Dave Chappelle’s feelings about the aftermath nearly two years after the Oscar slap were just as intriguing. Toward the end of The Dreamer, the Chappelle’s Show mastermind shared exactly those sentiments. In one of the more serious moments of the night, Dave laid out the following reasons why he isn’t keen on picking sides: 

While his comedy has drawn heat in recent times, Dave Chappelle still managed to provide some commentary that kept his audience thinking. The merits of his own material and worldviews aside, it’s refreshing to see such an approach that examines both sides of the matter that transpired. To me it’s still an interesting case of nuance that one might not expect from a night of stand-up comedy.  

If you’re curious to see how Dave Chappelle: The Dreamer turned out, controversy and all, you can do so at your earliest convenience. All you need to do is choose the preferred device to access your Netflix subscription, and you can get caught up on this conversation starter. 

In case 2023 didn’t already have enough controversial moments to taint everyone’s memories, Dave Chappelle capped off the year by releasing his latest Netflix special, Dave Chappelle: The Dreamer, which unsurprisingly divided the internet rather quickly. The comedian wasted little time before poking fun at transgender people, his preferred target of choice, before shifting into jokes about the physically disabled, specifically targeting former congressman Madison Cawthorn. 

Chappelle, who preceded the special’s recording with sell-out shows around the country, certainly had more than a few viewers peeved for so self-awarely “punching down” with his humor, but Madison Cawthorn himself said he not only wasn’t insulted, but fully endorsed the comic’s ability to joke about whatever he wants. Here’s how the North Carolina native put it to TMZ:

That might come as a surprise to some viewers, whether or not they themselves were offended by Dave Chappelle’s special (available to stream now with a Netflix subscription), but it sounds like hearing such comments about his partial paralysis isn’t anything new for Cawthorn, who served a controversy-speckled term as a U.S. representative in Congress from 2021-2023. The politician was involved in a serious vehicular crash in 2014, when he was 18 years old, and his injuries were such that the use of a wheelchair was necessary going forward.

To be sure, the stand-up special wasn’t the first time Cawthorn became aware that Dave Chappelle was using the politician’s name for joke purposes during the build-up to and the recording of the Netflix special. Apparently some friends of his were at a Nashville set early on, and were able to let him know. He later went and caught at least one of the sets himself, and can be seen laughing and posing for a picture with Chappelle during The Dreamer's closing credits.

Explaining his rather subdued reaction to jokes about his inability to walk, or about his controversial comments about orgies, Madison Cawthorn stated:

Below are some of the jokes that Dave Chappelle made in reference to the former congressman, for those who haven’t watched:

• One time I was on Capitol Hill, and I saw a handicapped Congressman. Madison Cawthorn, that’s his name. He’s a Republican from North Carolina. And he was shocked, because I saw him, and I go, ‘Hello, Congressman.’ He didn’t even know I knew who he was. He turned around — [looks shocked] — and then I just walked away. I wanted him to see me do something he couldn’t do. I skipped.
• He’s no longer a Congressman. I don’t know if you follow politics. I’m not trying to be funny, but he lost his seat. He ran a bad race. [Winks.] 
• I said there’s only one reason you’re gonna invite him to an orgy, and you know what that is. [Bends over stool.] ‘Have at it, guys, I can’t feel anything. Let’s get this bill passed for America. One at a time, folks.’

It’s not clear if he’ll go down thinking Dave Chappelle: The Dreamer is one of Netflix’s funniest stand-up specials, but Madison Cawthorn was clearly a fan through and through. While waiting to see who else was or wasn't offended by the comedian's latest act, check out everything new coming to Netflix soon.

Updated with video.

Dave Chappelle took a break from random sell-out performances in tiny clubs to release another stand-up special, and as some might've guessed, The Dreamer (available to stream with a Netflix subscription) is already making waves. There are people all over the internet who have watched some or all of the special, as well as those who only heard about the jokes and subject matter second-hand, and everybody had thoughts to share about it.

Chappelle's previous specials have gained much attention for jokes aimed at transgender people and the LGBTQ+ community at large, so for X to be instantly lit up with reactions was not so surprising. Especially after Ricky Gervais' response to those offended by his comedy special, and the backlash against comedian Matt Rife, viewers were likely already on high alert for anything controversial in Dave Chappelle: The Dreamer. In that regard, it didn't take long for some to voice their distaste in his return to the same kind of material.

Much as his previous specials have, Dave Chappelle: The Dreamer does indeed contain jokes that target the trans population. Given the comedian's views on people protesting his comedy, it wasn't altogether unexpected that he'd continue to troll those who have the biggest reactions. But it would appear that some fans who previously supported him have turned their back on Chappelle due to his unwillingness to back off the topic, with quite a few comments dogging him for rehashing the same stances. 

The Grammy winner still has his supporters, however, with some wondering why those who dislike his comedy still continue to monitor and watch it if they're no longer fans: 

And while there is no shortage of people arguing online about what is okay to say in Dave Chappelle: The Dreamer, others are sidestepping that part of the discussion altogether to bring up the other parts of the special that they enjoyed. For example, some highlighted his stories about Norm MacDonald, and the late SNL vet's appearance in the credits sequence: 

Netflix specials have given controversial comedians like Shane Gillis fresh career boosts, and head honcho Ted Sarandos has made it clear he sides with the comics' freedom of speech. But it seems like Dave Chappelle's highly lucrative deal with Netflix might be wearing thin with others. After six specials on the streamer, some viewers are requesting he go back into seclusion like he did during the peak of Chappelle's Show: 

Matt Rife, a TikTok comedian whose career blew up and also faced some scrutiny with his Netflix special, is clearly a fan of Dave Chappelle: The Dreamer. He gave a shoutout to Chappelle with a simple tweet, and possibly to inform his loyal followers of the new special's availability on Netflix: 

As of New Year's Day 2024, Dave Chappelle: The Dreamer is the number one comedy special on Netflix. Whether it will stand the test of time and become one of the funniest stand-up comedy specials on the platform remains to be seen, but it seems to be a hit with Netflix subscribers currently. We will see what this success means for Chappelle and how it may further his relationship with Netflix going forward. 

Dave Chappelle: The Dreamer is currently available to stream on Netflix. Subscribers can check it out now or see some of the other fantastic shows that are available on the platform at the moment. 2024 television should be getting underway soon, so there's still a bit of time to stream a series you didn't have time for in 2023 before things really get rolling. 

While Saturday Night Live may be the most recognizable and, easily, the longest-lasting sketch comedy series in American history, there have been others, in case you didn’t know. In fact, there are quite a few legendary comedic actors who got their start in sketch comedy and have even been prominently featured in some great SNL sketches as hosts, but have never called Studio 8H home… as regular cast members, at least. The following are some of our favorite well-known masters of mirth who did sketch comedy, but weren't SNL cast members. 

Jordan Peele

Before becoming known as the mastermind behind some of the best horror movies in recent memory, Jordan Peele made a name for himself as a MADtv cast member, and later, as one-half of Key & Peele’s eponymous duo on Comedy Central. The Academy Award winner was actually offered to be on SNL, but was unable to break from his contract with MADtv, which is why he left the Fox series on bad terms after five years.

Carol Burnett 

Carol Burnett has been one of the most essential names in comedy for decades, but you can find much of her most iconic performances — such as a timeless Gone with the Wind parody — on her own long-running variety show, The Carol Burnett Show. Following her dramatic turn on Better Call Saul, a viral campaign was launched for her to host SNL, which, very shockingly, would be the first time.

John Candy

The late John Candy is one of the most beloved comedic talents of all time, known for great movies like Uncle Buck and Planes, Trains & Automobiles. For years, the actor’s claim to fame was Canada’s SCTV, on which he debuted characters like Johnny LaRue, whom he based off of rude people he knew and “wanted to get back at.”

Dave Chappelle

Any time that Dave Chappelle has hosted SNL, it always seems to spark controversy for one reason or another, which should come as no shock to anyone who watched the Emmy-nominated Chappelle’s Show. Running from 2003 to 2006 on Comedy Central, the series reflected the comic’s risqué, but thought-provoking, humor and featured now iconic bits including recreations of true stories about Rick James and Prince and an epic Wayne Brady cameo.

Jamie Foxx

Multi-talented Academy Award winner and Grammy winner Jamie Foxx has proved to be an absolute natural when he shows up at Studio 8H. After all, the Spider-Man movie villain actor — who also had his own sitcom featuring SNL alum Garrett Morris called The Jamie Foxx Show — did get his start on In Living Color from 1991 to 1994.

Eric Idle

There are some really weird SNL sketches that toe the line between terrible and amazing, but none have reached quite the level of distinct surrealism that Monty Python’s Flying Circus is defined by. One of the most famous members of the eponymous British comedy troupe is Eric Idle (i.e. “Wink-wink, nudge-nudge, say no more”), who would headline at Studio 8H four times in the ‘70s.

Catherine O'Hara

In addition to her epic film career — including the Home Alone movies, Beetlejuice, and The Nightmare Before Christmas, to name a few — Catherine O’Hara’s small screen career has earned her two Emmy awards. Her more recent win was for playing Moira Rose in the Schitt’s Creek cast, but there first was as a writer for SCTV, on which she also inspired laughs as a cast member.

Bob Odenkirk 

Future Breaking Bad cast member Bob Odenkirk actually wrote some beloved SNL sketches, such as Chris Farley’s first appearance as Matt Foley. His skills as a sketch comedy performer, however, could be seen in the 1990s on the short-lived The Ben Stiller Show, the more successful HBO series, Mr. Show with Bob & David, and its Netflix original revival, W/ Bob & David, in 2015.

Michael Richards

Years before starring in the Seinfeld cast as one of the funniest sitcom characters ever, Cosmo Kramer, Michael Richards portrayed various characters on Fridays. The short-lived sketch comedy — essentially ABC’s answer to Saturday Night Live — is also where the three-time Emmy winner met Seinfeld creator Larry David.

Jim Carrey

There are few living comedic legends as widely celebrated as Jim Carrey, who has hosted SNL a number of times and even signed on as the show’s resident Joe Biden for a brief period. What first led the Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and Dumb and Dumber actor on the path to stardom was his four-year stint on In Living Color, on which he debuted characters like Fire Marshall Bill, which came out of a failed sketch idea, apparently.

Aziz Ansari

Along with The League star Paul Scheer and Children’s Hospital actor Rob Huebel, Aziz Ansari formed a comedy troupe called Human Giant, who led their own titular sketch series that lasted for 20 episodes on MTV. The comic — who has also hosted SNL before — saw his star power rise when he joined the Parks and Recreation cast and went on to play one of best South Asian TV characters in recent memory on Netflix’s Master of None, which he also co-created. 

Rowan Atkinson

While most people associate him best with Mr. Bean these days, there are many great Rowan Atkinson movies and TV shows that pre-date his debut as the famous man-child. For instance, one of the the British comedian’s earliest claims to fame was a sketch comedy series called Not the Nine O'Clock News, which ran from 1979 to 1982 on the BBC.

Eric Wareheim

A series that best defines the surreal humor that Adult Swim is known for is Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, in which Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim portray various characters in strange situations in sketches the drip of a low-budget. Wareheim has done many notable things on his own — such as his starring role on Master of None and recurring character on Bob’s Burger — but the duo still works together on shows like Tim & Eric’s Bedtime Stories or the sitcom parody Beef House from 2020.

Goldie Hawn

A show that largely inspired SNL was Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In — which, also like SNL, served as a jumping off point for many stellar careers, such as Lily Tomlin and Richard Dawson. Perhaps its most icon and successful alum, however, is one-time Hollywood It Girl Goldie Hawn, who won an Oscar for Cactus Flower very shortly after leaving the show and before going on to lead classics like Private Benjamin and Overboard.

Eugene Levy

Before starring in the American Pie cast, before Christopher Guest’s mockumentaries, and before many other great Eugene Levy movies and TV shows, the Canadian actor gained notoriety as party of Second City. His stint on the eponymous, Emmy-winning sketch series, SCTV, also saw the beginning of professional and personal relationship with the likes of John Candy, his Schitt’s Creek co-star Catherine O’Hara, and plenty more.

Flip Wilson

In the early 1970s, before SNL’s premiere, Flip Wilson hosted his own variety show, which was one of the most popular series on television during its four-year run on NBC. The most famous character the comedian portrayed on The Flip Wilson Show was a boisterous woman named Geraldine, whom he resurrected when he hosted SNL in 1983.

John Cleese

John Cleese — also known for writing and starring in the classic con artist movie, A Fish Called Wanda, and voicing the King in the Shrek movies — has never hosted SNL, but did appear on an episode with fellow Monty Python member, Michael Palin, in 1997. In addition to a cold open poking fun at the recently instituted TV ratings system, Cleese and Palin performed a special recreation of one of the most famous Monty Python’s Flying Circus sketches, “Dead Parrot.”

Bobby Lee

Known for characters like counter-productive translator Bae Sung, wannabe tough guy Tank, or Bruce Lee’s cousin, Bobby Lee is one of MADtv’s most notable success stories. The Korean-American became a staple of the Harold and Kumar movies, landed recurring roles on show like Magnum P.I. and Reservation Dogs, has moonlighted as the host of podcasts TigerBelly and Bad Friends, and plenty more to boast.

David Cross

From playing Tobias Funke — a character who could totally ruin Thanksgiving — on Arrested Development to appearing in the Alvin and the Chipmunks movies, David Cross has a pretty stacked and reputable resume. What set the path for the comedian’s success was co-headlining (along with Bob Odenkirk) HBO’s Mr. Show, on which he debuted a character who got his own movie in 2002 called Run Ronnie Run.

David Alan Grier

Arguably David Alan Grier’s most famous character from his In Living Color tenure was Antoine Meriwether — one half of a duo also consisting of Damon Wayans’ Blaine Edwards. The They Cloned Tyrone cast member — who hosted SNL a couple of times in the ‘90s — reprised the flamboyant film critic on an SNL episode hosted by Wayans.

Rick Moranis

The beloved Rick Moranis has starred in many funny movies, such as Ghostbusters from 1984 and 1983’s Strange Brew. The latter was the film debut of Bob McKenzie — a stereotypical hoser he originated on SCTV alongside Dave Thomas as his brother, Doug.

Tracey Ullman

Tracey Ullman was cast on a few different sketch comedy shows — such as BBC’s A Kick Up the Eighties — before becoming the star of her own in 1987, which also saw the debut appearances of the Simpsons. Fox’s The Tracey Ullman Show was actually just one of many sketch series that the British comedian would headline, such as HBO’s Tracey Takes On… and Tracey Ullman’s State of the Union.

Keegan-Michael Key

In 2021, Keegan-Michael Key became the first MADtv alum to host SNL, which saw him reunite with this fellow Schmigadoon cast member, Cecily Strong. The episode — in which Key broke into laughter during a sketch featuring the Muppets —  was certainly a Season 46 highlight, but could have been even better if he brought back characters from some of the best Key & Peele sketches, like Luther.

Jennifer Saunders

Arguably, the most iconic duo Jennifer Saunders is a part of comes from Absolutely Fabulous, in which she plays Edina opposite Joanna Lumley’s Patsy. However, a sketch comedy that both predates and surpasses that long-running Britcom is French and Saunders, in which Saunders and her fellow Death on the Nile cast member, Dawn French, cleverly send-up everyday life in the U.K. and American cinema.

Larry David

In a story shared to Vanity Fair that mirrors one of the best Seinfeld episodes, the sitcom’s co-creator, Larry David, once quit his SNL writing gig in a rage, only to return on Monday acting like it never happened. Years later, he would make semi-regular appearances on the show as Bernie Sanders but, prior to all of this, the Curb Your Enthusiasm star was a performer on Fridays from 1980 to 1982.

Tim Heidecker

Tim Heidecker is best known as one half of the eponymous duo from Adult Swim’s hit sketch comedy series, Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! On his own, the Us actor has made waves in the comedy world with the 2012 dramedy, The Comedy, or for an ongoing, multi-media big following his fictionalized self’s murder trial.

Carrie Brownstein

Carrie Brownstein has been on SNL a few times — including once as herself for an edition of “What Up With That?” that did not go as planned, thanks to Samuel L. Jackson’s F-bomb. The musician and actor has also shared the screen with several Studio 8H all-stars on Portlandia, including her co-star and co-creator of the Portland, Oregon-based sketch show: Fred Armisen.

Stephen Fry

Before earning a Golden Globe nomination for his performance in Wilde in 1999, later appearing in Amazon’s adaptation of Red, White and Royal Blue, and other versatile achievements, Stephen Fry was partners in comedy with House’s Hugh Laurie on BBC’s A Bit of Fry & Laurie form 1989 to 1995. Earlier than that, the pair were on another British sketch comedy show with future Harry Potter movies stars Emma Thompson and Robbie Coltrane called Alfresco. 

Michael Ian Black

Michael Ian Black is, perhaps, best known from Wet Hot American Summer and its Netflix original series spin-offs, but many of his collaborators on that cult comedy favorite — including director David Wain and his co-writer Michael Showalter — were on MTV’s The State together. Black later worked with Wain and Showalter on a sketch series called Stella and then headlined a sketch comedy/sitcom hybrid with Showalter for Comedy Central called Michael & Michael Have Issues in 2009.

Amy Schumer

One of the biggest names in stand-up is Amy Schumer, whose notoriety expanded after her Golden Globe-nominated performance opposite SNL’s Bill Hader in 2015’s Trainwreck, which she also wrote. Before then, however, the comedian’s stardom certainly rose after she scored her own Comedy Central show called Inside Amy Schumer, which won three Emmys — including Outstanding Variety Sketch Series.

Tim Conway

It may have been Carol’s show, but one could argue that the funniest cast member from The Carol Burnett Show was Tim Conway, who passed away in 2019. Some of his most memorable moments do not even involve the eponymous host, such as a sketch where he plays a clumsy doctor that had co-star, Harvey Korman, in stitches.

Amanda Bynes

Kenan Thompson — one of the longest-running SNL actors ever — is easily one of the biggest stars to start out on All That (essentially SNL, but with kids), but his co-star, Amanda Bynes, was the first to get her own sketch comedy series: The Amanda Show. Her post-Nickelodeon career includes leading the sitcom What I Like About You and movies like the Shakespeare-inspired rom-com, She’s the Man.

We still have nothing but love for our favorite iconic SNL actors, but also recognize that they do not make up all of our most cherished heroes in sketch comedy.

Many Hollywood stars don't actually live in California these days. While some of the stars on this list might have a home in LA, they certainly seem to prefer to spend their off time very far away from the glitz and the glamour. Here are just some of the many stars that live outside of the Golden State. 

Nicole Kidman - Nashville

Nicole Kidman and her husband (and fellow Aussie) Keith Urban have quite a few homes around the world, including LA and their native Australia, but it's the greater Nashville area that they call home most of the time. 

Meryl Streep - Connecticut

21-time Oscar nominee Meryl Streep was born in New Jersey, went to school at Vassar and Yale, and certainly strikes me as an east coast type of person. While she's lived in LA at times throughout her career, it's Connecticut that she's called home for most of her adult life. She's lived in Salisbury for decades now. 

John Goodman - New Orleans

John Goodman spent years living in LA, but in the '90s he'd had enough of California and he and his Louisiana-born wife made a choice between his hometown of St. Louis, and her home state. They moved to New Orleans, where they've been ever since. 

Matthew McConaughey - Austin

You can take the boy out of Texas, but you can't take the Texas out of the boy. Matthew McConaughey was born in Uvalde, TX, went to school in Austin, and has long lived on a ranch near the Texas state capital and getting fed up with the paparazzi in Malibu.

Bill Murray - Charleston, SC

Bill Murray has lived all over the place, LA, NYC, and Chicago... but he's a known fixture around Charleston, South Carolina and even owns his own restaurant in town called Harold's Cabin. He's also invested in the Charleston minor league baseball team. 

Harrison Ford - Jackson Hole, WY

Harrison Ford moved to LA in the '60s to follow his acting dreams, but once he hit it big, he bailed out. While he does own a home in Brentwood, he spends most of his time at his 800-acre ranch outside Jackson Hole, WY. The ranch has been his primary residence since the 1980s and it seems he prefers to call that home. 

Demi Moore - Idaho

When Covid hit in early 2020, Demi Moore and her daughters holed up together in her longtime house in Sun Valley, Idaho. They were soon joined by her ex-husband and father to her daughters, Bruce Willis. Eventually, Willis' current wife Emma Heming, and her child with Willis also joined the big happy family. Moore has lived in Sun Valley for years and it's often featured on her Instagram page.

Jeff Daniels - Chelsea, MI

Jeff Daniels grew up in the small town of Chelsea, Michigan and as soon as he could after finding success in Hollywood, he moved back. He's a true small-town kind of guy and it makes perfect sense. While he makes his money in Hollywood, his heart is always in Michigan. 

Chris Rock - New Jersey

Chris Rock has always been an East Coast guy. Though he was born in South Carolina, his family moved to Brooklyn when he was a baby. He grew up in Crown Heights and Bed-Stuy. He started his comedy career in New York City, and for a couple of decades has lived in Alpine, New Jersey.

John Travolta - Ocala, FL

John Travolta loves to fly and is a first-class plane spotter. As such, he seems to have found the perfect place to live. The Pulp Fiction star has called Ocala, FL home for decades now. While that might sound odd, it's not when you find out his house backs up to an actual airport, so he can park his planes right at home. Sounds pretty awesome. 

Tom Cruise - Clearwater, FL

Superstar Tom Cruise actually has houses all over the world. LA and London, for starters. The most surprising place he's owns property though has to be Clearwater, FL. Cruise has what's described in the Tampa newspaper as a "sprawling penthouse" just blocks from the headquarters of the Church of Scientology, to which he has long been an outspoken member, so it makes sense. 

Taylor Swift - Nashville

Music star Taylor Swift grew up in Pennsylvania and Nashville and still has a home in the latter, where she seems to spend a lot of her time when she's not on the road. In fact, she has homes all over the place, including LA, Rhode Island, and New York City. 

Chris Evans

Chris Evans grew up just outside of Boston in the suburb of Sudbury, MA. Even though he's become one of the biggest stars in the world, he's stayed close to home. He and his new bride live nearby where he grew up in Massachusetts, after getting married in Boston. 

Chris Hemsworth - Byron Bay

The Australian native Chris Hemsworth couldn't ignore the siren call of home. After years in Hollywood becoming one of the biggest stars in the world, he decided it was time to move home. He and his wife Elsa Pataky settled in a small surfing community south of Brisbane called Byron Bay in 2015 and have never looked back. 

Tommy Lee Jones - Texas

Tommy Lee Jones doesn't seem to care much for the trappings of fame, though he has used some of the money he's earned as an actor to buy a huge tract of land in Texas. Jones might be Harvard-educated and work in Hollywood, but he's Texas through and through. 

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani - Tishomingo, OK

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani might be Hollywood's most unlikely couple, at least until you see them together. Less surprising is that they split time between her home stomping grounds in LA and his in Oklahoma. The two built a house on Shelton's ranch in Tishomingo, OK, where they spend most of their time. 

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds - Bedford, NY

The enduring couple of Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds don't seem to be interested in big city living, instead opting for the small upstate town of Bedford, NY They maintain a couple of other houses, but their real home is in Westchester County, NY, where they live a quiet, but luxurious life in a small enclave with some celebrity neighbors including Martha Stewart and Micheal Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. 

Mark Ruffalo - Callicoon, NY

Mark Ruffalo is another actor who prefers the peace and quiet of small-town America to the bright lights of Hollywood. The Avengers star and his wife Sunny live in the tiny berg of Callicoon in the Catskill mountains of New York State. 

Elijah Wood - Austin

Elijah Wood doesn't actually live in a shire, like his Lord of the Rings character, but he doesn't live in a huge city, either. Wood has called Austin, TX home for years and a when he was on Hot Ones, he explained where to get all the best meals in town. 

Dave Chappelle - Yellow Springs, OH

Yellow Springs, Ohio might be the last place you'd expect to find a celebrity living among us, but when you understand Dave Chappelle's background, it makes perfect sense. The legendary comedian grew up in Yellow Springs and though he's made a name for himself in Hollywood, the Ohio town is clearly the place he calls home. 

Julia Roberts - Taos, NM

Many years ago, Julia Roberts bought a ranch in Taos, NM, and it seems every year, she spends more and more time there. She even married her husband Danny Moder there. While she does split time in a house in Malibu, closer to work, she seems to prefer the peaceful life of Taos, as she's explained in the past. 

Daniel Day-Lewis - Ireland

Long before Daniel Day-Lewis decided to retire from acting, he had settled into living in Ireland’s County Wicklow. It's hardly surprising that an actor like Lewis would shun the spotlight, after all, he really only worked when the part really fascinated him, and he retired in 2017 despite unparalleled success as a performer. 

John Cena - Land o' Lakes, Florida

Don't confuse John Cena's hometown of Land o' Lakes, Florida for a stick of butter. The Fast X star has lived in the town outside Tampa for a long time. Even as his star has risen in Hollywood, with a major role in the DCEU as Peacemaker both in The Suicide Squad and his own show, The Peacemaker, Cena has resisted moving to California. 

Vera Farmiga - Woodstock, NY

Upstate New York is a popular place for stars to escape the public eye and Vera Farmiga is one of the stars that prefers it that way. The Many Saints of Newark actor lives in the famous artist colony of Woodstock in the Hudson Valley, following in a long tradition of celebrities retreating to the woods to get out of the spotlight, even when she's popping into rock shows in Woodstock to play Iron Maiden covers in a bar band. 

Woody Harrelson - Maui, HI

Woody Harrelson is definitely a man who moves to the beat of his own drummer, so the fact that he lives in Hawaii is hardly a shock. He even semi-retired for a while at the height of his career. While he's not "off the grid", he's certainly off the beaten path. Thankfully, his home was unaffected by the tragic wildfires earlier this year. 

John Mayer - Livingstone, MT

John Mayer has settled down into a much quieter life in recent years. The Dead & Co guitar player has found peace and quiet in the small Montana town of Livingstone. While life on the road certainly has its wild times, one would think, it must be nice for Mayer to get back home for some relaxing peace. 

Ken Jennings - Seattle, WA

Despite being named co-host of Jeopardy! a couple of years ago, and really taking a shine to the gig that shoots in LA, Ken Jennings does not seem to have plans to permanently relocate to Southern California. Jennings and his family have long called Seattle home and it seems he's happy to commute when it's time to shoot new episodes of the legendary game show. 

Robert De Niro - New York City

It's hard to imagine Robert De Niro living anywhere but New York. He just doesn't seem to be a California type of guy at all, right? He even helped get the Tribeca Film Festival off the ground, which bolstered not only NYC but the actual neighborhood he lives in in Manhattan as it struggled to recover from the 9/11 attacks. 

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence is bi-coastal, for sure. She does have a house in LA, but her husband Cooke Maroney is an art dealer whose business and gallery are in New York City, so she seems to spend most of the time she's not working in the Big Apple. 

Dan Aykroyd - Sydenham, Ontario

Dan Aykroyd has always been proud to be Canadian and he's been a longtime resident of Sydenham, Ontario, near Kingston, ON, not too far from where he grew up in Ottawa. 

Jennifer Hudson - Chicagoland Area

Superstar Jennifer Hudson is a Chicago girl and as such, she's stayed close to home. She may be a worldwide star, but Chicago is what made her who she is today and despite the means to live anywhere, Hudson chooses to live in the suburb of Burr Ridge, outside Chi-Town. 

Nikki Glaser - St. Louis, MO

Despite being the hometown of a lot of huge stars like John Goodman, Sterling K. Brown, Jenna Fischer, and Jon Hamm, most don't stay in town. The exception to that rule is comedian and comedy roast specialist Nikki Glaser. She moved back during the pandemic and found it much more fulfilling to live in her hometown than on either coast. 

While Los Angeles may be the city of dreams, it's not always the city of permanent residence for stars that have reached those lofty heights. Most may get their start on the West Coast but many of the biggest stars in the world don't live in California. 

As one of the biggest names in stand-up comedy this century, Dave Chappelle has developed multiple reputations for himself in the many years since his breakout success within Con-Air’s bonkers cast and as the smile-friendly lead of Half-Baked. While public perception isn’t always the most positive, given his backlash-courting stand-up jokes about trans people and the LGBTQ+ community as a whole, the chain-smoking performer remains a beloved part of the live comedy experience, to the point where he can go from selling out widely publicized tour dates at massive arenas to selling out tiny clubs in a matter of seconds. 

While embarking on national headlining comedy tours, comedians will often drop into smaller establishments to test out new material, often to the surprised pleasure of those in attendance. That’s been the case for Chappelle as well, of course, but as opposed to regularly ducking in and out of open mic sets, the 50-year-old is also known for pulling together and announcing surprise sets a day or two ahead of the event (or sometimes on the very same day). As one might imagine, those instances garner attention at a rapid pace, with fans seemingly dropping everything to make sure they have a ticket, as these performances are known for selling out in less time than it takes to name the opening acts. 

One such recent sell-out show took place in Columbus, Ohio at the smaller-side comedy club The Attic, which posted an announcement on the morning of the pop-up event. According to  owner and comedian Bo Stenger, who spoke with the local culture site 614Now.com, there was barely time to wonder whether the news would spread before all of the available tickets were gone. In his words: 

Granted, the club could only sell tickets totalling the low hundreds, given The Attic’s size, but the exclusivity and rabid fanbase involved aren’t dissimilar to that of massive pop stars Elton John, Taylor Swift and other celebrated performers who are also known for selling out shows with the quickness. Because even in a situation where tickets can be on the steeper end — the fee for The Attic’s set was $150 a pop — anyone at that show is going to be far more up close and personal with Dave Chappelle than they would be at far larger venues. 

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Stenger also explained to 614Now that even if plans for the shows were solidified well in advance, it’s almost a necessity to wait until the last minute to make tickets available. In his words:

It’s then noted that Bo Stenger’s phone started ringing just as he finished talking, and it was indeed someone attempting to secure any potential leftover tickets that might have been available. (There were none.) And that was just the tip of the desperate-fan iceberg, with the club owner saying he received upwards of 500 phone calls and between 200-300 text messages from hopefuls who missed the window for purchase, with around 700 new followers on Instagram making similar requests. Weeks of that would no doubt be maddening.

As he continues to tour the U.S. throughout the rest of 2023 — he'll be almost entirely on the East Coast, with dates in Massachusetts, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida — Chappelle will likely take part in several more pop-up shows with extremely limited ticket-sale windows. So any fans hoping to attend will definitely need to keep a very close eye out for such announcements. In the meantime, his most recent stand-up specials are available to stream in full with a Netflix subscription, and let's not forget some of Chappelle's lesser-celebrated roles outside of that world.

Some of the greatest moments in the nearly 50-year history of Saturday Night Live involve cast members struggling (and ultimately failing) to contain their laughter, and they are not the only ones. Some of the greatest SNL hosts the show has ever had are not impervious to breaking character either. As you can see from the list below, infectious examples of major celebrities who caught a case of the giggles while on the air at Studio 8H are not in short supply.  

Adele (Africa Tourism)

Adele was a great SNL host despite a lack of acting experience, but even her famously strong lungs couldn’t hold back laughter in her Season 46 episode. It’s hard to decipher if it's Kate McKinnon’s accent or just the way she says “tribesman” that causes the singer to break in the faux African tourist ad, but once she does, never quite stops.

Ben Affleck (Iranian Film)

Out of many examples of Ben Affleck breaking on SNL, we chose the Season 38 sketch framed as an HBO First Look at an Iranian-produced dramatization of the making of his Best Picture Oscar winner, Argo, called Bengo F*ck Yourself. He first snickers about two minutes in at Fred Armisen as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad portraying Affleck and a moment later when explaining he took the part of a sound man “to be in a movie worse than Gigli.”

Christina Applegate (Matt Foley: Van Down By The River)

Everyone in the ‘90s-era SNL classic — the first appearance of the late Chris Farley as motivational speaker Matt Foley — could barely keep their composure, especially after the late comedy icon accidentally destroys a coffee table. Even before then, you can see Christina Applegate struggling to hide her laughter behind her hair.

Drew Barrymore (The Love-ahs With Barbara And Dave)

The laughter was as contagious as the unbridled passion of Will Ferrell and Rachel Dratch’s recurring characters in this Season 27 edition of “The Love-ahs” set in a hot tub after notorious breaker Jimmy Fallon caused a chain reaction. Nearly three minutes in, host Drew Barrymore (as The Love-ahs’ friend, Barbara) begins her struggle to keep from giggling that lasts the rest of the sketch.

Candice Bergen (Extremely Stupid)

In SNL’s second season, Candice Bergen accidentally called Gilda Radner’s dim-witted character, Lisa, by her own character’s name, Fern, during a faux PSA sketch. All the future Five-Timer’s Club member could do is laugh as Radner then turned her planned speech about stupid people’s rights into a brilliant roast of her co-star.

Emily Blunt (Escorts)

In this 2017 bit, first-time host Emily Blunt stars alongside Leslie Jones as a pair of sex workers explaining their quirky guidelines to their clients, which involves roleplaying as a clumsy maid character she created. Twice, the British A Quiet Place star cracks up when she dons a more cartoonish British accent to say her character’s catchphrase, “Oopsy-doopsy, I muffed it up again!”

Dave Chappelle (Uncle Ben)

It’s no secret Dave Chappelle likes to shake things up when he hosts SNL, like in this sketch commenting on the recent discontinuation of food brands Uncle Ben’s and Aunt Jemima in 2020. The comedian first cracks up when debuting his deep Dennis Haysbert impersonation and again when he breaks the fourth wall with a clearly unscripted comment that makes Pete Davidson spit out his Count Chocula fangs.

Daniel Craig (Deep Quote Game Night)

It must be hard not to break when the typically well-composed Kate McKinnon gets the giggles, which seems to be what happened to Daniel Craig about 90 seconds into the Season 45 sketch "Deep Quote Game Night." Honestly, we can’t imagine this bit about a movie quote guessing game that turns awkward would have been as memorable had the former James Bond actor kept a straight face.

Larry David (New Wife)

Larry David looks so unrecognizable in this Season 43 sketch as a boisterous business man talking up his new spouse (Cecily Strong) to his coworkers, it is amazing the SNL players involved held it together so well. The Seinfeld co-creator and Curb Your Enthusiasm star causes himself to lose it completely, however, about three and half minutes into the "New Wife" sketch by the way he tells Beck Bennett’s character to “GET OUT!”

Billie Eilish (Hotel Ad)

The faux ad for a shockingly shady hotel is just one reason we’d love to see Billie Eilish return to SNL as both host and musical guest again. What makes this Season 47 bit so memorable (save a cameo from her brother and bandmate, Finneas) is the Oscar-winning singer’s frequent bouts of the giggles throughout.

Will Ferrell (Cast List)

Even a seasoned SNL veteran like Will Ferrell had to cover his mouth to hide his laughter in this sketch that was cut for time when he returned as host in Season 45. Of course, no one can contain themselves after he, as an over-serious high school theatre instructor, gets a little too close to Aidy Bryant when forcing the students to back away. 

Jamie Foxx (Maine Justice With Jamie Foxx)

Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx handles himself quite well as the bailiff in the Season 38 edition of “Maine Justice,” until it has a minute to go. All it takes is Jason Sudeikis’ uproarious judge saying the phrase “ass fire” to force the Django Unchained star to turn his head to hide his laughter, but Sudeikis kicks it up a notch by spontaneously kissing the actor’s arm.

Ryan Gosling (Close Encounter)

One of the most famous SNL breaks as of late is also our pick for Kate McKinnon’s best sketch ever: Season 41’s original version of “Close Encounter.” She has her future fellow Barbie cast member, Ryan Gosling, helplessly in stitches — just one of the host’s many breaks that night, actually — by the hilariously dry description of her otherwise horrifying alien abduction experience.

Tiffany Haddish (Whiskers R We With Tiffany Haddish)

You know comedy gold is afoot when Studio 8H brings in live animals, like in this edition of “Whiskers R We” from Season 43 that sees host Tiffany Haddish — who once auditioned for SNL — break Kate McKinnon and herself just seconds in with an unscripted, NSFW line prompted by a cat’s escape attempt. They both break again later on when a hairless feline tries to leap from McKinnon’s arms, visibly startling the future Haunted Mansion cast member.

David Harbour (Sauce) 

This Season 45 sketch starring Kate McKinnon as a frisky, elderly Italian immigrant and host David Harbour as his wife is far less messy than other sketches involving food have been. However, the Stranger Things cast member can’t help but smirk when McKinnon brings a finger dripping in sauce to his lips and inserts it right in his mouth. His laughter continues as they being to make out.

Sean Hayes (Jeffrey’s With Sean Hayes)

Many SNL hosts have fallen prey to the infectious shared laughter of notorious breakers, Jimmy Fallon and Horatio Sanz, such as Sean Hayes in this early 2000s favorite set at elitist clothing store, Jeffrey’s. Seeing Will Ferrell ride in on a scooter about four minutes in and use an impossibly tiny cell phone really sends the Will & Grace cast member over the edge.

Kevin Hart (Barnes And Noble Firing)

It’s no wonder Tim Robinson got his own Netflix sketch series, I Think You Should Leave, with how effortlessly he cracks up Kevin Hart at the end of the Barnes and Noble-set sketch from Season 38. Robinson’s performance as the “old, useless” Carl makes it impossible for the comedian to get through his lines.

Jonah Hill (Benihana) 

The most recent time Jonah Hill played his own recurring SNL character, precocious six-year-old Adam Grossman, in Season 44 might be the best because it saw him break the most. Neither the Academy Award nominee nor Leslie Jones as his nanny can keep it together every time he taunts her by singing reggae hits. 

Janet Jackson (Corksoakers)

Jimmy Fallon and Horatio Sanz are surprisingly stone-cold for most of the 2004 sketch as Italian winery owners explaining to tourists how they “soak corks.” However, host and musical guest Janet Jackson cracks up multiple times when she accidentally begins to say the actual suggestive phrase that “cork soaking” alludes to.

Keegan-Michael Key (The Muppet Show)

For anyone who ever got sick of Statler and Waldorf’s heckling, the Season 46 favorite starring Kenan Thompson and host Keegan-Michael Key as The Muppet Show venue security is for you. What makes it a classic is when the Key & Peele star beginning to chuckle after his aggressive assault on Statler causes record-breaking SNL veteran Thompson to break.

Adam Levine (Catfish)

This parody of Catfish likes to poke fun at how often Nev Shulman (host Adam Levine) mentions his name on the MTV reality series. About half-way through the sketch, the Maroon 5 frontman and former The Voice coach appears to break at his most animated utterance of the name, but bounces back pretty quickly by making it feel like a character trait.

Lindsay Lohan (Debbie Downer: Disney World) 

When people think of Rachel Dratch as Debbie Downer, they tend to think of this 2004 favorite set at a Disney World pancake restaurant that no one could keep a straight face during the sketch. First-time host Lindsay Lohan later revealed to Vogue that she was so overwhelmed by laughter, she decided to just walk off set as soon as she got the chance.

Julianna Margulies (Family Dinner)

This revolting 2000 sketch stars host Julianna Margulies as woman learning her boyfriend’s (Chris Parnell) dysfunctional salivary glands and weak teeth force his parents to feed him like a baby bird. By the end, the former ER cast member does the deed herself for the younger son (Chris Kattan) and can’t help but laugh the unspeakable act she just committed.

James McAvoy (New Orleans Vacation)

When James McAvoy hosted in Season 44, he experimented with almost as many voices as he used to play a man with DID in Split and Glass, but the one he used in this sketch was too much for him to handle. He can’t help but crack up nearly every time he puts on a thick, inauthentic Cajun accent to talk about he and his girlfriend’s recent trip to “N’awlins.”

Jason Momoa (Judge Barry)

When Jason Momoa makes a surprise cameo in a Season 45 sketch starring host Chance the Rapper as a courtroom judge of first impressions, he surprises himself with a hilarious flub. Both the Aquaman actor and the host can’t help but laugh when he calls himself a “paraplegic,” meaning to say “paralegal.”

Brittany Murphy (The Leather Man)

Season 28’s “The Leather Man” — which eventually goes off the rails courtesy of Jimmy Fallon and Horatio Sanz — might actually be a prime example of the late Brittany Murphy’s exceptional talent. You can barely even tell when she breaks with the way she convincingly disguises her laughter as a quirk that fits perfectly in line with her character.

Pedro Pascal (Lisa From Temecula)

Just when you thought the internet could not love Pedro Pascal more, he earns its respect even more just by innocently succumbing to his own laughter during his Season 48 SNL episode. The most memorable instance came in this segment in when Ego Nwodim’s Lisa shakes the table with her aggressive steak cutting, giving the star of The Mandalorian and The Last of Us a case of the giggles that proves contagious.

Chris Pine (Star Trek Lost Episode)

Initially, it seems that the most memorable highlight of this Star Trek parody will be Chris Pine’s spot-on William Shatner impression, until he snickers at the awkward line delivery of the guy playing Sulu. Fun fact, according to the SNL wiki, that gentleman is production designer Akira Yoshimura, who has played Sulu in many other sketches poking fun at the sci-fi phenomenon.

Margot Robbie (Actress Round Table) 

It is no wonder why Margot Robbie would go on to star in two movies with Kate McKinnon from how the SNL star brings the laughter out of the Australian actor in the sketch from 2016. Robbie almost loses focus of her otherwise consistent Keira Knightley impression by how fictional Hollywood veteran Debette Goldry’s (McKinnon) shocking memories get the best of her.

Adam Sandler (Sandler Family Reunion) 

In a sketch where Adam Sandler is surrounded by people imitating characters from his best movies, it was Jimmy Fallon as his grandfather who finally caused the fellow SNL retiree to laugh. Apparently, as Fallon later recalled on The Tonight Show, his overlong bout of gibberish was a happy accident caused by misreading the cue cards.   

Seann William Scott (Short Shorts For The USA)

One of Will Ferrell’s all-time best sketches on SNL first aired in 2001 and sees him wear a half-shirt and a thong to work in the name of patriotism. Host Seann William Scott holds back the urge to laugh at the ridiculous and revealing ensemble from beginning to end.

Justin Timberlake (Celebrity Family Feud)

For his second time hosting, Jimmy Fallon impersonated Jim Parsons in a “Celebrity Family Feud” alongside musical guest Justin Timberlake as… Jimmy Fallon, with an incredibly enthusiastic imitation that the pop star can’t help but crack up at himself.  There is no clip of the Season 39 sketch on YouTube currently, but we recommend using a Peacock subscription to check out the whole episode.

There is sure to be more where these came from when SNL comes back for its 49th season on NBC.

Many comedians tend to be very close, forging their own cliques within the vast sea of comedic entertainers. This is certainly true for Kevin Hart, who usually chops it up with a set group of talented notable comics like himself. A particularly famous friend in his social group is Dave Chappelle, who he’s known for some time now. The hilarious Hart can be sentimental when he wants to be, and he showed that side of himself when he opened up about his friendship with Chappelle. He also managed to inject a little humor into his sentiments, as he mentioned how his trainer trolled him over the connection. 

Kevin Hart uses social media for a number of reasons, including highlighting his projects and showing off how he spends his downtime. He also, however, uses it to highlight his buddies, and that’s exactly what he did for Dave Chappelle recently. Hart shared a post on his Instagram, in which he revealed that Chappelle recently supported him at a show. And based on the Jumanji alum’s caption, he has nothing but love for the Chappelle’s Show alum for his support and more: 

It sounds like these two are thick as thieves at this point. One would think that they’re able to bond over their shared experiences as both men and successful comedians. I would imagine that when you’re a public figure, it helps to have someone in your corner who understands just what you’re going through. 

Of course, while a bond can be endearing to some, it can also serve as fodder for jokes. Later in the caption, the Central Intelligence star shouted out his barber, John Clausell, as the stylist apparently “switched up” on his client after the Con Air alum came through. Check out what Clausell did by looking at the post: 

Well, Dave Chappelle is a revered comedian, so it’s not surprising that the barber would humorously shift his allegiances upon his arrival. Though Chappelle has also stoked up his fair share of controversy over the past few years. Many took issue with comments he made during his 2021 Netflix special, The Closer, which were deemed transphobic. Amid the drama, company CEO Ted Sarandos spoke out and defended the release of the stand-up program, citing “artistic freedom” as a reason for keeping it on the streamer. 

Kevin Hart also stood by the entertainer’s side as well and knows what it’s like to face controversy. Back in 2018, Hart received backlash after past homophobic tweets were dug up from his Twitter account, leading him to publicly apologize and step down as host of the 2019 Oscars. While it can’t be said for sure, one would think that this was another way in which Hart finds himself identifying with his hero. 

Since Dave Chappelle’s situation, he and Kevin Hart have worked together on a few occasions. Chappelle notably opened for Hart and Chris Rock during a show at Madison Square Garden in July 2022. Later, Hart enthusiastically posted about the whole event going viral. All in all, it looks like he and Chappelle are closer than ever and, if Hart has his way, that’ll likely be the case for as long as possible.

Five years ago, there was a point when it was impossible to seek out pop culture news without Roseanne Barr's controversial fall from sitcom grace taking over headlines, with Roseanne's high-profile cancellation giving way to The Conners' existence. Now, she’s made her small-screen return in a way that has embraced her comedic roots, with the recent debut of Fox Nation’s stand-up comedy special Roseanne Barr: Cancel This! Understandably, it has sparked quite a bit of looking back at that tumultuous period, and she brought up Dave Chappelle and others when speaking to how peeved she still is about it all.

To promote the special, Barr talked with the L.A. Times all about being fired for her firestorm of a tweet about former White House advisor Valerie Jarrett, and how she was subsequently fired from the high-rated ABC revival and fell out of the spotlight. While other comedians have certainly taken hits from “cancel culture,” as it were, Barr views herself as being the only one who really lost everything, as opposed to certain others. In her words:

Roseanne Barr brought up Dave Chappelle as being protected by Netflix against the array of complaints made against him and his comedy specials for jokes targeted at the trans community, among others. While he didn’t have a network sitcom that was in danger of being axed, Chappelle followed up his own controversy by hosting SNL, which definitely wasn’t an option for Barr. 

Louis C.K., meanwhile, followed his FX show’s cancellation with self-released albums and specials, all while touring and addressing his past transgressions involving unwarranted masturbating in front of women. The comedian also won the 2022 Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album for Sincerely Louis C.K., and was nominated in the same category this year for the album Sorry, which lost to Dave Chappelle’s The Closer.  

At this point, perhaps Roseanne Barr is on the path to her own Grammy success with her Fox Nation special, but that’s for the future. For now, she’s just trying to get comfortable being back on stage, and shared how pumped she was for this to be her most offensive stand-up set yet, which is certainly saying something. Barr says she wasn’t given the platform by ABC to properly apologize and explain herself in the past, and she definitely doesn’t seem all too interested in playing nice now. 

When asked about making a return to performing after everything imploded at ABC, which included a 2019 touring stint with Andrew Dice Clay, she answered:

While The Conners has definitely referenced the character Roseanne Conner in the years since killing her off via overdose, the show obviously hasn’t ever invited the flagship series’ titular matriarch back in any capacity. (Presumably via flashback, but this IS a series that is familiar with retconning past storylines.) Maybe it’ll happen before it’s all over with, though. Or maybe she’ll start touring with both Dave Chappelle and Louis C.K. later this year. 2023 is wild. 

Check out a trailer for Roseanne Barr: Cancel This! below. 

The special can be streamed now via Fox Nation, while classic Roseanne episodes are available to stream now with a Peacock subscription.

While Dave Chappelle has always sought to push boundaries when it comes to his brand of comedy, he’s found himself on the receiving end of significant backlash for much of his material as of late. The comic has specifically been chastised for jokes made at the expense of the LGBTQ+ community, particularly transgender individuals. As a result, many have opted to protest many of his recent shows. Chappelle himself is aware of the response to his sentiments and is now opening up about what specifically bothers him about people’s decision to deride his work. 

The 49-year-old comic recently opened up about a situation that occurred when he held a show at the Varsity Theatre in Minneapolis last summer. The rescheduled event was met with backlash, as protestors surrounded the venue. Chappelle also recalled during an episode of his podcast, The Midnight Miracle (via DailyMail.com), that some individuals threw eggs at those who were standing in line for the show and said that one person threw a police barricade into the crowd. The comedian recalled that ultimately, the performance wasn’t cancelled and that when he arrived on stage, he got a major ovation, because “suddenly going to see a comedy show was this huge act of defiance.”

The man who created Chappelle’s Show years ago went on to say that he does not believe that any of the protesters acted with “malicious intent” and also said that he’s not “mad” that people critique his work. However, what he argues is that he should be allowed to keep sharing his thoughts despite the fact that many take issue with them: 

The star also questioned the notion of the public trying to “silence” an entertainer like himself and stated his belief that such methods have nothing to do with “love.” He, instead, argues that it all pertains to fear: 

These arguments are part of a larger discussion regarding a person’s (or more specifically, an entertainer’s) right to free speech. Like him, a number of stars also contend that there’s no longer room for nuance in today’s society. However, some might counter that argument by saying that one’s right to say something doesn’t necessarily shield them from criticism. It’s a complex conversation – and one that’s likely to persist into the foreseeable future.

One of the most significant instances  in which Dave Chappelle truly drew the ire of LGBTQ+ activists was when one of his Netflix specials, The Closer, was released in 2021. In the aftermath, many called for the streamer to pull the production, arguing that the content could be viewed as hate speech. However, company co-CEO Ted Sarandos confirmed that it wouldn’t do such, as he argued that the special didn’t cross that line and that “artistic freedom is obviously a very different standard of speech.” This decision was also made known in a criticized internal email that leaked, leading Sarandos to apologize for how the situation was handled.

Since then, Dave Chappelle has seen pushback in other ways, with a man even attacking him on stage during a performance at the Hollywood Bowl in May 2022. When explaining why he tackled Chappelle, the man – who was given multiple misdemeanor charges, explained that he identifies as bisexual and claimed that the comic’s words were “triggering” to him. More recently, Chappelle hasn’t changed his stances on the topics he’s discussed, and his recent comments suggest that he plans to stand firm. But on the other side of that equation, it’s very likely that protesters will continue to object to his work.

Elon Musk has been in the news a lot lately, though it’s mostly tied to stories like Seth Rogen's decision to leave Twitter or Jimmy Fallon wondering why people believed he'd died. This latest bit of news on Musk is a little more suprising, as the businessman was booed at Dave Chappelle’s recent comedy show when he came out on stage. Musk tried to win the audience over by quoting Chappelle’s Show, and it didn’t go well. 

Dave Chappelle welcomed Elon Musk onto the stage during his performance at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Sunday night. A YouTube video of the ordeal showed that Musk received a mixed response from those in attendance. There was a wave of boos emanating from the crowd, while Chappelle cracked some jokes about the audience's reaction. Sometime after, Musk tried to pay homage to Chappelle’s Show by reciting a line often heard during the sketch series' end credits. Check out Musk’s attempt to replicate it below: 

That line was made iconic by comedian Donnell Rawlings, who uttered the phrase during the Chappelle’s Show Season 1 episode “Reparations & NY Boobs.” In the scene, Rawlings’ character tells the reporter “I’m rich biatch” and honks the horn of his semi twice. The horns were probably played at the show for that reason -- and not to drown out any boos intended for Elon Musk. (What's also awkward is that he botched the delivery by saying “bitch” and not "biatch.") 

While there’s no outright denial of booing by those who were at the event, there does seem to be a discrepancy in how much heckling occurred. When Elon Musk replied to a Twitter user who seemingly referenced the event, he appeared to be under the impression that the response to his appearance was more well-received than not:

Clearly, the Tesla founder believes the San Francisco-based crowd was more for him than against him but acknowledged that he still received a good deal of jeering. Perhaps he was expecting a response more akin to when he hosted Saturday Night Live and did a pretty solid Wario impression?  Anyone who rewatches that sketch with a Peacock Premium subscription will see that he, at the very least, has some comedic chops. 

Sketch comedy and stand-up are two entirely different things, however. Repeating a line from a popular show, especially a piece of dialogue that might be as obscure as the one Elon Musk uttered, can be met with mixed results. In Musk's case, it was taken a specific way. It's hard to ignore the optics when the world's wealthiest person makes a reference to their riches in such a way. Perhaps had he made a joke about verified accounts on Twitter like others have, it might’ve been better received. 

As the tech magnate gets his bearings, you can stream Chappelle’s Show on both Netflix and HBO Max. The classic show is worth a watch as television dies down for the year, especially if you're looking for a chuckle or two during these colder months. 

After months of laying low following the Oscars slap, Will Smith is out and about again, as he does press for his latest film, Emancipation. Smith, based on interviews that he’s done thus far, seems incredibly pleased with his historical drama, so much so that he’s even showed it off to some of his celebrity friends. Back in October, the Oscar winner held a screening at his home in Los Angeles, and it was attended by A-listers like Dave Chappelle and Rihanna. Now, over a month later, Smith has a funny take on the event. 

So what happens when you gather a bunch of massive Hollywood celebrities in your home for a movie screening? Well, according to Will Smith, it all amounts to a really good time. The 54-year-old gushed about the major meet-up while on the red carpet for Emancipation’s premiere and didn’t hold back his excitement. Of course, one also has to wonder what his guests thought about the film itself. When Smith was asked about that, he humorously explained why he didn’t need to ask his friends for their thoughts: 

I’ve had more than a few experiences in movie screenings that are filled with mostly Black audience members, and I can’t disagree with the star here. Some African American viewers, on occasion, will absolutely make their emotions known while a movie (or TV show) is playing. I can only imagine someone like Dave Chappelle providing his two cents during a  screening. Such commentary definitely makes for an interesting viewing experience but, in many cases, the responses are simply a testament to how a production resonates with audiences. When it comes to Emancipation, there was one celebrity who was really captivated – Rihanna. During his interview with E! News, Will Smith also told the outlet how the pop icon reacted to the film and what she loved about it the most: 

The Emancipation trailer certainly showed off just how beautifully shot the Antoine Fuqua-directed production is. The movie, inspired by a true story, centers on an enslaved man named Peter, who journeys from Louisiana in the hopes of finding freedom. Will Smith’s movie received positive reactions upon its first screening, and some of his other celebrities friends, like Jamie Foxx, have also praised it. Smith also held a screening for the Los Angeles Lakers and had discussion about it afterwards. While there were questions as to whether the movie was being released too soon after the slap, it would seem that much of the buzz surrounding the movie has been positive. 

Will Smith may be looking to hold even more screenings given his positive experiences and, if he does, they could include even more of his pals. There’s nothing like having your friends support you in your endeavors, as their opinions can hold a lot of weight. And I don’t know about any of you, but I’d be over the moon if the likes of Rihanna, A$AP Rocky and Tyler Perry were impressed with something I’d made. 

Emancipation is now playing in select theaters and will be available to stream using an Apple TV+ subscription on December 9. Also, be on the lookout for other major films by taking a look at the schedule of upcoming movies.

Dave Chappelle has been making a lot of headlines as of late, many of them surrounding his recent appearance on Saturday Night Live. While there was talk of boycotts ahead of his hosting gig and some backlash in the aftermath, it’s easy to forget that SNL was the same show that gave Chappelle his big television comeback following Donald Trump's election in 2016. After said appearance, Chappelle was praised for being the country's voice of reason at an uncertain time, and making us laugh in the process. As it turns out, his Chappelle’s Show writing partner Neal Brennan was a huge part of said episode, having written the rather bold election sketch with Chris Rock. He recently revealed to CinemaBlend what was going on behind-the-scenes during the creation of the memorable episode. 

I spoke to Brennan about his new Netflix comedy special Neal Brennan: Blocks, immediately following Chappelle’s most recent SNL appearance. He revealed that Chappelle felt more comfortable bringing Brennan along for his big comeback, and despite the touchy nature of politics at that time, there were no parameters surrounding what he was allowed to write:

The sketch in question was one of the most talked-about things to come out of the show, second only to Chappelle’s monologue about giving Trump “a chance.” You can watch it here:

Chris Rock’s appearance in the episode was a surprise to the audience, but he and Dave Chappelle have been friends for some time. They even do comedy shows together, and one of the Rock/Chappelle shows made recent news over jokes about being attacked on stage.

As for Neal Brennan, he’s been working with Dave Chappelle since they were kids, and they came up in the comedy scene together. He worked on Half Baked and Chappelle’s Show, but when the latter project ended, he realized he didn’t want to be beholden to somebody else for his career. This is when Brennan began to work his way up in the world of stand-up comedy. He must be at a pretty solid place in the industry if he has an “open door” invitation to write for SNL. (Well, as long as Gabriel Iglesias’ prediction about the show potentially ending soon doesn't pan out.) 

It’s crazy to think that stand-up was a later-in-life career decision for Brennan, as Neal Brennan: Blocks is absolutely brilliant, and his previous special, Three Mics, is one of the funniest on Netflix. You can check them out right now. If stand-up isn’t your jam, not to worry, as there’s plenty more new Netflix TV shows and Netflix movies coming for the rest of the year. Brennan is also on tour, so be sure to check out whether or not he’s coming to a city near you. 

It’s fairly common for Saturday Night Live episodes to remain watercooler fodder for days after new episodes air, but Dave Chappelle’s latest return to the 30 Rock stage drew reactions that are a bit more rare in their nature. Chappelle’s lengthy monologue (which was different from his dress rehearsal set), which was essentially the comedian’s reaction to the backlash against Kanye West and Kyrie Irving’s anti-semitism, has earned a swath of negative criticisms and calls for change. Not just from fans and viewers, but from those within Hollywood itself, such as sitcom royalty Jerry Seinfeld, whose Jewishness has long been a staple of his comedy.

Seinfeld, who is currently working on Netflix’s Pop-Tart movie, spoked with THR about toaster pastries, touring, his new book The Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee Book, and more. But of course, the topic of Chappelle’s latest SNL appearance came up, and when asked if he found it funny, the Emmy winner answered with:

As a comic who has long held a reputation for sidestepping any professional strife through his comedy and other projects, Jerry Seinfeld often chooses to focus on the positives rather than the negatives, which is quite unlike every main character — and most side characters — in his classic sitcom (which is available to stream in full with a Netflix subscription). And so it’s not so shocking that he first gave Dave Chappelle the benefit of the doubt and complimented the performance itself, while implying he wasn’t as pleased by the actual material. 

Understanding that a one-on-one interview wasn’t going to solve any overall problems, Seinfeld reserved any harsher opinions for potential conversations in the future, ones that he hopes would be “productive,” as he put it. But it’s not exactly clear if those talks will happen in the near future, as the two comedians aren’t exactly BFFs, which Seinfeld spoke to in saying:

Both Jerry Seinfeld and Dave Chappelle have lucrative deals with Netflix for their high-profile comedy specials, with the latter having sparked previous backlashes over material about transgender people and others within the LGBTQ+ community. But I doubt the streaming giant will be the place where the comics can have a productive conversation in that sense, considering its higher-ups have defended Chappelle repeatedly. 

To be fair, not everyone is waving torches and pitchforks in Dave Chappelle’s general direction. His Half Baked buddy Jon Stewart came out in his defense, not so much by validating the things Chappelle said, but by voicing his belief that trying to censor arguably offensive jokes and penalizing those who tell them is not the right way to go about handling the root of the problem. 

While waiting to see if anything else comes of this, check out the funniest comedy specials currently streaming on Netflix, and head to our 2022 TV premiere schedule to see what new and returning shows are on the way.

Dave Chappelle’s Saturday Night Live monologue set the internet on fire upon his episode airing on November 12. Of course, like any Chappelle comedy routine, there was backlash over the comic’s subject matter as he was accused of pushing anti-semitism. While the backlash has been fierce, many fans and celebrities came to his defense. One of those who spoke on the polarizing comedian’s behalf was his friend and fellow comic Jon Stewart. Stewart took the time to defend the Grammy winner’s monologue against claims of anti-semitism.

The The Problem with Jon Stewart host took a moment to defend his good friend while visiting The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Colbert started the conversation by asking about the controversy surrounding the Jewish community following actions and statements from Kanye West and basketball star Kyrie Irving. Eventually, Stewart spoke about the backlash Chappelle is receiving following his latest comedy bit. The comedian broke down his response following the controversial SNL monologue, saying:

Anti-semitism has existed in corners of the internet for years. Social media alone has amplified voices against the Jewish community. Like most of Chappelle’s post-election monologue, the comic was seemingly trying to turn the mirror back on the U.S. and its prejudices. His track record of controversial comments about the transgender community already had some on edge, but Stewart had a point with his take on censorship and penalizing those for perceived hate speech rather than creating an open dialogue.

The conversation soon turned to Stewart addressing the tropes associated with the Jewish community. The former Daily Show host felt internet conspiracies and other small pockets have been spinning that Jewish people control banks, Hollywood, and the media. Stewart said that the backlash Chappelle faced is reductive, especially given that comedy reflects society:

Jon Stewart even shared that there was a specific point in Dave Chappelle's monologue that stood out to him, as he related to the comic’s frustration over not being able to talk about sensitive topics in today’s culture.

Even before last week’s episode aired, the comedian’s latest SNL appearance was sparking controversy. There were reports of the show’s staff writers boycotting Chapelle’s return to 30 Rockefeller Center over his recent material dealing with transgender issues in his comedy specials and stand-up tours. But the outspoken comic has come to SNL to host after after Election Day multiple times since 2016.  There was so much trepidation surrounding the Chappelle’s Show star’s jokes that he reportedly did a fake monologue during rehearsal to curb any censorship.

If you want to move beyond his polarizing routine, Dave Chappelle’s SNL episode is currently available with a Peacock subscription. Saturday Night Live is taking a break from airing new episodes until December 3 when Keke Palmer hosts with Grammy-winning singer SZA as the musical guest. In the meantime, check out our 2022 TV schedule.

By locking down Dave Chappelle as guest host at this particular point in the, Saturday Night Live’s producers likely didn’t expect a cautious and word-mincing monologue from the controversy-courting comedian. Sure enough, his jokes about Kanye West and the rapper’s conspiratorial views about Jewish people set off a new wave of criticisms similar to those that surfaced over transphobic humor used in his backlash-sparking Netflix specials and beyond. Some have questioned why the show, and NBC as a whole, were cool with the extended opening playing out as it did. But it’s alleged that Chappelle is the only one who knows what he’s going to say when he takes the SNL stage.

According to Page Six, the Chappelle’s Show star apparently has an entirely separate mini-act put together to perform at rehearsals, and saves his actual material for when the cameras are rolling. According to the outlet’s source:

The general vagueness behind such a claim would easily welcome both sides of the coin where motivational speculation is concerned. To look at things innocently enough, it’s not all that strange for a comedian to want their material to hit as many fresh ears as possible, so any amount of secrecy makes sense. And it doesn’t sound like this was something he shockingly pulled off for the first time in this instance. 

But then the flip side of that would be, “He hid all the offensive stuff without telling anyone specifically so he could get away with whatever he wanted.” Wouldn’t be the biggest stretch to believe that would be true. But then could the truth contain shades of both elements? Of course. As such, it’s all open for debate, or to not debate. 

Assuming the “fake” monologue wasn’t exploding with abhorrent and insulting jokes and commentary, it was potentially a cool experience to see a unique and private Dave Chappelle set in such a legendary setting. It’s not entirely clear what that mini-performance was composed of, though it’s noted that he apparently did directly bring up an SNL writer refusing to work with him during the week ahead of the live taping, a topic that circled around the rumor mill early on. And the joke allegedly didn’t go over well with everyone, and is said to have caused some angry tension.

So it’s plausible that part of the reason for changing things up was to not poke the bear so directly, as it were, while in the SNL spotlight. It’s also plausible that others who were present for the dress rehearsal will also speak up about what jokes were told at the time. Until then, Chappelle’s latest and past episodes are available to stream with a Peacock subscription.

SNL airs Saturday nights on NBC at 11:30 p.m. ET. Check out our rundown of the upcoming hosts and musical guests, as well as the current lineup of cast members.

Dave Chappelle hosted Saturday Night Live last night. Much of the conversation in the time since has been about his blistering 15 minute monologue, but the popular stand-up comedian also delivered a bunch of really fun sketches, including a mash-up between House Of The Dragon and Chappelle’s Show. 

The short clip poked fun at some of the absurdities of Westeros, including all the incest, how much older Baela and Rhaena look than Jace and Luke and how many appendages have fallen off King Viserys. It also offered a chance to drop Silky and other Chappelle's Show favorites into the world and let them hate on each other to great success. Check out the video below…

First of all, we have to give a shout out to Chappelle’s Show legend and comedian Donnell Rawlings for his appearance, as well as Ice-T, who it’s always a delight to see. You know you’re going to see the host pop up in a ton of sketches on SNL, but it’s always a treat to see them bring their friends and collaborators along too. I’m so glad they were invited and made the effort.

Beyond that, it was obviously great to see all these classic Chappelle's Show characters occupying the Game Of Thrones universe for a minute. We got Silky getting pulled over while on dragonback. We got a version of Rick James hitting on Rhaenyra Targaryen, which she was not all about, and most ridiculously, we got Tyrone Biggums on the hunt for “dragon rocks” and getting his pipe lit by a dragon. 

If some of this seems vaguely familiar, it’s probably because Dave Chappelle also did a fun crossover back when he hosted SNL in 2016. Back then, it was The Walking Dead and fans were treated to Silky and Tyrone Biggums, as well as some other favorites like Lil Jon. You can watch that mash-up below…

As fun as it is to see Donnell Rawlings in both of those sketches and Ice-T in the one last night, it also makes me miss Charlie Murphy and Patrice O’Neal, who were both integral parts of the classic Player Hater sketch on Chappelle’s Show. They passed in 2011 and 2017 respectively, and their presence was missed last night.

Leading up to last night’s SNL, there was a lot of rumors and behind the scenes controversies. Stories about a possible writer boycott rolled around at the beginning of the week, but sources close to the show later denied those claims. Everything went forward as planned, and the episode seems to have been well received by most fans, with tons of positive tweets, especially around Dave Chappelle’s opening monologue which addressed Kanye West, Kyrie Irving, Donald Trump, Herschel Walker and more. 

SNL has been on six of the last seven weeks since its season premiere. There haven't been any upcoming hosts announced, which is typically a sign we'll see a short break before the beloved sketch comedy show will be back on the air.

This past week saw a number of people buzzing about the upcoming episode of Saturday Night Live, which features comedian Dave Chappelle. A number of commentators appeared surprised that the sketch comedy show would ask the funnyman back at this point in time. Over the past year, Chappelle has made headlines for sharing controversial takes in some of his latest standup routines. Whether or not Chappelle actually discusses the backlash he’s received at some point during the show remains to be seen. But ahead of his latest hosting gig, he and SNL itself did seem to poke fun at his controversies. 

As it does with every new episode of SNL, NBC released a promo that teases what’s to come. This latest advert, which was shared to Twitter, sees Dave Chappelle alongside music guest Black Star and series cast member Ego Nwodim. In the second variation of the advert, Nwodim questions whether the show will indeed be happening live with Chappelle. And when the star confirms that will be the case, the actress responds with only one word. Check it out: 

Saturday Night Live has made fun of itself from time to time and points out critiques that the public makes. The back and forth between the two stars in the video seems to be a clear reference to the situations that have arisen with the Chappelle’s Show veteran as of late. Despite the show’s apparent self-awareness though, there are likely still people who take issue with its decision to tap the comedy performer for this latest episode. 

The A Star is Born alum got into hot water in October 2021 following the release of his sixth and final Netflix special, The Closer. The comedian drew backlash for telling jokes that were perceived as being transphobic. Company head honcho Ted Sarandos addressed the situation, saying that the content would not be taken down, as the streamer didn’t believe that it “crosses that (hate speech) line.” After this decision was announced, there was an internal email leak involving communications from Sarandos, who had attempted to explain to employees why the program wasn’t going to be removed. The exec subsequently apologized for how things went down. 

The comic’s comments have led to blowback on multiple fronts. Earlier this year, Dave Chappelle was set to have a theater named after him at his high school, The Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington D.C. However, following a testy Q&A with students, Chappelle suggested giving the theater a new name. (That decision was commended by fellow comedian Anthony Anderson.) 

In the lead-up to Dave Chappelle’s third run as host, it was rumored that some would boycott this week’s SNL. A source claimed that some writers decided not to participate in the episode, though no cast members are said to be sitting it out. As Ego Nwodim opined, this is going to be an “interesting” installment of the show, and one can’t even begin to predict how things will go down. Though if the recent promo is any indication, there’s at least a slight chance that Chappelle will address the headlines that have surrounded him as of late.

He’ll take to the stage at 30 Rockefeller Plaza when Saturday Night Live airs tonight at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC as part of the 2022 TV schedule.

To be expected, midterm elections across the U.S. took over social media, TV and beyond, and we’ll all be living in the aftermath until the next cycle begins. Also to be expected, Saturday Night Live announced that the controversy-courting stand-up comedian Dave Chappelle would be taking center stage as guest host for the first episode to follow Election Day, marking his third post-voting appearance. But this time, there are more rumors than usual floating around indicating some behind-the-scenes turmoil over SNL inviting the outspoken comic back following multiple backlashes tied to his act still containing jokes about the transgender community.

According to Page Six, some SNL staff writers have been the polar opposite of pleased in the days following the reveal that Dave Chappelle will return to 30 Rockefeller Center to host the November 12 episode, with Black Star serving as the musical guest. While no one has had much negativity to direct at the hip-hop duo’s inclusion, some of the writers are reportedly aiming to sit this episode out. Though that doesn’t mean audiences should expect to see anyone from this season’s cast ducking their duties.

Here’s what the insider had to say:

Assuming these rumors have any merit to them, it’s not so hard to grasp why none of the actors would be interested in skipping out on the show, considering there are quite a few up-and-coming comedians in the mix amidst the stalwart stars. But it’s quite a bit easier for members of the writing team to take a stand in such a way, since they’re not publicity magnets on the same scale. 

While no one from Saturday Night Live appears to have commented on the angry writers rumor, the show’s social media has been quite busy in the past 24 hours, posting an assortment of promotional pics and videos for Chappelle’s next ep. Not only the actual promo for the ep, as seen below, but also shots from the behind-the-scenes script read-thrus like this:

From everything that’s been shared so far, it doesn’t outwardly appear as if there’s rampant unhappiness going on backstage. Which could be the entire purpose of posting shots of Chappelle’s big toothy smile, but until one or more of the writers speaks up themselves, this rumor may not carry much weight. 

That said, the comments below the pics on Instagram and elsewhere are flooded with followers saying they won’t be watching the episode due to Dave Chappelle’s presence, which is a marked turn from how the majority of viewers felt when he first guest-hosted back in 2016. It should be interesting to see how the ratings from this episode stack up against not only prior eps this season, but to Chappelle’s own hosting spots in the past. 

Check out the latest SNL TV promo below! 

Will Dave Chappelle bring up his on-stage attack from earlier this year? Will he talk about his respective friendships with Will Smith and Chris Rock? Be sure to watch the episode (if you want) when SNL hits NBC on Saturday night at 11:30 p.m. ET. While waiting, you can watch Chappelle and many other excellent stand-up specials currently streaming with a Netflix subscription.

Will Smith has been slowly getting back into the Hollywood circle following the Oscars slap. The movie star is currently gearing up for the release of Emancipation (which will be streamable with an Apple TV+ subscription). Smith has been promoting the historical thriller on social media as of late. Compared to the usual fanfare surrounding his movies, his latest film has seemingly flown somewhat under the radar, with no big premiere apparently in sight. This time around, Smith has pivoted toward smaller screenings. Most recently, the actor had a star-studded private screening and, of course, there are photos from the event.

The Emancipation star held the screening at his home in Los Angeles and celebrated the star-filled premiere by posting a few photos to his Instagram. Following the event, Smith revealed the Hollywood heavyweights who were in the room. The guest list included comedian Dave Chappelle, Hollywood producers Tyler Perry (who interacted with Smith on the night of the slap) and Kenya Barris, and Super Bowl halftime performer Rihanna and her beau, ASAP Rocky. You can check out the King Richard star’s gracious post below:

Based on the pic, it looks like the stars had a good time together. You can't help but chuckle seeing Rihanna throw up bunny ears behind the I Am Legend alum's head. He seems to be incredibly happy to have the support of his famous friends amid his latest cinematic endeavor, and it goes without saying that the photo exudes an energy that greatly differs from the vibes that have emanated from the Oscar fallout over the past few months.

The Fresh Prince icon wasn’t the only one to share snaps from the private screening. While Dave Chappelle didn’t post about the event, his business partner Corey Smyth hopped on his Instagram to share the same pics. Accompanying the photos was an thoughtful caption about getting to view the Apple TV+-distributed movie:

If Corey Smyth's comments are anything to go on, it's possible that a party of sorts may have also occurred around the screening. The music producer wasn’t the only attendee to speak about the event, as Kenya Barris posted about it on his own Instagram. The black-ish creator couldn’t help but gush about the experience of sharing the room with a plethora of celebrities.

Oh, to be a fly on the wall and listen to the conversations that were had amongst the stars. Were there deals being made? Or was there just casual talk about things unrelated to the entertainment industry? Only the people in the room know for sure, but I'd wager it was more of the latter.

Emancipation is garnering Oscar buzz even after the infamous slap. The only question is… will Academy members vote for Will Smith or his new film? We'll just have to wait and see. Apple TV+'s movie will be released in theaters on December 2 for a limited run before premiering on the streamer on December 9. In the meantime, check out what CinemaBlend’s 2022 movie schedule to read up on what else is hitting theaters by the end of the year.

Months after slapping Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars, Will Smith broke his silence on the televised incident via an apology video. In the clip, Smith formally apologized for what transpired while also addressing the “irreparable” damage done to his relationship with Rock’s brother, Tony. After the video was posted, Chris appeared to respond via a stand-up act done a few weeks ago but didn’t address the apology directly. However, at a recent event, the comic addressed it in a blunt manner. 

Chris Rock appeared alongside Dave Chappelle at the O2 Arena in London this weekend, where the two reflected on their past experiences. Rock didn’t spend too much time talking about his on-stage encounter with the King Richard star, according to Deadline. So when it came to the latter’s viral apology video, Rock kept things short – and an f-bomb was involved: 

Needless to say, the actor did not mince words on the matter. These comments seem to fall in line with sentiments that the Spiral star shared during a comedy show in Atlanta last month. The comedian declared that “everybody is trying to be a fucking victim” and that as a result, “nobody will hear the real victims.” In that same set, he also mentioned getting “smacked by Suge Smith.” 

Chris Rock further discussed the physical pain of the slap during his London show on Saturday. The star asserted that “that shit hurt” and that in the moment, Will Smith “played Ali.” It’s also said that Rock once again referred to the Oscar winner as Suge Smith. Rock and Dave Chappelle have been candid about the slap during their ongoing comedy tour. During another show last week, Rock claimed that Smith “hit [me] over a bullshit joke” and referred to said joke, which revolved around Jada Pinkett Smith, as “the nicest joke [he] ever told.” Chappelle added that Smith “did an impression of a perfect man for 30 years” before questioning how Smith would carry himself moving forward.

Over the past few weeks, Will Smith has begun to step back into the public eye. A recent outing with Jada Pinkett Smith seemed to mark the end of his self-imposed exile. On social media, Smith shared a self-deprecating post in which he referenced his desire to post on Instagram on a regular basis again. He followed that up with a post that showed him and his son attempting to catch a big spider. 

Meanwhile, Chris Rock has toured steadily and continues to line up gigs. The star even revealed that the Academy reached out to him about attending 2023’s Oscars ceremony. The comic joked about the notion, comparing it to “[asking Nicole Brown Simpson] to go back to the restaurant.” Brown Simpson’s sister was among those to take issue with the remark. 

His work aside, it doesn’t seem like Chris Rock has any plans to actually speak with Will Smith about what happened, despite the latter’s desire to meet up. It’s hard to say if the two might one day formally patch things up. But until such a thing actually happens, it’s likely that Rock will continue to share his brutally honest takes on the slap with audiences at his shows.

Sooner or later, you knew that Chris Rock’s encounter with Will Smith at the Academy Awards was going to make it into the comedian’s official stand up routine. This is how most comedians process events in their lives. And while Rock would occasionally address what happened from the stage at some of his comedy shows in the wake of what we now refer to as The Slap, he also promised that he would fully address it in his own time. And that time might be now. 

Chris Rock and Dave Chapelle are co-headlining a comedy tour through Europe that kicked off at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, and according to Deadline, the Grown Ups and Spiral star spoke about Will Smith’s actions at the Academy Awards, and how he felt following The Slap. Rock told the gathered crowd:

That’s Chris Rock’s opinion, that the G.I. Jane joke he leveled at Jada Pinkett Smith from the stage at the Oscars was nice. Will Smith obviously didn’t agree with that assessment, which is why he walked up on stage and slapped Rock, defending his wife’s honor while also shouting from the audience to keep her name out of his mouth. 

Like anyone who stands on a stage in front of an audience and tries to entertain them in a live setting, comedian Dave Chappelle voiced concern about the safety measures when talking about Smith’s actions. Chapelle noted:

Dave Chappelle is getting deep, asking the audience to question whether they finally saw the real Will Smith in that moment. He apparently described Will Smith as someone who “did an impression of a perfect man for 30 years,” and wondered what Smith might be like moving forward. 

Those keeping track of the saga know that Will Smith has since issued an apology video that may or may not have won some fans back over to his side. Also, he and Jada Pinkett Smith are starting to head out in public again, suggesting that their Hollywood exile might be at an end. We also know that Chris Rock will be able to “dine on this experience,” so to speak, for years if he so chooses to, because as long as he’s willing to speak about it in his act, curious patrons probably will keep coming around to hear what he has to say. 

What we know for sure is that Chris Rock isn’t planning to host the Oscars any time soon, and Will Smith isn’t allowed back, so if you are looking out for either of them, you won’t find them at the Kodak. 

Those in need of a good laugh can usually find exactly what they are looking for with a Netflix subscription. One of the reasons why the platform is one of the best streaming services to subscribe to is its nearly countless number of stand-up comedy specials that have sparked the on-stage revival of various beloved legends or helped skyrocket the careers of comedy’s most promising voices. 

As you might imagine, however, there are almost too many stand-up comedy specials to choose from, so what are the funniest available to stream now? Let us see if we can help you narrow down your choices for your next night of laughs with our picks for the funniest stand-up comedy specials available on Netflix.

John Mulaney: Baby J (2023)

In his first special since his stint in rehab, John Mulaney details his struggles with that life-changing occasion, shares other revealing personal anecdotes, and tells some of his best jokes ever, making Baby J some of the comic’s finest work yet.

Stream John Mulaney: Baby J on Netflix

Ali Wong: Baby Cobra (2016)

While several months pregnant with her first child, Ali Wong – future Emmy-winning star of one of the best A24 TV shows, Beef – performs what is widely considered to be some of her best and most insightful work in Baby Cobra.

Stream Ali Wong: Baby Cobra on Netflix

Deon Cole: Cole Hearted (2019)

Black-ish star and former Conan writer Deon Cole’s debut Netflix special, Cole Hearted, sees him riff on the true meaning behind the name “Arby’s,” explaining when and why to give thanks to Jesus, and demonstrate why comedy is the last raw form of expression.

Stream Deon Cole: Cole Hearted on Netflix

Little Big Boy may boast the most mature material we have seen yet from Nick Kroll, but don’t be surprised when the Big Mouth co-creator throws in a fart joke.

Stream Nick Kroll: Little Big Boy on Netflix

Jimmy Carr: Natural Born Killer (2024)

Not to be confused with a certain Oliver Stone film, Jimmy Carr: Natural Born Killer sees the British comedian continue to deliver his signature, shamelessly crass, but undeniably clever, one-liners, which cover everything from veganism, anti-vaxxers, and how to practice proper consent.

Stream Jimmy Carr: Natural Born Killer on Netflix

Steve Martin And Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget For The Rest Of Your Life (2018)

Steve Martin and Martin Short are at their best when they are together and the Only Murders in the Building cast members deliver something truly unforgettable in An Evening You Will Forget For the Rest of Your Life, which consists of witty banter, uproarious sketches, and a few moments of great music.

Stream Steve Martin And Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget For the Rest of Your Life on Netflix

Chris Rock: Selective Outrage (2023)

Netflix’s very first live special, Selective Outrage, saw Chris Rock reveal his thoughts on Will Smith slapping him at the Oscars, among other topics, in front of a Baltimore audience.

Stream Chris Rock: Selective Outrage on Netflix

Taylor Tomlinson: Look At You (2022)

While still in her 20s, Taylor Tomlinson proved herself to be one of the sharpest and boldest comedians working today with her brilliant debut special, Quarter-Life Crisis, in 2020. However, the gold standard of her career might be her second Netflix original, Look at You, for how she cleverly turns her own struggles with family, friends, and romance after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, into one hour of laugh-a-minute delight.

Stream Taylor Tomlinson: Look at You on Netflix

Mike Birbiglia: Thank God For Jokes (2017)

The state of comedy as we know it is a hotly debated topic these days and Mike Birbiglia believes it really all comes down to one thing: it has been ruined by people who are bad at telling them or try to hide behind their own mistakes by vocally claiming they are “just joking.” Well, the recurring Orange is the New Black cast member and three-time interim Jimmy Kimmel Live host is on a mission to preserve the art with his first Netflix special (out of four currently available on the platform), Thank God for Jokes.

Stream Mike Birbigila: Thank God for Jokes on Netflix

Demetri Martin: Live (At The Time) (2015)

I have always thought of Demetri Martin as the Bob Dylan of comedy – mostly because he often wears a harmonica around his neck while playing guitar during musical interludes, but also for his inventive, obscure approach to the art, involving illustrated sight gags or edits to his special that add a wonderfully meta commentary. The former Daily Show correspondent presents what may be the funniest display of his irreverent style with his first Netflix special, Live (At the Time) – a title that is totally on-brand for the comic.  

Stream Demetri Martin: Live (At the Time) on Netflix

Adam Sandler: 100% Fresh (2018)

A stand-up icon who always loves to incorporate music into his act is Adam Sandler, the SNL cast member-turned-cinematic comedy superstar-turned-acclaimed dramatic thespian (i.e. his acclaimed performance in Uncut Gems). Before taking that award-winning role, the “Sandman” reignited his stand-up presence with this Netflix special, in which he raps about our over-reliance on technology, pays tribute to the late Chris Farley, and gives us more material that is truly 100% Fresh.

Stream Adam Sandler: 100% Fresh on Netflix

Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours To Kill (2020)

Netflix is the ultimate hub for content related to Jerry Seinfeld, as it’s the one place you can stream Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, his groundbreaking self-titled series from the ‘90s (and one of the all-time best sitcoms), and other titles, including this original special. The comedy icon certainly kills in 23 Hours to Kill by bringing his signature observational style to topics like how similar the words “sucks” and “great” truly are, how different talking and texting are, and more.

Stream Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours to Kill on Netflix

Patton Oswalt: Annihilation (2017)

Former The King of Queens cast member and Ratatouille star Patton Oswalt has always had a bold and boisterous on-stage presence, whether he is poking fun at politics or at himself. However, the actor and comedian (who also lends his voice to Netflix’s The Sandman cast) has never been more candid about either topic than in his second special for the platform, Annihilation – half of which is devoted to honoring his late wife, true crime author Michelle McNamara.

Stream Patton Oswalt: Annihilation on Netflix

Norm Macdonald: Hitler’s Dog, Gossip & Trickery (2017)

In 2021, we lost beloved comedian and former SNL star Norm Macdonald to a private, nine-year battle with cancer. Remember the joy he brought to the world of comedy with his first Netflix original special, Hitler’s Dog, Gossip & Trickery – one of his finest career efforts for brilliant takes on mundane topics like the abbreviation for “identification” and his analysis of Germany’s volatile place in history.

Stream Norm Macdonald: Hitler’s Dog, Gossip & Trickery on Netflix

Bo Burnham: Inside (2021)

After taking a hiatus from stand-up, Bo Burham was planning on returning to the stage right as Covid-19 put most public appearances on hold, as he reveals in this bizarre and bitingly funny project he wrote, performed, and shot entirely on his own and in one single room during the pandemic. While this special barely counts as “stand-up” and sometimes veers far from comedy when the Promising Young Woman star makes devastating confessions about his own mental health, no matter what you prefer to call it, Inside is one of the best Netflix movies of 2021 and nothing short of a masterpiece.

Stream Bo Burnham: Inside on Netflix

Iliza Shlesinger: Elder Millennial (2018)

In her third Netflix original stand-up special and one of the best credits of her career, Iliza Shlesinger explains just what it means to be an Elder Millennial and how it informs her opinions of society. She reenacts the typical night of a single thirty-something, explains “landlines,” and shares the not-so-surprising story of how she met her fiancé on a dating app.

Stream Iliza Shlesinger: Elder Millennial on Netflix

Trevor Noah: Afraid Of The Dark (2017)

As a former host of The Daily Show, it is clear Trevor Noah has an eye for politics, but he lightens his commentary on the state of America (a little) to cover a wide range of topics with his signature energy. He talks about his South African upbringing, apologizes to the women in his audience on behalf of male “creeps,” and reveals why he is, as the title of his comedy special teases, afraid of the dark. 

Stream Trevor Noah: Afraid of the Dark on Netflix

Tom Segura: Disgraceful (2018)

While he does not, particularly, exhibit signs of being what the title of this Netflix stand-up special suggests, “disgraceful” would certainly be a proper way of defining the many topics Tom Segura explores – such as a visit to an adult entertainment store, finding humor in mental disabilities, and the satisfaction of letting an elevator door close on a stranger. The 2 Bears, 1 Cave podcast host’s brand of observational humor is refreshing in how it trades brutal honesty for off-beat absurdity that often veers on the edge of uncomfortable relatability. 

Stream Tom Segura: Disgraceful on Netflix

Marc Maron: Too Real (2017)

He has found success from starring in the Netflix series GLOW, a brief appearance in the box office smash Joker, and, especially, interviewing Hollywood’s finest as host of the highly rated podcast, WTF. However, Marc Maron got his start as a comic and you can see him at his best in his 2017 Netflix stand-up comedy special, Too Real.

Stream Marc Maron: Too Real on Netflix

Neal Brennan: 3 Mics (2017)

In 2017, Neal Brennan – the secret weapon to Dave Chappelle’s career, from co-creating Chappelle’s Show to co-writing Half Baked – came out of hiding in his remarkably unique Netflix comedy special, 3 Mics, which refers to the three different microphones set up on the stage. Each one is reserved for a different purpose: clever one-liners, traditional stand-up bits, and deeply personal stories, which is where Brennan truly shines in this astounding achievement mixing comedy with tragedy to rewarding effect.

Stream Neal Brennan: 3 Mics on Netflix

John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous At Radio City (2018)

As one of the most exciting names in comedy today, it makes sense that John Mulaney would eventually find himself performing at a prestigious venue like New York’s Radio City Music Hall, but that does not stop him from commenting on the very absurdity of that concept in his Emmy-winning Netflix stand-up comedy special, Kid Gorgeous. The former SNL writer’s classically-trained stand-up style, complemented by his formal wardrobe and choice to carry a wire-attached mic, adds a refreshing, old-fashioned energy to the topics he dares to dissect with his razor-sharp wit in a special that demands repeat viewings. 

Stream John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City on Netflix

Dave Chappelle: The Age Of Spin (2017)

Regardless of how you may feel about his more recent Netflix specials, you have to admit that Dave Chappelle’s intelligent observation, fearless expression, and effortless delivery is unlike anyone or anything seen in the world of comedy – now or before his time – and no better proof of that is in the first of his Netflix stand-up comedy specials, The Age of Spin. Filmed live at the Hollywood Palladium, this Grammy-winning special saw the A Star is Born actor’s triumphant return to the mainstream following his controversial decision to leave his groundbreaking Comedy Central series, which is easily the lightest of topics he touches on before riffing on everything from racism to sexuality and recalling his multiple encounters with O.J. Simpson.

Stream Dave Chappelle: The Age of Spin on Netflix

No one’s brand of comedy is the same, so hopefully we have covered everything that fans of stand-up specials might be interested in streaming on Netflix in the list above.

Madison Square Garden made a slew of headlines over the weekend, not just because the venue was filled up with fans eager to see Chris Rock and Kevin Hart live, but because Dave Chappelle also made an appearance. Footage from the event leaked and we learned at the time that Chappelle did a full set, but now, thanks to Hart, some new details have emerged about the concert and the event sounds unforgoatable. (I'm udderly sorry for that one.) 

If you kept tabs on the show, there were some images running around on social media – though phones were supposed to be locked up during this event. That footage showed Kevin Hart seemingly giving Chris Rock a goat. Well, now thanks to a viral TikTok, we have some more details about the show and it is confirmed: Rock got a goat and that goat was named… Will Smith. 

We knew that Rock had been roasted about the infamous Oscars incident in recent weeks. Marlon Wayans recently said the Oscars slap incident has been fodder for comedians for months now. Chris Rock has also made his own share of standup jokes about the Will Smith incident, though he hasn’t addressed his specific feelings on the matter. 

This week, while Kevin Hart was promoting his new tequila brand and more, the actor and comedian also shared details about how the goat/G.O.A.T. gag came about ahead of his sold out shows. Hart told Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show this week that he informed Dave Chappelle the goat thing would be happening, but Chappelle had was seemingly confused about the goat idea until Hart literally talked to his guy and showed up at the show with one.

The goat moment sounds extremely sweet when Hart puts it this way, but it also ended up being a bit of a wild card, as Kevin Hart recalled him destroying Chris Rock’s shoes --White Moon Boots -- and more after pooping while onstage. I once saw Kevin Hart hold a rabbit onstage opposite Tiffany Haddish at a CinemaCon event, whereupon the rabbit got really frisky and started climbing all over him, so one would think he’d understand at this point one can’t control live animals. 

Hart also said he's "very lucky to have the relationships [he and Rock] have," before noting he pitched Chris Rock on the idea of doing some big shows on the East Coast before he convinced Dave Chappelle to make an appearance. He and Fallon also revealed Questlove, who works on The Tonight Show among other notable gigs, was present at the show. 

Meanwhile, this isn’t the last time some kind of team-up like the Madison Square Garden one will happen. Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle have gigs lined up together in London this September

There’s a disturbing trend that seems to be happening for live performers this year. Following “The Slap,” in which Will Smith infamously confronted Chris Rock on live TV at the Academy Awards, there have been other scary on-stage occurrences, including comedian Dave Chappelle being attacked in the middle of a show. The beloved rock band Rage Against the Machine was the latest to experience such an incident, at least somewhat, after a fan rushed the stage during a concert in Toronto.

On Saturday, July 23, Rage Against the Machine was wrapping their set with the hit “Killing in the Name,” video footage taken at the concert showed a man running (or leaping) onto the stage from the side. Security was quick to try to intervene, but as the fan tumbled off the front of the stage and into the pit, a security guard plowed into guitarist Tom Morello, knocking him off the stage as well. Check out the alarming video below:

The fan who rushed the stage likely was just looking to attempt a stage dive into the crowd, despite it looking like a pretty massive jump. But with the incidents we’ve seen this year and in the past — especially given Rage Against the Machine’s strong political views, expressed through their lyrics and with visuals throughout their shows — the security guard was absolutely right to react in such an instinctive way. Unfortunately his instincts didn't equate to his physical efforts, since the fan was able to jump out of his grasp, causing the guard to tackle the esteemed 58-year-old guitarist.

Singer Zack de la Rocha continued the song for a few seconds after watching Tom Morello take the hit, but when his guitarist stayed down amid the chaos, surrounded by multiple security guards, the frontman called for his bandmates to, “Hold up, hold up, hold up,” while a fired-up Morello returned to the stage. The audience roared, and de la Rocha seemed to be making sure all was good before addressing the crowd. He told the concertgoers (per People):

Even though the stage-crasher likely intended no harm to the band, security guards don’t have time to wait to find out what fans’ intentions are before taking action, with the gravest example of that being the Damageplan shooting in 2004 that left five dead. Legendary Pantera and Damageplan guitarist “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott was killed during a concert in Columbus, Ohio, after a fan ran on stage and shot him multiple times. The shooter killed three others who tried to stop him, before he was shot and killed by law enforcement.

That was, of course, the worst-case scenario — and one we’ll hopefully never see again — but it does highlight the importance of keeping stage performers safe. Dave Chappelle was attacked by a man in possession of a makeshift blade while on stage at the Hollywood Bowl in May. That incident was mere weeks after the Oscars ceremony that saw Will Smith slap Chris Rock and then go on to receive a standing ovation for winning the award for Best Actor, an occurrence some including Jim Carrey found “sickening.”

Actor and comedian Craig Robinson experienced his own scary moment this month, when the North Carolina comedy club where he was set to perform had to be evacuated when a gunman entered. No one was injured, and even though The Office alum was still in the green room when the shooter entered the building, all of these incidents show just how important quality security and awareness are to live events. 

Hopefully Tom Morello, the security guard and all others involved have recovered from the dramatic scene at the Rage Against the Machine concert, and the band is able to continue their tour without any further problems.

Kevin Hart has flourished as an entertainer over the past several years, but 2022 is certainly turning out to be one of the most eventful of his career. The star has a few high-profile films that either have or will be released and, earlier this year, he made a business move that guarantees we’ll see more of his TV shows and films for years to come. And the icing on the cake, so to speak, is that Hart recently celebrated his 43rd birthday with a party that included fresh outfits and even Russell Westbrook. The performer managed to top all of that, though, when he performed at Madison Square Garden alongside Chris Rock this past weekend, where Dave Chappelle surprisingly opened for them. After the performance went viral, Hart shared an enthusiastic post to mark the big occasion. 

Many performers – whether they be comedians, musicians or the like – dream of performing at a place as grand as Madison Square Garden. And based on Kevin Hart’s post on his Instagram, he was indeed one of those people. The star signified the accomplishment by posting a black-and-white photo that shows him, Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle chopping it up behind the scenes. He also reflected on the night in his caption, calling the performance “the best moment of his career”:

He, Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle are three of the most recognizable names in the comedy industry. So having all three appear at a show together at MSG is certainly a big deal. You can check out Hart’s post, complete with the aforementioned still, down below: 

Audiences were said to be totally unaware of Dave Chappelle’s involvement in the show. Apparently, the comic appeared while Radiohead's iconic tune, “Karma Police” played and proceeded to give a 20-minute comedy set for attendees. While on stage, he also addressed the cancellation of another recent show he had planned at Minneapolis’ First Avenue. The venue cancelled the performance due to backlash Chappelle has received as of late and released a statement saying that it wants to make the locations “the safest spaces in the country.”

The Chappelle’s Show creator found himself at the center of controversy after making jokes in his Netflix special, Sticks & Stones, that were deemed transphobic. Said backlash also led to a testy Q&A with students at his alma mater, the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington D.C. The school was set to name a theater after him, but the comic ultimately suggested that it be called Theater for Artistic Freedom and Expression. 

Amid these controversies, Kevin Hart has continued to support Dave Chappelle. Months ago, he spoke out after Chappelle was attacked while on stage at the Hollywood Bowl. Hart didn’t find the situation to be “scary” and asserted that because the attacker was tackled by security immediately, it would send a “message” to others who might try to do the same. 

I wouldn’t be surprised if this isn’t the only time that Kevin Hart works with both Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle. The show seemed to be a hit, and all three could try to do something that even tops MSG. After all, if Hart has proven anything over the course of his career, he’s all about putting on a massive show for his fans.

Following Dave Chappelle’s notoriously canceled gig in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Wednesday night, the longtime comedian shocked audiences at Madison Square Garden with an appearance onstage with a couple of other heavy hitters on Saturday night. Kevin Hart and Chris Rock were the headliners, but they brought in Chappelle for a surprise round of stand-up, shocking fans. During the performance, the comedian seemingly referenced what’s been going on in the public discourse recently, as well. 

No one attending the show had any idea the comedian would be present in advance. Reports indicate Dave Chappelle popped out while Radiohead’s “Karma Police” played, then he stuck around onstage for a full 20 minutes to do a set. So it wasn’t just like a “I’m still here” sort of pop-in, he actually opened the show for Rock and Hart. 

The comedian did not go into detail up about his recent show’s cancellation, which broke widely after the venue, First Avenue, stated it has worked to make their venues “the safest spaces in the country” following some ongoing backlash Chappelle has faced in recent months. The controversy has stemmed from jokes Chappelle has made in recent Netflix specials, which has also led Netflix to address the backlash. 

TMZ reports Chappelle spoke about getting bum-rushed onstage; the perpetrator in the incident later said he was upset over Chappelle’s Netflix comedy specials. The night of the show, the comedian referenced this incident, joking he “had to sneak [his] way in here." He also referenced all of the headlines he’s been making of late following controversy over his Netflix specials, saying he does appreciate the support from fans. 

Phones were reportedly locked up for the show to keep footage from going out, but some people at Madison Square Garden seemingly bypassed these rules, as there is video out there of bits of the performance, which also at one point included an encore from all three comedians and a live goat.

Kevin Hart’s also been busy partnering with another A-lister --The Rock -- for their upcoming venture DC League of Super Pets. However, he does have a couple more dates set with Chris Rock. The two will be performing at PNC Bank Arts Center in New Jersey this weekend. On Monday night, they are set to perform in Barclays Center in Brooklyn (those starting ticket prices are much higher, naturally). 

It’s unclear if Dave Chappelle will factor into these shows, but it is worth noting that Chris Rock and The Closer comedian already had a set of shows lined up in September in London. Tickets for those shows went on sale in June.

It’s fair to say that Dave Chappelle has become somewhat of a polarizing figure in Hollywood these days. He’s long been noted for his edgier style of humor but, more recently, the comedian has stirred up controversy for telling jokes that many have perceived as being transphobic. Amid the backlash, Chappelle was set to have a theater named after him at his high school alma mater though, after a testy Q&A at the school, he shut down the idea and suggested a new one. Following this, fellow comedian Anthony Anderson shared his feelings on the name change.

During his formative years, Dave Chappelle attended the Duke Ellington School for the Arts in his native Washington, D.C. During the naming ceremony this week, Chappelle addressed the criticism he’s faced over the jokes featured in his latest Netflix special, The Closer. He then went on to say that the place should be named the Theater for Artistic Freedom and Expression. When TMZ subsequently caught up with Anthony Anderson after the event, the black-ish alum shared positive thoughts and commended the decision: 

Dave Chappelle’s The Closer hit streaming back in October and, shortly after its release, celebrities and LGBTQ+ organizations like GLAAD spoke out in opposition of it. Netflix head honcho Ted Sarandos addressed the situation at the time, saying that he did not believe that the special “crosses that (hate speech) line” and cited that the comic was entitled to his “artistic freedom.” The exec himself became embroidered in further controversy after internal emails explaining why the special would not be removed were leaked to the public. Sarandos later apologized for how things were handled. 

Since then, the Chappelle Show creator has been a significant topic of discussion among comedy aficionados. Some on social media argue that he crossed a line with his jokes, while others believe that he was expressing his freedoms as an artist. During the same interview with TMZ, Anthony Anderson was asked whether he viewed the comic as a pioneer of free speech, and the actor dropped more honest sentiments:

The former Law and Order star isn’t the only comedy staple to comment on the controversial comic’s current status. Jerrod Carmichael shared some strong thoughts on the entertainer and the state of stand-up. Carmichael, who recently came out as gayl, chastised the A Star is Born alum and some of his contemporaries for trying to “create a boogeyman to sell tickets,” with said boogeyman being cancel culture, in this case. Carmichael also questioned why a comedy vet of his status would want to “die on the hill” on which he's telling “childish jokes.” 

It’s becoming harder to deny the strong feelings people have about some of Dave Chappelle’s material. In May, he was attacked on stage during a performance at the Hollywood Bowl. After receiving several misdemeanor charges, his attacker, who identifies as bisexual, explained that he found the comic’s LGBTQ+ jokes to be “triggering.” Amid this  and Chappelle’s suggestion for Duke Ellington’s new theater, it’s possible that other stars like Anthony Anderson will weigh in. Exactly what they’ll have to say remains to be seen.

Dave Chappelle has been a name in the news recently for a variety of reasons, not all of them good. The actor and stand-up comedian released a new stand-up special which has resulted in criticism from several corners, which was apparently also the catalyst for Chappelle being attacked while performing. Now, the criticism has resulted in Chappelle not taking his alma mater up on the offer to rename the school’s theater in his honor. 

The Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington D.C. was set to rename its theater after Dave Chappelle, a former student at the school. The decision to rename the school after the comedian was not without controversy, as a number of student confronted Chappelle for jokes he made at the expense of the transgender community in his recent Netflix special The Closer. According to TMZ, during last night’s naming ceremony, Chappelle sighted the criticism, when he said he would not be putting his name on the theater. Instead, he has asked the theater be called the Theater for Artistic Freedom and Expression.

It’s unclear if the decision for the new name has been agreed upon or if this is just a suggestion from Chappelle after deciding not to put his name on the school. One way or another the school will apparently need to go with a plan B for the theater naming.

Dave Chappelle’s Netflix special The Closer was not received well by many who felt that his jokes about the transgender community crossed a line. Netflix stood by the Chappelle special, though the Netflix CEO did eventually conceded that people were hurt by what was said. Chappelle’s Netflix special isn’t even the only one to be criticized in recent months, as a special from Ricky Gervais has also put Netflix on the defensive. 

Dave Chappelle’s decision here is certainly unexpected. To wait until what was supposed to be the renaming ceremony to make this change implies this may have literally been a last minute decision. While there were certainly students that made it clear they did not want to see the theater named after him, supporters of Chappelle reportedly raised more money for the building, so there were plenty that wanted to see the renaming go forward. The request that the theater now be named after artistic freedom and expression is clearly a comment on the whole situation, as Chappelle feels he has not been given that artistic freedom.

While Dave Chappelle may be on the receiving end of a not inconsiderate amount of bad press, he’s not having any trouble finding work. It was announced earlier this month that Chapelle and Chris Rock would be performing together in London in September. Both men made headlines for physical altercations during live performances.  

Stand-up comedian Jerrod Carmichael has been on a sharp ascent in Hollywood throughout the past decade, from his boundary-pushing (and unfairly cancelled) NBC comedy The Carmichael Show to his candid HBO docu-shorts to his increasingly popular stand-up specials and more. It was his latest hour of comedy, Rothaniel, that not only earned him his first guest-hosting gig at Saturday Night Live (for an episode that aired in April), but also gave him a global spotlight in which to come out as gay. Understandably, as a now open member of the LGBTQ+ community, Carmichael has some thoughts on the controversy-courting Dave Chappelle and the idea of cancel culture that has pervaded the entertainment world in recent years. 

During an in-depth discussion with GQ, Jerrod Carmichael opened up about all manner of details about his life and career, including the challenges that came with putting Rothaniel together after spending years away from the stand-up cycle. And in talking about his family’s reactions to the special and his sexuality reveal, he shared that his 15-year-old niece is the one relative who gave him the acknowledgment he was seeking, and credited her youth as being a probable factor in her accepting nature. At which point he calls out other comics for going after younger generations — specifically saying “fuck all those comedians” — and even before he mentions Dave Chappelle’s name, it’s implied he’s speaking about the Netflix-supported juggernaut. Carmichael offered his take on the matter, saying:

Anyone casting immediate doubt over Jerrod Carmichael’s dismissal of cancel culture’s existence needs only look at the plethora of reactions to Louis C.K.’s 2022 Grammy win for his special Sincerely Louis C.K., in which he jokes about the sexual misconduct allegations made against him over the years. Promoting the idea of cancel culture can be as much a marketing tool as anything else, since any kind of publicity equals good publicity in one way or another.

That said, Jerrod Carmichael doesn’t want to be a comedian known for punching down just for the sake of kicking up dust to make headlines. He continued, mentioning Dave Chappelle by name and expressing disagreement with how the comedian has handled the controversy over jokes widely viewed as being harmful to the trans community (with Ricky Gervais being criticized for the same thing soon after with his latest special). In Carmichael’s words:

It doesn’t sound like any stand-up fans out there should expect to see Jerrod Carmichael and Dave Chappelle teaming up for a cross-country tour together. The On the Count of Three director thinks Chappelle’s trolling-for-the-sake-of-trolling behavior is tired at this point, but begrudgingly gives him the pass to be that guy if that’s what suits him best. 

Rothaniel is available to stream in full with an HBO Max subscription, which will also allow access to Jerrod Carmichael’s other specials. 

In news that feels pretty timely, comedy giants Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle will be performing a set of comedy shows together coming up. Both comedians made headlines this year after getting interrupted onstage. Rock was slapped by Will Smith in the middle of an Oscars comedy bit and an angry fan launched at Dave Chappelle during a comedy show at the Hollywood Bowl earlier this year.

News broke this week that Dave Chappelle is teaming up with Chris Rock for a show at the London-based O2 theater. The show won’t go down until September 3, but tickets will go on sale much sooner, with Ticketmaster noting a pre-sale for tickets started on June 9th and the full general sale starts on June 10. Only individuals over the age of 18 will be allowed to attend. 

This isn’t the first time the two have shared a stage together since the two viral incidents. A couple of weeks back both Chappelle and Rock shared a stage stateside, popping up at West Hollywood’s famous venue The Comedy Store. Both joked about their respective incidents, with Chappelle ribbing Rock, whilst noting at least he was accosted by the likes of Will Smith. Dave Chappelle joked:

Generally, however, Chris Rock has not fully addressed what happened during the Oscars when he made a joke related to Jada Pinkett Smith and her hair resembling G.I. Jane, allegedly without the context that Smith suffers from alopecia. Will Smith stormed the stage and slapped Chris Rock in the face. Smith later won the award for Best Actor for his performance in King Richard. For his part, the actor and funnyman has not really explained his side of the story, but Rock has thrown out a few A+ jokes at his own expense.

One Wrinkle To Dave Chappelle And Chris Rock Performing Together

Separately, after the Chris Rock incident, Dave Chappelle was also attacked onstage by a perpetrator who was later arrested on four misdemeanor charges. While a lot of jokes have been bandied about, some comedians have spoken out about their being apprehension with performing, including Howie Mandel, who noted to E! the incidents were his “worst fear come true.” There has been discourse about nerves that have come for some comedians since the incidents happened. 

Even well-known comedians have spoken out about the seriousness of the two situations, including Sarah Silverman. The Marry Me actress said in an appearance on The View that she’s not “scared” personally, but it is a moment that impacted the community. 

While not everyone is nervous about what’s next, one interesting wrinkle for Rock and Chappelle taking the stage together is that they have had this shared history of attacks onstage. Doing this together does feel like a bit of a statement. Rock and Chappelle haven't spoken a ton on record, but their shared upcoming performance will likely lead to a lot opinions and think pieces about recent events and what they might mean for stand-up comedy and the safety of comedians in general.

It makes me also wonder if more security will be implemented to ensure nothing like this happens again. Regardless, despite the gravity for both moments, it seems as if the two comedians are doing the best they can to move forward with light hearts after the respective incidents. Comedian Marlon Wayans recently revealed the slap in particular has been a huge topic of conversation within the comedic community and they’ve all got jokes and haven't been afraid to throw ‘em at the 2022 Oscars host. 

Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos very publicly came to the defense of Dave Chappelle and more generally, artistic freedom when his stand-up special attracted more than its share of controversy over the inclusion of jokes some deemed transphobic. Now, the popular streaming service is at the center of another round of finger-pointing thanks to a Ricky Gervais stand-up special that also included trans-related jokes. Let the record show Sarandos has not changed his basic viewpoint.

The popular exec, who has recently been feeling the heat after the company’s stock price tumbled following subscriber losses, was interviewed by The New York Times about a wide variety of issues. Not surprisingly, stand-up comedy came up, and Sarandos took the chance to once again defend Dave Chappelle and also the streaming service’s commitment to free expression. Here’s a portion of his quote…  

During the same interview, Sarandos went on to praise Chappelle more specifically, saying no one thinks his comedy “isn’t thoughtful or smart”, people just have something to say because they disagree with his viewpoint. When asked, he also specifically confirmed that his larger viewpoint about comedy and comedy specials that air on Netflix apply to Ricky Gervais, as well. 

His continued defense of Chappelle and the stand-up specials on Netflix has not come without controversy. An internal email he sent to staff was leaked to the press. Some employees walked out of the streaming service’s headquarters in Los Angeles, and the company sent a corporate culture memo to employees letting them know the service would continue publishing a wide breadth of content, and if anyone wasn’t in agreement on that basic principle, the job “may not be the best place” for them to work. 

The communication came just days after Chappelle was attacked during a performance at The Hollywood Bowl by a man with a knife who claimed he was “triggered” by some of the comedian’s jokes about the LGBTQIA community. The comedian was unharmed, and the man was arrested. Just as that controversy was subsiding, however, Gervais released his new special, which brought about a whole new round of angry tweets and some critical articles from some outlets.

Since 2015, Netflix has steadily built a reputation as a home for a wide variety of comedy specials, and that momentum is only increasing. 22 separate comedy specials from a wide variety of comedians including Chappelle, Gervais, Ali Wong, Katt Williams, David Spade, Mike Epps, Ronny Chieng, Aziz Ansari and more have already premiered this year. Dozens more are expected to hit Netflix by the end of the year including the surprise special Norm Macdonald filmed in his living room before he passed away. That one premieres on the streaming giant today. 

Dave Chappelle found himself in an unexpected situation earlier this month. While performing at Netflix is a Joke at the Hollywood Bowl, the comedian was tackled by an audience member. The attacker, who was reportedly carrying a replica handgun with a knife blade in it, was promptly subdued and taken into custody. Sometime after, the man was formally given multiple misdemeanor charges (though Chappelle thought it should’ve been a felony). Now, the suspect is opening up about why he threw himself onto the comic. 

The man accused of tackling Dave Chappelle is 23-year-old Isaiah Lee of Los Angeles, who explained that his initial intention was not to attack him. However, he says that he was prompted to take action after the 48-year-old entertainer began to make jokes aimed at the homeless and LGBTQ communities. Lee apparently felt that Chappelle was not “sensitive” when covering said topics: 

This isn’t the first time that the veteran performer has been accused of making inappropriate jokes about the LGBTQ community. Last year, following the release of his Netfilix special The Closer, he received backlash for telling jokes that were deemed transphobic. Further controversy ensued after Ted Sarandos, the head of the streamer, revealed in internal company emails why the special would not be removed. After the emails leaked, Sarandos apologized for the communication tactic.

The Netflix staple apparently brought up his past controversies during his set at the Hollywood Bowl, according to Isaiah Lee. The man, who also says he was homeless at one point, went on to tell The New York Post from jail that the comedian also joked about pedophiia, which Lee says brought up negative memories from his childhood. Lee added that he also took the comments personally because he’s a father:

Isaiah Lee was given four misdemeanor charges for his actions, which include battery and possessing a deadly weapon with intent to assault. Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascó explained that his office could not charge the young man with a felony because the blade he reportedly had was not “locked in an open position.” The A Star is Born actor’s lawyer, Gabriel Colwell, argued that the situation did amount to “violent assault” and asserted that L.A.-based entertainers need better protection. This conversation has picked up steam following this year’s Oscars, where Will Smith slapped Chris Rock (who was present when Dave Chappelle was tackled). Kevin Hart has also commented on the situation, which he calls “not scary,” while David Letterman has since cracked a joke about it.

Isaiah Lee’s case is ongoing, and he’s plead not guilty to the four misdemeanor charges. He’s also facing attempted murder charges for an incident not connected to Dave Chappelle. As of this writing, no further details have been released on the matter by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

Isaiah Lee may have arguably gotten off easy when he was charged with only four misdemeanors and no felonies after attacking comedian Dave Chappelle on stage during a show at the Hollywood Bowl. However, the 23-year-old is now facing a felony charge after all, as he was arrested on attempted murder charges from a separate incident. Lee has been accused of stabbing his roommate in December 2021.

The May 3 attack of Dave Chappelle on stage during his performance at the Netflix Is a Joke Festival was already frightening enough, as Isaiah Lee reportedly rushed up while armed with a replica handgun that contained a hidden knife blade. The comedian was thankfully not injured in the attack, and in an eerie twist, the international publicity garnered by the Hollywood Bowl incident led to the eventual arrest of Lee in connection with the unrelated stabbing. According to District Attorney George Gascón said (via TMZ): 

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office is accusing Isaiah Lee of stabbing his roommate at a transitional housing apartment back in December. The victim reported the attack to police, but he was unable to identify the man who stabbed him until he saw Lee in media reports of the Dave Chappelle incident.

Isaiah Lee pleaded not guilty on May 19 to the attempted murder charge, and Deadline reports that he remains in jail with a bail set at $30,000. If he posts bail and is released, he has reportedly been ordered to remain at least 100 yards away from Dave Chappelle and the Hollywood Bowl. Lee is due back in court on June 2. 

The district attorney previously faced backlash from fans, as well as Dave Chappelle’s lawyer Gabriel Colwell, after he refused to prosecute the Hollywood Bowl attack as a felony. George Gascón charged Isaiah Lee with battery, possession of a weapon with intent to assault, unauthorized access to the stage area during a performance and commission of an act that delays an event or interferes with a performer, all of which Lee pleaded not guilty to.

Following the incident, Gabriel Colwell called for further protection for LA-based performers so that situations like this don’t occur again. Fellow comedian Kevin Hart, however, said the quick apprehension of the attacker should send a message to anyone who might consider taking such action.

The topic of comedians’ and other performers’ on-stage safety has been ongoing since Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Academy Awards after the comedian made a joke about Smith’s wife Jada. In fact, Rock was on hand to crack a joke about their unfortunate shared experiences after the Dave Chappelle incident, and the two shared a pretty funny exchange when Rock made an appearance during Chappelle’s surprise set at The Comedy Store a couple of nights later.

It’s no surprise that the comedians are processing these incidents with humor, but hopefully performers’ safety is something everybody involved with live shows is now taking seriously.

Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle have something in common when it comes to recent events: they’ve both been bum rushed on stage. For Rock, the infamous Oscar slap from Will Smith is still a subject of much discussion. The same could be said for Chappelle’s recent attack during a stand up show, which lead the two men to have a laugh at the expense of Smith’s actions. 

Well, it looks like both incidents were mined for some additional humor, as both men riffed about their recent altercations. It sounds like Chris Rock is getting more comfortable talking about his incident, as seen in this latest gag reported by Yahoo. During a recent set by Dave Chappelle at The Comedy Store, Chris dropped in as a surprise guest, and Chappelle opened a dialogue with the following attack-related commentary: 

“Smacked” might not be the best term for Dave Chappelle physically getting slammed on stage by his assailant. With further reports also indicating the presence of a fake gun and a very real knife, the attack could have been more serious than it turned out to be. Still, Chappelle is in good spirits about what’s come to pass, which may have inspired Chris Rock to move past mere offhanded comments about that infamous Oscar night.

Rock’s half of this back and forth might be considered the hardest he’s gone when it comes to addressing his Will Smith slap. Officially, Chris Rock might still be holding out to really go deep about the entire matter. However, during Dave Chappelle’s set, he contributed the following one-liner: 

There’s certainly been plenty of room for other comedians and figures of note to discuss these attacks. Kevin Hart’s remarks on the matter are a prime example of that taking place in the aftermath of Dave Chappelle’s tackling. Not to mention, Chris Rock’s family has also spoken out on his debacle, with Rock’s mother in particular being hurt by what transpired. 

Comparatively, it looks like Chappelle has risen to speaking about what happened more quickly than Rock has; but comparing the circumstances surrounding the event and its fallout, you can kind of see why. At this point, you could basically book these two comedians on their own comedy tour, and any promoter worth their salt is probably thinking about it. 

Whether they meant to or not, Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock have been linked by the common thread of being attacked during live, public performances. How, or if, this will further open the discussion of such events is yet to be seen. Knowing the personalities of both Chappelle and Rock, it looks like the fun has only just begun. 

The comedy world and public at large took notice when Dave Chappelle was attacked at the Hollywood Bowl last week. The 48-year-old comedian was finishing a set when a man, who was reportedly carrying a replica handgun that had a knife blade in it, rushed the stage and attacked him. The suspect was eventually subdued and arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. It was later confirmed that he was hit with four misdemeanor charges but no felony charge. And based on a statement from Chappelle’s lawyer, the star isn’t too pleased that the prosecutor is pursuing the case without the latter charge. 

Dave Chappelle’s lawyer, Gabriel Colwell, says that the veteran comic is “upset” that Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón has declined to proceed with the case as a felony. In the statement that he shared with The New York Post, Colwell declared that the DA should reconsider: 

The attorney would go on to describe his account of the reported incident at the Hollywood Bowl and ultimately argued that it was a “violent assault.” When discussing the matter, George Gascón asserted that he could not charge the suspect, 23-year-old Isaiah Lee, based on what was glimpsed in the video footage from the event:

The DA further explained that his office “evaluated the possibility of filing other charges,” yet the evidence they found “did not meet the statutory criteria for any felony offense.” Isaiah Lee has pleaded not guilty to those four misdemeanor charges. Following the incident, Dave Chappelle’s lawyer believes that LA-based performers need further protection so that situations like this don’t occur again:

The topic of on-stage safety for performers, particularly for comedians, has seemingly been discussed quite a bit since this year’s Oscars, where Will Smith slapped Chris Rock after he made a joke about his wife. (Coincidentally, Rock was present and cracked a joke after Dave Chappelle was attacked.) In the aftermath of the Chappelle incident, other big names in comedy have chimed in. Kevin Hart said the situation was “not scary” and believes the fact that the suspect was quickly apprehended sends a message. Meanwhile, David Letterman joked about the matter while opening his own comedy show.

The Netflix-dominant Dave Chappelle has had other negative encounters with audience members in the past, with one attendee throwing a banana skin on stage during a set he did in 2015. In terms of this latest encounter, Chappelle discussed the incident during a low-key comedy show, where he thanked friends and fans for reaching out in the aftermath. Though he’s reportedly doing alright after the ordeal, his lawyer’s statement appears to suggest that we haven’t heard the last from him on this recent matter.