Comedian Dave Chappelle on Sunday (October 27) received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
A lineup of actors and entertainers, including Jon Stewart and Morgan Freeman paid tribute to the comedian whose witty, sharp and oftentimes irreverent social commentary explores race, politics, sex and popular culture.
They all said Chappelle is brilliant, makes them laugh and deserves the recognition.
shotlist….
1. (SOUNDBITE) (English)Ā COMEDIANĀ DAVEĀ CHAPPELLE, SAYING:
REPORTER ASKING: “What do you have in common with Mark Twain?”
CHAPPELLE: “Mark Twain? I don’t know, I never met him (LAUGHS).”
REPORTER ASKING ABOUT FUTURE ACTING PROJECTS AFTER STARRING IN THE BRADLEY COOPER-DIRECTED ‘A STAR IS BORN’
CHAPPELLE: “You know, I don’t really have ambitions like this, but really the main reason I did is because I love and trust Bradley Cooper so much. He actually is a good friend of mine and I love the experience of working with him. But I don’t know, everything’s going to be like working with Bradley Cooper. So I don’t anticipate that I…”
3. (SOUNDBITE) (English)Ā COMEDIANĀ DAVEĀ CHAPPELLE, SAYING:
“Well, you know, deserve was a very difficult word in life. I don’t know if anybody deserves anything they get, good or bad. You just take it as it comes. I am honored that I’ve got a good card in this deck. I have worked very hard my life. The fact that anybody would recognize that outside of me and my family is amazing to me and I’m very grateful, especially given my past experience.”
4. FLASH
5. (SOUNDBITE) (English)Ā COMEDIANĀ DAVEĀ CHAPPELLE, SAYING:
“I am personally not afraid of other people’s freedom of expression. I don’t use it as a weapon. It just makes me feel better. And I’m sorry if I hurt anybody. Et cetera, et cetera, yada, yada, yada. Everything I’m supposed to say.”
8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR MORGAN FREEMAN, SAYING:
FREEMAN: “Why is it important?”
REPORTERS: “I mean, it’s a big deal.”
FREEMAN: “I was invited. What would you do? Was the victim.”
REPORTERS: “He’s up here in the pantheon of Americans.”
FREEMAN: “Absolutely.”
REPORTERS: “Why do you think he is so unique?”
FREEMAN: “Because he’sĀ DaveĀ Chappelle, you know. Yeah.”
REPORTER: “Who are you going to vote in 2020?”
FREEMAN: “Who am I what?”
REPORTER: “Who are you going to vote in 2020?”
FREEMAN, AS HE WALKS AWAY: “Nobody.”
10. (SOUNDBITE) (English)Ā COMEDIANĀ KENAN THOMSON, SAYING:
“I mean, anything overly repetitive gets a little tiring, but you know, it seems like there’s just Trump fatigue in general. So we’ll see how that plays out. Yeah, it seems like there’s a new day approaching.”
12. (SOUNDBITE) (English)Ā COMEDIANĀ KENAN THOMSON, SAYING:
“This is a fearlessness that you don’t see in a lot of people like that. Fearlessness is what’s it like? Express what you’re thinking, basically. You know, not necessarily in a way to like offend or hurt anybody in the beginning. But if that happens, he has a way of getting to a place where he can understand where he was coming from. You know, hopefully ninety nine percent of the time basically and, you know, that’s unique, to be able to just spit out what’s on your mind.”
14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER NBA PLAYER GRANT HILL, SAYING:
“I don’t know. He’s got a certain style about him. His delivery is his humor. I always found it interesting that allĀ comedians are able to find humor in all situations, all walks of life. He’s got his own style and it’s one of a kind. And big fan of his and just honored to be here with my wife and co-chairing this event tonight.”
16. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FRENCH JAZZ STAR FREDERIC YONNET, ANSWERING WHETHER HE HAS A FAVORITEĀ CHAPPELLEĀ ACT:
“You know, he’s actually funnier off stage than he is on stage. So no, the list is huge. I wouldn’t pick one favorite, I can’t I can’t pick one favorite quote. But I can tell you he’s he’s an amazing and amazing person, extremely generous. And he’s well, well deserving of this award tonight.”
19. (SOUNDBITE) (English)Ā COMEDIANĀ CHRIS TUCKER, SAYING:
“I think, , I think because he has a big heart. A lot of people don’t know that he has a big heart. I know him personally. And you know, I think he’s brilliant. I think he’s funny, creative and he is smart. So I think that all that together is just on top of funny is great.”
WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 27, 2019) (COURTESY PBS)
23. (SOUNDBITE) (English)Ā COMEDIANĀ DAVEĀ CHAPPELLE, SAYING:
“And what I really want to say tonight and I’m glad I finally get to do it: I’m gay (LAUGHS). I am gay and I can’t wait to see what this does to my career being gay like this. (LAUGHS).”
“Because it was so beautiful and we would go and we would huddle and we would go and shoot and we would explore more and it was just vibrant and the whole set was just crackling, with what happens when you are aroundĀ DaveĀ Chappelle, so thank you. I’m just mad about SNL (Saturday Night Live). In the monologue………..
