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Stand-up Mon Jul 15 2013
Paul Mooney: "The Godfather of Comedy" Comes to Chicago
Bold. Audacious. Unafraid.
There are perhaps dozens more adjectives that could describe Paul Mooney; however, for die hard, or even casual observers of the legendary stand-up comedian, these pretty much sum things up.
Fans and students of comedy will tell you that while Mooney wrote for classic 70s sitcoms like "Sanford and Son" and "Good Times," he is best known for his close ties to the late Richard Pryor, which has resulted, in some circles, with him being hailed as "the man behind the man." In the early days and during the peak of Pryor's career, Mooney wrote (or co-wrote) a lot of his television and big screen material, including the short-lived "The Richard Pryor Show," his classic "Saturday Night Live" appearance, JoJo Dancer Your Life is Calling, and much more.
In addition to his work with Pryor, Mooney continued to write, eventually ushering in his brand of humor for the "new school," with hilarious sketch comedy characters and skits including "In Living Color" (he created the popular 'Homey D. Clown' character) and "Chappelle's Show."
This weekend, Mooney brings his stand-up tour, "Paul Mooney: Black Man in the White House," to Chicago's Harold Washington Cultural Center, 4701 S. King Drive, located in the heart of the city's Bronzeville neighborhood.
Though he is brazen, indeed, Mooney has sustained a long and successful career in comedy by doing things his way, especially if the topic is race in America; and when onstage, he's not necessarily anecdotal or animated, never bites his tongue, and he is always brutally honest. The title of his tour, obviously, suggests conversations--and observations--about President Obama, and given the outcome of the recent George Zimmerman trial, he is sure to go "there," as well.
Catch the one night only performance of "Paul Mooney: Black Man in the White House," Saturday, July 20, for two shows, 7pm and 9pm; tickets are $50-$75 and are available online. For more information, call 773-373-1900.
Photo courtesy of Showtime.
victor / July 18, 2013 12:46 PM
Wow...Paul Mooney is hilarious...I would love to see his show!!!