If Charlie Murphy wasn't part of Chappelle's Show, would it have been as successful?

[Agent Mulder's Hair]

How integral to the success of Chappelle's Show was Charlie Murphy? Without Charlie, you have no Rick James sketches. No Prince sketch. And those sketches are what put the show over with the mainstream audience. Whenever somebody quoted the show in the mid 2000's, it was always a quote from one of those sketches. And the way Charlie told those stories was cool as fuck, and funny.

There were other funny sketches but without Charlie's True Hollywood Stories, I don't think that show gets off the ground like it did. But Dave is a comedic genius, so it's possible he would've come up with something just as good without Charlie. But I doubt the audience would have latched onto the show the way we did without Charlie.

What do you think, bitches?

 

[Mike]

I think so. Dave was the heart of that show. There were a lot of funny sketches, almost every single one is hilarious and that's what makes the show so special.

 

[Agent Mulder's Hair]

 

[lts5025]

The real unsung hero of that show was Neal Brennan. Chappelle's Show never would have gone mainstream without him.

 

[Agent Mulder's Hair]

The real unsung hero of that show was Neal Brennan. Chappelle's Show never would have gone mainstream without him.

I know that's true. But I've heard plenty of people give Neal credit. And I've heard Neal himself going on and on about it.

But I never hear people give Charlie Murphy the credit he deserves.

 

[Pittie Petey]

It still wouldve been a massive success because there was too much talent involved with that show but obviously it wouldve never had the funniest episode of all time without him

 

[mushishi]

Charlie has the most memorable sketches from the show. Can you imagine how much blow he must have done in the '80s?

 

[HereticBD]

Double edged sword, I guess. Would the show have run longer if it didn't become synonymous with the Rick James sketch, and make Chappelle hate being a celebrity so much?

I think it would've been a big success regardless. We'd all probably just be talking about the Wayne Brady, and Clayton Bigsby sketch a lot more.

 

[smooth assassin]

Dave Chapelle was awesome but the best moments on show featured Charlie Murphy, the way he narrarates kills me. I dont know anyone who could have told story of Rick James and Prince as good as him

Side question, is Charlie Murphy involved in any shows these days?

 

[John Stockton]

The Prince and Rick James stories are some of the best, but the show could easily stand on its own without them.

 

[Joe_Armstrong]

It was a fun extra but Chapelle made the show.

 

[bad seed]

did you know theres an Irish actress named Charlie Murphy?

googling her can be difficult because that other Charlie Murphy takes precedence.

 

[Hollywood Jack]

Murphy gave them a lot of great material, but Dave and Neil were the ones who were able to turn it into gold, and would have came up with great stuff regardless. I also agree with @HereticBD that it's a good question if the show would have gone on longer and reached higher heights if the "Rick James" hype hadn't happened?

 

[lts5025]

did you know theres an Irish actress named Charlie Murphy?

googling her can be difficult because that other Charlie Murphy takes precedence.

 

[Significance Deficit]

I know that's true. But I've heard plenty of people give Neal credit. And I've heard Neal himself going on and on about it.

But I never hear people give Charlie Murphy the credit he deserves.

Neal was Chappelle's equal in terms of writing for the show. Most people have no idea who he is. The fact that you have, "heard plenty of people give Neal credit" doesn't amount to much in comparison to his actual contributions.

 

[jdionio]

Yes. The Charlie Murphy parts were only a part of the overall show.

 

[weed]

did you know theres an Irish actress named Charlie Murphy?

googling her can be difficult because that other Charlie Murphy takes precedence.

would fuck her on your couch, nickel.

 

[Jermei]

Charlie Murphy was like Dave Chappelle's Scotty Pippin... and an essential part of a dynasty.

 

[mb23100]

That show was incredibly funny. Everytime a thread pops up about it im reminded of a bunch of more hilarious sketches I had forgot about. Fun fact. Dave Chapelle comes to my work every once in awhile and rides around on one of those electric scooters for disabled people and goes around interviewing all the employees lol

 

[Jack Reacheround]

I don't know. The show certainly had plenty of great sketches. But when I saw the Rick James and Prince sketches was really when I thought, "this show is special."