On his new show, David Alan Grier dares to ask the question that's been on everyone's mind: What the hell happened to hip-hop? When did "Fight the power" become "Wait 'til you see my dick"?
"Chocolate News," a news magazine show hosted by Grier on Comedy Central, raises questions like these through a sketch comedy lineup and the satirical impersonations Grier has become known for. Grier sat down for a national phone conference to talk about his hopes for his new show, Maya Angelou, and the need for political humor.
How and when did this option first come about?
Well we've been in development for almost two years, over that. After the Dave Chappelle show, Comedy Central was tussling with that: How do they do something that is targeted at that same audience, meaning black people, young people, old people, because really, Dave Chappelle's show reached out to everybody. Everybody had tried to re-do his show, and no one had succeeded because it just doesn't work. You have to do your own thing. I know as a viewer it's always a turn-off when I see someone and it feels like they're pandering to me.
Have you had any problems with censorship, self or otherwise?
Months and months ago, we decided to do the first black candidate, and one producer in particular thought it was too close to Barack Obama. If it were any way interpreted that this could happen, meaning the assassination of Barack Obama, how horrible that would be, so we pulled it out and we talked, and later on we brought it back. Mostly the censorship is in terms of profanity and obscenity. They didn't even want us to use the term "wigger," and I was like, really? You mean to tell me if I say "wigger" that you're going to be flooded with millions of wiggers who are going to call the station? Sometimes it's ridiculous.
What do you find appealing about the show that you hope to resonate with viewers?
I think it's loosening up now, but for a while there was no black comedy show on TV. Even "The Daily Show." Everybody was afraid to do any kind of humor around Obama because you were immediately branded bigoted, racist, politically incorrect. Somebody's got to do it. The bottom line is that it's about comedy. I want to make everybody laugh, not just black people.
In your first episode, you parodied Maya Angelou. How do you prepare to spoof these people?
When I was a kid, when I would look at Maya Angelou, she always looked when she smiled like she had had a stroke or something, and it looked to me so painful. That was where it started. It's great fun to poke fun at sacred cows, and she's the biggest one.
How do you feel comedy is important during the election?
If you go back through history, comedy was a way to turn the mirror back on politics and the society, and it has always been very powerful because it was a way for the populace to laugh. I sit there watching TV all day, and all we are getting shoved down our throats is car salesman, car salesman, car salesman. One is selling cars for the Democrats, one for the Republicans. It's really hard for the populace to get a real opinion, and it's so rife to be made fun of. I think it keeps our society healthy.
"Chocolate News" airs every Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. on Comedy Central.
