Dysfunction Junction
Eddie Griffin pulls comedy fodder from all corners in masterful new
special
By Michael Shashoua / Editor-in-chief
In
his new special “You Can Tell 'Em I Said It,” out on DVD Feb. 22, Eddie
Griffin is truly inspired and on fire right off the bat. Griffin veers
all over the map from celebrity pop culture to more profound topics but
you don’t mind because he keeps the energy up and the humor razor sharp.
Griffin opens the 80-minute performance with a perceptive and raunchy
take on presidential politics and the first ladies. Obama’s got pimp
moves in him, Griffin theorizes. He made Hillary, his rival, secretary
of state – banished her from the entire country, Griffin exclaims.
He
also tackles society themes with his own take on churches and religion –
white preachers try to have sex with your kids and black preachers try
to have sex with your wife, he says in cruder terms. And Griffin doesn’t
spare himself, talking about his own troubles with the law for DUI. He
can throw in surreal tangents as well, like vampires being drawn to
menstrual blood.
Griffin gets right on target making fun of old men using Viagra, the
immigration debate, and the Tea Party. Tiger Woods, Michael Vick and
LeBron James also find their way into Griffin’s sights – as he chastises
Cleveland fans for crying about James’ departure, saying “that’s why
it’s called free agency – that nigga’s free!”
As
you can see, Griffin doesn’t explore any theme or topic for very long or
even put like topics close together – related items, like each of the
different scandal-plagued athletes, come up at different points
throughout. But none of it matters. Griffin carries it all along, having
transfixed the audience right from the audience.
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