Inside The Actors Studio: Dave Chappelle DVD Credits:

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Inside The Actors Studio: Dave Chappelle DVD Release Date: 7th November 2006

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Inside The Actors Studio: Dave Chappelle DVD Review:

Inside The Actor’s Studio has been a show that gives us an in-depth and honest look at actors and their trade, always with substantial stars appearing as guests, but the issue of celebrity is hardly ever investigated. Dave Chappelle opens up and gives one of the most honest interviews about celebrity that I have ever seen. He begins explaining extremely personal and profound insight without even having to be asked. Host James Lipton merely has to prod him along in a direction with questions but he takes a hold of each subject with a hunger to tell the truth to his fans. It is remarkably refreshing.

This show was also an opportunity to see Lipton in a more relaxed setting, or at least an attempt at something along these lines. About halfway through the show he begins to loosen up and play off of Chappelle. At one point he shows a clip that parodies Inside The Actor’s Studio from Chappelle Show and responds to Dave by asking where his “f***ing residuals” were. Moments later they have a dance off from their chairs, which eventually leads to Lipton embarrassing himself in good fun. Rarely has there been a guest as hip as Dave Chappelle on Inside The Actor’s Studio and Lipton even adjusts his vernacular, but it mostly just inspires laughter among the audience and Dave. At one point the comedian even stops to remark at the absurdity of his body of work for a show that usually invites far more serious but certainly not more talented actors. Few comedians and comedic actors receive much attention but clearly Chappelle is an exception, as Richard Prior was before him.

This insightful episode couldn’t have come at a better time. It was filmed just after Chappelle’s return from a vacation/escape to Africa where he was welcomed with many rumors about his reasons for leaving his hit creation, Chappelle Show, and just before the release of his incredible film Dave Chappelle’s Block Party. He obviously came into the interview knowing that everyone would be most likely to watch just to find out the truth behind all of the rumors and he does not disappoint. He gives such an honest and insightful interview that the episode was nominated for an Emmy.

It is worth mentioning that Inside The Actor’s Studio has never been available on DVD before the release of this DVD and the simultaneous release of the Inside The Actor’s Studio: Icons DVD package. The Icons package includes Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Clint Eastwood and Barbara Streisand. The fact that Dave Chappelle is the only other guest to have his episode released on DVD says a great deal about his popularity and the quality of this episode. In many ways this episode is far better than any of the episodes included in the Icons package, which is due to his willingness to honesty.

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Inside The Actors Studio: Dave Chappelle DVD review written by: Ryan Izay