Too Black for Hollywood

OK, so you're a huge fan of classic Richard Pryor, Redd Foxx, and Eddie Murphy, but you've never heard of Paul Mooney? The bad news: You are totally clueless. The good news: You are not alone. Back in the '70s, Mooney mined nuggets of comedy genius as a writer for...

By S. Pajot

August 5, 2010

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OK, so you're a huge fan of classic Richard Pryor, Redd Foxx, and Eddie Murphy, but you've never heard of Paul Mooney? The bad news: You are totally clueless. The good news: You are not alone. Back in the '70s, Mooney mined nuggets of comedy genius as a writer for shows like The Richard Pryor Show, Sanford and Son, and Saturday Night Live. In 1987, he opened for Eddie Murphy's Raw tour. Later, he invented In Living Color’s Homey D. Clown, and played both Negrodamus and the guru from "Ask a Black Dude" on Chappelle's Show. So, why isn’t every TV addict in America groveling at the man's feet? Well, like Dave Chappelle explains in the introduction to Mooney's recent memoir, Black Is the New White: "Why isn't Mooney a mainstream star? ... Paul Mooney was too black for Hollywood!" This Thursday at 8:30 p.m., learn Mooney's name when he brings his stand-up act to the Miami Improv for a four-night stand. He'll rant about racism, slavery, and migrant workers. Even at 69, Paul Mooney's still too angry, too unpredictable, and too honest for all those white-bread showbiz brokers.
Thu., Aug. 12, 8:30 p.m., 2010

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