Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle join forces for California comedy tour
The two comics took different paths to their stand-up careers, but their talents have grown together.
When Dave Chappelle first started doing stand-up at a comedy club in Chicago, he met comics Rick Nielsen and Jerry Seinfeld. The trio would perform sketch comedy, with Rick playing the straight man to Chappelle’s wackiness. Chappelle would perform as the host, and he took to the stage alone. The audience loved it.
Soon, Chappelle and Seinfeld set out to become comedy partners, opening up their unique brand of comedy and inviting comedians like Richard Lewis and Tom Segura to join them on stage.
Chappelle’s live show, Chappelle’s Show, began in late 2001 and now has over 500 shows playing worldwide and has built a loyal following of more than 30 million people.
In late 2012, it was announced that Chappelle would make a one-off special for Netflix and then open a new comedy club in Los Angeles. The show was released in May 2013 and the new comedy club opened in February 2015, hosting Chappelle and his comedy partner Rick Sanchez as well as fellow stand-ups such as Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle.
Now, after a run of 11 sold-out shows in Chicago, the three comedians are performing together again and it’s not on Chappelle’s home turf. Rather, it’s in Southern California where they performed earlier this week. The duo has sold out every show.
Rock and Chappelle had a lot in common when they teamed up on the big screen. Both made it to the prestigious School of Rock film series. Rock also appeared in Chappelle’s Show as his stand-up character, Eddie Murphy.
Chappelle had worked with Rock once before, when he performed at the 2011 Comedy Central Roast of Eddie Murphy. Chappelle’s Show is a different kind of comedy, but the two comics seem to be on the same wavelength.
“I think we’re both trying to find the path that we’re supposed to be on,” Chappelle told Vanity Fair. “We could use each other’s voices, so each of
