Chris Tucker Used Columbia as His Test Market
Posted July 28, 2010 by That Teowonna!
Tuesday night, Chris Tucker took to the stage at Columbia’s very own, The Comedy House Theatre. According to a fellow comedian, it was his first time onstage in three years. And boy did it show!
Chris Tucker’s performance left a lot to be desired. I mean a lot! How about laughter, for starters. Is a well-rehearsed routine too much to ask? What about a single memorable joke? A grand finale, perhaps? For tickets that cost as much as $30, I expected at least one of those. I got none.
Ok. First of all, let me say that I went to the very first show of his 6-day Comedy House engagement. So I know the last show in the run will probably be remarkably better than the show I saw. And for the sake of those who bought their non-refundable tickets in advance, they’d better hope so, because Tuesday’s show was mediocre at best. If Chris Jones had charged $30 for the caliber of show that Chris Tucker delivered, The Comedy House Theatre probably would have had a mutiny on their hands.
I know Chris Tucker is highly coveted in the movie industry. He’s made us laugh in the Rush Hour movies, Fifth Element, Dead Presidents, Friday and others. (In case you weren’t aware of his movies, he reminded you as he took a self-serving stroll down movie-memory-lane). Maybe his performance demonstrated that he has so effectively made the transition to movie star, that he is no longer a professional stand up comic. Or perhaps his recent spiritual awakening has something to do with his lackluster performance.
While I encourage everyone to make peace with their God, Tucker’s new palatable style almost put me to sleep. His spiritual awakening may help him get into heaven, but it did nothing for his comedy show.
Speaking of spiritual awakening, let me note that Tucker did not use a great deal of profanity. Ass, shit, damn and hell was as deep as it went for him. I’ve heard preachers use worse language, so that was pretty mild. I applaud him for his family-friendly show, because I know for a fact that you don’t have to use the n-word, extreme vulgarity and demeaning comments about women in order to be funny. But the one thing that is required to be funny are jokes… and Chris Tucker had very few. He basically paraded up and down the stage, sang songs that he didn’t know the words to, and did a few amateur impersonations for two whole hours. Need I remind you that some people paid 30 bucks for those tickets?
I used to work at the Comedy House when I was in college so I got to see some awesome shows during my tenure there. I saw Chris Rock, George Wallace, Sheryl Underwood, Pauley Shore, Sommore, Adele Givens and many other well-known comics when they were at the top of their games. All of them had something in common, (perhaps with the exception of Pauley Shore) a routine. Their shows had a distinct beginning, middle, and end. They had smooth transitions from topic to topic. They told a comedic story that took you on a journey and ultimately culminated in a grand finale, which was often the best joke of the night. Chris Tucker’s show had none of that… except, perhaps an opening. He came out to Michael Jackson’s “You Rock My World”. You may recall that he appeared in MJ’s video, so that was fitting. Other than that, the entire show was off the cuff and willy-nilly. He was visibly thinking of jokes to tell and even asked us a time or two for joke topics. Now… this is Columbia, SC. We are every late night comic’s dream, and you have the nerve to ask the audience what’s going on? Gimme a break. How are you going to take to our number one comedy stage and not mention Alvin Greene, Joe Wilson, Governor Mark Sanford, and the New Black Panthers? A comedian has enough material within a 30-mile radius of the Comedy House to keep an audience rolling for days. Yet Chris Tucker didn’t employ any of them. Instead, he talked about how his family rags him for money.
Another problem I had with Tucker’s show (as if you need another one) was that he complained about the downside of his fame. Man, you make millions and many people had to scrape up 30 bucks just to see you and all you want to do is complain? We don’t want to hear that. We have real problems at home… we PAID you to help us escape them. We don’t want to hear how much you hate taking pictures with fans… I mean really. WE are fans! You didn’t have a problem taking our $30! Furthermore, how dare you threaten to stop the show when YOU mistake the flash from a sparkly shirt for a camera flash and erroneously summoned security. In the words of Samuel L Jackson in Jackie Brown (another Chris Tucker movie), “What happened to you man? You used to be beautiful!”
Ok… So I guess my final verdict is that Chris Tucker used Columbia as his test market. And that’s probably good for him, because if he were someplace else, his unscripted, disjointed, all over the place yet going nowhere show would have been eaten alive! He’s lucky he just has to deal with ThatTeowonna!
Discussion: What do you think? If you saw the show, were you disappointed? Why do you think Chris Tucker selected Columbia to test out his skit?
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No Way!!! Dude got to get his mojo back because he is one of my favorite comics. Thanks for the heads up, I hope someone gets him this review.
007: All true, man. I lie not!
Interesting Teowonna! I’m not surprised at all by this review. It appears when comedians make the leap to super movie star, standup is never the same. I hear Eddie Murphy is returning to the comedic stage as well. I believe his story may be similar. Chris Tucker stopped being funny when he shot the first Rush Hour movie. While I’m happy for anyone who makes the decision to turn their life over to God – when it comes to comedy often the two don’t mix. Chris was 17 when we were introduced to his rough-edged side splitting comedy routine. I’m sure many people play those old Def Jam Comedy DVD’s. Chris was certifiably insane back then and we loved him. I pretty much knew his stand up was over when he turned down the second “Friday” movie.
Thanks for the heads up. When he hits L.A. I think I’ll pass.
I have a friend who’s going to see him tonight. Was I wrong for forewarning her, paraphrasing some of what you said previously on Facebook about Tucker’s show from the other night? And after reading this, what did it for me: him asking yawl, the audience, for joke topics. If I’d been there, I’d have gotten up and left with a plan B in my head as I was walking out of the door.
You did right by you friend. Forewarned is forearmed!
Phyllis: Hopefully if he makes it to LA, he would have made some significant changes by then. I’ve seen some Christian comedians who are very funny without using profanity. It almost seemed like Chris Tucker didn’t even try because none of the basics if comedy were there.
People need to stop worshiping celebrities. They all want too much money. Check the news, Chris Tucker is in deep tax trouble. That may have been on his mind and threw his game off. We are not talking about normal people tax problems, were talking Wesley Snipes/Willie Nelson tax problems. I don’t think that Mark Sanford and Alvin Greene was on his mind.
I was at the show on Tuesday night, also. I personally have to say that he did an outstanding job! For him to have not done stand-up comedy for nearly 5 years, just his presence live, up-close, and in person had me sold! For those complainers who wasted time buying their tickets(as we tend to do and are labeled for always being late), if you had purchased in advance u would have only paid $20. Hell, u pay $20 for 2 movie tickets and don’t get to speak to any actor/actress!!! Anyway, the show was very pleasant. No comic, no matter who they are, keeps the crowd laughing at every show!!! And as for you, Teowonna, u are probably ghetto as hell and don’t appreciate a semi-clean performance! U probably wouldn’t know how to act!!! CHRIS WAS GREAT!!!!
I think that you are totally wrong for the comments that you have made about Chris Tucker, Teowonna! Everyone has the right to free speech, but to outright disrespect an artist who is trying to get his stand-up career started, again, is RUDE! U are not a critic, cuz if u were u would know better!!! And another thing, Chris Tucker doesn’t have a writer or a set script since he is just starting out, again. He chose Columbia because the Comedy House is now know as the Premier Comedy Club on the east coast and in the dirty south for all the big comedians. The comedy house is new and improved. Its great! Columbia should be flattered that a big actor/comic even considered us! U r such a HATER!!!
Lol. Thanks for setting me straight!
Leslie, you know that show was bad! If it had been anyone else, you would have demanded your $20 back. Don’t give home a pass just because he’s famous! B
Hi, Teowonna. I will start by saying that I am the booking agent for the Comedy House. I was very surprised and very disturbed by your comments relating to Chris! Mr. Tucker is a very professional, friendly, and hard-working man. He has been out of the comedy game for nearly 5 years, now. His christianity, personal finances, and family matters are a part of his show because that is his life. Most comics tend to talk about the same things, but also include drugs, disrespecting women, and cussing up a storm! If that is what you think comedy is all about, then you are sadly mistaken!!! You must always remember to afford people an opportunity to start fresh. Mr. Tucker has been taking the time to have each performance recorded in an effort to critique them the next day. He is making every attempt to shorten and perfect his show so that the “fans” are satisfied! On several instances, he even told the crowd how glad he was to be back on the scene. Each of his shows have been improving and all the comment cards have been excellent! By the end of the week he should be on-point! Once again, please remember that after 5 years of not doing stand-up comedy and a changed lifestyle, he still has the talent (and you can see it’s still there, just needs to be polished) and the nerve to get up on stage in front of more than 375 patrons and give his all!!! What are you willing to do, besides running off at the mouth and critiquing his performance??? Anyway, as far as the money you are complaining about people spending on tickets, you didn’t even pay for yours!!! Oh, the nerve…the gall…the audacity!!!! Come and see me to get the real “truth” the next time you decide that you want to start disrespecting my performers!!!! And by the way, don’t even worry about anymore “free” tickets!
I can’t speak for you, Teowonna, but I can damn sure speak for myself!!! I can appreciate a semi-clean show, finally! Sinbad is the example. It was worth the $20 I spent (and I bought my tickets in advance)!!! I am not saying this because its Chris Tucker, but because it is refreshing to take in a show where every-other word isn’t “ho, bitch, pussy, dick, sex, weed, or mutha-fucka”!!! If that what you consider comedy, then I feel sorry for you! Anyway, If you didn’t like the show, then you should have left! A waste of money is a waste of money, whether you stayed or left! I don’t believe that you have the right to push your views on anyone, so please let us at least experience it for ourselves and draw our own conclusions!! As the saying goes: one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch!!! Don’t be that bad apple!!! Maybe you need to go and see another show.
Shy. Thanks for your comments. I guess I can understand your anger with me, but I didn’t say anything negative about The Comedy House. I only commented on Chris Tucker’s performance… the Comedy House was great! And I thank you for the free ticket but just because you gave me a free ticket does not buy him a great review. If Chris had done an excellent job, I would have blown him up with accolades… it just so happens he didn’t, so I told the truth as I saw it. As many others saw it too. I talked to a number of people before I wrote the review. For the first time ever, I wanted someone to sway my opinion. But the people I talked to couldn’t offer anything positive… other than it was great to see Chris Tucker up close and personal. I can’t give him a pass for being famous.
Here’s the thing… I didn’t lie about anything I said. He did overreact when he thought someone had a camera… his show was disjointed… he didn’t have a finale… he did complain about his fans. So, I did what I’m supposed to do… tell it like it is!
You see, part of the problem with celebrities is that they have people in their ears telling them what they want to hear… protecting their egos, instead of telling them the truth. A real friend would take him my blog, read it to him, acknowledge the truth in what I said, and help him improve. He’s a grown ASS man… he can take it!
Anywho, I’m gonna miss my free tickets. But I will gladly relinquish that privilege…. because I can’t be bought!
Chris Tucker was great! I really appreciate his semi-clean performance. You have to give him the respect that is due and for a young black man to make it this far is a blessing especially in the south. I am in his corner 100 percent. You keep doing your thing Chris.
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I know he is a great performer. I’ve been trying to see him for years doing stand up. I don’t care if it’s good or not so good, I will support him. She need to get a life. Maybe new York from d reality show can help her out.”lol”
You know, I have to disagree with you. I believe if Chris Tucker is taking people’s money, they should get a great value for it. I’m sorry, I can’t give him a pass just because he is famous. I’m not star struck… if I pay for something, I expect to get a well-though out, rehearsed show. Not a jumbled up bunch of crap. But if you know New York, tell her to holla at a sista!