Paul Mooney (August 4, 1941 – May 19, 2021)
May 19, 2021 5:37 PM   Subscribe

Paul Mooney, who wrote for Richard Pryor and appeared on ‘Chappelle’s Show,’ dies at 79 [The Washington Post] A onetime circus ringmaster, Mr. Mooney got into comedy after watching Lenny Bruce perform at a bar in the early 1960s. He went on to adopt a similarly profane style, with routines about American politics and racism, mocking stereotypes about Black people and incorporating the n-word into his stand-up in an effort to deprive the term of its power.

Paul Mooney Remembered by Dave Chappelle, Ava DuVernay and More: ‘He Spoke Freely and Fearlessly’ [The Wrap] posted by riruro (35 comments total) 15 users marked this as a favorite
 
A real one. Loved this mf'er and was somehow lucky enough to see him some years back. The man was powerful and may he similarly rest.
posted by youarenothere at 6:09 PM on May 19, 2021 [1 favorite]


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posted by pazazygeek at 6:36 PM on May 19, 2021


I first heard of him on Chappelle's Show, where his segments were so absolutely brilliant they sent me looking for his other work. This is a real loss to the world.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 6:36 PM on May 19, 2021 [3 favorites]


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posted by SystematicAbuse at 6:46 PM on May 19, 2021


Never forget.
posted by praemunire at 7:06 PM on May 19, 2021 [1 favorite]


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posted by dis_integration at 7:10 PM on May 19, 2021


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posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 7:11 PM on May 19, 2021


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posted by detachd at 7:13 PM on May 19, 2021


Archived link for the WaPo obit. About his writing partnership with Richard Pryor: The duo worked together on movies, comedy specials and television shows such as “Saturday Night Live,” which Pryor agreed to host in 1975 after insisting that Mr. Mooney serve as a guest writer. In an electric high point of theepisode, Pryor played a job applicant who interviews with Chevy Chase, the show’s breakout star. An ensuing word-association test devolved into an increasingly dangerous exchange of racial slurs. Often cited as one of the greatest sketches in SNL history — Mr. Mooney likened it to a hydrogen bomb that he and Pryor dropped on “America’s consciousness” — the sketch also inspired debate over its authorship, with Chase and Mr. Mooney both taking credit.

For his part, Mr. Mooney said the concept was inspired by a patronizing exchange he had with SNL creator Lorne Michaels, who questioned his comedy credentials at length before allowing him to work on the show. “Easiest sketch I ever write,” he recalled in a 2007 memoir, “Black Is the New White.” “All I do is bring out what is going on beneath the surface of that interview with Lorne and the NBC execs in the jai alai greenroom.”

posted by Iris Gambol at 7:29 PM on May 19, 2021 [14 favorites]


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posted by jquinby at 7:39 PM on May 19, 2021


Oh, man.
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posted by eustatic at 8:31 PM on May 19, 2021


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posted by djseafood at 8:39 PM on May 19, 2021


Hoo boy. This is a great loss.


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posted by droplet at 8:44 PM on May 19, 2021


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posted by Pouteria at 8:44 PM on May 19, 2021


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posted by Lyme Drop at 9:06 PM on May 19, 2021


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posted by The Great Big Mulp at 9:12 PM on May 19, 2021


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posted by wotsac at 9:28 PM on May 19, 2021


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posted by flamk at 9:33 PM on May 19, 2021


He's fucking fabulous is what he is, and will be, and has been, for me. Keep talking to me and telling me how you see things, I need to hear this.
riuro, thanks for the links-- especially the Paul Mooney talks about Princess Di and the Queen.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, for existing. What a splendid m'fucker.
posted by winesong at 10:14 PM on May 19, 2021 [2 favorites]


Oh no!

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posted by riverlife at 12:18 AM on May 20, 2021


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posted by Ten Cold Hot Dogs at 12:50 AM on May 20, 2021


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posted by Don.Kinsayder at 2:43 AM on May 20, 2021


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posted by kinnakeet at 4:55 AM on May 20, 2021


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posted by filtergik at 4:59 AM on May 20, 2021


I heard the NPR obituary this morning and then came here to see this. Well done in both cases.
posted by y2karl at 5:26 AM on May 20, 2021


He was the real deal, so much so that even though he wrote for people who were giants themselves, when you saw Paul Mooney you couldn't help but think you were seeing the man behind the curtain.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:26 AM on May 20, 2021 [2 favorites]


Really interesting to hear about his relationship to Michael Richards in that letterman interview (starts at 6:00).
posted by The Ted at 8:55 AM on May 20, 2021


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posted by JoeXIII007 at 9:54 AM on May 20, 2021


🎤.
posted by adekllny at 11:33 AM on May 20, 2021


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posted by dannyboybell at 3:18 PM on May 20, 2021


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posted by TwoStride at 3:40 PM on May 20, 2021


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posted by Windopaene at 5:39 PM on May 20, 2021


The Wake-up Call (1994, interestingly dated)

One of the realest ever

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posted by rhizome at 3:19 AM on May 21, 2021


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posted by hap_hazard at 9:02 AM on May 21, 2021


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posted by Mutant Lobsters from Riverhead at 3:17 PM on May 21, 2021


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