Back in November, Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock appeared together on Saturday Night Live. Chappelle was hosting the show, taking place right after the presidential election, and Rock was a surprise guest in a sketch where the two made fun of their white liberal friends’ collective response to Donald Trump’s overwhelming victory.
It got us all thinking — man, we’d love to see these two together in action. There are many things the world really needs right now, but a one-two reality punch from modern-day comedy legends like Rock and Chappelle is up there on the list. And judging from Chappelle’s new Netflix specials, the unapologetic funnyman still hasn’t lost his fastball after an extended break from comedy.
Saturday night in New Orleans, Rock and Chappelle took the stage together at the Saenger Theatre for an impromptu “social experiment.” Rock was headlining the show, and as fans were anxiously awaiting his performance — and already having watched Jeff Ross and Eric Andre perform — Chappelle came out unannounced.
Tonight's safety tip from Chris Rock: Don't take big drink of water while Dave Chappelle is saying something. pic.twitter.com/K8vtxMtFHr
— Michael DeMocker (@MichaelDeMocker) March 26, 2017
According to the Times-Picayune, Chappelle performed for about 30 minutes, then Rock emerged and the two riffed for another 60. There’s apparently no video from the set as of now — restrictions were tight, as you’ll read below — but the New Orleans newspaper was there to (kinda) fill us in:
“Although the tour’s press restrictions prevent us from actually explaining much of what the rest of the night was like or anything Rock said, it’s safe to say Trump’s name wasn’t off limits. Or that of adult film star Alexis Texas. Or Rock’s divorce. Or the heat Chappelle caught for certain jokes from his Netflix specials.
The pair of comedians spent much of the night just riffing off each other and laughing at each other’s wisecracks, one of which left Rock spitting a sip of water across the stage as he momentarily lost control in laughter. Still, Chappelle gave his real host enough space for segments of his regular stand-up act to slip in to the show.
Close to the end of the night, Chappelle looked at his friend onstage and back out toward the audience before confessing, ‘This might be one of the flyest things I’ve ever been a part of.’”
Check out some pictures Rock posted to Instagram after the show, with the caption: “Watch the Throne Part 2. Total blackout tour 2017.”
Let’s hope that last part is a tease — and this championship tag-team tours the country. We all need it.