Paul Mooney is one of the funniest comedians ever. He has never been as acclaimed as some of his peers like Richard Pryor or Eddie Murphy. Not only is he is raw, real and sometimes even scary but he never lets up. He pushes the limits of the audience, sometimes to the point where even though they know the joke is funny they arent sure if they should laugh. His new DVD Analyzing White America is a long standup gig interspersed with Mooney as a psychiatrist analyzing white people. This is truly essential for anyone who likes to laugh and enjoys having their anger button pushed.
Buy Paul Mooney's Analyzing White America
Daniel Robert Epstein: What are you up to today besides doing this interview?
Paul Mooney: This is it. Im not telling you my business. Knowledge is power. You know all about me, I dont know a damn thing about you. So, what do you want to know?
DRE: I watched Dave Chappelle recently on The Actors Studio. He says that he has a voice that he uses when he talks to the white executives and then theres a voice he uses on stage. Just recently, I saw you on CNN talking about Richard Pryor and your voice sounded a lot different than on your special.
PM: Oh, you tripping. You must be a drug addict. My voice is always the same. Im always live, I dont use voices. Im Paul Mooney. I always use my own voice. You got a problem. Ive got a hell of an ego, brother; its hard for me to be someone else. Thats why I cant do impressions. I can do intent and situations, but Eddie Murphy can do impressions. Hes brilliant at that. My egos so strong, I cant be somebody else.
DRE: I think youre trying to analyze me now.
PM: Im not analyzing you. Its reality. Seriously, its hard for me to be someone else. I cant give me up.
DRE: Is that why you were never big on acting?
PM: Im about the best actor you know. I act like I like white people.
DRE: See, thats what Im saying. On CNN, you go on and you act like you like white people.
PM: No, Im saying that to you because youre trying to be cute. So, it just reminded me of something my daughter said when I told her she wasnt a very good actress. She said, Yes, I am. Im brilliant. I acted like Ive liked you all this time. Thats a joke, thats what it is. When I have to explain something, I worry about the person. Im too clever; they dont even know when Im pulling their leg. I do a lot of acting jobs, brother. If you put me in something, Id steal it. Id get all the reviews. I did it with Busting Loose, I did it with The Buddy Holly Story. I did it with every movie Ive ever done, I steal it.
DRE: Was this special always meant to come out on DVD?
PM: Of course it is. Its hilarious.
DRE: Its nice that you didnt do it in the traditional way like the way HBO shoots standup.
PM: No, HBO hates me.
DRE: Why do they hate you?
PM: They just do. They cant stand me. Im a hard pill to swallow, but its okay. They want everyone thats like me, but not me.
DRE: Are you too scary for them?
PM: I dont know what it is. I think Im too American.
DRE: Which means what?
PM: Im too real. When it comes to Mooney and standup, they make excuses. Ive been on HBO a lot of times. When they have specials and they want to talk about comedy. When you deal with intellectuals like Time and people that have a brain, they always call me in to ask questions. CNN or anyone that has a brain or is intellectual at all will come talk to me. They dont do that with comedians.
DRE: It seems like sometimes they dont know who theyre getting then youll come on there and say some real shit. Then theyll be like, Whoa! This guy is a smart guy.
PM: Yeah, its the truth. But Bush has helped me a lot because hes told so many lies. They want to hear the truth. It really helped my career, seriously.
DRE: Are you liberal in your views or you just dont like Bush?
PM: I just dont like Bush. Bush is the devil. Lets be real. A woman asked me in an interview once, how come more whites dont participate in Black History Month. I told her that it was because it is what it is. Schindlers List didnt have any Mexicans in it. Sometimes things are what they are. No matter what your taste is. It doesnt change it.
DRE: Do you think this DVD will change how people look at you?
PM: Humor changes everybody, always. Without humor, were dead.
DRE: Maybe people will freak out less when you say something on CNN.
PM: A lot of times they do because TV is controlled by the government. You know that. There was a show on called Oz, did you see that?
DRE: I loved Oz.
PM: It was a hit because black people were criminals and locked up. Then there was a show on called The Sopranos. They were all criminals, but they were all at home! They were all big gangsters: money laundering, murdering, prostitution but all at home. If you put The Black Sopranos on, and see black people at their house with their feet up on the chair, and killing, and robbing, and dealing with prostitution, white people in America would flip.
DRE: What are people so afraid?
PM: Thats because Charles is not in charge, God is. Ive been doing this a very long time, so the parents and the grandparents know who Paul Mooney is. So, God just said, Oh, you dont care for him? Im going to make your eight-year-olds like him. The Dave Chappelle exposure got me fans from eight to eighty; Ive done them across the board. They all know who I am. I have eight-year-old white kids come up to me.
DRE: Did you write Mooney on Movies and Negrodamus?
PM: I wrote all of it.
DRE: I know you created Homey the Clown for In Living Color, are you working on the Homey movie?
PM: That fell through but it may be back on.
DRE: Were you involved at all?
PM: No, not at all.
DRE: Did you not want to be?
PM: Let me tell you a story. There was a writer who came to Hollywood, who wrote, wrote, wrote but he couldnt get arrested. He was going to go up on the Hollywood sign to kill himself. While he was sleeping, a little Martian flew down, typed up a script, when he woke up, it was there, Jaws. He thought, Oh, my God. I have everything I want women, wine, money, everything I want, I have. I cant follow this up, I didnt write this. The little Martian came down and typed up another one for him. Then he said, Whoever did this, I have to share the women, the money. I got to give them whatever they want. Im going to take No-Doze and catch him and tell him. He took No-Doze, he caught the little Martian, he said, My God, you did everything for me, everything. Ive got to share this with you, the women, the money, everything. What do you want? The little Martian says, All I want is a writing credit. The writer said, Fuck you.
Now do you get it?
DRE: Yes, they steal everything.
PM: Theyll give you everything, theyll give you their daughter but theyre not giving you no credit.
DRE: What are you doing besides standup?
PM: Im doing a lot of stuff. I just did a movie with Whoopie Goldberg where I played her husband. Im always writing. I wear a lot of hats and I wear them well.
DRE: I read that BET aired Most Embarrassing Black Moments in Movies and your choice was Halle Berry and the sex scene in Monsters Ball. Why is that?
PM: The rickety, trickety white man, theyre always into that crap. Thats an old story, white man and a black woman. They think Halle Berrys so pretty because shes half-white; she looks like the master. Thats why they think shes pretty. White people tell us who is pretty. They want to make us think black is ugly. Black isnt ugly, its beautiful.
DRE: I know that youre friends with Dave Chappelle. Did you understand where Dave was coming from when he took off for Africa last year?
PM: Everything. I understand it all. Hes a very creative, intelligent young man. Hes the closest that I know to Richard Pryor in his attitude because hes child-like. Richard was the same way.
DRE: On Oprah Dave said that when they were filming a sketch with someone in blackface and a white crew guy laughed in a way that made Dave feel uncomfortable. How much racism do you find when youre working in the industry?
PM: Im in America. Its total racism. Everywhere you turn. Racism and sexism are the oil and fuel for America. A few weeks ago Hillary Clinton said This administration was run like a plantation. Do you know who flipped when she said that? Laura Bush. When youre on a plantation, who does the master sleep with? Condoleeza!
DRE: Wow.
PM: Hows that grab you? All of us from the south, we knew exactly what she meant. Hillary is ballsy. Shell be lucky if they dont shoot her. I love her. I want her to run for president. If she wins, she will be president for third time.
DRE: [laughs] Do you want to put out more specials straight to DVD?
PM: Of course, Im going to analyze black America. Im going to analyze Asian America. Im going to analyze Jew America. Im going to analyze them all. I can go on and on with this and Im going to do it. You havent seen the last of this.
DRE: Have you heard of SuicideGirls?
PM: Yes. You mean on the internet, the hairnet, whatever it is?
DRE: Do you have any tattoos?
PM: No. Im not putting any marks on me. Ive got one already, Im black. Why would I want to put a tattoo on a tattoo?
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
Buy Paul Mooney's Analyzing White America
Daniel Robert Epstein: What are you up to today besides doing this interview?
Paul Mooney: This is it. Im not telling you my business. Knowledge is power. You know all about me, I dont know a damn thing about you. So, what do you want to know?
DRE: I watched Dave Chappelle recently on The Actors Studio. He says that he has a voice that he uses when he talks to the white executives and then theres a voice he uses on stage. Just recently, I saw you on CNN talking about Richard Pryor and your voice sounded a lot different than on your special.
PM: Oh, you tripping. You must be a drug addict. My voice is always the same. Im always live, I dont use voices. Im Paul Mooney. I always use my own voice. You got a problem. Ive got a hell of an ego, brother; its hard for me to be someone else. Thats why I cant do impressions. I can do intent and situations, but Eddie Murphy can do impressions. Hes brilliant at that. My egos so strong, I cant be somebody else.
DRE: I think youre trying to analyze me now.
PM: Im not analyzing you. Its reality. Seriously, its hard for me to be someone else. I cant give me up.
DRE: Is that why you were never big on acting?
PM: Im about the best actor you know. I act like I like white people.
DRE: See, thats what Im saying. On CNN, you go on and you act like you like white people.
PM: No, Im saying that to you because youre trying to be cute. So, it just reminded me of something my daughter said when I told her she wasnt a very good actress. She said, Yes, I am. Im brilliant. I acted like Ive liked you all this time. Thats a joke, thats what it is. When I have to explain something, I worry about the person. Im too clever; they dont even know when Im pulling their leg. I do a lot of acting jobs, brother. If you put me in something, Id steal it. Id get all the reviews. I did it with Busting Loose, I did it with The Buddy Holly Story. I did it with every movie Ive ever done, I steal it.
DRE: Was this special always meant to come out on DVD?
PM: Of course it is. Its hilarious.
DRE: Its nice that you didnt do it in the traditional way like the way HBO shoots standup.
PM: No, HBO hates me.
DRE: Why do they hate you?
PM: They just do. They cant stand me. Im a hard pill to swallow, but its okay. They want everyone thats like me, but not me.
DRE: Are you too scary for them?
PM: I dont know what it is. I think Im too American.
DRE: Which means what?
PM: Im too real. When it comes to Mooney and standup, they make excuses. Ive been on HBO a lot of times. When they have specials and they want to talk about comedy. When you deal with intellectuals like Time and people that have a brain, they always call me in to ask questions. CNN or anyone that has a brain or is intellectual at all will come talk to me. They dont do that with comedians.
DRE: It seems like sometimes they dont know who theyre getting then youll come on there and say some real shit. Then theyll be like, Whoa! This guy is a smart guy.
PM: Yeah, its the truth. But Bush has helped me a lot because hes told so many lies. They want to hear the truth. It really helped my career, seriously.
DRE: Are you liberal in your views or you just dont like Bush?
PM: I just dont like Bush. Bush is the devil. Lets be real. A woman asked me in an interview once, how come more whites dont participate in Black History Month. I told her that it was because it is what it is. Schindlers List didnt have any Mexicans in it. Sometimes things are what they are. No matter what your taste is. It doesnt change it.
DRE: Do you think this DVD will change how people look at you?
PM: Humor changes everybody, always. Without humor, were dead.
DRE: Maybe people will freak out less when you say something on CNN.
PM: A lot of times they do because TV is controlled by the government. You know that. There was a show on called Oz, did you see that?
DRE: I loved Oz.
PM: It was a hit because black people were criminals and locked up. Then there was a show on called The Sopranos. They were all criminals, but they were all at home! They were all big gangsters: money laundering, murdering, prostitution but all at home. If you put The Black Sopranos on, and see black people at their house with their feet up on the chair, and killing, and robbing, and dealing with prostitution, white people in America would flip.
DRE: What are people so afraid?
PM: Thats because Charles is not in charge, God is. Ive been doing this a very long time, so the parents and the grandparents know who Paul Mooney is. So, God just said, Oh, you dont care for him? Im going to make your eight-year-olds like him. The Dave Chappelle exposure got me fans from eight to eighty; Ive done them across the board. They all know who I am. I have eight-year-old white kids come up to me.
DRE: Did you write Mooney on Movies and Negrodamus?
PM: I wrote all of it.
DRE: I know you created Homey the Clown for In Living Color, are you working on the Homey movie?
PM: That fell through but it may be back on.
DRE: Were you involved at all?
PM: No, not at all.
DRE: Did you not want to be?
PM: Let me tell you a story. There was a writer who came to Hollywood, who wrote, wrote, wrote but he couldnt get arrested. He was going to go up on the Hollywood sign to kill himself. While he was sleeping, a little Martian flew down, typed up a script, when he woke up, it was there, Jaws. He thought, Oh, my God. I have everything I want women, wine, money, everything I want, I have. I cant follow this up, I didnt write this. The little Martian came down and typed up another one for him. Then he said, Whoever did this, I have to share the women, the money. I got to give them whatever they want. Im going to take No-Doze and catch him and tell him. He took No-Doze, he caught the little Martian, he said, My God, you did everything for me, everything. Ive got to share this with you, the women, the money, everything. What do you want? The little Martian says, All I want is a writing credit. The writer said, Fuck you.
Now do you get it?
DRE: Yes, they steal everything.
PM: Theyll give you everything, theyll give you their daughter but theyre not giving you no credit.
DRE: What are you doing besides standup?
PM: Im doing a lot of stuff. I just did a movie with Whoopie Goldberg where I played her husband. Im always writing. I wear a lot of hats and I wear them well.
DRE: I read that BET aired Most Embarrassing Black Moments in Movies and your choice was Halle Berry and the sex scene in Monsters Ball. Why is that?
PM: The rickety, trickety white man, theyre always into that crap. Thats an old story, white man and a black woman. They think Halle Berrys so pretty because shes half-white; she looks like the master. Thats why they think shes pretty. White people tell us who is pretty. They want to make us think black is ugly. Black isnt ugly, its beautiful.
DRE: I know that youre friends with Dave Chappelle. Did you understand where Dave was coming from when he took off for Africa last year?
PM: Everything. I understand it all. Hes a very creative, intelligent young man. Hes the closest that I know to Richard Pryor in his attitude because hes child-like. Richard was the same way.
DRE: On Oprah Dave said that when they were filming a sketch with someone in blackface and a white crew guy laughed in a way that made Dave feel uncomfortable. How much racism do you find when youre working in the industry?
PM: Im in America. Its total racism. Everywhere you turn. Racism and sexism are the oil and fuel for America. A few weeks ago Hillary Clinton said This administration was run like a plantation. Do you know who flipped when she said that? Laura Bush. When youre on a plantation, who does the master sleep with? Condoleeza!
DRE: Wow.
PM: Hows that grab you? All of us from the south, we knew exactly what she meant. Hillary is ballsy. Shell be lucky if they dont shoot her. I love her. I want her to run for president. If she wins, she will be president for third time.
DRE: [laughs] Do you want to put out more specials straight to DVD?
PM: Of course, Im going to analyze black America. Im going to analyze Asian America. Im going to analyze Jew America. Im going to analyze them all. I can go on and on with this and Im going to do it. You havent seen the last of this.
DRE: Have you heard of SuicideGirls?
PM: Yes. You mean on the internet, the hairnet, whatever it is?
DRE: Do you have any tattoos?
PM: No. Im not putting any marks on me. Ive got one already, Im black. Why would I want to put a tattoo on a tattoo?
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
VIEW 16 of 16 COMMENTS
mythicus:
PAUL MOONEY IS THE BALLS!
fearthereaper:
By far one of the worst human beings I have ever met. Easily the most awful person I have ever worked with.