Russell Simmons' Def Comedy Jam — Season 1, Episode 3

This is the episode where Bernie Mac stares down a hostile crowd and tells them he isn’t afraid. The audience at Russell Simmons’ Def Comedy Jam had a reputation for booing acts off the stage, and the room was running hot. Mac, a Chicago comic years away from television fame, walks out, addresses the tension directly, and gets the room back on his side.

Filmed in 1992 at the Academy Theatre in New York City, the third episode of the HBO series captures a distinct era of club comedy. Martin Lawrence hosts while DJ Kid Capri provides the music. Before Mac takes over, Steve Harvey performs a physical routine about an eyeball interview, well before his pivot to daytime television and tailored suits. Rodney Winfield closes out the showcase with a grounded bit pointing out the absurdity of movies like The Exorcist and Tarzan.