Taking You Higher

Cedric the Entertainer treats his first solo HBO hour less like a typical stand-up routine and more like an old-school Vegas revue. Backed by an eight-piece band and a troupe of dancers he introduces as “the Cedibles,” he breaks up his time at the microphone with singing and choreographed musical numbers. The pageantry fits his persona. He pivots regularly into physical comedy, working through impressions that range from Serena Williams to James Brown.

Filmed at The Wiltern in Los Angeles in 2006, Taking You Higher caught the comic during a busy stretch of mainstream movies and voiceover roles. The production served as a reminder of his stage fundamentals, becoming HBO’s highest-rated comedy broadcast that year. He talks through the politics of the era, referencing gas prices, the War on Terror, and George W. Bush, who he clarifies is “the new president, not the one we like”. When he steps away from current events, he imagines the existence of a gay kangaroo, complains about the logistics of high-end dining, and admits to putting on a Jerry Rice jersey just to watch the wide receiver compete on Dancing with the Stars.