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Voodoo Child

Eddie Griffin

HBO · 1997 · 57 min

Rapid character work and broad impressions from a 1997 HBO hour.

Eddie Griffin thrives on kinetic, restless energy, bounding across the stage to cycle through rapid character work and switch voices. He anchors the front half of his 1997 hour with a story about trying to get through high school while completely stoned, showcasing a physical looseness that elevates his observational premises. He is at his best when he drops the standard setup-punchline rhythm entirely and relies on sheer performance momentum.

Shot at The Palace in Hollywood and broadcast on HBO, the set arrived a few years before he found a larger audience in films like Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo and Undercover Brother. The material grows aggressively vulgar as it progresses, eventually culminating in a long Michael Jackson impersonation that openly mocks the singer while relying on a mimicry of his stage moves.

The set list

3 bits
  1. Skewering religion, the Bible, and organized faith

    Unsparing, irreverent satire targeting sacred beliefs

  2. Skewering Michael Jackson

    Pop culture parody and celebrity mocking

  3. Musical performance of 'Voodoo Child'

    Live stand-up musical performance written by Jimi Hendrix

How it plays

Tone
Irreverent, raw, and razor-sharp
On stage
Hip-hop swagger mixed with raw, unfiltered honesty and 'butt-naked truth'
About
racism, sexism, homophobia, education, religion, the Bible

What the critics said

Characterized as one of the most irreverent stand-up performances ever, featuring razor-sharp wit and raw truth.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: allmovie.com, whatsafterthemovie.com, gooent.com, ringostrack.com, leoweekly.com, en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.

Details

Released
Taped
The Palace, Hollywood
Runtime
57 min
Where
HBO
Director
Jerome Kay
Topics
Before
HBO Comedy Half-Hour (1994)
After
Undeniable (2018)

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