Chris Rock: Bring the Pain
Encyclopedia
Chris Rock: Bring the Pain is a 1996 HBO television special
starring comedian Chris Rock
. This was Rock's second special for the network following 1994's Big Ass Jokes. Although Rock was already a well-known comedian, Bring the Pain made him one of the most popular comedians in the United States.
Rock became determined to subvert any preconceived notions about him. To prepare for the special, he honed his material for two years by performing nightly in comedy clubs and then launching a national tour. The special was taped at a tour stop at the Takoma Theatre in Washington, D.C.
, the O.J. Simpson murder case, dating, marriage
and race relations in America. The most well-known and controversial piece of the special is "Niggas vs. Black People
" in which he states:
The special was regarded as one of the finest recorded stand-up comedy performances of all time. Entertainment Weekly
called it "groundbreaking" and "a classic". Variety
compared Rock to revered comedians Richard Pryor
and Lenny Bruce
and called it "one of the truly remarkable hours of comedy ever to air on television".
In 1997, Rock won two Emmys for this special: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special and Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program. That same year, Rock also released a comedy album
titled Roll With the New
. The album combined material from the special with comedy sketches. It won the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Comedy Album. The success of the special prompted HBO to develop a weekly talk show for Rock titled The Chris Rock Show
. Rock's acting career was also given a boost. He went from playing very minor roles in Sgt. Bilko
and Panther
to playing major roles in Lethal Weapon 4
and Dogma
.
Rock was surprised by the widespread acclaim the special received:
Television special
A television special is a television program which interrupts or temporarily replaces programming normally scheduled for a given time slot. Sometimes, however, the term is given to a telecast of a theatrical film, such as The Wizard of Oz or The Ten Commandments, which is not part of a regular...
starring comedian Chris Rock
Chris Rock
Christopher Julius "Chris" Rock III is an American comedian, actor, screenwriter, television producer, film producer and director. He was voted in the US as the 5th greatest stand-up comedian of all time by Comedy Central...
. This was Rock's second special for the network following 1994's Big Ass Jokes. Although Rock was already a well-known comedian, Bring the Pain made him one of the most popular comedians in the United States.
Production
By 1994, Chris Rock's career had experienced a downslide:Rock became determined to subvert any preconceived notions about him. To prepare for the special, he honed his material for two years by performing nightly in comedy clubs and then launching a national tour. The special was taped at a tour stop at the Takoma Theatre in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Release and reception
Bring the Pain premiered on June 1, 1996 on HBO. Rock's performance included bits about then-D.C. mayor Marion BarryMarion Barry
Marion Shepilov Barry, Jr. is an American Democratic politician who is currently serving as a member of the Council of the District of Columbia, representing DC's Ward 8. Barry served as the second elected mayor of the District of Columbia from 1979 to 1991, and again as the fourth mayor from 1995...
, the O.J. Simpson murder case, dating, marriage
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
and race relations in America. The most well-known and controversial piece of the special is "Niggas vs. Black People
Niggas vs. Black People
"Niggas vs. Black People" is the title of one of Chris Rock's most famous and most controversial bits. This bit, which appeared as track 12 on his 1997 album, Roll With the New, as well as his 1996 HBO special, Bring the Pain, is widely considered to be the breakthrough routine that established...
" in which he states:
The special was regarded as one of the finest recorded stand-up comedy performances of all time. Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
called it "groundbreaking" and "a classic". Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
compared Rock to revered comedians Richard Pryor
Richard Pryor
Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor was an American stand-up comedian, actor, social critic, writer and MC. Pryor was known for uncompromising examinations of racism and topical contemporary issues, which employed colorful vulgarities, and profanity, as well as racial epithets...
and Lenny Bruce
Lenny Bruce
Leonard Alfred Schneider , better known by the stage name Lenny Bruce, was a Jewish-American comedian, social critic and satirist...
and called it "one of the truly remarkable hours of comedy ever to air on television".
In 1997, Rock won two Emmys for this special: Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special and Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program. That same year, Rock also released a comedy album
Comedy album
A comedy album is an audio recording of comedic material from a comedian or group of comedians, usually performed either live or in a studio. Comedy albums may feature skits, humorous songs, and/or live recording of stand-up comedy performances, but the most common type of comedy albums are stand...
titled Roll With the New
Roll with the New
Roll with the New is the second comedy album by Chris Rock. It is a combination of live material and comedy sketches...
. The album combined material from the special with comedy sketches. It won the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Comedy Album. The success of the special prompted HBO to develop a weekly talk show for Rock titled The Chris Rock Show
The Chris Rock Show
The Chris Rock Show is a late night comedy talk show featured on HBO. It was created by Chris Rock and featured various guests. The show won an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program in 1999. It ran for three seasons from 1997 to 2000. Seasons 1 and 2 were released as a DVD set...
. Rock's acting career was also given a boost. He went from playing very minor roles in Sgt. Bilko
Sgt. Bilko (film)
Sgt. Bilko is a 1996 comedy film directed by Jonathan Lynn and written by Andy Breckman. It is an adaptation of the 1950s television series The Phil Silvers Show .-Plot:...
and Panther
Panther (film)
Panther is a 1995 film directed by Mario Van Peebles, from a screenplay adapted by his father, Melvin Van Peebles, based on his book. The film dramatizes the story of The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense...
to playing major roles in Lethal Weapon 4
Lethal Weapon 4
Lethal Weapon 4 is a 1998 American action film directed by Richard Donner, starring Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci, Rene Russo, Chris Rock and Jet Li. It is the third sequel in the Lethal Weapon series of films. -Plot:...
and Dogma
Dogma (film)
Dogma is a 1999 American adventure fantasy comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, who also stars in the film along with an ensemble cast that includes Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino, Alan Rickman, Bud Cort, Salma Hayek, Chris Rock, Jason Lee, George Carlin, Janeane Garofalo,...
.
Rock was surprised by the widespread acclaim the special received:
Trivia
- As Rock walks towards the stage, the covers of comedy albumComedy albumA comedy album is an audio recording of comedic material from a comedian or group of comedians, usually performed either live or in a studio. Comedy albums may feature skits, humorous songs, and/or live recording of stand-up comedy performances, but the most common type of comedy albums are stand...
s that inspired Rock are shown. They are in order:- Bill CosbyBill CosbyWilliam Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, the...
, To Russell, My Brother, Whom I Slept WithTo Russell, My Brother, Whom I Slept WithTo Russell, My Brother, Whom I Slept With is the seventh album by Bill Cosby. It was recorded in 1968 in the Cleveland Public Auditorium, and released later that year, on a 12" vinyl record.-Background:... - Dick GregoryDick GregoryRichard Claxton "Dick" Gregory is an American comedian, social activist, social critic, writer, and entrepreneur....
, In Living Black & White - Flip WilsonFlip WilsonClerow Wilson, Jr. , known professionally as Flip Wilson, was an American comedian and actor. In the early 1970s, Wilson hosted his own weekly variety series, The Flip Wilson Show...
as Geraldine, Don't Fight the Feeling - Richard PryorRichard PryorRichard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor was an American stand-up comedian, actor, social critic, writer and MC. Pryor was known for uncompromising examinations of racism and topical contemporary issues, which employed colorful vulgarities, and profanity, as well as racial epithets...
, ...Is It Something I Said?...Is It Something I Said?…Is It Something I Said? is the fourth official album release by Richard Pryor and the first he released on a new contract with Warner Bros. Records, a label he remained with for the rest of his recording career.... - Steve MartinSteve MartinStephen Glenn "Steve" Martin is an American actor, comedian, writer, playwright, producer, musician and composer....
, Comedy is Not Pretty!Comedy Is Not Pretty!Comedy Is Not Pretty! is an album by the American comedian Steve Martin. It was recorded at The Boarding House in San Francisco, California, where his previous two albums were also recorded.... - Pigmeat MarkhamPigmeat MarkhamDewey "Pigmeat" Markham was an African-American entertainer. Though best known as a comedian, Markham was also a singer, dancer, and actor...
, Tune Me In - Woody AllenWoody AllenWoody Allen is an American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, jazz musician, author, and playwright. Allen's films draw heavily on literature, sexuality, philosophy, psychology, Jewish identity, and the history of cinema...
, Woody Allen - Eddie MurphyEddie MurphyEdward Regan "Eddie" Murphy is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, singer, director, and musician....
, Eddie MurphyEddie Murphy (album)Eddie Murphy is Eddie Murphy's first album, released in 1982.-Track listing:All tracks by Eddie Murphy, except were noted.#"Faggots" – 2:08#"Buckwheat" – 1:57#"Black Movie Theaters" – 2:33#"Talking Cars" – 0:59#"Doo-Doo/Christmas Gifts" – 6:44...
- Bill Cosby
- The music playing as Rock walks to the stage consists of the opening bars of CaseCase (singer)Case Woodard, stage name Case, is an American R&B singer who was born in New York City.-Music career:After stints with R&B group Future and a duo called Black, Case got work co-writing and singing background for artists including Usher, Christopher Williams and Al B. Sure. Case finally felt close...
's 1996 hit single "Touch Me, Tease Me". - The title of the special is a reference to Method ManMethod ManClifford Smith , better known by his stage name Method Man is an American hip hop artist, record producer, actor and member of the hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He took his stage name from the 1979 film The Fearless Young Boxer, also known as Method Man. He is one half of the rap duo Method Man...
's 1994 hit single "Bring the PainBring the Pain"Bring the Pain" is a song recorded by the rap artist Method Man. It was the first single released from his debut album Tical.Comedian Chris Rock named his 1996 tour and television special "Bring the Pain" after this song...
". Method Man is thanked in the closing credits. - Carol SchwartzCarol SchwartzCarol Schwartz is a politician from Washington, D.C., who served as an at-large member on the Council of the District of Columbia from 1985 to 1989 and again from 1997 to 2009.-Early life:...
is the candidate who lost to a "crack head" (Marion BerryMarion BerryRobert Marion Berry is the former U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:...
) in the 1994 Washington D.C. Mayoral ElectionWashington, D.C. mayoral election, 1994The 1994 election for Washington, D.C. mayor featured the return of Marion Barry, who served as mayor from 1979 until 1991.Barry served six months in prison on a cocaine conviction...
. - The "HBO jail special" that Rock refers to which features the "Tossed Salad Man" was a documentaryDocumentary filmDocumentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
titled Prisoners of the War on Drugs. - During the closing creditsClosing creditsClosing credits or end credits are added at the end of a motion picture, television program, or video game to list the cast and crew involved in the production. They usually appear as a list of names in small type, which either flip very quickly from page to page, or move smoothly across the...
, Rock goes back to his dressing room and shakes hands with his brother, TonyTony RockTony Rock is an American actor and stand-up comedian. He is the younger brother of comedian Chris Rock....
. Writer Nelson GeorgeNelson GeorgeNelson George is an African American author, columnist, music and culture critic, journalist, and filmmaker. He has been nominated twice for the National Book Critics Circle Award....
can also be seen in the background. - In 2002, a DVDDVDA DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
of the special was released by DreamworksDreamWorksDreamWorks Pictures, also known as DreamWorks, LLC, DreamWorks SKG, DreamWorks II Distribution Co., LLC, DreamWorks Studios or DW Studios, LLC, is an American film studio which develops, produces, and distributes films, video games and television programming...
. The cover features a parody of a well-known picture of Sammy Davis Jr. standing in front of the Sands HotelSands HotelThe Sands Hotel was a historic Las Vegas Strip hotel/casino that operated from December 15, 1952 to June 30, 1996. Designed by architect Wayne McAllister, the Sands was the seventh resort that opened on the Strip....
. Rock's head was grafted onto Davis' body and the Sands' sign is changed to read "Chris Rock". The DVD also features an interview with Nelson GeorgeNelson GeorgeNelson George is an African American author, columnist, music and culture critic, journalist, and filmmaker. He has been nominated twice for the National Book Critics Circle Award....
in which Rock reflects on the impact of the special.