Stand-up comedian Chris Rock was slapped by actor Will Smith during the live TV broadcast of the 94th Academy Awards on March 27, 2022.
Rock’s first comedy special since the slap, “Chris Rock: Selective Outrage”, aired on Netflix on March 4, 2023.
Stand-up comedians find the humor in everyday situations that we can relate to.
I think we cannot relate to being slapped by a famous actor on national television.
So Chris Rock was in a unique situation where he had to find the humor in what happened to him and make it relatable to us. (Did he accomplish that? I don’t know. I haven’t watched the special, but I know he talked about being slapped. I haven’t heard or seen any clips from the comedy special.)
How did he come up with the slap jokes in his recent show?
To understand the process, I imagined I was a stand-up comedian hosting the Academy Awards and I got slapped by Will Smith. What kind of relatable humor could I talk about in my new standup comedy show a year later?
I go on stage.
(applause)
“Thank you. Thank you Baltimore. Nice to be here. Thank you.”
(applause)
“How's everybody doing tonight? I gotta say, it's great to be back here. Or at least, I think I've been here before.” (Rubs cheek, tilts head, wondering.)
(applause)
“You know, I was getting ready for this show tonight and I was trying to decide what to talk about. And then it hit me.”
(applause)
“Okay. Okay. So when he was walking toward me I thought that he wanted to talk. Like when you’re driving and the guy behind you who’s been flashing his lights suddenly pulls around you and stops in your lane and gets out and walks to your window. He’s motioning that he wants to talk and you’re like ‘Hmmm. I don’t think so.’”
(applause)
“Look, I had no idea she had a medical condition that makes hair fall out. I mean, did you know about it? It's not like everyone’s medical conditions are on the invites.”
“You know what they say about actors, right? Sensitive, temperamental, always needing their space. So maybe Oscars hosts should get everyone's medical records before the show. Like 6 months before so they can read through all the medical conditions of attendees.”
(applause)
Now let’s just try some observational humor.
I go on stage.
(applause)
“Thank you. Thank you Baltimore. Nice to be here. Thank you.”
(applause)
“We live in dangerous times. Terrorism, mass shootings, the war in Ukraine. Hosting the Academy Awards.”
(applause)
“You know, most thugs, if they’re gonna mug you even they’re smart enough to do it where there aren’t any cameras.”
(applause)
And then I asked ChatGPT to make some jokes based on being slapped at the Academy Awards. I modified my request several times.
Here are the jokes I extracted from the ChatGPT responses.
You know, that slap was so hard, I almost thought I was auditioning for a Tyler Perry movie!
Well, let's just say, if he's looking for a career change, he might have a future in the WWE!
I gotta say, getting slapped by an actor was not on my bucket list, but I guess I can cross that one off now!
Well, let's just say, I hope he has better luck with his next audition than he did with his slap!
I've always believed in the power of comedy to bring people together, but I never knew it could be so effective at bringing fists and faces together too!
Accordingly “Men in Black and Blue” is playing out like a movie.
Act 1 introduced the main characters, the setting, and the central conflict.
Act 2 is underway now. The protagonist (Smith) faces challenges and obstacles, experiences a turning point, and reaches his lowest point
In act 3, Smith will confront the central conflict one final time wherein the tension reaches its peak. And then the story will be brought to a close with Smith achieving his goal or reaching some kind of resolution.
And the catch phrase for the movie will be “If you slap a stand-up comedian, you’re going to get jabs back.”