Image via Complex Original
It was on January 22, 2003, when Dave Chappelle and Neal Brennan introduced us to the most successful sketch comedy show of the past decade: Chappelle’s Show. Playing off of racial stereotypes, politics, and pop culture, the duo put on a comedy clinic with nearly every episode they pumped out—providing some of the most memorable catchphrases, characters, and skits of this TV generation. We're talking about a program that 'til this day remains one of the top-selling comedy DVDs and most watched shows on broadcast syndication. Remarkable.
After revisiting the series for the umpteenth time we took note of the comedian's knack for poking fun at technology and the way people use it. From psychic hotlines to his infatuation with Internet porn, we commemorate the sitcom's 10-year anniversary with these hilarious Chappelle's Show Tech-Inspired Skits. It's a celebration bitches!
LIKE COMPLEX TECH ON FACEBOOK
Home Stenographer
Date aired: Jan. 22, 2003
Know those moments when someone gives way TMI or exposes some real embarrassing, take-it-to-the-grave-type shit with you? You might wanna have the personal transcriber at your disposal when either occurs. Then again, it might not always work in your favor as Chappelle demonstrates.
Popcopy
Date aired: Jan. 22, 2003
Kinkos gone ratchet! The fictional print and shipping service is a general (and humorous) depiction of what most costumers have endured at one point or another while attempting to get something shipped out or business cards made. Horrific bathroom etiquette, aggressive confrontations, and the uncomfortable disclosure of dirty laundry—nothing here you haven’t already witness firsthand.
Dave's Educated Guess Line
Date aired: Jan. 29, 2003
Feeding off Miss Cleo’s trial loss where she was charged with deceptive advertising, billing, and collection practices, Dave created his own simplified theory of extrasensory perception by basing our futures through stereotypes. Sad truth is he’s not that far off. Doubt his psychic beliefs? Hit up the hotline now for a bumbaclot reading!
Wrap It Up Box
Date aired: Jan. 29, 2003
We've all caught celebrities rambling on and on during their award acceptance speeches to the point where program directors cue the music in hopes of running them off the stage. Chappelle riffed on that concept with the creation of the Wrap It Up box, which he applies to real-life scenarios such as dating, court cases, and yes, terrible sex. That’s a wrap!
iMac Commercial
Date aired: Feb. 12, 2003
Dave tapped into the mind of every horny Apple owner with his tribute to the computer company's commercials from the early 2000s. In short, he's selling us on the amazing visual output and non-sticky keys of Apple desktops in comparison to Windows-based PCs.
Life Like A Video Game
Date aired: March 19, 2003
If there was any comedian that could do justice to a Grand Theft Auto parody, it's obviously the dude behind Half Baked. Staying true to the open world action-adventure game, Chappelle delivers his own take on GTA, keeping things sophisticated but gully after kissing the misses goodbye, then robbing and gunning down an innocent bystander for his Toyola. Tommy Verciti would be proud.
Crazy Camera
Date aired: April 2, 2003
After purchasing a video camera from a mysterious dealer, our host is warned the device has some special features. What sort in particular? The ability to see a person’s inner self, the last person they slept with, and where they’ll be in the future. Chappelle was more than happy to share his and Carson Daly's misfortunes through the lens of his enchanted shooter. Too bad it never presaged his imminent meltdown.
If the Internet Was a Real Place
Date aired: Feb. 25, 2004
The idea of the Internet becoming a real place where people could physically live remains one of the most ingenious comedic sketches ever conceived. Every online taboo from music pirating to animal porn fetishes, even Ron Jeremy’s stroke, was fair game for ridicule, reminding us of the many bizarre surprises that can be confronted when entering the online realm. Spam Busters, bitch!
Haters In Time
Date aired: March 31, 2004
The scrapped segment made its way onto a "Greatest Misses" episode and played as a spin-off to the “Player Haters Ball” skit in Season 1. Underachieving pimps travelling back in time to relive (and hate on) infamous moments in American history made for comedy gold. Before there was Django, there was Dave.