When it comes to storytelling, no one tells them better than Charlie Murphy. And to be clear, we're not talking about “putting your kids to bed” stories or “tall tales,” we're talking about real life occurrences and celebrity encounters that Charlie happens to deliver with inflection perfection. Not just a talker, Charlie has gone from writing and acting to someone you always hoped to see on Chappelle's Show, into parlaying his career into becoming a stand-up sensation.
He's got a good thing going with his popular Acid Trip Tour that has been all over the globe and will soon become a documentary and stand-up special that we personally can't wait to see. And since this tour was so successful in 2012, it has carried over into 2013 and is making its way back to Orange County this January 10th through 13th at the Irvine Improv. If you didn't catch him last year you really missed out because seeing Charlie live is better than great, it's a hysterical trip whether you are on acid or not. (Although we suggest you skip the acid.) We got the chance to talk to Charlie again to find out what he's up to and what he has in store to keep it moving for the New Year.
See Also:
*You Can Thank Bill Bellamy for Your Last Booty Call.
*Charlie Murphy Talks Strippers, Acid Trips and Kissing Babies
*Friendly Frank Talks OC Comedy and Hacking of Genitals (Not in That Order)
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OC Weekly (Ali Lerman): We talked last year
after your New Year's in Houston where some strippers came up on stage
and made their butt's clap. Any luck having strippers in the audience in
Pittsburgh?
Charlie Murphy: Pittsburgh didn't have any of that
but it was just as much fun. I tried to get the people to do some
Gangnam Style but they hadn't even heard of that. Isn't that strange?
They were looking at me like, Gangnam Style? I'm like, you guys have
never heard of Gangnam Style? Wow! It caught me off guard. When I knew
that they didn't know Gangnam Style, I knew better than to try to bring
any strippers on stage. Can you imagine if I'd have brought a stripper
up there? Come on man! I had the audience come up though and we just had
a big party on the stage, drank champagne, and brought in the New Year.
Don't get me wrong, it was definitely fun.
That is crazy! You learn something new every day. You've taken your Acid Trip Tour all over the world so did you get your Snoop Lion on when you were in Amsterdam?
Oh of course! How could you go to Amsterdam and not do that? Even if you're not into that, how could you go to Amsterdam and not do that? It's automatic! I had a great time when I was over there. Now you can just go to Colorado so you don't have to go all of the way over there. In Colorado they opened up a Mile High Club which is like a coffee house in Amsterdam. It looked like a disco to me when I saw it on the news.
That's wild. I saw you talking on Twitter about being on Hawaii Five-0. What's up with that?
Yeah! I'm shooting an episode with Peter Weller. I went out last month and shot a couple of days and then I'm going back to finish it up. But it's me and RoboCop man! Peter Weller you know what I'm saying? He's directing it. It bugged me out because I haven't seen him since those movies and we were on the set doing a scene and he's sitting there and when he stood up and turned his neck I'm like, you're moving like RoboCop! He's a real cool guy and I like working with him and the entire cast that I've worked with. I'll get to work with the rest of the cast when I go back.
So what's your character going to be like?
My character comes from the mainland and he's trying to set up shop in Hawaii. I play the bad guy. He's buying guns and all of this stuff. It all leads up to me being…well, I can't say all of the stuff you know! [Laughs.] It's Hawaii Five-0 man! For me it's a milestone in my career because it's one of the shows I remember from when I was a kid. We played that at the house! Book em' Danno! Eddie would be Danno and I'd be Jack Lord. Book em' Danno!
[
Aren't you also doing some new Ashton Kutcher show too?
Yeah it's called Who Gets the Last Laugh and Ashton Kutcher produces. It kind of like in the field of Punk'd but it's more involved. This show has a live audience and all of that. I got to direct an episode and be on it. All of this is going to be poppin' in like February or March.
Damn you stay busy! Since we all know you tell great stories, can you tell us one pretty please?
The first place I ever worked was the Laugh Factory in Times Square which I don't think even exists anymore. That's the first time I ever got up on stage and did stand-up but I actually sat down to perform. I managed to stay up there for 15 minutes. The thing started off with me telling the audience, “You don't think that's funny? Fuck you.” They laughed so I was like, I'm gonna stay right here in this area. Whatever I'm saying if you don't think it's funny, fuck you. “Fuck you” was my hook. [Laughs.] I did that for 15 minutes! I did a show for the Hells Angels but it didn't work that night. I did a show for four Hells Angels. It was a room that was big enough to be a bedroom inside of the club and there was only four people in there and they were hardcore bikers and my act was, fuck you. Really? I was like, you know what? I think I need to change this act, it's dangerous. They weren't laughing. I remember my friend and his wife came in and they saw me bomb in front of the Hells Angels. [Laughs.] How many comedians can tell you that they were in the room with four Hells Angels and that they were dumb enough to get on stage and do an act that's all, you don't like what I say? Fuck you.
Oh my god, I love it! So will you be saying fuck you to the people of Irvine?
That was a long time ago. Charlie Murphy don't do that these days. It makes me nervous. I have something to talk about that's relevant and that is funny. That's how I keep it. Fuck you was unresearched. I think we cover so much so I just don't want people to say fuck you. I'm coming through to get the laughs. That's what's good. This tour is great and we have a lot of fun. Trust me.
Get your daily dose of Charlie Murphy on Twitter @CMurphyComedy and visit his website www.CharlieMurphyComedy.com for upcoming tour dates and videos. Get your tickets now for his Acid Trip Tour January 10th- 13th at the Irvine Improv by going to www.Improv.com or by calling 949-854-5455. The Improv is located at 71 Fortune Drive Irvine, CA 92618.
Follow us on Twitter @OCWeeklyMusic and like us on Facebook at Heard Mentality.
Ali Lerman knows much about comedy, basketball, and celebrating Wu-Tang Wednesday. She’s been writing for sixteen years and still calls her mom with grammatical questions.