Paul Mooney

Although he is older than most of us, many of us have been somehow influenced by his work!  As a young man, he wrote stories that many thought were not his work.  Even at the tender age of 8, he was required to bring his parents to school to diffuse the plagiarism rumors.  When his mom gave the teaching staff the information that proved that he was in fact the writer of some of the extraordinary stories, he was later called upon to share his work with his classmates!

As a comedy legend Paul Mooney will forever be linked with longtime friends Richard Pryor and Dave Chappelle, but he’s racked up an impressive career outside those amazing collaborations, both as a writer for shows like In Living Color and as a tell how it is stand-up comedian. Mooney’s early show-biz career included stints as a ringmaster for the Charles Gody Circus and a performer with the incendiary anti-Vietnam War “FTA” (F*@k The Army) troupe alongside Jane Fonda, Donald Sutherland, and Peter Boyle.  After a chance meeting with Pryor, Mooney’s career to a 360 degree turn!  He began writing for Pryor, in a fruitful partnership, that led to multiple classic comedy albums, films, and the autobiographical drama “JoJo Dancer,” “Your Life Is Calling,” both directed by Pryor himself.  Mooney recently experienced an increase in popularity due to his prominent appearances on “Chappelle’s Show” in the popular segments “Ask A Black Dude” and “Negrodamus.”  I was able to catch up with the legend himself while he was here in Houston, and as much as I enjoyed his show, the intimate conversation was even more pleasurable!  Family, meet Mr. Paul Mooney…………….

Kiana: “When did you fall in love with comedy?”

Paul: “I never fell in love with comedy!  I was born a comedian!  It’s like being a vampire! You can become one, but vampires are born also!  I was born a comedian, I am pure blood!”

Kiana:”Where do you get your material from?”

Paul: “It comes from space! I’m an alien!! No, it innate, it comes from GOD. It just pops in my head!  I don’t know what to tell you!  People are shocked by some of the things I say, I’m shocked by some of the things I say!”

Kiana: “What topic will you not touch?”

Paul: “I can’t say!  Life is a topic!  Whatever happens in life is the reality!  There are certain areas that I don’t go into because that’s not me!  I only talk about what I know, because if you don’t talk about what you know, the audience will know that you don’t know!  They are like a pack of wolves and they know when you are faking it! You have to speak about what you know!  If you are a prostitute, you talk about turning tricks!”

Kiana: “What’s been your secret to you longevity?”

Paul: “My secret is GOD! I have nothing to do with it! What will be, will be! I’m just here and I hope I’ll be here for a while!”

Kiana: “What’s your opinion on the state of black comedy?”

Paul: “On black comedy?  It’s like a herd of elephants!  That’s the state! But I don’t like to comment!  It’s like when you see a magic show in Vegas, I know the secrets, but you don’t! So, of course you are in aww!  So, I tend to not comment on it!  I really don’t like to go into those areas! So, I would like to take the 5th or is drink the 5th! I don’t know!!”

Kiana: “Do you have a favorite comedian?”

Paul:”No!  No, all my favorites are dead!  My favorite were Flip Wilson, Rick Foxx, and Richard Pryor!  Richard was the king!  He will always be the king!  Long live the king! They are all gone!  So, why don’t we just hold hands and try to contact the dead!!!”

Kiana:”What is your advice for up and coming comedians?”

Paul: “To retire! No, stay with it!  If it’s you, it’s you!  You’ll soon find that out!”

Kiana: “What is your favorite kocktail?”

Paul: “Probably that Mexican drink!  That thing that taste like candy!  You know, it tastes like kool aid!  Ummm a margarita!”