And the routines are sweet. Katt Williams is a funny man. In It’s Pimpin’ Pimpin’ he sends up the eight year search for Osama bin Laden: “...eight years for the tall one, with the dialysis, lived in a cave...”, the recent elections, and of course GWB’s tenure as Commander in Chief. He doesn’t mention Sarah Palin, but he has some funny things to say about John McCain (of course, this standup concert was filmed before the elections). Joking that McCain is “a hundred and eleven,” he mimics McCain: “What is your last name? I think I used to own your grandfather.” About Barack Obama, he wonders aloud “where they found” him. “He’s been running for two years, there isn’t a baby mama, he doesn’t have a pit bull puppy, he doesn’t owe anybody $200. He’s a black superhero. I believe he can fly...” He asks “white people” to “give us a minute to be proud” and points out that every past President and every Vice President has been “white white white white, white white white white.”
Race is something that’s mentioned here and there in his act, but it isn’t a dividing point within it, but just another topic for his humorous observations. Speaking of President George W. Bush, the comedian says that “white people” will let someone drive the wrong way for hours, without saying a thing about it, but “with black people, you make two suspect left turns and your (bleep) is out the car.” It’s a metaphor for the way this country has been going, and tells us how Williams feels about who has been in charge so far. The comedian has a way of bringing abstract concepts into focus through everyday metaphors.
Another major theme is the importance of being proactive and attentive for the dire times up ahead. He points out the difference between “real” people and those who only want their money, and care nothing about the lives they profit from. "If you are real, they can't stand you. They hate the way you think, the way you dress, they hate everything about you. You have to look out for your star player in 2008.” By way of illustration he offers up the cavalier way new pharmaceuticals are put on the market and touted as “the best pill ever” — only to place a quiet, late-night ad a few months later: “Have you or a loved one been killed by our drug? Call 1-800-OUR-BADD.” That’s a topic right up my alley; anyone who’s looked into the standards lately will have some serious alarm bells going off. It isn’t easy to make serious matters funny and entertaining and light-hearted but Mr. Williams pulls it off.
Article comments
1 - Lady Di
Brandy... not only did you review the DVD, you wrote too much. (laughs) I don't have to watch the DVD now. Anyhow, I like what I read as you gave a lot of depth that most people miss because... they are too stuck on the symbolism vs the actual meaning. I tried to do as you've done here and explain "pimp" as I thought Katt meant it. I've listed to, read and watched loads of footage on him because he is a mini super genius if you ask me. Try explaining that to people who either have ONE mentality o a "pimp" and/or those who saw his stage/public personna prior even getting any depth of who he really is as Micah.
I am ever so glad I had the opportunity to see him live, sadly it was not his absolute best. I saw the 2nd trip to DC, yep right where this was filmed. Crew were there capturing footage too but I'm not sure where it all went!?!? All I know is I was deeply honored when I saw the credits roll up and overwhelmingly thank Katt for that.
2 - Kiki
I'm sorry, but if you're going to quote something, please quote it right. Half of your quotes are unfinished and the other half of them are scrambled. Your review was fine otherwise, but as a fan of the show, the misprints bugged me.
3 - Brandy
Which "misprints" are those, Kiki?
The two comments accuse me of opposite offenses. In fact my aim was to give the flavor of the Dvd more for those who hadn't seen Mr. Williams' work. My intention was not to provide a transcript but enough description to whet someone's appetite.
Still in all, there was a lot more that I didn't even touch upon...and even those things I described cannot and were not intended to replace viewing the Dvd. I hope no one passes up the steak because of the menu.
4 - Lady Di
I had, laugh, in there for a reason. I was being sarcastic but you seemed to have missed that part. At any rate, I do own the DVD and they state that it was in fact the show I attended that this is from. I think they meshed together 2 shows but here nor there it's funnier now than it was being live in DAR.
Check those credits very close next time you view it.
5 - Brandy
No it's cool Lady Di. I just didn't want anybody to pass the Dvd by. It like all his other stuff is well worth it. That was my main concern. I also don't want to be 'inaccurate' (re: 2nd comment) it is more about giving a flavor of things for a review. I did write a lot I agree. But I usually do. :p Hey it was all positive though.
Yep I saw you in the credits, (and I've seen you on other boards' comments sections too), I'm glad the man has such true fans. I also liked that he thanked 'the bloggers', I smiled at that one. =)