Eddie Murphy Delirious

Last updated
Eddie Murphy Delirious
Eddie murphy delirious.JPG
Genre Stand-up comedy
Written by Eddie Murphy
Directed by Bruce Gowers
StarringEddie Murphy
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Producers Eddie Murphy
Robert Wachs
Richard Tienken
CinematographyJuan Barrera
Grek Cook
Sam Drummy
Les Leibowitz
Mike Lieberman
Jake Ostroff
Ken Patterson
Joel Gold
EditorsKen Denisoff
Dave Barr
Running time69 minutes
Production companyEddie Murphy Productions
Original release
Network HBO
ReleaseOctober 15, 1983 (1983-10-15)

Eddie Murphy Delirious is an American stand-up comedy television special directed by Bruce Gowers, written by and starring Eddie Murphy. [1] The stand-up set became a TV Special for HBO on October 15, 1983. The 70-minute special was Murphy's first feature stand-up and the predecessor to the wide theatrical release in 1987, Eddie Murphy Raw . Delirious was also released as an album on October 24, 1983, titled Eddie Murphy: Comedian , which won Best Comedy Album at the 1984 Grammy Awards.

Contents

Overview

Unlike his acts on Saturday Night Live , Murphy's performance was very profane, saying the word fuck a total of 230 times, and shit 171 times. [2] The show was recorded at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. on August 17–18, 1983. [3]

Before the show started, The BusBoys performed "(The Boys Are) Back in Town" over a montage of pre-show footage of Murphy traveling with his road crew. After this concludes, Murphy is introduced, thanks The BusBoys for their opening performance, and commences his own.

Among the topics Murphy addresses is the lure ice cream trucks have on children. Once the ice cream was bought, they would sing and dance mockingly in front of kids who could not afford it. [4] The phrase "The Ice Cream Man is coming!" from this segment was sampled by rapper Raekwon on the 1995 single "Ice Cream". Other topics that he addresses are family parties (his cookout skit featuring a humanoid cryptid for an aunt-in-law and an uncle who ignites the whole backyard in an attempt to work the grill) parental discipline (his shoe-throwing mothers monologue), Michael Jackson, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, racism, Reaganomics, gay people (including a routine depicting "The Honeymooners" Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton as same-sex sweethearts), AIDS, and Marian Anderson. After his routine, the video ends with Murphy and his road crew walking to his dressing room while the credits roll.

Reception

The special received positive reviews and is widely cited by comedians as a seminal stand-up work. [5] [6] [7] [8] The review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gave it an 83% approval rating based on 6 reviews, with an average rating of 7.5/10. [9] However, it was criticised for being anti-gay. [10] [11] [12]

"When I did Delirious," Murphy reflected in 1989, "I got all this flak for my material being so filthy. The truth is, it's nowhere near as filthy as some of the stuff they're doing now. I'm feeling like a fucking old guy watching Sam Kinison or Andrew Dice Clay." [13]

One of the topics that Murphy addresses in Delirious is homosexuality, and using the homophobic slur "faggot". [14] However, in 1996, he released a one-page statement apologizing for his use of that slur, saying: "I deeply regret any pain all this has caused." [15]

Home video

In June 2009, a 25th Anniversary Edition was released. [16] [17]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddie Murphy</span> American comedian and actor (born 1961)

Edward Regan Murphy is an American comedian, actor, and singer. Widely recognized as one of the greatest comedians of all time, he has received accolades such as a Golden Globe Award, a Grammy Award, and an Emmy Award as well as nominations for an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award. He was honored with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2015 and the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2023.

<i>Absolutely Fabulous</i> British TV sitcom (1992–2012)

Absolutely Fabulous is a British television sitcom based on the French and Saunders sketch "Modern Mother and Daughter", created by Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. The show was created and written by Saunders, who also stars as one of the main characters. Its cast includes Joanna Lumley and Julia Sawalha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Dice Clay</span> American comedian and actor (born 1957)

Andrew Dice Clay is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He rose to prominence in the late 1980s with a brash, deliberately offensive persona known as "The Diceman". In 1990, he became the first stand-up comedian to sell out Madison Square Garden for two consecutive nights. That same year, he played the lead role in the comedy-mystery film The Adventures of Ford Fairlane.

<i>Trading Places</i> 1983 comedy film directed by John Landis

Trading Places is a 1983 American comedy film directed by John Landis and written by Timothy Harris and Herschel Weingrod. Starring Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy, Ralph Bellamy, Don Ameche, Denholm Elliott, and Jamie Lee Curtis, the film tells the story of an upper-class commodities broker (Aykroyd) and a poor street hustler (Murphy) whose lives cross when they are unwittingly made the subjects of an elaborate bet to test how each man will perform when their life circumstances are swapped.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie Murphy (actor)</span> American comedian and actor (1959–2017)

Charles Quinton Murphy was an American stand-up comedian and actor. He was best known as a writer and cast member of the Comedy Central sketch-comedy series Chappelle's Show as well as the co-star of the sitcom Black Jesus. He was the older brother of actor and comedian Eddie Murphy.

Faggot, often shortened to fag in American usage, is a term, usually considered a slur, used to refer to gay men. In American youth culture around the turn of the 21st century, its meaning extended as a broader reaching insult more related to masculinity and group power structure.

<i>Filthy Rich & Catflap</i> British sitcom

Filthy Rich & Catflap is a BBC sitcom produced in 1986 and broadcast in 1987. The series featured former The Young Ones co-stars Nigel Planer, Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson as its three titular characters. It was written by Ben Elton, and produced and directed by Paul Jackson, with film sequences directed by Ed Bye. The show's music was written by Peter Brewis. One series consisting of six half-hour episodes was produced. Despite the continuity announcer saying that the show would return the following year, only one series was ever made due to a fall-out between Mayall and Elton over creative control.

<i>Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist</i> Television series

Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist is an American adult animated sitcom created by Jonathan Katz and Tom Snyder for Comedy Central. It originally ran from May 28, 1995, to February 13, 2002. The series starred the voice talents of Jonathan Katz, H. Jon Benjamin, and Laura Silverman. The show was produced by Popular Arts Entertainment, HBO Downtown Productions, and Tom Snyder Productions. The series won a Peabody Award in 1998.

<i>Eddie Murphy Raw</i> 1987 film by Robert Townsend

Eddie Murphy Raw is a 1987 American stand-up comedy film starring Eddie Murphy and directed by Robert Townsend. It was Murphy's second feature stand-up comedy film, following Eddie Murphy Delirious. However, unlike Delirious, Raw received a wide theatrical release. The 90-minute show was filmed at the Felt Forum, a venue in the Madison Square Garden complex in New York City. The film was released in the United States on December 18, 1987. As of January 2022, it is the highest-grossing stand-up comedy concert film ever released, making $50.5 million in the United States and Canada.

<i>You So Crazy</i> 1994 American film

You So Crazy is a 1994 stand up comedy film directed by Thomas Schlamme and starring Martin Lawrence. It was his first major film and stand-up act. Lawrence wears a black, leather suit in the film similar to the wardrobe worn by Eddie Murphy in his films Delirious and Raw.

Delirious may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The BusBoys</span> American rock band

The BusBoys is an American rock and roll band known for its association with Eddie Murphy and performing in the film 48 Hrs. Formed in Los Angeles in the late 1970s, the original lineup featured brothers Brian O'Neal and Kevin O'Neal, Gus Loundermon (vocals), Mike Jones, Vic Johnson (guitar), and Steve Felix (drums). All of the original band's members were African-Americans except Felix, who is of Hispanic heritage. The band's best known songs are "New Shoes", "The Boys Are Back in Town", which appeared in 48 Hrs. and in Eddie Murphy Delirious, and "Cleanin' Up the Town", which was written for the 1984 film Ghostbusters.

<i>Richard Pryor: Live in Concert</i> 1979 film

Richard Pryor: Live in Concert is a 1979 American stand-up comedy film starring Richard Pryor and directed by Jeff Margolis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rick Shapiro</span> American comedian and actor

Rick Shapiro is a Los Angeles–based comedian and actor.

<i>Eddie Murphy: Comedian</i> 1983 live album by Eddie Murphy

Eddie Murphy: Comedian (1983) is Eddie Murphy's second comedy album. The album was the recipient of one Grammy, Best Comedy Album, at the 1984 Grammy Awards.

<i>Norbit</i> 2007 film by Brian Robbins

Norbit is a 2007 American comedy film, directed by Brian Robbins, and co-written by, co-produced by, and starring Eddie Murphy. The film co-stars Thandie Newton, Terry Crews, Cuba Gooding Jr., Eddie Griffin, Katt Williams, Marlon Wayans, and Charlie Murphy. It was released by DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures on February 9, 2007. Eddie Murphy portrays multiple roles including the eponymous Norbit and his abusive obese wife Rasputia; Norbit, unhappily married, is reunited with his childhood sweetheart Kate, but must contend with Rasputia and her brothers, who have an agenda of their own.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Tosh</span> American comedian and producer (born 1975)

Daniel Dwight Tosh is an American comedian, writer, and producer. After graduating from the University of Central Florida with a degree in marketing, Tosh moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in comedy. His career accelerated in 2001 after a performance on the Late Show with David Letterman. He would go on to appear in other national shows, leading to his own 30-minute special on Comedy Central Presents two years later. From 2009 to 2020, Tosh was the host of Comedy Central series Tosh.0, a showcase of popular Internet video clips with the addition of Tosh's narrative comedic dialogue. Daniel Tosh also went on his own series of comedy tours from 2010 to 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Hinchcliffe</span> American comedian and writer

Tony Hinchcliffe is an American comedian who hosts the live comedy podcast Kill Tony, which is a showcase of professional and amateur comedians who take turns doing one-minute sets. Hinchcliffe is known primarily for his roast comedy. His one-hour stand-up special One Shot premiered on Netflix in 2016. He has been on the writing staff of the Comedy Central Roast series. He also appeared as a roaster on the All Def Digital Roast of Snoop Dogg in 2016 and The Roast of Tom Brady in 2024.

<i>The Boys in the Band</i> (2020 film) 2020 film by Joe Mantello

The Boys in the Band is a 2020 American drama film directed by Joe Mantello, based on the 1968 play of the same name by Mart Crowley, who also wrote the screenplay alongside Ned Martel. Crowley had previously adapted The Boys in the Band for a 1970 film version directed by William Friedkin and starring the original 1968 Off-Broadway cast. The film stars the full roster of players from the play's 2018 Broadway revival, comprising a cast of exclusively openly-gay actors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shane Gillis</span> American comedian and actor (born 1987)

Shane Michael Gillis is an American stand-up comedian. He is co-host, along with fellow stand-up comedian Matt McCusker, of Matt and Shane's Secret Podcast, the most subscribed-to podcast on Patreon. In 2019, the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal named Gillis one of its "New Faces".

References

  1. Eddie Murphy: Delirious , retrieved 2020-01-05
  2. Swindoll, Jeff (June 2, 2009). "Eddie Murphy: Delirious - 25th Anniversary – DVD Review". Monsters and Critics. Archived from the original on December 21, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
  3. "They played here". Washington Post. February 26, 2015.
  4. Paskin, Willa (September 8, 2011). "Nostalgia Fact-Check: How Do Eddie Murphy's Delirious and Raw Hold Up?". Vulture. New York City: New York Media . Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  5. Edgerton, Gary R.; Jones, Jeffrey P. (2013). The Essential HBO Reader. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN   978-0813143729 . Retrieved July 12, 2017 via Google Books.
  6. Lee, Chris (June 15, 2009). "A 'Delirious' comedy turning point". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  7. Benedictus, Leo (October 11, 2012). "Comedy gold: Eddie Murphy's Delirious". The Guardian . Guardian News and Media. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  8. Tobias, Scott; Ciabattoni, Steve; Murray, Noel; Love, Matthew; Grierson, Tim; Fear, David (July 29, 2015). "Divine Comedy: 25 Best Stand-Up Specials and Movies". Rolling Stone . Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  9. "Eddie Murphy Delirious (1983)". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  10. Duffy, Nick (December 29, 2016). "Eddie Murphy's anti-gay comedy special resurfaces on Netflix". PinkNews . Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  11. Murray, Noel (February 27, 2007). "Delirious / Know Your History". The A.V. Club . The Onion . Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  12. Tucker, Ken (February 7, 2007). "Eddie Murphy Delirious". Entertainment Weekly . Time . Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  13. Zehme, Bill (August 24, 1989). "Eddie Murphy: Call Him Money". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  14. "Eddie Murphy's Homophobic Comedy Special 'Delirious' is Now Streaming on Netflix". The Good Men Project . January 5, 2017. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  15. Rubin, Sylvia (May 11, 1996). "PAGE ONE -- After 15 Years, Actor Apologizes For Gay Slurs". San Francisco Chronicle . San Francisco, California: Hearst Communications . Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  16. Musgrove, James (May 27, 2009). "Eddie Murphy: Delirious (25th Anniversary Edition) DVD Review". IGN . Ziff Davis . Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  17. Rich, Jamie S. (February 10, 2007). "Eddie Murphy - Delirious". DVD Talk. Retrieved July 12, 2017.