Review by Kam Williams

Although Dave Chappelle obviously had some second thoughts about the brand of humor that left him branded a genius after just two seasons on Comedy Central, that hasn’t prevented Viacom, the network’s parent company, from repackaging his program to cash-in on the irreverent comic’s conspicuous absence. Dave disappeared for awhile, before resurfacing to announce that he was walking out on his new $50 million contract over artistic differences.

Basically, his complaint was that he didn’t want to continue because he didn’t know whether his audience was laughing at him or laughing with him. Personally, I was laughing with him, and instead of new episodes, I’ve had to settle for DVDs of Season 1, then Season 2, then one of the Lost Episodes, and now The Best of.

This compilation disc includes such memorable skits as Clayton Bigsby, where Dave plays a blind white supremacist who doesn’t know he’s black, The Niggar Family, Reparations, Roots, and A Night with Wayne Brady.

In the wrong hands, this material could easily come off as anything but funny, since it tackles questions concerning color and ethnicity in a very politically-incorrect fashion.

But that’s why the program was on cable instead of a broadcast channel in the first place. The endearing, disarming Chappelle has a knack for making you laugh out loud by making light of taboo subjects. All in all, these 25 sketches are so funny you’ll forget that they might actually be reinforcing the same deep-seated intolerance in American culture they seek to satirize.

At least that’s probably why Dave’s doing his best to distance himself from his own hit show.

Excellent (4 stars)

Unrated

Running time: 138 minutes

Studio: Paramount Home Entertainment

DVD Extras: Bloopers, Comedy Central Quickies, Charlie Murphy’s True

Hollywood Stories: Rick James, plus additional never-aired stories.