And they all laughed.
Dave Chappelle, known for Comedy Central's "Chappelle's Show," revealed a side of himself that celebrity overshadows in his sold-out performance.
He was real.
Chappelle's persona on stage is nothing like the outrageous characters he portrays on his show.
And he likes it that way.
Hearing his catchphrases everywhere he goes -"I'm Rick James, (bleep)!" -is starting to irritate him.
"I'm tired," Chappelle said, with a hint of seriousness in his voice. "It's too much."
His keen observations about Southern life were a hit with the crowd. Chappelle knew how to pull off a joke that anyone in the audience could relate to.
"Down here, everybody agrees on one thing - pork," he said.
He also took on relationships, celebrities and, frequently, race.
Claude Crocker, 48, of Clinton brought his 18-year-old son, Marshall, and his 12-year old son, Nathan. Crocker spoke of Chappelle as if he were an educator, not just a comedian.
"The topics are good for him (Nathan) culturally," said Crocker, who still had some reservations about bringing his younger son. "There's nothing malicious about it in any way."
Chappelle's humor falls somewhere between Richard Pryor's and Chris Rock's. But it doesn't seem fair to group him with other black comedians. He makes biting and hilarious social commentary - even joking about slavery - but does it in a lighthearted way.
In between his lurid sex jokes, Chappelle would sometimes drop the mic to the floor, step back and laugh, as if he realized for the first time just how funny he is.
Ron Walker, 63, said he is from the Pryor "regime," but the world of comedy always needs "new blood."
"I think he is new and fresh," Walker said. "His routines are pretty much true to life. He's right on it."
Chappelle admits his cable show isn't making him rich. There are rumors he might not sign for a third season.
Undoubtedly, Comedy Central would suffer a huge loss if he pulled out.
But oh, what a gain for the rest of us if he committed the rest of his life to stand-up.Create a free website at Webs.com