Gesica™ - Deuce Bigalow European Gigalow: An Interview w/Eddie Griffin

Gesica™

DEUCE BIGALOW: EUROPEAN GIGoLO

EDDIE GRIFFIN

Deuce Bigalow European Gigolo
An Interview w/Eddie Griffin

By Tonisha Johnson

How was Amsterdam?

EG: It’s a beautiful place. It’s truly free. Beautiful coffee shops but no coffee. I never wanted to go because I always thought it was white land. Because it was called Europe, around your neck. I arrived over there in Europe for the first time and we hit Amsterdam. It was a trip, you know, at how much freedom they got over there. You know, you smoke weed, police just roll up and light your joint. It’s a beautiful place. They got ho’s every where. All in the windows. They call it the red light district.

When you saw everything that was going on, did you actually think they would film it like it was or they would change somethings?

EG: Naw. I thought they would film it the way it was. Cause it wasn’t at Disney this time. Cause at Disney the mouse is like PG and G. So when the project moved over to Sony I knew we had a license to ill.

Are there any moments that you just can’t watch?

EG: There is the girl with the appendix for a nose. That’s kind of like out there. But that’s just comedy.

You must be encouraged by the success of Wedding Crashers and the whole rating thing?

EG: Yes. Thank god the rated R films are coming back. Because Richard Pryor and people in the 70s got away with more on film than actually what we’ve had the chance to do over the last decade. I was thinking the Christians took over the MPAA board for a minute. Theres a time and place for church and a time and place to make adults laugh at adult things. Everybody’s not a child. And everybody doesn’t want their coffee watered down.

How far are you interested in going on film?

EG: How far?

Would you like to take it back to those days?

EG: No boundaries. Yeah. Come on, where all adults here. And being an adult, you have the choice to change the channel or not go. You really don’t need people to tell you what not to go see. I think that’s a decision that as Americans we all have the right to make for ourselves. So, yes, I’m enjoying the rated R thing, seeing as I like to get raterd R when I’m on stage.

I remembered Eddie Murphy on stage have Ralph Kramden and Edward Norton going at it.

EG: Yes. License to Ill. We need to do that again. I think as a society our butt holes have become real tight. The shit cutter is not allowed to cut shit now. I think we should get back to allowing the shit cutter to cut shit properly.

Lots of comedians like to make jokes about stereotypes. What do you think about that?

EG: I think it’s a beautiful thing. You should take any stereotype, throw it off the wall, let it stick and smack it off. Then its no longer a stereotype. The more you hide things the more power you give it. It better if you, bow!, throw it up against the wall and just make fun of it. It takes away the taboo.

Your character gets caught in some precarious situations that weren’t exactly representative of who he was. Do you ever have situations in the media where people have caught a snapshot of you and completely misinterpreted?

EG: Not at all. No. you get a snapshot of me, you good.

How much artistic license did you have?

EG: 90% of it was on the page. The guys who did the script did a nice job. But the other 10% of it, yeah, we freestyled it. And had some fun.

Was there anything the audience can look for that you added in particular?

EG: No. It was so long ago. It was last year. There were like 3 other projects after that.

Any chance for another Undercover Brother 2?

EG: Hey from your mouth to god’s ears. I’m ready to do a UB2. Get back in the afro.

Do you know how far off it maybe?

EG: I have no idea. You make the call and then let me know.

What’s going on with the Sammy Davis Jr. story?

EG: Oh, we just waiting on a tight script right now. They’re in talks with Denzel possibly directing. It would be a beautiful thang to be directed by that brother. I hope that we get a tight script soon cause that’s one of those, you know, dream projects. That’s my oscar babe. Let’s get on it man.

Is there any particular points of life your hitting with Sammy?

EG: Aww you know, Sammy has a vast life span. As you can see, Daddy looks good. So I can play from a 22 year old to the casket. I think I can handle that part.

Any standup going on?

EG: Yeah. The tour starts September 23rd. I’m doing about 24 cities. I’m never gonna give up stand up. That’s my first love.

Any taping for DVD sale?

EG: Yeah. I taped over there in Amsterdam. It’s called Eddie Griffin live from Amsterdam. Who gives a damn?

What’s some of your targets in the material?

EG: I’m targeting the war in Iraq of course. Because you know, where over there to make sure that they’re free. And I’m trying to remember when they asked us to set them free. When the 13 colonies went on to take over England, they actually went over to do it themselves. I figured if the Iraqi people were that made a Saadam Hussein then there’s enough of them to kill the motherfucker. So, I;m still trying to figure out cause Bush landed on the carrier and said mission accomplished. But where still there. So I’m trying to figure out what mission did we accomplish.

Any celebrities?

EG: Naw. I don’t mess with celebrities. I think they are great people and I know most of them so..i don’t like to shit on my counter parts for no particular reason. I think life is the funniest shit. So, I;m going to stick to that part of it.

What do you think of Mike Epps playing Richard Pryor?

EG: I think it s wonderful thing. He’s going to do a wonderful job.

Blast went straight to DVD?

EG: Well, it was action and drama. Usually you get pigeon hold and once you do comedy they want to see the motherfucker do comedy.

How was it working with Vivica Fox?

EG: Oh. Vivica’ my girl. You know, she’s hoodie goodie. She’s a ghetto superstar princess. We had a ball over there in South Africa. South Africa’ so gorgeous, it makes Malibu look like the ghetto. So don’t believe everything you see on Wild Kingdom. It ain’ t a bunch of people running around with plate lips and bones in their nose. It’s some gorgeous and beautiful people over there. I had a great time.

When you got the call for Deuce 2, what were you thinking?

EG: Its been five years since the first one. So when rob called up and said I got a script, your ready to go do the second one? I was a little apprehensive. So we met at this restaurant down on sunset blvd. He said we were shooting in in Amsterdam and my ears perked up on that. And then when I read the script, the script was funnier than the first one.

It’s definitely more Eddie in this?

EG: There’s more eddie in this. That’s always a plus.