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Netflix's special is a fitting tribute to a landmark TV show
In the opening salvo for Netflix's must-see Def Jam 25, Cedric the Entertainer -- on stage alongside heavyweights Sheryl Underwood, Steve Harvey and Dave Chappelle -- delivers one of the production's many killer lines.
"Some of you millennials might be asking, 'What the hell is Def Comedy Jam,'" he said. "Well, that's why we hate you little motherf---rs. You don't know sh--."
His joke encapsulates HBO's landmark series, which aired from 1992-1997, in a nutshell: no holds barred, outrageous, profanity laden, honest and really, really funny. As Underwood -- whom many might not know has a wonderfully filthy mouth -- said, "Push the envelope? We pushed, licked, stamped and mailed that b--ch."
This may not seem like a big deal to the uninitiated, but by corralling a whole galaxy of alums, Def Jam 25 shows how seismic its impact really was. They were unknowns then, but Chappelle, Underwood, Cedric and Harvey are all now comedic giants -- joining D.L. Hughley, the late Bernie Mac, Chris Tucker, Katt Williams, Mo'Nique, Kevin Hart, Tracy Morgan, first host Martin Lawrence, and many more-- who got their first big break on Def Jam.
No special (or revival, for that matter) could ever do the magic of the original Def Comedy Jam justice, but Netflix's delightful special is a fitting tribute, giving DCJ the reverence it deserves. Taped at a lush dinner/reception at the Beverly Hilton in front of an audience of celebs (P. Diddy), and power players (Netflix boss Ted Sarandos; Power showrunner Courtney Kemp) Def Jam 25 broke the show down into segments highlighting some of the attributes that made DCJ iconic.
There's a look at the inventive swearing, for example, and a riff on the ways DCJ let people sound off on current events of the day long before social media. They're brief, but remarks from alums like Chris Rock are hysterical, showing a deep respect for the institution that had them bringing their A-game to the party. The funniest moment -- when Dave Chappelle and D. L. Hughley go off script, butchering "Lift Every Voice and Sing," while roasting celebs in the audience -- captures the unpredictable, anything-goes spirit that's the essence Def Comedy Jam.