Dave Chappelle...I believe him...here's why...

OK...I'm only mildly acquainted wtih Dave Chappelle, I must admit.

I saw him in "The Nutty Professor", as well as "Robin Hood: Men In Tights". I missed "Half-Baked" (which, from what I understand, probably wasn't as bad a thing as I thought).

But the few times I've seen his comedy show on Comedy Central, I was impressed! He's really funny, versatile, and watching him do his thing - well, he's really comfortable doing what he's doing.

That's why his "exile", "sabbatical", whatever you wanna call it, was surprising to me. Why? He seemed at the top of his game, and POOF! he's outta there.

There are so many sides of the story, it would most definitely qualify as a polyhedron if one followed the rules of geometry class.

Some are saying he's not "all there" mentally. Why would he do what he did at the top of his game? Why did he ditch the deal with Comedy Central? Why did he fire many of his important management team members?

I am not a performer at the level that Chappelle is. Not even CLOSE. But from the time I showed talent and interest in vocal music, I went through some of the same things on a smaller scale.

It's overwhelming when people like what you do and present opportunities to you. They market themselves so strongly, they make you feel that what they want you to do is the ONLY thing you should even consider. People want to be your friends because they want something from you, or else they don't want to be your friends because you have something they want. Your family dynamic changes. Everything you were used to has suddenly morphed into something you don't understand anymore, and you can't even take pleasure in what you used to do to express yourself.

If you look at entertainment history through the years, Chappelle is not exactly unique. My beloved Judy Garland had to fight tooth and nail to move on to adult roles after years of being "Betsy Booth" or "Dorothy Gale", but by then the damage had been done to her psyche. Nevertheless, she worked hard to reinvent herself and be true to her heart.

Bobby Darin, toward the end of his career, switched from being a teen idol to a crooner, and finally a folk singer.

I'm sure there are many other examples. I just can't think of them at this exact moment. But what's different? Chappelle admitted to the pressure (which isn't so unusual), and he "cleaned house" (also not unusual) of management that he felt wasn't doing him good in the long run.

What's different is he's (more than likely) not going back to the "cash cow" that made him way famous...his Comedy Central show.

That's really brave! Some would say insane, but I don't. I say brave.

It's brave because it could be so much easier for him to think of the money and go back to something that wasn't working for him, go on various benders, have multiple affairs, get divorced, make the cover of the National Enquirer where a close friend talks about how stressed and unhappy he is, and then when all is said and done, he's found in a Chateau Marmont bungalow dead of an overdose with a 300-lb. hooker implicated in selling him the fatal drug.

He's looking at the big picture. What's important to him? BEING HAPPY. AVOIDING PRESSURE. ENJOYING HIS WIFE AND FAMILY.

He can't fulfill those three things listed above if he's not enjoying his chosen profession. My parents taught me that.

So hang in there, Dave. Even a white girl that doesn't know you all that well is behind you.

Sudiegirl
(who's all about no pressure.)