Title: Dave Chappelle: Killin' Them Softly
Year: 2000
Killin' Them Softly is easily one of HBO's best comedy specials, catching star Dave Chappelle at a career high in 2000 and with an abundance of hysterical, highly polished material. Taking his time, stretching concepts and bits like a master, Chappelle plunges into a wealth of anecdotes and observations about the influx of white people into Washington, D.C. (where this show was recorded) since the 1980s. ("Who are the scariest people? White guys in black gangs. No telling what they did to get respect.") There are fantastic tales of racing cops with Chappelle's white friend, Chip, and a great story about being left alone in a limousine outside a busy crack house. Other good stuff: introducing a kid to a PePe Le Pew cartoon and realizing too late the skunk is a sex criminal, and why we should know our 911 calls will end up played on television.