Hello, reader! Gabe here with RVA Magazine, and I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with comedy heavyweight Marlon Wayans. Now, if you know anything about Marlon, you know he’s a true jack-of-all-trades in the entertainment industry—comedian, writer, actor, and all-around icon. From Scary Movie to White Chicks and now his latest stand-up special Good Grief, Marlon has always had a way of pushing boundaries while staying true to his roots.
We talked about a lot: the grind of writing, the thrill of performing stand-up, and the skill of navigating the ever-changing landscape of comedy. Marlon’s about to bring his show to Richmond’s own Carpenter Theatre, so we’re in for a night of comedy right in the heart of the city.
Gabe: Thanks for doing this. Big fan. Can’t wait for you to come to Richmond.
Marlon: Thank you, man.
GS: How are you doing this evening?
MW: Doing great. Been working all day. Writing. Writing. Writing.
GS: Yeah, I heard you guys are working on the new Scary Movie.
MW: That’s what we’re doing. In the lab every day.
GS: Oh, cool. So, you’re in the writing process of it now?
MW: Yeah. We’re in the writing process right now. And then after we write it, then we’ll shoot it, and then we’ll cut it together. Then we’ll put it out, but we’re trying to make it classic.
GS: How much can you say about updates or cast at this point?
MW: Nothing. I can just say we signed back on to do the movie. If I did, they’d kill you and me.
GS: [laughs] Well, I can’t wait to see it when it comes out. It’s going to be another classic for sure. I just watched your newest special on Prime, Good Grief. It was really great.
MW: Oh, thanks you brother. Thank you. Working very hard on these specials. Really trying to figure my own voice. My own way of doing things. Staying authentic to myself and my sense of humor.
GS: You’ve worn many hats the entertainment industry. Writer, actor, sketch comedy. What’s something that you get out of stand-up comedy that you don’t other mediums of comedy?
MW: Instant gratification. You instantly know if something is funny or not. And it’s kind of like trusting your instincts. It’s sink or swim every time. And you just jump in the water and see what happens. I just truly feel like, to me, the best way to hone your craft or joke telling and storytelling.
GS: Working out material, do you still have some jokes fall flat?
MW: We all do.
GS: Of course.
MW: I mean, we all do. Not everything is going to be a hundred percent. But you know when it makes you laugh, it will make them laugh most of the time. Sometimes I have a darker sense of humor, so I’ll find a different way to say it. I’ve been telling jokes sense I was two. I pretty much know where they are. I know where the jokes are. It takes time to figure out sometimes. I just believe in just being honest and being real. And not caring about pleasing the audience. I care that I told the truth and I found a way to make the truth funny. Even though the truth might be painful.
GS: For darker material, some comedians think there’s too much censorship can restrict the material while other feel restrictions forces them to be more creative. What is your take on that stuff?
MW: I believe in having some constrictions. I don’t mind. Listen, you can be as edgy as you want to be. But if one day you’re wanting to become some big TV star, you’re going to have to take some of that edge off. I’ve learned in different genres and different mediums and different time zones; you have to adjust your comedy. Know when to be edgy and just edgy enough. Know when to be funny. Know when to be charming. Knowing the speed limits.
Engaging how fast or how crazy you can get. Sometimes they want the crazy and you give it to them and you don’t hold back. You give it to them raw. But that’s a skill set. And I think you have to be fearless either way that it goes. In order to find the boundaries, you have to be fearless.
GS: Definitely. Especially since you’re up there by yourself. This past year you were one of the guests for The Daily Show.
MW: Good times.
GS: What was that experience like?
MW: I just had fun. The writing staff over there is great. All I had to do was tell the jokes and be funny and add my own flavor to it. It was a great experience. I’ve been finding a lot of my experiences have been great because I’m confident in myself as an artist and I’m confident enough to collaborate in a meaningful way.
GS: I wanted to take you back a little bit. I don’t know. So, my wife and her family actually grew in the Chelsea, Fulton buildings in the eighties. They were in another building across the street from you guys. Do you remember five Puerto Rican sisters from around that time? [says their names] One of the sister, Jenny, had a daughter who I’m now married to.
So, I was hearing about you guys at Thanksgiving last year.
MW: If I seen them… hmmm Jenny? Did they say what building they were in?
GS: No. She told me they were on the sixth floor.
MW: The sixth floor… Is she related to Cuka?
GS: Cuka? I’m not sure.
MW: I think I do know that family. I think we were one building over and one floor down. They were in that same building but on the other side. I think I do remember them. I think my brother, Keenan, used to date one of those sisters.
GS: That’s what they said at Thanksgiving!
MW: Yeah, I think that was Keenan.
GS: Confirmation. Anyways, have you ever been to Richmond?
MW: Yeah, I’ve been. I love Richmond. I played The Improv or Funny Bone down there. Was it The Improv?
GS: No, there’s a Funny Bone down here.
MW: Yeah, it’s cool place. I like Richmond.
GS: The Funny Bone is a little west of the city. The theatre you’re going to be performing at, the Carpenter Theatre, is right in the city. So, you’re going to be right in the thick of it.
MW: Oh, I haven’t been to that part of the city. I’m looking forward to it. Maybe I’ll run into Cuka and Millie and all of them.
GS: [laughs] Most of them are either still in New York or in Florida at this point.
MW: That’s where all the block goes. That’s what we call the neighborhood.
GS: I know that’s right. Thanks so much for taking the time out of your day to do this.
MW: Thanks, man.
GS: And you want any food recs, I got you. For Jamaican, go to Jamaica House. Pizza? Go to Belmont. Jewish Deli? Hit up Perly’s. Puerto Rican food? You come by my crib.
MW: [laughs] Gotchu!
Get tickets for Marlon Wayans at the Carpenter Center HERE!
