The Observer Effuses Over Chris Rock



(image via observer)

Say what you will about the salmon-colored weekly (stuffy, elitist, roughly the color of All-American coochie), it seems to have come down with a rather forbidding case of "Jungle Fever". Either that, or "The Vapors."

The Observer -- how does one say this in mixed company? -- likes its men like it likes its coffee. Aside from getting positively giddy with two -- count 'em two -- articles on the voodoosexmagic that is Obama'sd charismatic candidacy, The Observer's Sara Vilkomerson oscillates wildly and gets her panties in a bunch at the site of Chris Rock:

"The current cover of Vanity Fair’s annual Hollywood Issue—the biggest wet smackeroo possible from media land—features members of what’s commonly referred to as the film industry’s comedy mafia: Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson and Jack Black, all striking faux-serious poses in white-tie tuxes, as chubby penguins (another major Hollywood crush) wobble off to the side. But there’s someone else too, front and center, gaze steady. It’s the man dubbed 'the funniest man in America'—a curse in the making if ever we heard one—Chris Rock.

"There’s just something about Chris Rock that seems to inspire sloppy effusion. It may be his voice—that distinctive, gravelly growl that can slide up the scale to high-pitched incredulousness—or his wildly malleable face, one that seems able to register four different emotions and reactions at once.

"... There’s been a lot to like: Take that first glimpse of him in 1987 with Beverly Hills Cop II, when another brilliant black comic named Eddie Murphy first noticed his shine. Then we got to know him on Saturday Night Live in the early 90’s—the skinny Brooklyn kid who, along with co-stars and friends Adam Sandler, Chris Farley and David Spade, managed briefly to make the show funny again. Before the reign of The Daily Show, there was Mr. Rock as the 1996 Presidential campaign correspondent for Politically Incorrect. There were the blockbuster stand-up acts, Pootie Tang ..."

Pootie Tang?! Mama says wha-a-at? Someone fetch a medic. Clearly the woman has come down with a case of Dengue Fever.