MR. PLUSHEDOUT
04-02-2003, 11:19 AM
EDDIE GRIFFIN ON DYSFUNKTION AND GEORGE BUSH: Comedian gives it to us raw about his new film and current politics.
by Renee Simms
(Apr. 2, 2003) *We all know comedian Eddie Griffin likes to clown and his behavior at a recent press conference was no exception. Griffin was at the conference to promote his new film, “DysFunktional Family” that opens this Friday.
“Family” is a concert film where Griffin does a standup routine about his Kansas City relatives. Interspersed within his routine are actual scenes of the Griffin clan.
During the interview, the comedian chain-smoked, used foul language and gave plenty of hilarious answers. We first wanted to know: whassup with all the cigarettes?
“It’s a habit, we all got ‘em,” Griffin replied. “Some people addicted to coffee, some cigarettes, some perms. You still got brothers runnin’ around with jheri curls, just ain’t gon’ give it up.”
When pressed by another reporter whether he fears cancer, especially since his sister died of breast cancer, Griffin was quick with an answer.
“I ain’t gon’ get cancer. I deny cancer. My grandfather lived to 98 smoking and chewing tobacco,” he said.
We don’t get to see Griffin’s grandfather in the film but we do see his grandmother, his mother and his uncles Curtis and Bucky. According to Griffin, Curtis “watches pornos 24/7,” his Uncle Bucky “stays high and tricks on some hoes e’ry now and then,” and his mother “tried to kill her son with a Lincoln.” In short, they are a dysfunctional family.
“[The movie] had to be done ‘cause when I was out on tour and I would do the material about the family, people would come backstage and ask ‘You really got an Uncle Bucky like that?’”
Griffin says his relatives were happy to let their lives be documented on film.
“My family’s an open book, dog, they don’t hide ... We all different types of people in one mother*&%$*!$ family but we still love each other and I think [that’s] what you get from the film.”
The funnyman is already working on the sequel. He says it will focus on America as a dysfunctional family.
“It’s gonna be about the melting pot. I’m a walk around with a mother*&%$*!$ camera and just interview America[ns].”
Griffin, an admitted CNN and C-SPAN junkie, says he’s not afraid to criticize our government or the war with Iraq. He’s not fearful of being viewed as unpatriotic. “F*$% George Bush,” he said.
“Who gives a sh*t about the patriotic sh*t? This is the United States of America ... not the United Empire of the Earth. If those freedoms [to dissent] are gone what the f*$% are we protecting?” he asked.
“We at a time in history where: say somethin’ or don’t say somethin’,” he continued. “We at a crossroads right now. This sh*t could easily blow up into World War III ... I have children and I would like to see them have a mother*&%$*!$ planet to walk on.”
As far as future projects, Griffin says he’s agreed to do a film based on the life of legendary entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. Griffin would portray Davis and singer Harry Connick Jr. would play Frank Sinatra. Griffin says the film will be distributed by Miramax and that Davis’ widow, Altovise Davis, is a producer. The comedian says that filming wont start for at least a year because he needs that much time to prep for the role. He doesn't want to do an impersonation of Davis (although Hess very good at that). He says he wants to capture Davis’ spirit.
It will be interesting to see if Griffin can pull off a big role like playing Sammy Davis, Jr. In the meantime, heel keep us laughing about his crazy ass relatives.
Griffin says that in the end he wants his entire body of work to reflect his world-view.
“I want people to say, ‘He told it the way he thought it was. He told what he thought was the mother*&%$*!$ truth.’”
"Dysfunktional Family" opens this Friday. For more info go to --> http://www.miramax.com/dysfunktional_family/
by Renee Simms
(Apr. 2, 2003) *We all know comedian Eddie Griffin likes to clown and his behavior at a recent press conference was no exception. Griffin was at the conference to promote his new film, “DysFunktional Family” that opens this Friday.
“Family” is a concert film where Griffin does a standup routine about his Kansas City relatives. Interspersed within his routine are actual scenes of the Griffin clan.
During the interview, the comedian chain-smoked, used foul language and gave plenty of hilarious answers. We first wanted to know: whassup with all the cigarettes?
“It’s a habit, we all got ‘em,” Griffin replied. “Some people addicted to coffee, some cigarettes, some perms. You still got brothers runnin’ around with jheri curls, just ain’t gon’ give it up.”
When pressed by another reporter whether he fears cancer, especially since his sister died of breast cancer, Griffin was quick with an answer.
“I ain’t gon’ get cancer. I deny cancer. My grandfather lived to 98 smoking and chewing tobacco,” he said.
We don’t get to see Griffin’s grandfather in the film but we do see his grandmother, his mother and his uncles Curtis and Bucky. According to Griffin, Curtis “watches pornos 24/7,” his Uncle Bucky “stays high and tricks on some hoes e’ry now and then,” and his mother “tried to kill her son with a Lincoln.” In short, they are a dysfunctional family.
“[The movie] had to be done ‘cause when I was out on tour and I would do the material about the family, people would come backstage and ask ‘You really got an Uncle Bucky like that?’”
Griffin says his relatives were happy to let their lives be documented on film.
“My family’s an open book, dog, they don’t hide ... We all different types of people in one mother*&%$*!$ family but we still love each other and I think [that’s] what you get from the film.”
The funnyman is already working on the sequel. He says it will focus on America as a dysfunctional family.
“It’s gonna be about the melting pot. I’m a walk around with a mother*&%$*!$ camera and just interview America[ns].”
Griffin, an admitted CNN and C-SPAN junkie, says he’s not afraid to criticize our government or the war with Iraq. He’s not fearful of being viewed as unpatriotic. “F*$% George Bush,” he said.
“Who gives a sh*t about the patriotic sh*t? This is the United States of America ... not the United Empire of the Earth. If those freedoms [to dissent] are gone what the f*$% are we protecting?” he asked.
“We at a time in history where: say somethin’ or don’t say somethin’,” he continued. “We at a crossroads right now. This sh*t could easily blow up into World War III ... I have children and I would like to see them have a mother*&%$*!$ planet to walk on.”
As far as future projects, Griffin says he’s agreed to do a film based on the life of legendary entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. Griffin would portray Davis and singer Harry Connick Jr. would play Frank Sinatra. Griffin says the film will be distributed by Miramax and that Davis’ widow, Altovise Davis, is a producer. The comedian says that filming wont start for at least a year because he needs that much time to prep for the role. He doesn't want to do an impersonation of Davis (although Hess very good at that). He says he wants to capture Davis’ spirit.
It will be interesting to see if Griffin can pull off a big role like playing Sammy Davis, Jr. In the meantime, heel keep us laughing about his crazy ass relatives.
Griffin says that in the end he wants his entire body of work to reflect his world-view.
“I want people to say, ‘He told it the way he thought it was. He told what he thought was the mother*&%$*!$ truth.’”
"Dysfunktional Family" opens this Friday. For more info go to --> http://www.miramax.com/dysfunktional_family/