Category - Entertainment
Dave Chappelle's 17 Minute Stand-Up Monologue Broke an 'SNL' Record — Again
Dave Chappelle doesn't have a new stand-up special out in 2025, at least not yet. But in the first new Saturday Night Live episode of 2025, he dropped something very close: A lengthy opening monologue. Generally speaking, an SNL host will go for about six to seven minutes. But, in the SNL episode that aired on January 18, 2025, Chappelle went for nearly 17 minutes. Previously, Chappelle also held the record for the longest opening monologue at 16 minutes back in 2020, meaning, he broke another SNL record and his own record simultaneously.
The new 17-minute monologue resulted in an episode that probably felt a lot shorter to several viewers, mostly because the long monologue meant fewer sketches. Basically, Chappelle opened the episode with a mini stand-up show, with a few surprising jokes, but also, some warm and contemplative moments, too.
Chappelle referred to his divisive image, and joked that he was "tired of being controversial" and that he was "trying to turn over a new leaf." He then launched into a few jokes about the L.A. fires, and some objectively great take-downs about the P. Diddy scandal, pointing out that "I can't remember a single time I threw an empty bottle of baby oil in the trash."
But, Chappelle also pivoted to some serious matters. He related a story about Jimmy Carter visiting Palestine and noted that Carter's visit had made him "proud," saying, without sarcasm, "I don't know if that's a good President, but that right there, I'm sure, is a great man."
Chappelle also noted that he hoped that President Trump would "do better next time," and extended that sentiment to everyone in the US. "Please, all of us, do better next time," he said. "Do not forget your humanity. And please have empathy for displaced people, whether they're in the Palisades or Palestine."