Charlie Barnett in Washington Square Park

[TPB420]

I like this kind of humor we should all be able to laugh at each other and ourselves no matter what colour we are just think how many racial barriers could be broken if we all just laugh together.

[buffalosbm1]

That's Tyrone from D.C. CAB.

[bechevarria]

Charlie made you laugh so hard tears would flow freely. It's all in fun. B.E.

[J5MARLON]

Its funny cause its true.

[kvarntobben]

o if i come from china move to africa and to europe and soucth america and finally us do that make me a asian african european south american american then?

yeah u know that we all love a chokolate colored woman with loads of junk in the trunk and boobs u dont have to send out a searchsquad to find

Best wishes from an Scandinavian motherfucker

new meaning of motherfucker = father

hehehe u are really funny dude

[kvarntobben]

hey u guys stop call it african american

they are also americans u rasist bastards.

fuck ya hillarios thats a steriotype we need to get rid of

[rynoandliam]

Billy Mays at 1:53

[skittlesareyum48]

what a fucking pro

[xlyesterdaylx]

this dude is funny as hell.

[johnnybravoslover]

i can't find the world trade center either, and i'm not asian. I searched all day, where the hell is it?

[xHibachi24x]

5:19 apparently the only person not clapping didnt appreciate the last joke lol

[HighJunk21]

Black and yellow, black and yellow, black and yellow...

[wingzero0721]

Did he give that woman her purse back? LOL

[ARKAEA33]

Wow, this was the shittiest routine I've ever seen. He's like every other "comedian" who thinks just relaying stereotypes is funny. Here's a hint: It's not. It just makes you look like you've lived within a 5 mile radius your entire life and never traveled at all.

Also, how fucking difficult is it to realize that Puerto Ricans and Mexicans aren't racial groups? There are fucking black Puetro Rican's, white Puerto Ricans, and every shade in between. Same for Mexico, although less blacks.

[Candyshooter]

@ARKAEA33

wow you must be a really cool person to be around.

[ARKAEA33]

@Candyshooter Wow, you must love "comedy" aimed at those just exceeding the range of retardation.

[DoofusInc]

@ARKAEA33 the whole point of ethnic comedy is to rely on age-old stereotypes because IT SATIRIZES THEM!!!! also the point is to offend unreasonably sensitive people like you

[ARKAEA33]

@DoofusInc Satire is only funny when it's done cleverly. This is the same tired act that every single "comedian" who's ever taken the stage does until they are either forced to get another job due to inability to sell tickets or until they develop their sketch to the point where they actually say stuff that's funny. I'm not offended by this, I just think it's boring/stale/not funny... because it simply isn't funny. Thankfully nobody in the video paid to see this "routine."

[DoofusInc]

@ARKAEA33 barnett was one of the oldest ethnic comedians inspiring people like dave chapelle and many more who use this kind of comedy. so saying that he has a tired act and that that's a routine is like saying that metallica (or any other "old-school band" for that matter) sound like every other newer band

[ARKAEA33]

@DoofusInc Dave Chappelle is a true comedian seeing as how he actually writes jokes that aren't just the same lazy observations based on a small % of the target population that actually acts that way. This routine is no better than going on stage and saying "Niggas steal, crackas is racist, Chinamen got squinty eyes and Mexicans have 24 kids that sleep together in a pickup truck." If you find that funny, I truly suggest you search out some more standup and refine your taste.

[GilbertSmith]

@ARKAEA33 You know that a lot of comedians stole material/ideas from this guy, right? You might as well criticize blues musicians for using the same riffs as rock and roll artists.

[ARKAEA33]

@GilbertSmith It's not funny regardless of who said it first. Not funny now, not funny then, never funny. It's trash.

[GilbertSmith]

@ARKAEA33 Then you admit that you were wrong to call it a cliche or tired or old?

[GilbertSmith]

@ARKAEA33 Anyway, all the Puerto Ricans in that audience that you're sticking up for seem to like his act just fine.

[GilbertSmith]

@ARKAEA33 Again though you're missing context. Imagine what it would be like to hear these jokes if you had never heard them before. The butt of the joke isn't "HUR HUR! ASIANS HAVE SQUINTY EYES!" the humor lies in the breaking of racial tension and in the shock value of saying this kind of stuff in a public forum. If you can't understand that then you're A) too young to remember anything before the internet and B) have never actually been around people of other races before.

[ARKAEA33]

@GilbertSmith Sure, considering the age of this clip, perhaps it hadn't been run into the ground by that date. However, it's simply not clever or witty in the slightest. Even if a caveman had said this, it still wouldn't have been funny. It's just making a stereotypical and lazy observation and then yelling really loud about it whilst jumping around to alert the audience when to clap. And based on your syntax/grammar/spelling, I know you know I'm right (you're not stupid).

[ARKAEA33]

@GilbertSmith I live 5 minutes outside D.C. when I'm not in college, at which point I live in Richmond. Obviously I'm around a TON of people from various backgrounds. These "jokes" aren't funny.

[GilbertSmith]

@ARKAEA33 Lol I should've guessed you were in college.

[GilbertSmith]

@ARKAEA33 Anyway, you're not gonna convince someone who's laughing that what they're laughing at isn't funny, and trying to is just about the dumbest thing you could do. Likewise, if you're not laughing, we can't talk you into laughing, just like we can't talk you into enjoying Jazz music. The only real question left is why you're wasting your time trolling videos you don't like.

[ARKAEA33]

@GilbertSmith Okay, now I'm beginning to think you ARE dense. First, you guys (like three of you) all jumped on me for saying I don't find this funny. I'm not trying to convince anyone, you guys were trying to attack me for expressing my personal opinion. Second, I never said I disliked Jazz. Stop putting words in my mouth. Finally, I didn't "troll" this video. I was sent here by a friend, and I wrote what I thought of it after watching it (to completion, I thought it'd get better).

[GilbertSmith]

@ARKAEA33 Anyway let me get this straight: Your argument is that humor should stay away from things that are unpleasant to discuss, that it should try not to offend and that it shouldn't deal with the uglier side of society? Are there any comedians you actually like?

[ARKAEA33]

@GilbertSmith Why do you keep thinking I'm offended? Where have I even slightly indicated that this is offensive to me? It's not even remotely offensive. It's just boring and humorless. I don't like it when people can't come up with something clever to say and just lazily shit out material that a half-downs infant could write. I like some of Tosh's material, and he's WAY more aggressive in his attack. Then again, some of his stuff (like the 9/11 jokes I've seen him try) just isn't funny.

[GilbertSmith]

@ARKAEA33 You clearly haven't seen much comedy outside of what they play on TV. Barnett's stuff is very performance driven, look at the way he plays with the crowd. If you're looking for simple setup-punchline stuff, stick to Comedy Central Presents. Barnett is to Tosh what jazz is to pop songs. If that's not palatable to you, then you're just not really a fan of live comedy.

[ARKAEA33]

@GilbertSmith 1) Me being in college is not relevant at all. 2) Your example is horseshit. Jazz is often complex and requires skilled instrumentation, pop rarely does. Thus, Tosh (not Barnett) is the one who would be comparable to jazz music in that he constructs complex jokes that require mental involvement. You obviously are not familiar with his two specials "Completely Serious" or "Happy Thoughts." Again, he sometimes falls victim to Barnett's cheap/lazy style, but it's a rarity for him.

[GilbertSmith]

@ARKAEA33 1 - Yes it is. Show me one person in college who doesn't think they have it all figured out. Just one. College kids all go around preaching because they know everything.

2 - You have no idea what Jazz is. I'm not talking about classical music. Tosh's jokes are simple and structured so that folks like you know where the funny part is. Jazz is free-form and flowing, improvisational, more about feeling than structure.

Seriously, you think Jazz is structured and organized?

[ARKAEA33]

@GilbertSmith 1 - Um, me?  There's a shit-ton of stuff I don't know. I've only got 0.001 % (if that) of the world around me figured out. I understand that. It's a HUGE world, and we're just a tiny little part of the universe around us. 2 - I know what Jazz is, do you? Again, you are mixing up the comparisons. Tosh may be structured to a degree, but his jokes are often long and complex with various funny bits interspersed in them. There is no simple punchline for many (most) of them.

[elevat0r123]

@ARKAEA33,  Usually when somebody is defending somebody else, it's because they support them. I find this act incredibly funny, mainly because I'm open minded, and because it just matches with me. You may not find it humorous, but it doesn't mean it's not funny. I don't want to get into an insult war with you, I was just simply stating what I thought about him, compared to yours. Good luck with the other guys. :P

[ARKAEA33]

@GilbertSmith Also, for the THIRD time (at least), STOP PUTTING WORDS IN MY MOUTH. Anyone who reads this back-and-forth will be able to see that you are always accusing me of things I have never said. Not once did I say Jazz was either structured or organized.

[GilbertSmith]

@ARKAEA33 The real thing going on here is that Tosh is your generation's comedy, Barnett isn't. Nothing wrong with that, you just have a very narrow idea of what a joke is.

[ARKAEA33]

@GilbertSmith Contrarily, I think YOU are the one who has a very narrow idea of what a joke is. You don't want to involve your brain when watching comedy, and guess what? That's okay!  Good for you. If you want to shut down after work and kick back with some beers and just laugh at stupid jokes, go for it! I don't do that shit, which is (for some reason) very agitating to you. I wasn't judging you (originally) for liking this, but I've definitely done so in the time since.

[GilbertSmith]

@ARKAEA33 Your friend is dense. He should know you at least well enough not to recommend things you won't find funny.

[GilbertSmith]

@ARKAEA33 Oh wait, I'm sorry, I didn't realize that you were a hipster contrarian. Carry on disliking stuff simply because it's well liked.

[ARKAEA33]

@GilbertSmith Point out where I said that. Go on, do it.  I'm waiting.

[elevat0r123]

@ARKAEA33, That's why he's considered one of the funniest, and most original comedians ever.

[ARKAEA33]

@elevat0r123 I've only seen this routine right here, but if it's anything to go by, I have no desire to see his other "work." This is garbage, and you and I both know it. Perhaps he has some good material out there, but this ain't it.

[JoseDCampa]

Haha, I love the term 'White-People Glasses.'

[s0ulshad0w]

it's not racism if the black guy does it.

[geekofband007]

this guy is awesome. he makes todays stand up look like crap.

[RetroGamer1990]

Looks like a nikon F3 with a motor drive

[MuIdoon]

So fuckin' chill doin' it in the park.

[suckyskater21]

geez all that yelling made my throat sore

[pandemic7]

whack

[Koolkitties]

hahahahahaha

[eddiermiller]

Cracked

[XxZeldaxXXxLinkxX]

LOL. "There is only one race! And that is the human race! The rest of them are mexicans."

[karlehamel]

haha very funny racism but he should have learned voice projection XD

[rupbe]

White people drive a car like this...

[wayfechylde3]

way to represent, white guys. we suck :p

[Papawill13]

DC Cab was on of the greatest movies ever!!

[excaliburxz]

is this the only video without buzzing in the sound ?

[woopdedo3]

Cracked.

[Madnessonman]

Charlie Barnett wasn't at all funny.

I wasn't offended by anything he said. Actually what he said was the obvious stereotypes. Which is why he isn't funny

[abridgedfan107]

@Madnessonman more or less a case of Seinfeld Isn't Funny. these jokes are done WAY too much nowadays, but it was still fresh back in the seventies and eighties. this isn't too funny for me, but i can see how funny it was back in the day.

[ricardoread]

@Madnessonman Congrats you copied and pasted the comment from cracked.....Now the youtube and the cracked universe know a little bit more about you, You want a cookie?

[blackhole64121]

@ricardoread

ehhh shut up smartass.

[megow4ever]

Thumbs up if Cracked.com brought you here ! 

[smek2]

@megow4ever Got me. But it's a shame i didn't know Charlie Barnett up until now.

[MrRevolder]

@megow4ever

fuck off

[38MJA]

This guy makes Chris Rock look like Alan Keyes

[bergice1]

Cracked!

[MatterhornVore]

Thank you Crack.Com, for turning me on to one funny motha fucka!

[masteroftheobvious86]

Man, his voice!! Can't believe he could still talk day after day

[Chekkogrnteam]

It was alright until the end, then it was gold.

I find it good too see a black man talking nice to other people too.

[imwhitennerdy]

Solid stuff. If only he could be alive now, I would travel to NYC just to see him.

[IFknHateUTube]

this guy is racist as fuck

[Busanbusan]

@IFknHateUTube Well when he spoke this racism was considered stupid thoughts about race. Nowadays anything about race is racism. Well you probably are a fucking troll but lemme paraphrase Charlie in that there's only one race, the human one. Get on board motherfucker.

[Pottan23]

@Busanbusan Don't forget the Mexicans ^^

[IFknHateUTube]

@Busanbusan

that's bullshit.  it doesn't work like that. when i was in high school i made fun of white teacher for having a good credit score and everyone laughed but then i called a black kid a poor foul smelling nigger and the teacher suspended me. the nigger kicked my ass too

[farawaycircus]

@IFknHateUTube I think you're missing the point.

[haveajerk]

@IFknHateUTube So? No one in the audience seems to be offended.

[Chekkogrnteam]

@haveajerk If he was white, the audience would act different.

Because everybody knows, only whites can be racists /Sarcasm.

[AznShadowman]

@IFknHateUTube No he's not, it's called jokes. He made fun of his own color too.

[dreday0157]

One of the great...seen him at the square twice

[howard385]

Eddie Murphy was hired instead because he was funnier than Charlie. He was funnier than everyone at that time. To say he was hired because he read the jokes is silly.

[passionformyself]

you can hear the "hooooo" @ 0:06 in missy elliots "hot" song check it out

[VREU2B]

I truly miss Charlie and the skit he said about that "He Love Ronald Reagan!!!"

[teoruz]

I can tot. see this guy's not a cue cards reader !

indomitable talent

[NYOLSKOOL]

DC Cab was my favorite movie..haha.last time i saw charley was at the clinic in `86..he just found out he had the monster..

[jf1gd2]

what year was this performance?

[cathridge]

@jf1gd2 :  I think this is from a movie called "Mondo New York". 1988.

[reelblack]

@cathridge More likely Charlie Barnett's Terms Of Enrollment.

[treadley]

I loved him in DC Cab as Tyrone....such a shame about his death of AIDS.  RIP.

[imunk0wn2u]

he was set to take that spot on SNL but he was actually illiterate. They handed him a script and couldn't do anything with it. He got the chance to audition due to his ability to improv.

[bluebody99]

4:57

[thaballcoach]

Ed Murf Got taken because Charlie No- showed on the second read!

[mookeychase0907]

Damn I miss Charlie, I used to go to W 4th Street and watch them hoop between his Shows in 1989. I remember they had an add in the paper lookin for Charlie for a movie role he went once but couldnt stay out the streets crack f***ed Charlie up R.I.P Charlie

[ItsDappy]

Such an underrated comedian. Such a shame he never did any major shows for us to remember him by. He auditioned for SNL, too, and he was set to join, but Eddie Murphy was taken on instead.

[NepperCat]

@ItsDappy Actually, it was Robert Townsend that almost got Eddie's spot on SNL.

[mookiemu]

I remember going down to Washington square park and seeing Charlie. Even got to hang out with him a couple of times. He was definitely missed when he passed.

[billiams2]

Yup--Charlie had spatulate fingernails.

The Ghost guy was Rick Avilles... he could be kind of a prick. Always in a pissed off mood.

Albert Owens was my fave. But he and Charlie had two different styles. They were both so unique and talented, it sucks that they're gone.

[gibranm]

just finished reading Jeffrey Ross' autobiography and he gives a great mention to Charlie in his book. He and Dave Chappelle would go down to WSP and watch Charlie at work. He says Charlie's style of standup comedy greatly influenced their own. I can see why. Thanks to whoever uploaded this clip.

[Whooligan86]

Wow!! I remember watching DC Cab and loving his character in that movie. And to see this, he was truly a missed talent.

[RayPFP]

There was also the fireman who would perform close to Charlie. And also the Puerto Rican guy from Ghost.You know the hired killer.He got his start in Washington Square park also telling jokes. He later worked his way to the Apollo on 125 th.

[RayPFP]

Charlie had some of the thickest fingernails I have ever seen.

[mronelove]

I will always remember charlie he was the best.........

[RayPFP]

I knew Charlie. After a set or two he would go to Apha Bet City and get dope. He told Jokes to eat and pay rent as well as support his heroin addiction. I might even be in audience.

[davidjholt68]

what year was this footage taken?

[RayPFP]

Between 83 and 85. Not sure of the exact date. I remember when Charlie firs signed to do D.C. Cabs. Man that was all he ever talked about for a long time.

[davidjholt68]

I am a huge Jaco Pastorius fan, do you remember him aroung this time? he spent a lot of time in WSP

[shemitch]

He was great in D.C. Cab. All the more amazing since he could not read or write! Which is why after being picked to do the "Saturday Night Live" show he was replaced by a young man named Eddie Murphy!

[bteiv676]

Wasn't he also in a couple of porn movies?

[bteiv676]

Charlie was the greatest...Did anyone ever hear that he was in competition with Eddie Murphy for the SNL position and the only reason Charley didn't get the job was he didn't read as well.

But he would back the Washington Square Park fountain...when he "passed the hat" he had to use a duffle bag. He lived large in different ways and I believe his drug use caught up with him. God bless Charley. A real talent. How far could he have gotten?

[thebakerman1]

Charlie was great in Miami Vice as "Noogie" the "Noog-Man".

It was a shame when he died. He was truly funny and knew how to really make people laugh.

[CJPHOTO3]

It's mind blowing to seem him after sooo many years!

He is buy fare the funniest guy I ever heard.

I remember seeing hime do his thing in W.S. park back in the late 70's.

Brings back lots of memories.

[NepperCat]

This dude was TRUTH! Damn shame he died. he was before his time. Alot of comedians after him stole so much from his act, just look at alot of the lameass Def Jam guys who never made it.

[madgremlin]

Note - this clip comes from the movie Mondo New york... one day maybe they will rerelease it on DVD

[2hoodz]

he was great... really funny.

[xlmidi]

one of the greatest comedians ever!!! he influenced numerous new-age comedians. there will never be another Charlie!!! R.I.P

[BLACKFONZIRELLI]

the number was dave chappelle

[RNBMusicNJ]

He has a VHS tape ( Why is not DVD I'll never know!) about getting into college that is hilarious, and has much of this routine on it. Did anyone mention he had a reoccurring role on Miami Vice? And wasn't Dave Chapelle supposed produce a movie about him? That was before Dave's own deal fell through.

I hope he gets the recognition he deserves, even this many years after his death.

[BLACKFONZIRELLI]

yeah i remember dave said he was making a movie about him. i wonder if he will still do it.

[Nbarnett1986]

I miss my uncle!

[davidjholt68]

what year was this?

[ghanasoul]

This is a GREAT clip!!. looks professionally shot anyone know where this clip is from and when it was filmed???

[1zing1]

It's from a movie called "Mondo New York" I think

[huh909]

SHOWTIME!!!

Like others here, I too was a friend of his and miss him very much.

And to set the record straight, Charley was illiterate and barely even able to write his own name. It is indeed what cost him his shot at the top. :-(

In any case, thanks very much for posting this.

[BLACKFONZIRELLI]

he was seriously??

[huh909]

Yes. I still have many hours of cassette recordings that we made together, mostly of him being funny and trying out new material...although I no longer have a cassette player. I will gladly preserve them and/or upload to YouTube if someone can point me in the right direction. TIA

[BOX5]

love to hear those tapes,dude was funny, TYRONE is still one of the funniest character's ever in film yell

[limaq]

he's great!

um, 'was' that is. RIP

[keoghtom]

What a legend - this piece is good but it's just a small taste of his genius.

One comment needs correction - not only could Charlie read but he was well read. We were friends in NY and spent some some time together - he was a very smart guy. The story about his not reading came out of his SNL audition when he wouldn't read cue cards. They tried to get him to read jokes but he just went off and did his own stuff which was a lot funnier. Eddie Murphy read the jokes so they hired him instead.

[marciebrown]

Thanks for posting this---Charlie was a boyfriend and I loved him. He was difficult tho---as you can imagine!

[limaq]

iz u 4 real?

[Geezer]

Funniest thing I heard him say at one of his shows was was when he insulted a heckler by saying, "...you look like an abortion from a butt fuck!". The guy was great.

[jesusworld22]

how did he die?

[tonyapts]

His name was Rick Aviles he was one of the best

[diggs59]

He died of AIDS back in 1996.

[BLACKFONZIRELLI]

yeah i've heard about that. smh :(

[TheBearCave123]

great show. He will be missed. My mom used to see him in Bryant park. They were actually friends.

[Lionsgrrr]

Poor Charlie, I miss him. He was a real sweetheart in real life.

[EminemsRevnge]

Alas, Charlie was out BEFORE video was the norm, and this captures only a fraction of his talent!

He used to recite what was written on the arch in Washington Square Park, so when i found out he couldn't read i was shocked...he was definitely one of the greats.

[gmajorspresents]

The sad thing about Charlie was that Hollywood was very interested in him but he could not read. Catch a Rising Star was a top NYC comedy club at the time and treated him well but he could only go so far.

[wrestlingguy]

I haven't seen this clip in years, thanks for posting it!

[queencitynoize]

He was funny in DC Cab but after that drugs and stuff took their toll on him. He died of AIDS in the early 90's.

[taospec]

Yeah! Wasn't that like in 1994 when he died? I liked DC Cab

[BLACKFONZIRELLI]

yeah seen a few of his movies. dc cab which is funny i was watching that today on dvd. plus i seen his movie my man adam

[Geezer]

DID he die? I remember seeing Charlie all the time in the park. But there was another comic who did the same thing in NYC. I don't remember his name , but he was the raspy voiced bad guy in the movie GHOST. And I remember hearing that HE had died of AIDS. Same for Charlie too, eh? How sad. I also remember reading once that Charlie had attempted suicide but survived.

[franklanguage]

God, I miss him! I saw him in 1980 a few times.

"If God didn't want man to eat pussy, why did he make it look like a taco?"

[dogperson]

Those were the days...

[shortyrock34]

I used to open up for him at the apollo, I'm a comedy also...he was great, he was the only comedian that made pass out from laughing. he will be missed