Chris Rock stretching his comedic chops for FX’s ‘Fargo’

The comedian stars in the fourth season of FX’s anthology series (due April 19), and it’s a new kind of dark humor for him.

SHARE Chris Rock stretching his comedic chops for FX’s ‘Fargo’
Chris Rock discusses the FX series “Fargo” at the 2020 FX Networks Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour in Pasadena, California.

Chris Rock discusses the FX series “Fargo” at the 2020 FX Networks Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour in Pasadena, California.

AP

PASADENA, Calif. – Chris Rock is stretching his comedic chops into a new decade. 

The comedian stars in the fourth season of FX’s anthology series ”Fargo” (due April 19), and it’s a new kind of dark humor for him. 

“ ‘Fargo’ is funny like a Scorsese movie,” he told reporters at the Television Critics Association Thursday. ”It’s not Jim Carrey like, ‘Ah, I’m gonna be funny right now.’ It’s always within the character and within the story. So that’s something I always have to pay attention to,” he said. “The challenge is getting the part down, but getting a little of my personality in there.”

When asked if there’s anything from the new season of “Fargo,” about warring gangs in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1950, that would come up in his comedy routines, he had a cheeky response. 

“I’ve obviously talked about race,” he said. ”Racism’s been very good to me.”

On the series, which is filming in and around Chicago, Rock plays a crime boss trying to take over the city from a rival Italian gang, and even halfway through filming the new season, he’s still a little unsure about the character. 

“I still haven’t figured him out yet.” 

Although he’s known for improvising in his films, Rock had to stick to creator Noah Hawley’s script.

“You can’t improvise that much” in a period drama. “Your Jussie Smollett joke isn’t going to work.”

The comedian also reflected on his recent appearance on “Saturday Night Live” to honor Eddie Murphy, who returned to host the sketch comedy program Dec. 21 after a long absence. 

“It was surreal,” Rock said of the experience. “I was a kid, I was probably 14, 15 watching Eddie Murphy on ‘SNL,’ not even wishing to be him, just being like, wow, so enamored, like he was a superhero to me. Being with him on ‘SNL’ was unbelievable.”

Even though they’re now comedic peers, Rock still sees Murphy as an idol. 

“I’ve known Eddie almost 30 years. Only in like the last two or three years have I actually gotten a little comfortable around him.” 

Read more at usatoday.com

The Latest
Another federal judge in Chicago who also has dismissed gun cases based on the same Supreme Court ruling says the high court’s decision in what’s known as the Bruen case will “inevitably lead to more gun violence, more dead citizens and more devastated communities.”
The way inflation is measured masks certain costs that add to the prices that consumers pay every day. Not surprisingly, higher costs mean lower consumer confidence, no matter what Americans are told about an improving economy.
With Easter around the corner, chocolate makers and food businesses are feeling the impact of soaring global cocoa prices and it’s also hitting consumers.
Despite getting into foul trouble, which limited him to just six minutes in the second half, Shannon finished with 29 points, five rebounds and two assists.