Transcript

Comedians Chris Spencer & Ryan Davis on Comedy, Culture Wars & Why Funny Never Retires

From Stay Tranquilo · Episode page · Watch on YouTube

· 21 min · 4,118 words · 117 timestamped sections

This is the full, timestamped transcript of "Comedians Chris Spencer & Ryan Davis on Comedy, Culture Wars & Why Funny Never Retires", an episode of Stay Tranquilo published February 16, 2026 (21 min, about 4,118 words). It mentions 44 people, works and ideas, including Richard Spencer, Ryan Davis, Comedy, YouTube, Kevin Hart.

What this episode is about

The conversation centers on humor, culture wars, and the resilience of comedy, with comedians Chris Spencer and Ryan Davis discussing race, colorism, and how jokes navigate social tensions while sharing career updates and perspectives on staying relevant in stand-up.

Key takeaways

  • Colorism and intra-Latinx tensions reveal how ethnicity stratifies even within shared racial groups.
  • Chris Spencer’s mentorship barometer: a 'cosign' from him still signals credibility more than tickets.
  • Self-aware branding: Suits of self-critique (fat-shape vanity) become a social mirror, not a punchline.
  • Casual basketball metaphors expose comedians’ career anxieties: passing, shooting, and late-stage assists.
  • Authenticity versus fame: the 'impostor syndrome' when you’re around peers who admire you.

Who speaks in this episode?

What is discussed, and when

  1. – 5:00: Comedy, Richard Spencer, Black Comedy in America, Ryan Davis
  2. – 10:00: YouTube, Social Media, Richard Spencer, Ryan Davis
  3. – 15:00: Comedy, Black Comedy in America, Kevin Hart, Chappelle (Dave Chappelle)
  4. – 20:00: Don't Be a Menace, Crazy Legs, Comedy, racial profiling
  5. – 20:58: Black Comedy in America, Comedy, Underrated, YouTube

Notable quotes from "Comedians Chris Spencer & Ryan Davis on Comedy, Culture Wars & Why Funny Never Retires"

  • All right, we are here with Chris Spencer, Ryan Davis. How are you guys doing?
    about Richard Spencer · at
  • And first and foremost, I have all these slashes, director, writer, producer, host with him on Black Comedy in America. But both of us in our nature, true and true, we are comedians. Oh yeah.
    about Black Comedy in America · at
  • He always knows what's going on in the space. And they needed somebody young who really cared about comedy. And fortunately for me, I did the work to be on his radar and he chose me. But I don't get here without him not only.
    about Comedy · at
  • Yeah. But like Kevin Hart's story is Chris Spencer all through it. Any like it just doesn't matter. It's like if you're coming in or if you're at the top, everybody has, how.
    about Kevin Hart · at
  • Wait where can they find your special you can find it on YouTube underrated Ryan Davis I think it's at 3.2 two million three months.
    about Ryan Davis · at
  • Can text it to somebody. I can text the link to somebody. I can put the link in the comment section or anything. It's me using my power in social media to spread the word about…
    about Social Media · at
  • And the reason it's called black comedy in America is cuz we're black. It doesn't mean that if you're not black, you shouldn't watch it. Everybody watch this. It's It's amazing. It just has.
    about Black Culture · at
  • I think the other thing that makes it magical is you could release that movie today.
    about Don't Be a Menace · at

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

  • Richard Spencer — Person · Referenced contributor · 3 mentions · first at
    Chris Spencer identifies his wife Vanessa as a producer who helped bring 'Black Comedy in America' together.
  • Ryan Davis — Person · Main guest · 2 mentions · first at
    He promotes his YouTube special 'Underrated' and explains distribution strategy (YouTube vs Netflix), while crediting Chris Spencer for bringing him into 'Black Comedy in America'.
  • Kevin Hart — Person · Referenced figure · 4 mentions · first at
    Cited as a global comedy star and as the owner/face of LOL Network, which distributes 'Black Comedy in America'; also referenced as having a career story involving Chris Spencer.
  • Chappelle (Dave Chappelle) — Person · Referenced figure · 4 mentions · first at
    Referenced as a top-tier comedian; mentioned as hosting a show and as a featured figure in 'Black Comedy in America'.
    Oh yeah. It was Chappelle. It was He was the Yeah. He was the host of the show.
  • Will Smith — Person · Referenced figure · 2 mentions · first at
    Named as a featured participant in 'Black Comedy in America' and discussed as a global star beyond only Black audiences.
    Will we name Will Smith, Kevin Hart, Dave Chappelle, they don't belong to black people. that it's global. So, it's that kind of show. Yeah. It's just we black though.
  • Tiffany Haddish — Person · Referenced contributor · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned as an executive producer and host on 'Black Comedy in America' and as part of the 'comedians table' identity list.
    Here and I see Kenya Baris and Lena White showrunners on this table. But if I come over here and see Tiffany, Ryan, Cedric, Dave Chappelle, Mike Eps, I'm sitting here.
  • Donald C. Murphy — Person · Referenced figure · 2 mentions · first at
    Referenced as the subject of an episode in 'Black Comedy in America' and as a global star beyond a single audience.
    But Eddie Murphy didn't belong to black people. He was the big He was the biggest global That's what I'm saying.
  • Crazy Legs — Person · Referenced person (anecdote) · 2 mentions · first at
    Referenced in a behind-the-scenes story about filming 'Don't Be a Menace', used to illustrate the film's absurd humor and set experiences.
    I've turned into the audience. Meaning Crazy Legs, one in the wheelchair. We're having lunch.
  • Magic Johnson — Person · Referenced figure (metaphor) · 1 mention · first at
    Chris Spencer compares himself to Magic Johnson as a 'point guard' who gives assists, framing his mentorship and producing work.
    You know what I mean? And I'm I people call me a Magic Johnson because I'm a point guard and you know I give out a lot of assists. I work on a lot of people. I'm still a point guard, but it's more Steph Curry like.
  • JK Simmons — Person · Referenced figure · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned as important to 'Def Comedy Jam' in the context of comedy history covered by 'Black Comedy in America'.
    Dude, we have Kevin. We have Dave. We have an episode on strictly deaf comedy jam and how important Stan Lean and Russell Simmons were to that project.
  • Al Sharpton — Person · Referenced contributor · 1 mention · first at
    Named as a non-comedian interviewee/participant in 'Black Comedy in America', signaling the docuseries' broader cultural scope.
    Al Sharpton, Dr. Boyd. Like we didn't just have comedians and actors.
  • Bernie Mac — Person · Referenced figure · 1 mention
    Mentioned as part of the comedy legacy discussed within 'Black Comedy in America' (implying coverage of major figures).
  • Stan Lathan — Person · Referenced figure · 1 mention
    Credited (with Russell Simmons) as important to 'Def Comedy Jam', referenced as a key historical project covered in the docuseries.
    Dude, we have Kevin. We have Dave. We have an episode on strictly deaf comedy jam and how important Stan Lean and Russell Simmons were to that project.
  • Lamar Jackson — Person · Referenced figure (metaphor) · 1 mention · first at
    Used as a sports analogy for Chris Spencer's evolving career approach (more self-driven, willing to 'run' for touchdowns).
  • James Gray — Person · Referenced figure · 1 mention · first at
    Used as an example of a director 'table' in a metaphor about creative identity versus being a stand-up comedian.
    And the way I like to break it down is if like we were all in high school and we walked into a room and I saw F.Gary Gray and Ryan Cubler and all these directors at one table…
  • Lena Waithe — Person · Referenced figure · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned as an example of showrunner talent (a different 'table') to contrast with Chris Spencer's core identity as a stand-up comedian.
    Gray and Ryan Cubler and all these directors at one table and I walk over here and I see Kenya Baris and Lena White showrunners on this table. But if I come over here and see…
  • Cedric the Entertainer — Person · Referenced figure · 1 mention · first at
    Listed among top comedians as part of the 'comedians table' identity metaphor.
    Here and I see Kenya Baris and Lena White showrunners on this table. But if I come over here and see Tiffany, Ryan, Cedric, Dave Chappelle, Mike Eps, I'm sitting here.
  • David Allen — Person · Referenced person (anecdote) · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned in a joke about 'impostor syndrome' and being around notable people at Chris Spencer's events.
    I go to something he's doing, I get imposttor syndrome. I'm am I supposed to be here? I was thank God a minute ago I just go come here Marcus Allen.
  • Idris Elba — Person · Referenced figure (anecdote) · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned in a story about Trevor Noah learning comedy, used to illustrate mentorship and learning across entertainment.
    You know that's funny cuz even the biggest comedians have him as part of that. Like Trevor Noah was talking to Idris Ela. He was Yeah. He was Yeah, I was trying to learn comedy and I was doing it wrong.
  • Jordan Henderson — Person · Referenced figure (episode guest, as claimed) · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned as appearing in an '80s sitcom episode' of 'Black Comedy in America', illustrating the breadth of interview subjects.
    Yeah. But this is a 80s sitcom episode and we have Florence. That's awesome. Mara Gibbs who played the maid on the Jeffersons right there. She's like almost 100 years old. Wow.
  • Richard Gibbs — Person · Referenced figure (episode guest, as claimed) · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned as an interview subject in the '80s sitcom episode' of 'Black Comedy in America'.
    Yeah. But this is a 80s sitcom episode and we have Florence. That's awesome. Mara Gibbs who played the maid on the Jeffersons right there. She's like almost 100 years old. Wow.
  • Matthew Vaughn — Person · Referenced figure (film cast, as claimed) · 1 mention · first at
    Named among people involved in 'Don't Be a Menace' while describing the set environment and comedic talent.
    Sean Marlin, Sulie McCulla, Bernie Faison, Terry Vaughn, Tracy Ell Tracy Jones. it was just every people would stay on the set even when they weren't shooting. Now, you're wrapped. That's okay. I'm cool. I want.
  • Quincy Jones — Person · Referenced figure (film cast, as claimed) · 1 mention · first at
    Named among people involved in 'Don't Be a Menace' during a discussion of the film's comedic cast density.
    Sean Marlin, Sulie McCulla, Bernie Faison, Terry Vaughn, Tracy Ell Tracy Jones. it was just every people would stay on the set even when they weren't shooting. Now, you're wrapped. That's okay. I'm cool. I want.
  • Ryan Coogler — Person · Referenced figure · 1 mention
    Used as an example of a director 'table' in a metaphor about where Chris Spencer belongs socially/artistically.
    And the way I like to break it down is if like we were all in high school and we walked into a room and I saw F.Gary Gray and Ryan Cubler and all these directors at one table…

Companies & orgs

  • YouTube — Company · Distribution platform · 6 mentions · first at
    Ryan Davis explains why he released 'Underrated' on YouTube for maximum shareability and audience growth.
    Wait where can they find your special you can find it on YouTube underrated Ryan Davis I think it's at 3.2 two million three months.
  • Hulu — Company · Distribution platform · 2 mentions · first at
    Hulu is the platform where Chris Spencer's special 'Go to Jason' is released, used as an example of platform strategy.
    It's on Hulu and first and foremost, I have all these slashes, director, writer, producer, host with him on Black Comedy in America. But both of us.
  • LOL Network — Company · Distributor / production network · 1 mention · first at
    Identified as Kevin Hart's network and the distribution home for 'Black Comedy in America', chosen for broad reach across apps/devices.
    You always want to know what the goal is. Like so with black comedy in America, it's it's with LOL, right?
  • Smack — Company · Production company · 1 mention · first at
    Identified as the company that produces 'Black Comedy in America', with owners thanked on-air.
    All a lot of these people, those are the people that own Smack, the company that produces it. My wife is a producer on it. Vanessa.
  • Netflix, Inc. — Company · Referenced platform (comparison) · 1 mention · first at
    Used as a benchmark streaming partner when discussing whether releasing a special on YouTube is strategic versus partnering with major streamers.
    Been seeing some comics doing the same thing, right? Like trying to enter that world or like is it strategic versus like partnering with a you know Netflix or something?
  • Roku — Company · Distribution device/platform · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned to emphasize that LOL Network content (including 'Black Comedy in America') is widely available on connected TV ecosystems.
    As Kevin Hart's network, LOL is on every single app that's television that if you have a Roku, it's even YouTube as well.
  • Wuang Clan — Organization · Metaphor / referenced group · 2 mentions · first at
    Used as a metaphor for many headliners collaborating on 'Black Comedy in America' (a playful riff on 'Wu-Tang Clan').
    Host on this project. So it was really an incredible marriage for all these different was like Wuang Clan. It was like all these headliners came together to make this…
  • MySpace — Company · Referenced platform (historical contrast) · 1 mention · first at
    Used to contrast older-era social following with today's massive social media reach for comedians.
    Yeah. How you My little 75 followers on MySpace didn't come to no comedy shows back then, man.

Concepts & topics

  • Comedy — Concept · Core topic · 12 mentions · first at
    The episode centers on stand-up craft, career strategy, and the ecosystem of comedians helping each other while building audiences across platforms.
  • Social Media — Concept · Core topic · 3 mentions · first at
    Central to the strategy discussion: building followers, distributing specials via links, and converting online attention into tour revenue.
  • Black Culture — Concept · Core topic · 3 mentions
    The docuseries frames Black comedy as culturally specific yet broadly accessible; the episode discusses how Black comedic figures are globally influential.
  • Craft — Concept · Core topic · 1 mention · first at
    They emphasize improving stand-up fundamentals and note that some comics nurture audiences while also perfecting their craft.
    Make their craft better. I feel like bunch of money. I mean fun.
  • racial profiling — Concept · Referenced concept · 1 mention · first at
    Discussed via a scene from 'Don't Be a Menace' where Black characters are profiled while white robbers steal freely.
    It was some regular time. But then when they walked in, they racial profiling the black dudes the whole time they're in the store, white guys robbing THE [ __ ] OUT OF US.
  • Colorism — Concept · Referenced concept · 1 mention · first at
    Appears in an opening discussion about intra-Latino and intra-cultural tensions, broadening the episode beyond comedy into identity dynamics.
    Yeah. You didn't know there was colorism everywhere.
  • Impostor Syndrome — Concept · Referenced concept · 1 mention
    Ryan Davis describes feeling impostor syndrome when attending Chris Spencer's events with high-profile attendees.

Places & events

  • Super Bowl — Event · Setting / contextual event · 2 mentions · first at
    The conversation is framed as happening around the Super Bowl, used for sports metaphors and as a time/place context.
    Well, we out here at the Super Bowl. You should use the football analogy.

Media & podcasts

  • Don't Be a Menace — Media · Referenced media (film) · 3 mentions · first at
    A major tangent where Chris Spencer recounts production stories and explains why the movie works comedically (casting comedians, density of jokes).

Sponsors

  • Black Comedy in America — Media · Core topic / promoted project · 6 mentions · first at
    A docuseries discussed as a major collaborative project featuring top Black entertainers and cultural figures, distributed widely via LOL Network and many platforms.
  • Underrated — Media · Promoted media title (special) · 2 mentions · first at
    Ryan Davis's stand-up special on YouTube; used to discuss platform strategy and audience growth.
    Wait where can they find your special you can find it on YouTube underrated Ryan Davis I think it's at 3.2 two million three months.
  • Jason — Media · Promoted media title (special) · 2 mentions · first at
    Referenced as the title phrase for Chris Spencer's special ('Go to Jason'), repeatedly promoted at the end.
    That's why like the name of the special is go to Jason. I'm telling you, man.

Full transcript with timestamps

All right, we are here with Chris Spencer, Ryan Davis. How are you guys doing? We're incredible.

Great, man. It's colder than I thought it was going to be up here. I'm I didn't even bring a sweater.

You didn't? Well, you're half white, so you guys don't get cold. Right now, he actually got cooked by a couple real Cubans, apparently.

First off, they're not cub I'm Cuban. I'm Latino. This Honduran said I wasn't dark enough literally last night. No, the Latino is the the the racial tension between Latinos.

Well, that's what I explained to him. Yeah. You didn't know there was colorism everywhere.

The whitest guy in America. White on black. I didn't realize brown versus brown. You want to know more?

Koreans. Oh, boy. Chinese is like crips and bloods. Yeah. Really? Oh, yeah. Every every culture has their version of

100%. That's what I was explaining to him, too. Like like like Cubans, Puerto Ricans, like you know, but I've never seen somebody so mad that you were the same race as like it was actually like a surreal like we just met this guy you're not dark enough. I'm like

the reason you feeling like that by the way is cuz you're he a LA guy and they don't have seasons.

So to me yeah to me I'm like oh it feels great out here. Yeah I'm wearing a jacket just because I'm fat and it look better on my body but I want to Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, it's just it's just for the shape. I'm doing this. I'm doing this to hide the body.

This ain't fashion. I DON'T LIKE THE WAY I LOOK IN just a t-shirt. Y'all got the exact same jacket.

Oh my god. Wow. Well, listen, Chris, I know you just dropped uh a special. Yes.

How'd that go? It was like a your return, right? How I've always been lurking. Oh, yeah.

You know what I mean? And I'm I I I people call me a Magic Johnson because I'm a point guard and uh you know I give out a lot of assists. I work on a lot of people. I'm still a point guard, but it's more Steph Curry like.

Yeah. I'm thinking shoot first, pass later. And then sometimes I might pass it to you and then ask for it again so I can shoot it again. So

I'm the give and go. I'm trying to be a little bit more selfish with my career.

Yeah. In these last couple of summers I got left. Well, we out here at the Super Bowl. You should use the football analogy.

Oh yeah. Now you're more Lamar Jackson. Yes. I'm I'm a run too. If y'all don't get the scarlet or touchdowns, I'm a run too.

It's sports and it's sports. Well, was normally a pass down the rock. So, it was it was a great experience. It's on Hulu

and uh you know, first and foremost, I have all these slashes, director, writer, producer, host with him on Black Comedy in America. But both of us

in our nature, true and true, we are comedians. Oh yeah. And the way I like to break it down is if like we were all in high school and we walked into a room and I saw F.Gary Gray and Ryan Cubler and all these directors at one table and I walk over here and I see Kenya Baris and Lena White showrunners on this table. But if I come over here and see Tiffany, Ryan, Cedric, Dave Chappelle, Mike Eps,

I'm sitting here. That's for sure. This is who I am. And and we would clown him if he sat somewhere else. Oh, you ain't one of us.

Oh, YOU YOU DONE GOT BOOZY ON US. YOU ONLY DO IT IN ONE VIDEO. YO, don't nobody care if you want an Oscar. You are a stage performer, Chris. So,

yeah. Nah, we wouldn't even let him try to act like he's something else. It It's It's funny just watching him being great at something and being known for so many other things. I was like, man, y'all should really see the thing he does.

Y'all should really Yeah. Like, like the reason it's the reason why he's so trusted. And he's talking about passing. That's how I got black comedy in America. A lot of people saw me. This is my first time being one of the lead people in anything television. And it was passed to me by Chris. It was his idea and everything. And you know, because he keeps his ear to the ground. He always knows what's going on in the space. And they needed somebody young who really cared about comedy. And and fortunately for me, I did the work to be on his radar and he chose me. But I don't get here without him not only being as great as he is, but also having an eye for other people who do. So that's why that's why I I love him so much, man. And I'm Yo, to get a Chris Spencer cosign is a real thing. But yeah, like I'm super proud. There he goes man.

It It means a lot. It means a lot. And the check was great. So you put the uh you put the two together. You had

check always. We were talking earlier about uh how how good it is for you, but how you must be jealous how

you could be 20 and have 2 million followers now. Get on. Yes. Back when you did it,

who you know? Yeah. How you My little 75 followers on MySpace didn't come to no comedy shows back then,

man. But I was never jealous. Like a lot of the older comedians were jealous. I watched these younger guys, the ones that really cared about standup.

Yeah. nurture their following but also uh pro pro uh uh what's the word? Uh uh make their craft better. I feel like bunch of money. I mean fun.

I'mma tell you perfect their craft. I'm going tell you the weird thing about Chris's show though. Like let's say you go well Chris ain't selling tickets. There's only 50 people there. It's Snoop Dread.

You go in his show. YOU BE LIKE HOW'D I even get am I supposed to be in here? I've been around for a long time.

Yo, but like every time I go every time I go to something he's doing, I I get imposttor syndrome. I'm like, am I supposed to be here? I was like, thank God a minute ago I just go come here Marcus Allen.

Marcus Allen Davis. Yeah, man. It's And I mean, they don't just know him. Everybody loves him.

Yeah. That's why like the name of the special is go to Jason. I I'm telling you, man. Perfect name.

Perfect name. We did a show last night. Oh yeah. It was Chappelle. It was He was the Yeah. He was the host of the show.

That's awesome. He He tours with every every like uh one time I was I was like Chris Rock is like my one of my favorite comedians. He was like, "You want to talk to him?

I love Chris, man. That's awesome, too." Like, cuz you hear stories of like other comedians trying to help other comedians. Like I think I think it's a cool thing that that you know cuz like in other occupations or stuff like people like try to get like what up on the other person and like there's not really help. But I've heard like stories like that that like comedians are usually I'm sure there's [ __ ] out there like that but but the fact that you're willing to help you know

like the up andcoming comedians is awesome. You know that's funny cuz even the biggest comedians have him as part of that. Like Trevor Trevor Noah was talking to Idris Ela. He was like, "Yeah." He was like, "Yeah, I was trying to learn comedy and I was doing it wrong."

Wait, wait. Do it. Do it in the voice. He He made me have like a ' 80S DRUG DEALER 70S DRUG DEALER VOICE.

HE'S LIKE, "HEY, MAN. You doing comedy? You got to you got to go straight." I was like, "Chris don't sound like that."

Yeah. But like Kevin Hart's story is is Chris Spencer all through it. Any like it just doesn't matter. It it's like if you're coming in or if you're at the top, everybody has, you know, how how Chris Spencer played a part in our success. So that's why it means a lot for us to support him right now

and and him doing his Let's talk about your fantastic special as well. We actually shot ours damn near the same week.

His came out before mine and it's absolutely incredible. And what I loved about him,

he's the exact same guy that you see in all of his social media posts. Like that transcends to the stage. We know people, we say they don't have any offstage material,

meaning they're not funny right here. This dude is funny right here. He's funny over there. He's funny on the screen. He's funny in that whatever that little spaceship is over there.

He's always without pushing it. Yeah. He's so subtle. He's one of those people like if he was a assassin you guys would be talking to you go

man I think shot you wait where where can they find your special you can find it on YouTube underrated Ryan Davis I think it's at 3.2 two million uh three months.

Subtle flex. No, you're not. I wanted you to I wanted you to click the right one.

I wanted you to click the right one. Yeah. Yeah. Could have been duplicated. There could have been two.

That could have been Ray Davis. Yeah. Could have been Ray Davis. Exactly. China. It's fantastic.

Thank you. Rated A+. Oh man. Thank you. I actually have a question in terms of that like you getting like your special on YouTube, right? Like is that like I've been seeing some comics doing the same thing, right? Like trying to enter that world or like is it strategic versus like partnering with a you know uh Netflix or something?

It's all strategy. Yeah, it's all strategy. Uh each streaming platform means something different, right?

Yeah. So if for me getting it on YouTube is because this is an introduction to a lot of uh of me to a lot of people. So, I need as many people as possible to see it.

And your audience loves YouTube. Yeah. And my audience loves YouTube. So, one, it YouTube is easy easy to pass. I can text it to somebody. I can text the link to somebody. I can put the link in the comment section or anything. It's me using my power in social media to spread the word about me and I'm just gathering fans. It may not do a lot for me in in like the in the spaces of industry, but it gets the word out about me. At least it gets the hype around, you know what I mean?

And his tour money goes up. Yeah. And then my tour money goes up. More people are watching him on YouTube. Like

it it may not get me a gig in Hollywood, but I'm with Chris. So I don't I I'LL NEVER GET I I mean like I really want to work Chris. If you hear anything if you hear anything I'll do what he's doing.

So yeah. And so like uh that wasn't that was important. So you always you always want to know what the goal is. Like so with black comedy in America, it's it's with LOL, right? As Kevin Hart's network, LOL is on every single app that's television that if you have a Roku, it's even YouTube as well. Everything. It's man

VO. Uh, you know, when you get the TV and it comes with stuff now. Yes. Your TV comes from black comedy in America.

Yes. Yes. You be like, "Which one of these apps go out and choose?" Yes. All of them.

That one. That one. Whichever one. And that was strategic. That was strategic. We had We had the option to go to some of these other uh streaming networks that were, you know, pay.

Yeah. And we're like, how can we get the massive We wanted people to see it because it's a great product. Like I remember watching it and thinking, "Thank God I'm in this." Because I think it's going to be one of those things that if people watch it,

people will be like, "I remember that docu series one. It was really good. It was really funny and I learned more than I ever knew." We talked to people who've done movies, the some of the biggest movies, some of the biggest shows ever, and they're telling

like never told stuff about that experience that before. Will Smith's in it. Kevin Hart's in it. They haven't been together since

they shot it in 2000. Yeah. Yeah. 2000 in there. Bernie, man. Yeah. No, I love that stuff, man.

Dude, we have we have Kevin. We have Dave. We have an episode on strictly deaf comedy jam and how important Stan Lean and Russell Simmons were to that project.

We have a Eddie Murphy episode. We have a 80s sitcom episode. Yeah. And I know you guys were born in the '9s.

Yeah. But this is a 80s sitcom episode and we have Florence. That's awesome. Uh Mara Gibbs who played the maid on the Jeffersons right there. She's like

almost 100 years old. Wow. And she's sharp as attack. She has a book coming out too.

Yeah, man. It it was it was one of the greatest experiences. Al Sharpton, Dr. Boyd. Like we didn't just have comedians and actors.

No. Lea Rashad told a story. Leela Rashad told a story about how uh Red Fox had his nipples pierced. No one knew that.

NOBODY KNEW. NOBODY KNEW THAT. NOBODY KNEW THAT. THAT'S WHAT I'M telling you. Not even Lamont.

Yeah. Not even Lamont. Rest in peace. Lamont. So like when I when I say never told stuff, I mean from serious to the silliest stuff to everything. It's going to be a fun watch no matter who you are, man. It is a great show.

And that's coming out, man. It's right now. Go Black Comedy in America. So many different channels right now. And the reason it's called black comedy in America is cuz we're black. It doesn't mean that if you're not black, you shouldn't watch it. Everybody watch this. It's It's amazing. It just has black people in it, right?

So, cuz if we ONLY PUT KANYE IN AMERICA, BLACK PEOPLE WOULDN'T WATCH. Black people wouldn't watch. I've seen this already.

I've seen this already. People don't know why we put that moniker on there for us. YOU KNOW Y'ALL COMING CUZ Y'ALL WHAT WHAT THEM NEGROES DOING OVER THERE? WHAT ARE THEY talking about?

This is for us to go. Yeah, we need that good 13% to look at it too. Absolutely.

So, that's that's all it is, man. But no, it's for everybody. But it's, you know, it just so happened the people we talking about are black.

So, it's black. But Eddie Murphy didn't belong to black people. He was the big He was the the biggest global That's what I'm saying. Will we name Will Smith, Kevin Hart, Dave Chappelle, they don't belong to black people. that it's global. So, it's that kind of show. Yeah. It's just I mean, we black though.

And we really want to thank We want to thank Michael Strahan. Yeah. Constant Schwarz, Anthony Smith.

Uh, all a lot of these people, those are the people that own Smack, the company that produces it. My wife is a producer on it. Vanessa.

Vanessa. Yeah. You had to make sure you got that. Absolutely. She said, "No dinner, no name." No name, no dinner. So my wife Vanessa uh who was an intricral part actually brought this thing together and Tiffany who was not sitting with us is also an executive producer as well as a host on this project. So it was really an incredible marriage for all these different was like Wuang Clan. It was like all these headliners came together to make this incredible project. And speaking of black comedy and how it's not made for anybody in particular,

hold on. YOU CAN'T SAY when black IS LOUDER WHEN YOU GUYS SAY BLACK. NO, as long as you don't hold the B and the L together. I BELIEVE THAT'S BLACK. WHAT IS THAT?

All right. All right. Just get it out quick. Speaking of black comedy, how for a certain person?

Uh, don't be a menace. Oh. I got to hear about that. Your involvement, like being a part of that project. I mean, how did y'all finish the movie? How did y'all not laugh at every scene? It's outrageous.

I wish we had a a screening of all the stuff that's on the cutting room floor. Sean Marlin, Sulie McCulla, uh Bernie Faison, uh Terry Vaughn, I mean, Tracy Ell Tracy Jones. I mean, it was just every people would stay on the set even when they weren't shooting. Now, you're wrapped. That's okay. I'm cool. I want to watch this and we laughed all day. One of the funniest stories. We really shot in the hood.

Yeah. So, I remember we got ran up out the hood. Uh we were in our trailer and all of a sudden some was like

I'M LAUGHING. I DIDN'T KNOW THIS. THAT'S WE WERE in the episode. Yeah. That's what I'm sitting there telling. I've turned into the audience. Meaning Crazy Legs, one in the wheelchair. We're having lunch.

Crazy legs. Hey, cool. Hi. What y'all studio gangsters doing up in the hood? I don't y'all got to pay for pay for shooting in the hood. I was like, see that white guy right there?

He got a lot of money. And as he was talking to him, we don't know what we were packing up stuff. Yeah.

What's going We got the money. Okay. We good. We good. Yeah. No, speaking of crazy legs, to show you how outrageous the movie is, I remember he's a guy in a wheelchair. He hasn't walked his whole life.

No, no, no. That's not true. He was the best dancer. And he got better than me, MAN. CLASSIC brother there in my classic movies all time, right? There's like Gone with the Wind. Don't be a menace.

Sinners. Yeah. Sinners Forest Gump. I I like the finest of of theater. He gets in an accident later in the movie. He's already in the wheelchair and he's like, "Man, you ain't going to believe this. Doctor said I ain't never BEEN A WALK AGAIN." LIKE, "NO, WAIT A [ __ ] YOU AIN'T NEVER BEEN A WALK. the hell. I better hope.

So, it's I'm telling you like for for me it's one of those movies that if you think for a second you're catching every joke on the first watch, you've lost your mind.

No, like I just said earlier we were talking I watched I watched it two weeks ago and I was like

I forgot Fasa and Love was in the movie. Yeah, you got to watch the movie. I gota watch you got to watch it. Crazy

message. And and you want to know why it's so funny? A lot of comedians. They don't do that in comedies as much as they used to. They're like, "Oh, I want to make a funny movie. Let's not hire the funniest people in the world."

Actors. Yeah. Let's get people who who don't specialize in funny. Yeah. It's It's all

That's why you laugh long. And it was young comedians in there who are just getting their start. We give them a line or two, they kill it, blow it out the park. Now they're selling out clubs and stuff, you know, just from that one credit.

I think the other thing that makes it magical is you could release that movie today.

People will be in a bond. The the the the uh you know, the funny part is I would release that movie today, though. Because me, I'm I'm

I don't know, man. I I invite criticism for some reason. I don't know what that is.

It's like I was showing him like my favorite I was like, "Let me show you a scene from the movie." And it was the uh convenience store and they walk in the door and the chime goes off

and the agents are following around the store. Hurry up and die. I love that he was very detailed in everything except what the chime said. That's how you know. I I appreciate you. For those who don't know,

WE GETTING CLOSE. WE AIN'T THAT. SO, for those who don't know, uh, when they walk into the convenience store, and you normally hear dingdong in our movie, it said [ __ ]

awesome. And somebody walked in before and it was the regular time. It was some regular time. But then when they walked in, they

racial profiling the black dudes the whole time they're in the store, white guys robbing THE [ __ ] OUT OF US. HOLD ON.

You forgot something. And it hasn't much money. He's like, "Oh, nice." Yes, that movie's classic. I might have to go watch it today. You reminded me of

If you ever get a chance to see it, stop what you're doing and watch it. It's better than anything you were watching before you I'm telling you, if the Super Bowl is on,

right? Just flick back and forth. Just flick back and forth. I'm telling it's going to be worth Yeah. Watch. I promise you.

I promise you. Well, gentlemen, this has been awesome. You guys have been great. Go check out both their specials.

Yeah. Go to Jason on Hulu. There you go. Yep. Hey. Hey. Go to Jason Hulu. Underrated on YouTube,

right? And black comedy in America on everything at a TV near you. Even Tuby. Every I mean every clan channel now.

Yeah. Every every Well, the clan don't want to get cancelled. So, no, I'm talking about Wuang Clan. What are you talking about?

Yeah. Hey, we want that cream. Oh, very good. He is a brother. But they don't but they don't they don't they don't allow the word though. You got to put in chime and then it'll uh it'll pop. Hilarious.

Thank you so much. Thank you.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "Comedians Chris Spencer & Ryan Davis on Comedy, Culture Wars & Why Funny Never Retires"?

Chris Spencer (Host), Ryan Davis (Guest).

What is "Comedians Chris Spencer & Ryan Davis on Comedy, Culture Wars & Why Funny Never Retires" about?

The conversation centers on humor, culture wars, and the resilience of comedy, with comedians Chris Spencer and Ryan Davis discussing race, colorism, and how jokes navigate social tensions while sharing career updates and perspectives on staying relevant in stand-up.

What is mentioned in this Stay Tranquilo episode?

44 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Richard Spencer, Ryan Davis, Comedy, YouTube, Kevin Hart, Social Media. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Comedians Chris Spencer & Ryan Davis on Comedy, Culture Wars & Why Funny Never Retires"?

The episode runs 21 min; the transcript is about 4,118 words in 117 timestamped sections.

More from Stay Tranquilo

About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated October 29, 2026.