Patrice O'Neal: Elephant in the Room

I knew O'Neal from Arreated Development, The Office, and fell in love with him on the Charlie Sheen roast. A must view if you haven't seen it. The comedy central special illuminated who he was, and what motivated him. A tragic and touching story. To watch his stand up is to see Belushi, Hendrix, or Lennon. He was an artist at the top of his craft taken from people who cherished him. While Elephant is offensive to some, it is howingly funny. When Bill Burr says O'Neal was better than anyone else around, that speaks volumes.

I'm not going to go into a full review on this special because it's already been done by others. Several reviewers have said that Charlie Sheen's roast introduced Patrice to the world. That's just flat wrong. That honor belongs to Opie & Anthony and Colin Quinn. O&A's popular syndicated FM radio show in the late 90s/early 2000s, had Patrice on and he quickly became a regular guest and co-host. He even hosted his own radio show on their XM channel. This is the place where Patrice told his hilarious stories including his brief stint in jail after being falsely accused of rape at 16, being propositioned by a guy at a rest area who knocked on his car window with the pickup line "it's cold out here," and who can forget his tales of working girls in Brazil and the suitcase of glass toys? For anyone seeking more Patrice, I highly recommend finding his radio appearances on O&A (there are many clips on YouTube). This is where you'll hear "Patrikey" giving his take on the news, interviewing celebrities, and interacting with other comics including Chris Rock, Louis CK, and Bill Burr. He even discusses the behind the scenes of the Charlie Sheen roast. This was a very popular show for awhile on FM radio and XM for almost 20 years. Patrice is a big part of the reason why. This is probably what led to his getting the VH-1 hosting gig.

In addition to O&A, Patrice was also a regular comic on Tough Crowd, hosted by Colin Quinn on Comedy Central in the early 2000s. It was a show that allowed popular comics to riff on the news and rip on each other. Patrice was absolutely hilarious on it. Clips are also available on YT.

For fans of comedy, O&A and Tough Crowd were the real reason Patrice was exposed to the world and probably the reason he was even asked to the roast. Both O&A and Tough Crowd were national shows, not some niche shows that were tough to find. His exposure on these shows gave him the heat he needed to be able to obtain parts in films and TV and almost certainly caught the attention of HBO and Comedy Central which led to his two specials. The people from these shows are the same people who hold an annual fundraiser raising money for Patrice's family who he supported financially. I just wanted to correct the inaccuracies being spread by uninformed users on IMDB who clearly don't know enough about Patrice's career to be able to speak on it.

Patrice O'Neal, rest in peace, was a longtime NYC area comic who I initially was not a big fan. I had seen him on several things on comedy central as well as several sets at the comedy cellar. However, when I watched this comedy special air on comedy central it completely altered my perspective on his comedic abilities. This is an incredibly funny and partially improvisational set that has virtually no unfunny segments. I honestly would say it is one of the best sets I have ever seen. If you can't find somewhere, download it at the pirate bay. Anyway, do not miss this rarely seen and completely overlooked comedy gem.

Patrice O'Neal, just like Greg Giraldo who died in September 2010, is a comedian that never got his proper fame. And now, it is unlikely he ever will. O'Neal died on November 29, 2011 from complications from a stroke he suffered in mid-October due to his diabetes. For his entire life he struggled with weight-management and diabetes. Elephant in the Room was his first, and only, comedy special he ever made.

What made Patrice O'Neal so unique was his spontaneous delivery. He referred to his specials as "conversational," and not of a typical breed. You can tell from Elephant in the Room that, while some skits were written, many jokes stemmed from the audience and audience participation. Patrice encourages fans to shout out answers to his questions so he can form a punchline in an impromptu manner. I think this is what a lot of people either didn't pay attention to, or didn't realize this and that's why he never reached a respectable height in his career.

If it hadn't been for his final Television appearance on The Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen, I doubt many people would even know who he was. Same with Greg Giraldo. How many people would've known him if Comedy Central didn't make his name what is was? It's a question that will never be answered, just pondered.

Elephant in the Room is just what it sounds like. Patrice is referring to big issues like animal cruelty, racism, cheating, harassment, and many other issues, he feels, he needs to address. He tackles them in a way where humor comes natural, as it derives from the situation himself. Take for example when he discusses animal cruelty, a topic I really hate to bring up. It's a heartless and cruel form of abuse, like any type. Patrice doesn't poke fun at the idea, but the gratuitous, guilt-bringing commercials. Now that's funny.

Of course, there are times when the special doesn't go in the proper direction. In the very beginning, Patrice gets to hung up on the topic of "breasts" and the idea feels tired and dreary. I would've much rather seen Patrice use those minutes to provide more of his insanely spontaneous remarks and philosophy on unsung issues. He brings such valid points to the table, especially when talking about the over-exaggerated issue of harassment.

The special refrains from useless skit, which is one of the highest compliments I can give a comedy special. I hate skits. They're drab and unnecessary. Especially when it stars a comedian in costume when he/she should be on stage with a mic in their hands. Patrice devotes seventy-seven minutes to just him, the mic, and the audience. Patrice also refrains from excessive uses of the n word, a word used far too much with current black comedians. I can't recall Patrice using the word more than five or six times. Maybe he spoke so softly and fluently that it was muted, but I highly doubt it.

Sadly, Patrice's career ended far too early. His death was not only saddening because he was so young, but because we all know a seventy-seven minute special obviously can't contain the weight, no pun intended, of his philosophy and wit. I think he would've been one of the many comedians who got better with age and wisdom. He almost reminds me of the later George Carlin, circa 2004 - 2007. Carlin become more philosophical in his later years rather than his very blunt, vulgar character he created in the seventies. If Patrice could form a side of maturity pretty well at the beginning of his career, imagine how greatly it could've improved with many more years of experience.

Starring: Patrice O'Neal.

After recently watching Chris Rock's live Netflix special, all I could do was reflect on the sheer brilliance of Patrice & only dream of the success he'd be having today if he was still around.

Rock is a minion compared to Patrice in every imaginable trait. O'Neal was real and raw, while Rock is Fake AF!

I love & miss Patrice now more than ever, since he embodied pure comedic talent in every aspect.

Elephant in the Room is the greatest stand up masterpiece in Comedy History & the GOAT left us way too soon! He leaned into real life relationships through an honest lens & perspective that many of these "entertainers" could only try to emulate! I love & miss this incredible man, who young comics should do their best to live up to. I miss you my guy!