Comedian Deon Cole’s all-new stand-up special, Cole Hearted, came out Netflix on Tuesday, and the long-time comedian and celebrity of both Black-ish and spin-off Grown-ish said no subject is off-limits for his comedy, given that it is finished “in a certain class.”
Cole, 47, created a penchant for himself as a writer and part-time on-camera contributor for The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien and Conan before landing the role of family friend Charlie Telphy on Black-ish, a repeated role that became a regular one in Season 4.
He later became a series regular on Grown-ish.
Cole told UPI in a recent talk that irrespective of his crowded special with the TV series and movie version, he doesn’t intend to quit doing stand-up.
“It is what basically brought to me than anything else,” Cole told of his stand-up career. “That’s my sanctuary, that’s where I am at my best comfort. It’s healing, as well. It’s a method for me to forget about the things that are on my chest.”
Cole’s comedy deals with a wide range of topics, from the low number of “B batteries” to the unreal struggles dealt with being black in the present political climate.
He said he doesn’t see any topic as too controversial to be talked about on the stage.
“If it’s comedic, it’s going in. It’s just as simple as that,” Cole said, telling that even a “touchy topic” can make it into his set if he finds a way “a class way to go about ” the controversy and keep it entertaining.
“There’s nothing that I would not speak about, but I would do it in a classy style,” he said.
Cole said he often finds himself reducing the material that he scripts to prevent raising controversy.
“Sadly, the present times, you have to,” he said.
The comedian said that, in an ideal world, freedom of speech and the freedom to be true to “who you are” would win the day, but performers have to tread a careful line to prevent being subjected to censorship and boycotts.
He said he doesn’t know the thought process that results in the backlash against comedians for the jokes they make.