Chappelle and Amer’s Bond During the Pandemic
During the pandemic, Dave Chappelle and Mo Amer developed a close friendship. Chappelle secured a COVID testing machine and created a safe space at his home in Ohio for comedians to perform. Amer was one of the comedians who joined him. “We spent all the summer of 2020 together doing shows,” Chappelle shared. “The best comedians in the world came to Ohio, and we had a great time.”
Comedy Shows in Unusual Settings
The early comedy gigs took place in a cornfield, with comedians undergoing daily testing. Meanwhile, Amer was primarily confined to his Airbnb, dedicating time to writing Season 1 of “Mo,” his acclaimed Netflix series, which concluded this year after two successful seasons.
Emotional Challenges While Writing
Amer reflected on the emotional toll during this challenging time. “It was so nerve-racking with COVID, civil unrest, and personal issues. My writing team also faced emotional hurdles. It was overwhelming. But you really saved my life; you gave us an outlet when we weren’t working,” he stated.
Chappelle’s Support for Amer
Invited to participate in Actors on Actors, Amer chose Chappelle as a discussion partner. Despite his well-known aversion to media appearances, Chappelle agreed to fly from Ohio to Los Angeles for the chat. “As you know, I notoriously don’t like to do press. But I wouldn’t have missed today, because it’s you,” he remarked.
Addressing Global Events in Writing
In their conversation, Chappelle noted the timing of Amer’s show, particularly regarding the October 7 events. Amer explained, “I began writing Season 2 in April 2023, but the Writers Guild struck in May. When we resumed in October, everything changed, particularly since my show revolves around a Palestinian family.” This created significant debate within the writing team.
The Pressure to Respond
Amer shared the immense pressure he faced from fans and the public. Being the only Palestinian showrunner, people constantly asked him, “What are you going to do to bring people together?” He noted that in the midst of the chaos, it was essential to understand the situation fully before responding.
Creative Challenges in the Face of Societal Issues
Throughout the process, Amer grappled with incorporating the events into his narrative without overshadowing his show’s core theme. “Every time I tried to weave that in, it felt like it took over the entire story,” he revealed. “Context is key. The issues have a long history beyond just October 7.” Both comedians acknowledged the challenges of weaving real-world events into their art responsibly.
