Chris Rock brings his 'Madagascar' Marty character to television

Chris Rock

There are two sides to Chris Rock, the comedian: There’s the side that does the kind of raunchy, profanity-laced comedy that made him a household name. Then there’s the side that will do family entertainment, such as voicing characters in animated films like the "Madagascar" series and "Bee Movie" or executive producing family sitcoms like "Everybody Hates Chris" and "The Hughleys."

After the cancellation of "Everybody Hates Chris" this year, Rock’s next TV project is "Merry Madagascar," a holiday TV special based on the "Madagascar" movies. In "Merry Madagascar" (which premieres November 7 on NBC at 8 p.m. Eastern/Pacific Time), Rock reprises his voice role as Marty the zebra, one in a group of zoo animals that go on various adventures. In a recent conference call with reporters, Rock talked about "Merry Madagascar," the state of comedy, and which comedians he would invite to a dinner party.

It seems like nowadays a lot more adult content comedians are jumping into family projects. What for you is the appeal in doing a crossover like this?

I'm obviously already in with DreamWorks and Jeffrey [Katzenberg, co-founder of DreamWorks] and all that. I just want to work with the people. They do really good stuff. Kind of gets you with a younger … You get some of that Hannah Montana money. So you get in with the kids, and that definitely can't hurt.

Gloria (voiced by Jada Pinkett Smith), Alex (voiced by Ben Stiller), Melman (voiced by David Schwimmer) and Marty (voiced by Chris Rock) in "Merry Madagascar"

Are there certain holiday traditions that you have or particular shows that you like to watch this time of year?

I like "[How] the Grinch that Stole Christmas" and I like the "Charlie Brown Christmas" thing.

The voice work has always been kind of good for you. You did the choice of the puppet Lil Penny way back didn't you?

I did Lil’ Penny yes.

And that one just turned out to be wildly popular; it was all over the place. Did you find out that doing voice work is just a fun thing and a productive thing to do?

Well yeah, you can do as much as you want. You can sometimes on a movie, on a set you've got other people you have to worry about. And sometimes they need to get to the next shot. But in voice work you can say], "Hey, let’s do it again." It doesn't take any time; it doesn't cost them. I don't if [it costs] any more money for you to do 30 takes or seven takes.

Chris Rock and his wife, Malaak Compton-Rock with their daughters Lola (front row, second from right) and Zhara (front row, second from left) with two guests at the 2009 Kids' Choice Awards

Your daughters, Lola and Zahra, now are 7 and 5 …

Yeah.

How have they liked the "Madagascar" thing? When it first came out, were they able to watch it or was the youngest one too young and what do they think about it now?

Oh, the youngest one was probably too young but the oldest one loved it. And they loved number two and they’re looking forward to this one. I haven't let them watch it, even though I got a little advanced screening tape. So they'll watch it on TV like everybody else.

In the "Madagascar" projects, there much room for you to ad-lib or do you pretty much just to stick to a script?

Oh no, they hire you to ad-lib. Why would you hire me to not ad-lib, you know? You know, Don Cheadle is a much better actor than me. I might be able to ad-lib a joke a little better. So yeah, there’s a lot of ad-lib, there’s a lot of ad-lib. But the script is really good so you don't have to do that much.

Maurice (voiced by Cedric the Entertainer), King Julien (voiced by Danny Jacobs), Santa (voiced by Carl Reiner), Alex (voiced by Ben Stiller), Gloria (voiced by Jada Pinkett Smith), Melman (voiced by David Schwimmer) and Marty (voiced by Chris Rock)

And do you think they'll be more "Madagascar" TV specials coming down the pike since this was done pretty much for TV?

You know all that’s up to Jeffrey [Katzenberg]. I think they've announced were doing ["Madagascar" movie] number three so... I think "Mad 3" is the next in the in the "Madagascar" world.

Do you have any other TV projects coming up since "Everybody Hates Chris" has been cancelled?

Nothing. I need a new one, man. That was a good weekly check. But I'm scaling back now.

What made you decide to become a comedian in the first place?

I don't know, it's like the calling. It’s like being a priest or something; you end up there one day. Yeah. Love comedy, loved comedians, just interested in that. Some kids take apart radios and they grow up to the electricians. I would take apart jokes.

Chris Rock at the London premiere of "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" in 2008

And who are some of your inspirations?

Bill Cosby, Eddie Murphy, Woody Allen, Steve Martin, guys like that.

Chris, you've got a book coming out. What’s it called and what’s it about?

I think it’s going to be on negative thinking. Right now the tentative title is "The Secret Sucks." So whatever I get out of that. Still working though, still working.

How much have you gotten done with it so far?

Not enough, I've been filming back-to-back movies this year, two movies, and I've just been pushing "Good Hair" for the last couple of months.

Ben Stiller and Chris Rock at the Sydney premiere of "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" in 2008

A lot of comedians are coming out with books lately, such as Paul Mooney, Kathy Griffin, David Cross, Jeffrey Ross and Sarah Silverman. What you think is prompting all these comedians like yourself to write books?

I don't know, I guess some of them are selling. When we put our mind to it, we can be funny people. I mean that Steve Harvey book ["Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man"] I'm sure is triggering most of this. His book is so big so [if] some midget wrote a good book, a bestseller, they'd be making a lot of midget books all of a sudden.

And how are you going to make your book stand out among so many others that are out there written by comedians?

Just the same way you make yourself stand out: You have a different sense of humor. I like what Steve [Harvey] did: Je made a book about one thing. I think that’s why that worked, where[as] most comedian books are kind of like "Dumbo." It’s a little bit of picture book, it’s a little bit of biography, it’s a little short story, you know, but Steve’s book stuck to one thing.

Are you going to emulate his success and do something like that: picking one topic?

Maybe, maybe. I do know success isn't up to me. I'll just try to write something good.

Where do you find time to write?

Now I'm home for a while, right now I'm kind of home until April [2010]. Got a movie coming out in April, so not much to do but pick up my kids from school for the next few months.

Chris Rock with Alex the lion at the Sydney premiere of "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" in 2008

What keeps you coming back to the "Madagascar" series?

Money. No, no they’re good. You realize as you get longer in this business it’s like the only thing that keeps you working is doing good stuff. I mean, the box office is great too, but if people don't like what you do … the box office isn't fair … they don't want to work with you anymore. So I try to align myself with as many good things as possible, even if I'm not starring. It always works out. It always works out for the best when you do something good.

Does having kids of your own have anything to do with it?

It’s weird. I started the first "Madagascar," me and Ben [Stiller], started the first "Madagascar" with no kids. You know, we didn't have kids when the movie started. And I don't even think we were even thinking about kids, to tell you the truth, the couple times we were in the studio together. Cut to the movie comes out, we both have kids. Cut to movie "Madagascar 2," he’s got three and I've got two. It just turns out that way.

Now are there any holiday specials that are tradition in your household or any you particularly want to show your kids?

I like "[How] the Grinch [Stole Christmas]"; that’s my favorite. "The Grinch" and I like the Charlie Brown one … and the "Mr. Magoo Christmas Carol" was pretty good. I know they’re all sweet, and they’re just really good, especially that Magoo one. I haven't seen that one a while.

Look for that on YouTube.

Yeah, now I'm like OK. I got it downloaded so I can show it to my kids today.

Ben Stiller and Chris Rock at the Sydney premiere of "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" in 2008

So what other plans do you have for the holidays with your family this year?

Oh boy, I don't even know. I guess we'll just stay home for some normal Christmas, get the house ready for Santa … nothing big. I think we’re going skiing in February but nothing for Christmas.

Do you have a favorite Christmas memory?

As I enter my 40s they all kind of mix up; they’re all kind of the same. I had a Christmas a couple years ago [with] my family; we were in Africa on safari for Christmas. And at a lodge, my kids are really young and they were so scared Santa wasn't going to show. And just the look on their faces when their toys were under a tree in Africa. Kind of cool.

Did you always believe in Santa or when did you stop believing?

I know when did I stop believing, I do know one day I looked out the window and saw my father carrying in a dump truck or something. It was just like I saw a car being unloaded with toys. Oh that makes sense, you know. I always liked to make sense of things, so it was a traumatic actually was a relief. It was like, "Chimney and the guy comes down and reindeer?" It doesn't make any sense.

Chris Rock and Alex the lion at the Sydney premiere of "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" in 2008

Do kids recognize your voice as Marty from "Madagascar" when they meet you?

They totally recognize my voice. And sometimes they don't. It’s because it’s not really my actual speaking voice, so I kind of turn it on — and just the looks on their faces, it’s like, "Wow, I can't believe it's ... They get very excited. And my youngest daughter, Zahra, it’s a bragger. She’s very quick to tell people her daddy is Marty the zebra.

Do your girls ever make you do things in Marty’s voice light?

It’s weird. The voice they like the most — and it’s kind of the same voice —is the mosquito from "Bee Movie." They love that mosquito. I literally have to do the mosquito all the time. "Mooseblood, Mooseblood."

Now that you’ve done the "Madagascar" movies, has your love for animals flourished?

You know, what it’s just weird is, by happenstance or coincidence, I had never been to Africa before "Madagascar" and before doing the movie. And I've gone since. And now I go on safari almost every year. Yeah so I love it I love going on safari.

Chris Rock and Alex the lion at the Sydney premiere of "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa"

If you could assemble a dinner party and only invite four or five comedians to join you, who would they be and why? And they can be living or dead.

I love [Adam] Sandler, he’s great at dinner, is going to make you drink a little. He’s a great hang. Let’s see, I’ve got to invite Richard Pryor; hopefully, he'll show up, you never know.

And if he were alive what would you ask him?

I don't know, what would I ask Richard? "Should I take this gig?" We don't talk about like jokes and stuff when you’re around comedians. You end talking about the Yankees or something.

I don't know, who would I invite? Ellen DeGeneres is always good to have around, you know, because she likes chicks, too. Like so you can literally talk about women like you would if a guy was around. And she has some interesting insights. Who else? Oh, Steve Martin just because I don't know him at all. Just like, "What makes you tick Mr. Martin?" I never ate with Vince Vaughn. The guy cracks me up. He cracks me up …

I just did a movie with Kevin James … and at one point, I was like, "Man, we've never spoken." Like sometimes you’re just in the same business … Me and Kevin James, two comedians from New York … same age, both have two kids, wives, whatever and we've never, ever said two words to each other. We were never in the same room until this year.

So, yeah, Vince Vaughn cracks me up and I might have met him once. I think I met him one time.

Chris Rock and Kevin James at a New York Knicks/Indiana Pacers game at Madison Square Garden in New York City, January 2009

Were you a fan of "Swingers"?

I love "Swingers." I'm a fan … [David] Letterman was sick and he hosted the Letterman show. He hosted the "Late Show," [and] it was like the funniest most natural thing I'd ever seen. I was like, "Wow, this guy is amazing." … Vince Vaughn, he’s a funny guy that Vince Vaughn. Woody Allen, you've got to get Woody in there.

And which one of his films spoke to you?

Which one? Which one didn't? You know, "Husbands and Wives," "Crimes and Misdemeanors," "Broadway Danny Rose," "Manhattan," "Annie Hall," "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" …anything. He’s the best.

Did "Broadway Danny Rose" make you cry?

I loved "Broadway Danny Rose," and it does make me cry sometimes, and occasionally I will check into a hotel under the name Artie Dunn. Artie Dunn was the ventriloquist who gets beat up. And "You've got to give us a name, Artie Dunn."

Were you a fan of "Radio Days"?

I love "Radio Days." With Woody [Allen] movies I don't like, that’s like four movies, maybe. I like "September," OK? I like "The Other Woman", I like "Interiors."

If you’re going to watch TV and you have a choice between "Glee," "Sons of Anarchy" or something on the History Channel what are you going to pick?

Probably I'm going to say "Sons of Anarchy." "Glee," I'm sure is funny, I haven't seen it yet. It’s going to make me think about work. I'll see it when I need to ... I'm sure I'll need to see it at some point. Right now, now I’m watching a lot of "Arrested Development." There’s nothing like a good drama, especially when you’re not in the drama business.

When you hear people talk about influential comedians over the past 10, 15 years, your name often comes up. Are you the type of person who takes that to heart or are you modest and don't like thinking about stuff like that?

I don't try to give it that much thought. It’s not good for you, you know what I mean? Derek Jeter can't be thinking [he’s] and iconic Yankee when he’s up to bat. Put it this way: It’s great and I'm happy for more for my parents than me. You know what I mean? My parents, my brothers, sister, my family can really like enjoy stuff like that. Me? I have to work.

Chris Rock at a New York Knicks/Indiana Pacers game at Madison Square Garden in New York City, January 2009

Does hearing stuff like that make you uncomfortable?

A little bit, a little uncomfortable. I've been doing it a long time so it’s nice to have some mark there. When somebody says that I'm just like, "Oh, I hope my aunt hears this. I hope my mother hears this." Because they get a kick out of it but the audience doesn't care when I get on stage.

Generally speaking, do you think that comedy is in better shape now than when you started or worse shape?

It’s good. It’s in much better shape … When I started, you know, there was no Comedy Central, there [weren’t] all these great shows they do. And forget being a black comic. My God, it was superstar or bust, you know what I mean? It was just like Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, Bill Cosby. There was no like here, there was nowhere to be like the black Paul Reiser? … You had to be a superstar or you didn't work. And now there’s all sorts of levels of comedians that you didn't have before. It’s great … Yeah, you've got gay comedians. That’s great; it’s amazing that you don't have to do what everybody else does to have a career.

Chris Rock and Alex the lion at the Sydney premiere of "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" in 2008

How do you inflect that comedic timing in voiceover?

That’s what directors are for. You've got to kind of trust your director. Sometimes like when you’re doing a normal movie, personally, I'm always trying to make the crew laugh. I'm always trying to make camera guys and grips — especially grips, because they've got pretty normal jobs, they get paid normal salaries, they don't have artsy-fartsy face. And when you’re doing voiceover work, you try to make the engineers laugh and the gofer, the guy who goes and gets coffee. Like if he’s laughing, you’re probably in a good spot.

When it comes to voiceover work, is there something about it that makes you jump out and say "I want to do this kind of project?" Is it a character? Is it the actual theme of the story?

I'm always looking for a project that’s good enough that it doesn't even need me. Like are they going to make a good movie even if I'm not involved in this? Yes. Then I really want to be involved. But if the project hinges on me, then I kind of don't want to be involved. Jeffrey Katzenberg does quality, quality work. DreamWorks does quality, quality work so when I agreed to the first "Madagascar," I had no idea who else was going to be in it, but I trusted Jeffrey, and we got a great cast.

You recently told Mo’Nique that she scares you in the movie "Precious." What'd you think of the movie in general and have you ever thought about going back and doing another serious role?

I loved the movie, I thought the movie was powerful and it was amazing. I thought all the performances were great. I thought Lee Daniels did an amazing job. All his movies are pretty good, you know, I mean even the ones he produced … I liked "The Woodsman" …

Would I do a serious [role]? I'd love to. No one calls me up with one, but yeah, if somebody gave me an offer. I've been scouring, looking for a James Baldwin script because I think I could play Baldwin. I just been reading a lot of Baldwin and I punched him up on YouTube and just listening to him and looking at his face and everything. I was like, "I could probably play James Baldwin." So if you see a James Baldwin script out there, I wouldn't mind doing it.

Photo credits: Photos #1, 8, 13: Reuters. Photos #2, 4: DreamWorks Animation/NBC. Photos #3, 5, 11, 12: Getty Images. All other photos: AP.