Today, Rick James, famed funk star from the 1980's, rose from the dead, clawed his way out of his casket and six feet of dirt to make a public announcement in downtown Los Angeles.
"Please let me make this very clear. I’m dead." Rick James said from the Beverly Hilton's ball room. "I’m dead and so is that stupid joke about me. Its played out, leave it alone, let it die like me."
Rick James received a return to fame not from constant re-runs of VH1's I love the 80's, but from a famous skit on Comedy Centrals "Chappelle's Show". In this skit, comedian Dave Chappelle plays James in a parody like manor. In a flash back montage based upon recollections of Charlie Murphy, brother of famed actor and formerly dirty stand-up comedian, Eddie Murphy, James is given to cocaine addled outbursts designed for easy ear catchiness and quoteableness. This skit gave rise to the lines often quoted by white suburban teenaged boys and college students, "I’m Rick James,
Since the initial airing of the show, recent studies have shown that 75% of Americans previously unaware of Rick James’ career were made aware through this skit, and its often repeated line. However the recent upswing in his fame did not translate into album sales or requests for public appearances. It did however result in high rotations of the featured episode.
"Please, it was played out when I died. Its played out now. Stop with the jokes please," James said in a tearful announcement. "And also stop with the 'I’m Rick James' Ghost,
Mr. James' lawyer, Lord Dezicus Harbinger of Evil and Ruler of the Undead, also stated that should the jokes continue, a cease and desist order will be placed upon the living and a pox upon every household will be declared. While he would not be happy with those actions, "We undead must protect our rights as former human beings."
At press time Dave Chapelle was unavailable for comment.
[url=\"http://www.thespoof.com/news/spoof.cfm?headline=s4i6974\"][Source][/url]