Murphy’s Law

Comedian Charlie Murphy will forever be remembered as the man whose “Charlie Murphy’s True Hollywood Stories” sketch on Chappelle’s Show colored the world with that immortal catchphrase, “I’m Rick James, bitch!” And even though it seemed damn near impossible, back in 2004, to avoid hearing one of your co-workers or friends spout the phrase at least 10 times a day, we won’t hold it against Murphy.

The older — and increasingly more relevant — brother of Eddie Murphy has successfully moved on since failing to prop up Dave Chappelle’s hit after the host melted down and went MIA from his own show. These days, Murphy’s writing scripts, appearing in movies (we’ll also forgive him, in advance, for Beverly Hills Cop IV next year), creating and starring in TV shows, doing video-game voiceovers, and hitting the road with his stand-up comedy act, which stops this weekend at the Tempe Improv.