and keep the high level of quality that he wanted to do. - and here we go, hbo to the rescue. - chris rock was able to like, wild out on hbo. he had that one sketch where he's just slapping people. like that doesn't sound that controversial, but other networks, they'd be like, "whoa, we're not showing this. we're not showing this." - [reporter] as you see here, davis enters the building, and within seconds, the rampage begins. (audience laughing) - he's edgy. he's always going to make you think. he's always gonna challenge the status quo. - as late night tv was back on the map, the "king's of comedy" tour was blowing up. - white people hope things don't go wrong. black people don't hope, we wish. we wish a would be a mother (beep) would be in our shit. (audience laughing) - they do this arena tour that sells out all across the united states, and then they get spike lee to film the show. it makes like another $100 million. so it's this runaway success.