Rock On

Remember when Chris Rock was asked to host the 77th annual Academy Awards back in 2005? What was the Academy thinking? I mean, after his roles as Nat X, Onski, Buster Jenkins and Young Pop — not to mention his impersonations of celebrities Flavor Flav, Idi Amin Dada, M.C. Hammer, Michael Jackson and Jaleel White — on Saturday Night Live, after his standup special Bring the Pain, after his role as a commentator for Comedy Central's Politically Incorrect during the 1996 presidential elections, after CB4…you'd just think that the film bigwigs who nominated Rock for the job of Oscar host would have known better.

Well, even though Sean Penn took issue with Rock's snarky comments about Jude Law at the '05 Oscars, the comedian has been going strong with Everybody Hates Chris — the show based on Rock's school days that he produces and narrates — which premiered in the fall of 2005. He's now planning his fifth HBO comedy special, but before you catch him at home on the small screen, head to the Colorado Convention Center's Wells Fargo Theatre, 700 14th Street, tonight at 7 p.m. when Rock headlines his "No Apologies" standup tour. Tickets are $45.50 to $75.50; call 303-830-TIXS or visit www.livenation.com.
Sun., March 9, 7 p.m., 2008