Comedy king ruled supreme Saturday in Sarasota

Dave Chappelle's debut Sarasota performance at Van Wezel, one of two almost instantly sold-out performances at the venue Saturday evening, definitely made it feel like we were witnessing the greatest comedian on the planet.

Anyone who saw Chappelle host "Saturday Night Live" in November knew the hilarious but more cerebral approach Chappelle has been taking since returning to regular touring a few years ago following a long hiatus.

Folks waiting for him to recreate bits from "Chappelle's Show," though, which aired from 2003 to 2006, were probably as disappointed as the Trump supporters who visibly squirmed while the comedian tried to make sense of the new president's first three weeks in office.

In fact, one couple toward the end of the one-hour performance that started at 7:50 p.m. had to be removed after heckling Chappelle with requests for his famed Rick James catchphrase.

Mind you, this show, which was being taped, perhaps for use in Chappelle's upcoming Netflix special, came with a whole lot of no-nos including no cell phones, no photography, no heckling, and no talking.

But a few rubes right in front of the stage couldn't shut up and police officers, who Chappelle would later thank, had to physically remove a woman and man, who then charged the stage and gave the comedian the finger while his woman companion yelled she would never return to the venue again.

Chappelle followed the couple toward the exit and reminded them that he was a millionaire and did not need their support while the crowd cheered. The 43-year-old comedian playing to a crowd of people mostly in his age group would later have some choice words for the couple that really can't be repeated here.

Showing off his muscular arms in a black tank top with blue jeans and sneakers, Chappelle was clearly upset by the incident but handled it beautifully, even personally giving a beer to the other woman, the one who started the whole thing with a request for the Rick James catchphrase, and praising her for being quiet and not causing a problem when he asked for her cooperation.

And then Chappelle did something he probably hasn't done on stage in years and might never do again. He leaned down right in front of her, expressed his gratitude for her being a good sport again, and said the words, in character, "I'm Rick James, bitch!"

The place exploded with laughter and applause.

Later, Chappelle who chain smoked American Spirits throughout the show and spent the final 15 minutes sipping a Stella Artois, personally handed the woman a lit cigarette, which she gratefully accepted.

Chappelle wasn't going to let the incident go and returned to it throughout the rest of his performance, even skillfully working the couple, he described them as "not poor but classless," back into a Zika virus bit he did early in the show.

Preparing for the upcoming Netflix special, Chappelle had his material razor sharp and ready to go. What the incident displayed is Chappelle's ability to take honest human emotions and, on the spot, create comedy genius.

I look forward to watching, and likely re-watching and re-watching, his special when it airs on Netflix. Chappelle's mix of storytelling, political commentary and self-deprecation is unmatched by any other comedian working today.

I just hope the incident doesn't make the final cut. Sarasota really is better than those two fools seated up front.