While the comedic comeback conversation of late deservedly has centered around Eddie Murphy, a much smaller case may be made for Chris Tucker, who packed fans into Stifel Theatre Saturday night for a near two-hour show of hits and misses.

But if Tucker also is in the early stages of a career renaissance, it’s clear he still has some work to do with his live show, which revealed a lingering problem with his act.

Tucker’s last couple of St. Louis visits fell victim to repetitive material. This time, the show was top heavy with newness. He came partially refreshed, with a strong emphasis on partially. The second half of his set resembled a memory lane stroll through past jokes.

During the top half of the show he couldn’t have been more topical.

Bursting through the curtains and dancing Michael Jackson-style to Bruno Mars’ music, his pink sequined tuxedo jacket sparkling, Tucker led with the coronavirus, and not only kept it there but made it a recurring thread.

He said the coronavirus had been on his mind all day, making his trip to St. Louis a frightening one. He said he was afraid to walk behind Chinese persons in the airport, a notion he owned was racist, on multiple levels. He mentioned calling his “Rush Hour” screen buddy Jackie Chan to check on him and found some good, if uncomfortable, material there playing into fears surrounding the virus that just touched down in St. Louis County for the first time.