Comedian Dave Chapelle planning return to television

Comedian Dave Chappelle on stage at the Laugh Factory in New York City for pre-opening night, Saturday, April 3, 2004.(AP Photo/Stuart Ramson)

The Daily, MTV, and others have reported that comedian Dave Chapelle is planning to bring his comedy back in front of cameras.  It won’t be via a major network, rather a subscription service similar to Netflix.  I’m just glad to see him return on a larger scale.  In the past few years, he’s been performing kinda on the DL at comedy clubs and such.  I actually saw him on small midwest tour back in the Fall of 2007 when he performed in Lexington, Kentucky.  At the time, I could tell he resented how the media and what he considered close friends sold him out with a barrage of lies related to his sudden departure from the limelight.  Those of us that watched “Dave Chappelle’s Block Party” on limited release in theaters then to cable and DVD, back in 2006, saw him just enjoying himself and putting together his (and many others, including me) dream concert in a sort of documentary style.

Cover of Dave Chappelle

Lately, I’ve learned from people I follow on Twitter that he’s been hanging out in California, doing comedy clubs, and that’s been confirmed in the media reports who are now talking about his return to television.

I respect Dave Chapelle for wanting to define his own path to success and not letting him get caught up in…well, I just say it…black buffoonery at the expense of viewers that saw him as catch phrases like “I’m Rick James, bitch!”

Welcome back to the spotlight Dave! I’m looking forward to seeing what you have in store for us. 

Oh, and if you didn’t see Dave Chappelle on “Inside the Actors Studio,” you should it.  I’ve included the episode from Hulu.

Part 1 (2 minute clip)

Full episode (low video quality, though)

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