Where's Dave Chappelle?
Production on the third season of Dave Chappelle’s hit sketch comedy show has been shut down since Chappelle has been AWOL from the set.
By: Shannon Gossage
Comedy Central was reportedly forced to shut down production on the third season of The Chappelle Show since funnyman Dave Chappelle has been missing in action from the set. Comedy Central confirmed that the show would not make its third season debut on May 31 after being pushed back from a February release. The original delay was blamed on Chappelle’s "flu-like illness" or his "inability to write enough episodes to make the original February debut date."
Reportedly a penchant for partying was cited as a major issue behind what is going on. A source said of Chappelle, "Everyone knows Dave likes to have fun. I wouldn’t say it’s out of control…but at some point that has to affect you if you have a regular gig." His publicist, Matt Labov, denied a drug problem and said the delay was more about Chappelle’s "attempts at edgier material." Another source said the pressure was too much for the comedian. Said the source, "I saw him start trippin’ when the buzz started to get real loud. I think he was in shock after the first season. Then during the second season it hit him that he was the Man. That freaked him."
Chappelle shot to stardom overnight with his racially charged show and portrayal of Rick James. After the success of the show and last summer when the first season became the all-time best-selling TV series on DVD, Chappelle signed a contract with Comedy Central for $50 million for two more years. The show’s second-season DVD is slated to be in stores on May 24. Hopefully, Chappelle and Co. can get it together and get the third season underway.
Comedy Central was reportedly forced to shut down production on the third season of The Chappelle Show since funnyman Dave Chappelle has been missing in action from the set. Comedy Central confirmed that the show would not make its third season debut on May 31 after being pushed back from a February release. The original delay was blamed on Chappelle’s "flu-like illness" or his "inability to write enough episodes to make the original February debut date."
Reportedly a penchant for partying was cited as a major issue behind what is going on. A source said of Chappelle, "Everyone knows Dave likes to have fun. I wouldn’t say it’s out of control…but at some point that has to affect you if you have a regular gig." His publicist, Matt Labov, denied a drug problem and said the delay was more about Chappelle’s "attempts at edgier material." Another source said the pressure was too much for the comedian. Said the source, "I saw him start trippin’ when the buzz started to get real loud. I think he was in shock after the first season. Then during the second season it hit him that he was the Man. That freaked him."
Chappelle shot to stardom overnight with his racially charged show and portrayal of Rick James. After the success of the show and last summer when the first season became the all-time best-selling TV series on DVD, Chappelle signed a contract with Comedy Central for $50 million for two more years. The show’s second-season DVD is slated to be in stores on May 24. Hopefully, Chappelle and Co. can get it together and get the third season underway.
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