Dave Chappelle has cut a deal with Netflix for three new comedy specials.
The projects will mark Chappelle’s first standup TV specials in 12 years, and it marks another aggressive push by Netflix in the standup comedy arena.
“Dave Chappelle is a legendary voice in comedy — searing, vital, and now more than ever, essential,” said Lisa Nishimura, Netflix’s VP of original documentary and comedy. “Dave’s three new specials promise to be some of the most anticipated events in comedy.”
The deal calls for Chappelle and director Stan Lathan to produce an original special for Netflix. Two other unreleased projects will come from Chappelle’s vault — one produced out of the Austin City Limits Live venue, the other from a performance at the Hollywood Palladium.
The projects from the vault are set for release simultaneously next year. There’s no premiere date yet for the new special.
Chappelle is coming off a strong performance earlier this month as host of “Saturday Night Live,” which generated the show’s highest ratings in three years. He is among the most prolific and successful touring comics in country, staging some 500 shows during the past three years.
Netflix made headlines last month by setting a $40 million deal with Chris Rock for two new comedy specials.
In 2012 Dave Chapelle did 3 surprise shows in Toronto. ON two nights we tried to get tickets. The second night I paid over 400$ for tickets for my wife and I we were in the 3rd row. Dave was funny for about 5 minutes and Drake was the surprise dj. Dave engage with a few people that shouted out lines from his show. He stopped telling jokes and started complaining about people and his show. It was sad, we all waited hoping that this was just a period where he forgot the material or something. People were screaming g “tell a joke” . He didn’t. Dave heckled the audience in unfunny ways and then left the stage. I could not believe he took all that money and gave such an awful show. He was a selfish, arrogant, insulting and disrespectful person that does not deserve any sort of comeback without addressing what he did to all of us in Toronto that night.