Whaaat? Chappelle's Return To Comedy Central
08-03-04, 10:45 AM
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Whaaat? Chappelle's Return To Comedy Central
Chappelle: Laughing all the way to the bank
By Gary Levin, USA TODAY
In what could be the biggest talent deal in basic-cable history, comedian Dave Chappelle has re-upped with Comedy Central for two more seasons of Chappelle's Show and will get a hefty cut of its DVD sales.
Total: at least $35 million.
Though The Daily Show With Jon Stewart has won more notice this election season, Chappelle is Comedy Central's biggest hit since South Park. Renewing it was the channel's top priority.
The show's 10-episode second season averaged 3.1 million viewers in the spring, boosting Wednesday companions South Park to its biggest audience in years and The Daily Show to record highs. And the first-season DVD is this year's top TV title, with 1.8 million units racking up retail sales of $43.5 million, according to Video Business.
The renewal, capping months of negotiations, comes after rival FX made its own lucrative offer to lure Chappelle, 30. He'll be paid about $5 million per season, the same range as Stewart's yearly salary.
But the big payoff is in DVD: Comedy agreed to make him an equal partner in profits of past and future sales, say those familiar with the negotiations.
"The deal made it very hard to say no," Chappelle says. "I'm not sure, but I believe there is a clause that gives me reparations for slavery."
Comedy Central original-programming chief Lauren Corrao says the renewal was a no-brainer: "We had to have it, no question about it. Dave represents everything that works for our network: He's provocative, he's edgy, he's smart and he's incredibly funny."
Corrao, who declined comment on terms, says Chappelle and executive producer Neal Brennan "deserve to profit from it as well as we do."
Chappelle's Show combines stand-up comedy with biting character sketches infused with racial humor. Among the most memorable: A send-up of singer Rick James' battles with Eddie Murphy's brother, Charlie, and another in which comedian Wayne Brady's appeal is explained by the notion "he makes Bryant Gumbel look like Malcolm X." (A game Brady later appeared on the show.)
After years of failed sitcom pilots, "Chappelle's Show is easily the best job I've ever had in this industry," the comedian says. "Comedy Central gave me an opportunity to keep what's unique about myself intact. This is a lot more fun."
The renewal includes two more 10-episode seasons, plus two "best of" clip shows and a musical special each year. The new season is expected early next year, along with the second-season DVD. Chappelle also has a movie pact with Paramount, and he stars in a special Sept. 4 on Showtime.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/televis...happelle_x.htm
By Gary Levin, USA TODAY
In what could be the biggest talent deal in basic-cable history, comedian Dave Chappelle has re-upped with Comedy Central for two more seasons of Chappelle's Show and will get a hefty cut of its DVD sales.
Total: at least $35 million.
Though The Daily Show With Jon Stewart has won more notice this election season, Chappelle is Comedy Central's biggest hit since South Park. Renewing it was the channel's top priority.
The show's 10-episode second season averaged 3.1 million viewers in the spring, boosting Wednesday companions South Park to its biggest audience in years and The Daily Show to record highs. And the first-season DVD is this year's top TV title, with 1.8 million units racking up retail sales of $43.5 million, according to Video Business.
The renewal, capping months of negotiations, comes after rival FX made its own lucrative offer to lure Chappelle, 30. He'll be paid about $5 million per season, the same range as Stewart's yearly salary.
But the big payoff is in DVD: Comedy agreed to make him an equal partner in profits of past and future sales, say those familiar with the negotiations.
"The deal made it very hard to say no," Chappelle says. "I'm not sure, but I believe there is a clause that gives me reparations for slavery."
Comedy Central original-programming chief Lauren Corrao says the renewal was a no-brainer: "We had to have it, no question about it. Dave represents everything that works for our network: He's provocative, he's edgy, he's smart and he's incredibly funny."
Corrao, who declined comment on terms, says Chappelle and executive producer Neal Brennan "deserve to profit from it as well as we do."
Chappelle's Show combines stand-up comedy with biting character sketches infused with racial humor. Among the most memorable: A send-up of singer Rick James' battles with Eddie Murphy's brother, Charlie, and another in which comedian Wayne Brady's appeal is explained by the notion "he makes Bryant Gumbel look like Malcolm X." (A game Brady later appeared on the show.)
After years of failed sitcom pilots, "Chappelle's Show is easily the best job I've ever had in this industry," the comedian says. "Comedy Central gave me an opportunity to keep what's unique about myself intact. This is a lot more fun."
The renewal includes two more 10-episode seasons, plus two "best of" clip shows and a musical special each year. The new season is expected early next year, along with the second-season DVD. Chappelle also has a movie pact with Paramount, and he stars in a special Sept. 4 on Showtime.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/televis...happelle_x.htm
08-03-04, 11:04 AM
#3
DVD Talk Legend
NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) -- Dave Chappelle has signed a massive deal with Comedy Central that will return the comedian's hit series to the network for two more seasons.
Sources familiar with the deal indicate it could be worth about $50 million, vaulting Chappelle, 30, into the rarefied realm of television's top earners. The new contract is believed to mark not only a steep increase for Chappelle as star, writer, co-executive producer and co-creator of "Chappelle's Show," but more significantly, reward him with a hefty chunk of the series' robust DVD sales.
Increasing the pressure on Comedy to close a megadeal with Chappelle was interest from other programmers eager to tap his talents, including NBC Universal Television Group, according to sources, which ultimately deemed Chappelle too expensive. FX is said to have made an eight-figure offer to lure Chappelle to the network, but to no avail.
The deal also has implications beyond Comedy for Chappelle within the network's parent company, Viacom, sources said. Another component sets up Chappelle with a multimillion-dollar deal at Paramount Pictures to star in an adaptation of the autobiography of Rick James, the funk veteran whom Chappelle has lampooned on "Chappelle's Show." He may also be tapped for a different film project.
In addition, the contract is said to establish a development deal for Chappelle's production company, Pilot Boy Prods., with managing principal Mustafa Abuelhija. The pair already has a project under consideration at Comedy featuring "Chappelle's Show" contributor Paul Mooney.
Also reaping the benefits of the deal was Chappelle's longtime partner, Neal Brennan, a director, executive producer, co-creator and writer of the series. While terms of the deal for Brennan were not disclosed, it is one of the richest deals in basic cable for a multihyphenate.
"I knew we could continue at Comedy Central," Brennan said. "We weren't thinking of going anywhere else."
Chappelle, who is vacationing in Paris, was not available for comment.
"Chappelle's Show" has become an important series for Comedy, scoring a trio of Emmy nominations last month and ranking as the highest-rated cable program for the network's demographic sweet spot, men 18-34, who comprised much of the 3.1 million total viewers the series averaged in its second season.
The ratings for "Chappelle's Show" not only held up well in reruns, but boosted other longtime Comedy staples including "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" and "South Park" -- not to mention the network's strong primetime performance in the first and second quarter of the year.
"Life without 'Chappelle's Show' would not have been very bright as far as getting or exceeding those numbers again," said Lauren Corrao, senior VP original programming and head of development. "It means a great deal to growing our schedule. We're thrilled to have him back."
More important, "Chappelle's Show" has become a juggernaut on DVD, selling 1.7 million units to date of a collection of first-season episodes -- the most successful television-related DVD of the year despite minimal marketing.
Chappelle's original deal reaped barely a fraction of DVD revenues -- a source of frustration to the comedian as his second one-year deal with Comedy expired. The new deal cuts Chappelle not only a larger portion of DVD sales -- including retroactively to the first and second seasons -- but revenue from merchandising and events as well.
As DVD becomes an increasingly lucrative revenue stream for networks and studios, the format is taking a place next to syndication as a crucial deal point for profit participants. In HBO's contentious renegotiation with "The Sopranos" star James Gandolfini last year, DVD also emerged as a thorny issue.
Combining Chappelle's DVD take with his per-episode salary (estimated to be in the low-middle six figures) puts him in the league of Gandolfini and fellow Comedy executive producers Matt Stone and Trey Parker of "South Park." He is also slated to partake of a syndication sale of "Chappelle's Show," which may be a remote possibility given the series' raunchy content.
Chappelle has already turned down an offer to host the upcoming sister network MTV's Video Music Awards but is said to be considering a second installment of the stand-up special he filmed for another Viacom property, Showtime, that debuts next month.
The first of 26 new episodes of "Chappelle's Show" is expected to premiere in the first quarter of next year. Each 13-episode season will consist of 10 original episodes, plus two "best-of" episodes and another devoted to music performances.
Sources familiar with the deal indicate it could be worth about $50 million, vaulting Chappelle, 30, into the rarefied realm of television's top earners. The new contract is believed to mark not only a steep increase for Chappelle as star, writer, co-executive producer and co-creator of "Chappelle's Show," but more significantly, reward him with a hefty chunk of the series' robust DVD sales.
Increasing the pressure on Comedy to close a megadeal with Chappelle was interest from other programmers eager to tap his talents, including NBC Universal Television Group, according to sources, which ultimately deemed Chappelle too expensive. FX is said to have made an eight-figure offer to lure Chappelle to the network, but to no avail.
The deal also has implications beyond Comedy for Chappelle within the network's parent company, Viacom, sources said. Another component sets up Chappelle with a multimillion-dollar deal at Paramount Pictures to star in an adaptation of the autobiography of Rick James, the funk veteran whom Chappelle has lampooned on "Chappelle's Show." He may also be tapped for a different film project.
In addition, the contract is said to establish a development deal for Chappelle's production company, Pilot Boy Prods., with managing principal Mustafa Abuelhija. The pair already has a project under consideration at Comedy featuring "Chappelle's Show" contributor Paul Mooney.
Also reaping the benefits of the deal was Chappelle's longtime partner, Neal Brennan, a director, executive producer, co-creator and writer of the series. While terms of the deal for Brennan were not disclosed, it is one of the richest deals in basic cable for a multihyphenate.
"I knew we could continue at Comedy Central," Brennan said. "We weren't thinking of going anywhere else."
Chappelle, who is vacationing in Paris, was not available for comment.
"Chappelle's Show" has become an important series for Comedy, scoring a trio of Emmy nominations last month and ranking as the highest-rated cable program for the network's demographic sweet spot, men 18-34, who comprised much of the 3.1 million total viewers the series averaged in its second season.
The ratings for "Chappelle's Show" not only held up well in reruns, but boosted other longtime Comedy staples including "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" and "South Park" -- not to mention the network's strong primetime performance in the first and second quarter of the year.
"Life without 'Chappelle's Show' would not have been very bright as far as getting or exceeding those numbers again," said Lauren Corrao, senior VP original programming and head of development. "It means a great deal to growing our schedule. We're thrilled to have him back."
More important, "Chappelle's Show" has become a juggernaut on DVD, selling 1.7 million units to date of a collection of first-season episodes -- the most successful television-related DVD of the year despite minimal marketing.
Chappelle's original deal reaped barely a fraction of DVD revenues -- a source of frustration to the comedian as his second one-year deal with Comedy expired. The new deal cuts Chappelle not only a larger portion of DVD sales -- including retroactively to the first and second seasons -- but revenue from merchandising and events as well.
As DVD becomes an increasingly lucrative revenue stream for networks and studios, the format is taking a place next to syndication as a crucial deal point for profit participants. In HBO's contentious renegotiation with "The Sopranos" star James Gandolfini last year, DVD also emerged as a thorny issue.
Combining Chappelle's DVD take with his per-episode salary (estimated to be in the low-middle six figures) puts him in the league of Gandolfini and fellow Comedy executive producers Matt Stone and Trey Parker of "South Park." He is also slated to partake of a syndication sale of "Chappelle's Show," which may be a remote possibility given the series' raunchy content.
Chappelle has already turned down an offer to host the upcoming sister network MTV's Video Music Awards but is said to be considering a second installment of the stand-up special he filmed for another Viacom property, Showtime, that debuts next month.
The first of 26 new episodes of "Chappelle's Show" is expected to premiere in the first quarter of next year. Each 13-episode season will consist of 10 original episodes, plus two "best-of" episodes and another devoted to music performances.
08-03-04, 11:34 AM
#6
DVD Talk Legend
Originally posted by Meatpants
Man, Jon Stewart makes $5 million? That seems like a lot, although I guess he does have to work a lot more nights than Dave will.
Man, Jon Stewart makes $5 million? That seems like a lot, although I guess he does have to work a lot more nights than Dave will.
08-03-04, 11:35 AM
#7
DVD Talk God
Awesome. 
I know he talked about not wanting to do the show much longer, because it was difficult to make it consistently funny. I applaud that, but I'm glad to see it's back for two more years.
I know he talked about not wanting to do the show much longer, because it was difficult to make it consistently funny. I applaud that, but I'm glad to see it's back for two more years.
08-03-04, 11:41 AM
#9
DVD Talk Legend
Didn't EW run a blurb saying that he was switching to a different religion that would not allow swearing? Can't remember which religion it was though...
08-03-04, 12:38 PM
#11
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Whaaat? Chappelle's Return To Comedy Central
"The deal made it very hard to say no," Chappelle says. "I'm not sure, but I believe there is a clause that gives me reparations for slavery."
08-03-04, 12:41 PM
#12
DVD Talk Legend
I'm surprised he got a cut of previous sales of the DVD as well. Comedy Central really bent over backwards for him, which is a smart move.
08-03-04, 12:45 PM
#13
DVD Talk Hero
• Hollywood Reporter •
The first of 26 new episodes of "Chappelle's Show" is expected to premiere in the first quarter of next year. Each 13-episode season will consist of 10 original episodes, plus two "best-of" episodes and another devoted to music performances.
The first of 26 new episodes of "Chappelle's Show" is expected to premiere in the first quarter of next year. Each 13-episode season will consist of 10 original episodes, plus two "best-of" episodes and another devoted to music performances.
das
08-03-04, 02:33 PM
#17
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Originally posted by El Scorcho
More frat boys running around every week repeatedly saying the new Chappelle catch phrase of the week!
More frat boys running around every week repeatedly saying the new Chappelle catch phrase of the week!
08-03-04, 02:52 PM
#18
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Originally posted by movieking
Didn't EW run a blurb saying that he was switching to a different religion that would not allow swearing? Can't remember which religion it was though...
Didn't EW run a blurb saying that he was switching to a different religion that would not allow swearing? Can't remember which religion it was though...
08-03-04, 05:04 PM
#22
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Originally posted by das Monkey
While I love this show, this is what sucks about it. It's bad enough that almost 20% of each episode is wasted on these musical performances, but only 10 eps as well. It's on Comedy Central, so it will reair until we're sick of it. "Best of" episodes, in this case, are a cop-out.
das
While I love this show, this is what sucks about it. It's bad enough that almost 20% of each episode is wasted on these musical performances, but only 10 eps as well. It's on Comedy Central, so it will reair until we're sick of it. "Best of" episodes, in this case, are a cop-out.
das
Now "Best of"shows are lame in general, but especially in this case. Why can't they squeeze out 2 more eps? Anyways good on him. He deserves to get a chunk of those DVD sales. I wonder if they're going to raise the prices a bit this time to recoup some of his salary/dvd points?
08-03-04, 05:53 PM
#24
Guest
Just thinking about this now, but I don't like and all of my friends are shocked that Da Ali G Show on HBO only has a 6 episode season. But thinking about it now, between comercials and the musical performances, minute for minute, Ali G's show is probably longer than Chapelle's 10 (or 13 if they count) episode season.
But I certainly understand that keeping constanly funny material is hard to do. Would rather have good stuff than just more stuff.
But I certainly understand that keeping constanly funny material is hard to do. Would rather have good stuff than just more stuff.