Chapelle/Chappelle still AWOL

by Brian McKim & Traci Skene on July 15th, 2005

Doug Herzog, president of Comedy Central, briefed The Hollywood Reporter on the status of Dave Chapelle after the channel’s presentation in Beverly Hills as part of the Television Critics Association July press tour.

Herzog said that he had spoken to Chappelle a few weeks ago in a hotel lobby. According to Herzog, Chappelle said he needed a bit more time; Herzog said he told him they looked forward to working with him again.

“If you see him, tell him to phone home,” Herzog joked.

Despite the blow that was losing the channel’s top-rated show, Herzog said Comedy Central is holding its own in the ratings and is actually up a bit.

“We didn’t go backward without him, which was a great fear,” Herzog said. “It’s no question that it (the ratings) would be much better with Dave Chappelle.”

There’s a long history of the press acting as intermediaries between aggrieved parties. (Usually it’s criminals and the police whose differences are ironed out by the Fourth Estate… btw: We’re not insinuating that Chapelle’s a criminal!) With this in mind, SHECKYmagazine.com is offering to bring the two parties to an agreement! Dave? If you’re reading this, feel free to drop us an email! Same goes to you, Doug!

Note to Chapelle: Rest assured, we’ll be tough on Comedy Central– we still haven’t gotten over having a taxicab door slammed in our faces by a couple of Comedy Central suits outside Club Soda one night. Oh, did we mention it was raining? A friend introduces us, we all determine that we’re heading back to the Delta, pleasantries are exchanged, a cab arrives– In they slide and BOOM! then Zoom! Off they go while we drip, drip, drip in the Montreal rain. What was that?!?! (After you get over the raw, savage rudeness of it, you gotta throw your head back and cackle!)

Herzog added: “The ball’s in Dave’s court,” Well… isn’t that just like a white guy to fall back on those same old stereotypes. Unless, he meant racquetball. Hmmm… Maybe it is we who are falling back on stereotypes… Or, maybe we just have basketball on the brain because we look forward to participating in next week’s Industry vs. Artist Basketball Game in Montreal next week! That’s right: Bring your basketball shoes (or, if you’re from Ohio, bring your “tennies”) and sign up as soon as you get to the Delta!

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