Dave Chappelle’s hit sketch comedy series “Chappelle’s Show” has been added to Netflix.
The streaming giant did not announce the Comedy Central program would be added to the service in its regular announcement of what’s coming to the platform. Instead, it was revealed on Netflix’s comedy programming Twitter account, Netflix Is a Joke, ahead of Halloween. The streamer also announced the news in a promotional video.
The program became available for streaming Sunday, Nov. 1.
Originally airing on cable from 2003 to 2006, “Chappelle’s Show” featured a variety of quotable sketches including Charlie Murphy’s True Hollywood Stories and the racial draft. Despite the success Chappelle garnered from the series, he abruptly left for South Africa in 2005 after he had landed a deal with Comedy Central for over $50 million, Forbes reported.
Rumors swirled about why he departed, but in a 2006 interview on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” the comedian debunked them by explaining that stress drove him to ditch the show on which he served as an executive producer, director and writer.
“I felt in a lot of instances I was deliberately being put through stress because when you’re a guy who generates money, people have a vested interest in controlling you,” he said.
“Chappelle’s Show” is also available on HBO Max, although the complete series is not available there or on Netflix.
People magazine reported it joins HBO Max as part of a bigger deal with Comedy Central, which includes other comedy shows such as “Reno 911!” and “Key & Peele.”
Comedy aficionados have taken to both streaming services to revel in the irreverent comedy stylings.
While fans are eating up the show, Chappelle said during his post-Election Day hosting gig on “Saturday Night Live” that he hasn’t been compensated for the show being put on streaming services. He said so during his monologue, which he tested at Atlanta comedy clubs while remarking on his great grandfather.
“I thought about him all day today because I wish I could see him now. And I wish he could see me. Because I wonder what he would say. This week, I flew to New York on a private jet. Netflix started streaming a show that bears my name, ‘Chappelle Show.’ HBO Max is streaming it. And I didn’t get paid for any of it.”
About the Author
