Dave Chappelle saye he's not crazy

[Swamp Rat]

Comedian Dave Chappelle wants to set things straight: "I'm not crazy, I'm not smoking crack," he tells Time magazine in an interview more than a week after his hit Comedy Central show was suspended and the rumors started to fly.

"I'm definitely stressed out," said Chappelle, who took off last month to South Africa for a "spiritual retreat," leaving his fans — and even his agent and publicist — wondering where he went.

(sip)

The 31-year-old comedian said he fled to stay with friends in Durban because he wasn't happy with the direction of the show, which is behind only "South Park" as Comedy Central's most-watched program.

"There's a lot of resistance to my opinions, so I decided, 'Let me remove myself from this situation,'" Chappelle said.

(snip)

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050515/ap_en_tv/tv_chappelle_suspended_5

[Mizmoon]

1. Something's going on we don't know about

and I think it's a salary negotiation or perhaps a struggle over creative control, as he himself implied.

we'll see ...

[MADem]

3. There is a rumor about that he is having a crisis of faith

...but who knows, other than himself!

[MessiahRp]

4. I don't think it's a salary negotiation

He just got a $50 million contract for the show.

Rp

[cruadin]

5. I'd be willing to bet it's creative control of the show.

You know the "suits" are badgering him with focus group surveys to produce material that appeals to 'x' demographic, and all the other corporate horseshit that ruins successful shows.

[liberalnurse]

2. He lives in Yellow Springs Ohio.....

You can't get anymore laid back than that!

[Blue-Jay]

7. He DOES?!?

That's where I'm from originally. I never saw him at the Trail Tavern. :shrug:

[liberalnurse]

8. I have yet to see him there....

Maybe he needs to get his cards read and go on Thurdays.....:scared:

Apparently he owns a great big farm out here....

I'm in Dayton but go to the Springs for refeshing my life force.

[Swamp Rat]

9. If you see him...

KISS him for me and tell him SR loves him for what he does! :loveya:

[Aiptasia]

6. He grew up in my mom's hometown, Bluefield, WV

and anyone who grew up in Bluefield deserves to take a hiatus. I'm also convinced there's much more than meets the eye beyond "stress" as a background cause.

From the tone of the article, I think creative control and/or money is behind the abrupt stoppage of season 3. Maybe they didn't cut him in on the DVD deal, who knows.

I'm so eagerly awaiting season #2 on DVD that I can't stand it. I hope that Comedy Central doesn't screw around and delay the release of it.

I need it like Tron needs dice.. clickity clack clickity clack!