SHOWTIME Re-Enters Stand-Up Comedy Arena With One-Hour Special Starring Dave Chappelle
28 October 2003 - 8:52AM
PR Newswire (US)
SHOWTIME Re-Enters Stand-Up Comedy Arena With One-Hour Special
Starring Dave Chappelle NEW YORK, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- SHOWTIME
makes its return to the stand-up comedy milieu with comedian Dave
Chappelle. The deal, which was announced today by Robert
Greenblatt, President of Entertainment for Showtime Networks Inc.,
calls for Chappelle to star in an upcoming one-hour comedy special.
The special will be taped from a live event during the spring of
2004 at a venue to be determined. It is slated to air in early
summer. SHOWTIME has a rich history in stand-up comedy and has
spawned the careers of such talent as Tim Allen, Garry Shandling,
Ellen DeGeneres, Denis Leary, Brett Butler, Robert Schimmel, and
many others. The network also broadcast the Montreal Just For
Laughs International Comedy Festival for a number of years with
such hosts as Mary Tyler Moore, Bob Newhart, Lily Tomlin, Kelsey
Grammer, the late John Candy and others. Robert Greenblatt stated,
"SHOWTIME is proud to return to its stand-up roots. There are some
very edgy and talented comedians out there and we want to showcase
them. Now more than ever, the American public has a huge appetite
for great humor. Dave Chappelle is a polished comedian whose
irreverent commentary goes way beyond his young years. I'm thrilled
that someone with his talent is on board with SHOWTIME as we come
back to stand-up in a very big way. Comedy connoisseurs out there
are in for a very big treat." Chappelle, one of comedy's preeminent
stars, earlier this year completed his DAVE CHAPPELLE IS BLACKZILLA
COMEDY TOUR, which hit 60 markets with 95 sold-out shows over a
12-week run. This past winter marked the debut of the critically
lauded "Chappelle's Show" on Comedy Central, which will begin its
second season in January 2004. Additionally, he has appeared in his
own one-hour comedy special, "Killin' Them Softly." Theatrically,
Chappelle was most recently seen in the Universal Pictures feature
UNDERCOVER BROTHER opposite Eddie Griffin. His other feature film
roles include Mel Brook's ROBIN HOOD: MEN IN TIGHTS, THE NUTTY
PROFESSOR, CON AIR, HALF BAKED, YOU'VE GOT MAIL and BLUE STREAK.
Chappelle is represented by UTA, Rick Greenstein and attorney Matt
Johnson. Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), which is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Viacom Inc., owns the premium television networks
SHOWTIME(R), THE MOVIE CHANNEL(TM) and FLIX(R), as well as the
multiplex channels SHOWTIME(R) TOO(TM), SHOWTIME(R) SHOWCASE,
SHOWTIME EXTREME(R), SHOWTIME BEYOND(R), SHOWTIME NEXT(R), SHOWTIME
WOMEN(R), SHOWTIME FAMILYZONE(R) and TMC xtra. SNI also offers
SHOWTIME HDTV(R), SHOWTIME ON DEMAND(R) and THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON
DEMAND(TM). SNI operates and manages the premium television network
SUNDANCE CHANNEL(R), which is owned by SNI, Robert Redford and
Universal Studios. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby
Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment
events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis
through SHOWTIME(R) PPV. Additionally, the advertiser-supported
television network SHOWTIME EXTREME(R) is available in Spain
through a joint venture with Media Park and the
advertiser-supported television network SHOWTIME is available in
Turkey through a joint venture with UK-based Zone Vision.
DATASOURCE: Showtime Networks Inc. CONTACT: Joan Ziff, Trade PR,
+1-212-708-1590, , or Bryan Byrd, Consumer PR, +1-310-234-5219, ,
both of Showtime Networks Inc. Web site: http://www.sho.com/
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