Comic lands $50m deal

American comic Dave Chappelle  is to become one of the best-paid stars in TV following a $50 million  deal with Comedy Central.

The contract will return the 30-year-old’s show to the cable network for two more years, and reward him with a valuable share of the series’ healthy DVD sales.

As well as starring in and writing Chappelle's Show, the deal also opens doors for him to star in a Hollywood movie and is believed to include a development deal for his production company, Pilot Boy, to create other TV shows.

The deal, believed to be the biggest for a basic cable station, comes after a bidding war for Chappelle’s talents from rival networks.

Chappelle’s collaborator on the show, Neal Brennan, who also benefits handsomely from the deal, said:  "I knew we could continue at Comedy Central. We weren't thinking of going anywhere else."

DVDs of the show’s first season have proved the most successful TV-related title of they year, selling 1.7 million  copies so far – and the new deal will see Chappelle increase his share of these revenues.

 The first of 26 new episodes of Chappelle's Show is expected to launch early next year

Meanwhile, Chris Rock has announced he will release his first album in five years.

Never Scared will feature stand-up from his recent HBO as well as music tracks – including a parody of OutKast’s anthemic Hey Ya called Crackers -  and new comedy sketches.

It will be out on Geffen on August 31 in the States.

Published: 17 Jul 2004