Kidding aside, Dave Chappelle is reportedly making on his new comedy special deal with Netflix.
At $20 million per special, that would place Chappelle's deal on par with the reported $40 million deal Chris Rock secured with Netflix last month for two comedy specials. A Netflix representative told Business Insider it doesn't comment on the financial details of its deals.
The concert specials are Chappelle's first in 12 years. Two of the specials have already been shot, but were never released. The third one will be produced specifically for Netflix. All three are set to release simultaneously in 2017.
The deal follows Chappelle's hosting debut November 12 on "Saturday Night Live," which delivered the season's highest overnight ratings and the best 18-to-49 ratings for the show since 2013.
Chappelle made a huge name for himself while starring on "Chappelle's Show," a racially charged sketch show that ran on Comedy Central from 2003 to 2006. Most recently,he's been trying out new material in an intimate venue tour.
Internet streaming service Netflix has announced a major deal with Dave Chappelle, who is widely regarded as one of the most successful comedians of the last quarter-century. According to the terms of the deal, Chappelle is set to release three new full-length comedy specials exclusive to the Netflix service.
Chappelle's career includes a number of major film appearances, including the starring role in the cult comedy "Half Baked." Chappelle's eponymous Comedy Central show was one of the cable network's most highly-rated and culturally enduring shows.
Creative conflicts with Comedy Central led to Chappelle's decision to walk off of production from the show during its third season, spurning a rumored contract offer of $55 million and stunning fans and television executives alike. Chappelle stuck mostly to live stand-up for years, but he made a major splash by hosting the first "Saturday Night Live" after President-elect Donald Trump's victory: the episode garnered the highest ratings for the show since Jimmy Fallon hosted in 2013.
Netflix's deal with Chappelle represents the latest attempt by Netflix to aggressively compete with cable networks in original content, particularly in the realm of televised stand-up comedy. Netflix also recently announced that they had inked comedian Chris Rock - who joined Chappelle for a widely-circulated skit on this week's "Saturday Night Live" - to a lucrative two-special deal. The financial terms of the deal with Chappelle have not yet been disclosed.
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