Chappelle turned on his back on how much money?

DAVE CHAPPELLE GETS SUED BY EX-MANAGER: The ill fated third season of Comedy Central's once popular "Chappelle's Show," which after only four unaired episodes sank like the Titanic once its star Dave Chappelle abruptly left the show, is slated to be aired in January. That's the good news for Chappelle, who inexplicably abandoned his show after signing a $50 million two-year deal. Say what?

The bad news is that according to his ex-manager, Mustafa Abuelhija, the star split from the show allegedly without compensating him. Dave's miffed manager filed a lawsuit last week in a New York federal court alleging Chappelle owes him in excess of $800,000 in payments associated with his show's shipwrecked season three. Abuelhija, who says he was Chappelle's personal manager from September 2004 through June 2005 when he was summarily fired, insists he helped negotiate the massive deal for the third and fourth seasons of "Chappelle's Show," helped secure a seven-figure deal for the DVD release of Chappelle's stand-up special "For What It's Worth" and acted as a producer on the concert film "Block Party," which is due for release in March 2006. Abuelhija claims he's owed $864,500 from the "Chappelle's Show" payment, the DVD advance of "For What It's Worth" and his percentage of fees from the comic's personal appearances during the time he managed Chappelle.

There's more, he also wants a percentage of future profits from DVD sales and "Block Party," which he says failed to give him his producer credits. All of that sounds good for the ex-manager, except for the fact that he has, get this: no signed contract! That's right; Abuelhija's management agreement with Chappelle was totally verbal. He lamely admits their agreements were "never reduced to writing."

If you log on to the Smoking Gun Web site, you'll also see that Chappelle received a "nonrefundable upfront payment" of $4.5 million once he renewed his deal with Comedy Central last year, and would be paid $275,000 per episode, plus an additional $25,000 for each rerun. The contract also gave Dave half the royalties on his show's best-selling DVD and merchandise sales, retroactive to the first season.

My question to Chappelle is, "Are you crazy, man?" That $4.5 million you did get seems a relatively paltry sum considering how much cash your dubious dash from Comedy Central will ultimately cost you.

Wow, what a year for Dave Chappelle. He's being sued by his ex-manager, he's ghost starring in a hacked together, year late third "Chappelle's Show" season, and he's losing almost 45 million bucks for failing to live up to his TV show's contract. Indeed, in this case, three strikes and he's truly out (of his mind).

MARK RILEY TO HOST NEW SHOW ON AIR AMERICA: Last week Air America Radio (1190-AM) announced a change in its morning line-up. Beginning Monday, January 2nd, the new morning format. "Air America Mornings," will broadcast weekdays from 5-9am. Veteran WLIB radio talk show personality and former co-host of Air America's "Morning Sedition," Mark Riley, will lead off "Air America Mornings" with "The Mark Riley Show," from 57am.

Leaning on his long-term expertise as a New York City metro host, Riley will highlight the top news stories of the day and interview various guests. Air America's Rachel Maddow will take her highly rated "The Rachel Maddow Show" to the 7-9am spot.

Air America's CEO, Danny Goldberg said that "Air America Mornings" will feature a strong mix of news and entertainment as well as offer a variety of high-profile guests from politics, media, and entertainment. Good luck to both Mark Riley and Rachel Maddow.

RICHARD PRYOR CHAM PIONED ANIMAL RIGHTS CASE BEFORE HIS DEATH: Just seven days before his death, comic genius Richard Pryor and his wife Jennifer Lee learned that the state police were investigating a St. Joseph County police officer, Curt Seufert (now suspended), charged with killing his girlfriend's dog.

The outraged Pryors sent a letter to an Indiana county sheriff that in part said, "We respectfully ask you to not let this be swept under the rug."

Sheriff Frank Canarecci said a police report indicated Soufert and his girlfriend, officer Jennifer L. Radican. 27, had argued on November 25th. The next day, Radican found her dog dead in her basement.

Jennifer Pryor confirmed to the South Bend Tribune that she and her late husband sent the letter to the sheriff. "We were so disturbed by that," she said. "Richard and I have always had a strong affinity for animals." The internal investigation is still ongoing, according to the Associated Press.

HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAY!

Exit, Stage-Write.

PHOTO (COLOR): RICHARD & JENNIFER LEE PRYOR

PHOTO (COLOR): MARK RILEY

PHOTO (COLOR): DAVE CHAPPELLE

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By Charles E. Rogers