Dave Chappelle surprises Hartford crowd on 2014 Funny or Die Oddball Tour with triumphant return performance

Last year’s stop on the Funny or Die Oddball tour in Hartford proved memorable for all of the wrong reasons, as the crowd turned on headliner Dave Chappelle, then Chappelle turned on the crowd.

So it was surprising to see the Oddball tour schedule another stop in Hartford for this summer.

DaveChappelle_Hartford_Round2_OddballTour_PhotoByCarlaSims

But Saturday’s showcase showdown offered not only a murderer’s row of stand-up talent featuring Sarah Silverman, Hannibal Buress, Dave Attell, Aziz Ansari, Amy Schumer and Louis C.K., but also Round 2 with a surprise bonus cameo from Chappelle himself. When Louis C.K. finished his set, he walked away, turned back to the microphone and told everyone to stay in their seats. He might as well have said, “Are you sitting down for this?” Because get ready. Chappelle came back to the scene of the crime against comedy.

“Unbelievable! I did not ever think I would come back to Hartford again!” Chappelle said, as the audience of several thousand rose for a standing ovation.

The crowd didn’t heckle, Chappelle didn’t crumble, and everyone went home happy. As someone who grew up in Connecticut outside of Hartford, this news pleases me greatly.

The Funny Or Die Oddball Comedy & Curiosity Festival 2014 still has 12 more dates on its 21-stop tour this summer, running through Sept. 21 in Austin.

The full list of performers on this year’s tour include Amy Schumer, Aziz Ansari, Bill Burr, Brent Morin, Chris D’Elia, Chris Hardwick, Dave Attell, Demetri Martin, DJ Trauma, Hannibal Buress, Jeff Ross, Jermaine Fowler, Jerrod Carmichael, Jim Gaffigan, Jim Jefferies, Julian McCullough, Louis C.K., Marc Maron, Michael Che, Moshe Kasher, Nate Bargatze, Reggie Watts, Ron Funches, Sarah Silverman, Whitney Cummings, Second Stage Hosted by Brody Stevens with more local comedians in each city. Grant Cotter also won a spot opening on all of the dates through Funny or Die’s Oddball Fest contest.

Tickets are available at Livenation.com or www.funnyordie.com/oddball.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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