Comedy Central: Chocolate subs for Chappelle

David Alan Grier, one veteran of In Living Color who’d show up for a reunion show, is getting his shot to match Jon Stewart and Dave Chappelle simultaneously with David Alan Grier’s Chocolate News, an “urban” topical laff fest that leads Comedy Central’s batch of pilots for the 2007-2008 season.

And the actor-turned-comic who’s surviving a gig on Thank God You’re Here but should lay off the appearances on Adam Carolla‘s radio show is only part of a multicultural stew that the CC execs are throwing against the wall to see what sticks.

Like, countering David Alan the Comedy Guy with Larry The Cable Guy…
Larry, whose Delta Farce trailer was the most hilarious minute of film comedy until Getta Rhoom (how did the actual movie stack up, Sutter?) will be animated–as in cartoon).

Michael Ian Black (ne Schwartz), an egghead comics from Stella and The State but a fun poker player, gets a sketch show (Michael Ian Black Doesn’t Understand);

The Daily Show‘s Lewis Black gets another shot at his own show with Root of All Evil, in which two comedians face off on a courtroom set;

and the Internet comedy The Watch List gets a chance to be the first broadband show to jump to real TV– as well as America’s first comedy show starring Middle Eastern-American comedians (and no, The Hudson Brothers don’t count).

And then there’s Held Up, a half-hour comedy whose entire season unfolds during bank hostage siege– which might feel a little like Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip– a sweet coincidence, as the show is produced by Jamie Tarses, the model for Amanda Peet’s Studio 60 character.

–Tabloid Baby