Chappelle showed, sort of

The latest in the strange and twisted saga of Dave Chappelle:

Thousands of people who heard through text message, Twitter and word-of-mouth that the comedian would give a free show filled a downtown Portland square late Tuesday.

Chappelle arrived at about 1 a.m. Wednesday to a surge of camera phone-wielding fans. There was only problem – a small amplifier left him inaudible to most.

It’s not clear why Chappelle was in Portland or what led him to Pioneer Courthouse Square.

“I’m not here for money,” he told the crowd.

Chappelle, who had no security or entourage, later said he expected 200 people to gather – not the thousands that stood shoulder-to-shoulder.

He’s best known for “Chappelle’s Show,” his sketch-comedy program that ran on Comedy Central.

In May 2005, he walked away from a $50 million deal to continue the show and made a mysterious visit to South Africa.

A host of hosts

On the awards-show beat:

•Neil Patrick Harris, who won critical acclaim hosting last month’s Tonys, will fill the same role for the prime-time Emmys on Sept. 20.

•Kathy Griffin will host the Creative Arts Emmy Awards for behind-the-scenes technical achievement the day before.

•British comedian-actor Russell Brand will host MTV’s Video Music Awards for the second year in a row on Sept. 13.

Seven last words?

George Carlin’s final book, “Last Words,” will be published posthumously in November.

Carlin, who died in June 2008 at age 71, worked on the book for the last decade of his life with humorist Tony Hendra.

The birthday bunch

Actor-singer Ruben Blades is 61. Drummer Stewart Copeland (The Police) is 57. Dancer Michael Flatley is 51. Actress Phoebe Cates is 46. Singer Craig Morgan is 45.Actor Will Ferrell is 42. Actor Corey Feldman is 38. Actress AnnaLynne McCord (“90210”) is 22.