I went to cover a political fund raising event in a New York City nightclub earlier this week as part of a story on a congressional race in Brooklyn featuring 13-term incumbent Ed Towns and challenger Kevin Powell, a writer and activist who may be best-known (in some circles) as the often-angry guy in the very first season of MTV’s “The Real World” show back in 1992.

Powell says he’s been friends with comedian Dave Chappelle for years, even profiling him for an Esquire cover story after Chappelle famously opted not to sign a $50 million dollar contract with Comedy Central in 2005 and disappeared to South Africa.

Their friendship and Chappelle’s star power were among the reasons Powell’s staff booked the comedian to appear at the fund raiser where he would presumably draw a large crowd of supporters and donors, injecting money, energy, excitement and maybe even some controversy into Powell’s campaign.

I met producer Shushannah Walshe and our crew at the club (“Eugene”) before the doors opened at 7 p.m. to set up our equipment and coordinate with staff for a one-on-one with the candidate and maybe Chappelle too.  People arrived in waves and the bar quickly filled to capacity.  We met Powell and interviewed him in the quietest spot we could find, then took our position near the stage to wait for the show to start.

Powell spoke to the enthusiastic crowd around 8:30, discussing his background and reasons for running, ending with a chant “Together, We Will Win.”  He told everyone Chappelle was “on the way” but hadn’t yet arrived and promised “more to come” before retreating to the VIP area to meet the biggest donors and huddle in a booth with comedian Chris Rock, who has roots in the 10th District.

Time passed with no sign of Chappelle.  The crowd grew restless.  At one point a local print reporter got on stage and told a couple jokes about 99-cent stores.  The captive audience didn’t seem to think he was very funny, showering the guy with some jeers and boos and scattered applause before he sheepishly waved and walked off.

The cameras stayed trained on the entrance to the VIP room just off the stage, waiting for a sign of Chappelle or maybe Chris Rock.

Finally at 10:15, the candidate walked out and back on stage.  To apologize.  There would be no performance by Dave Chappelle.  The comedian “missed his flight” and then “missed the next flight”.  Rock wouldn’t perform either, “out of respect for his fellow comedian.”

The assembled were remarkably understanding, considering most had waited three hours and many paid between $50 and $2300 to be there.  “We’re here for you, Kevin!” one man yelled as Powell spoke.  The candidate promised free admission to the “next celebrity event” to all who’d paid and said the DJ and bartenders would stay until 11pm, but most people headed for the doors when he walked away from the microphone.

I wonder if they’ll ask Chappelle to headline again?  And if they do, I wonder how many of the people who waited for him this week will come back for another try?

I’m pretty sure we’ll be there either way and will let you know what happens.