LOS ANGELES (AP) – Is Dave Chappelle back?

The AWOL comedian dropped in unannounced at two popular comedy clubs Wednesday night, saying he had just arrived in Los Angeles and felt like performing.

Chappelle served up some impromptu standup to stunned audiences at the Hollywood Improv and the Comedy Store.

“The place went ballistic. The kids were on their feet. We had a college night going on,” said Reeta Piazza, special events manager at the Improv.

Chappelle, 31, took off last month to South Africa for a “spiritual retreat,” leaving his fans – and even his agent and publicist – wondering where he went.

After Comedy Central announced that the planned May 31 debut of the third season of “Chappelle’s Show” had been postponed, the magazine Entertainment Weekly reported that Chappelle had checked himself into a mental health facility in South Africa.

But Chappelle denied checking into a mental facility or having a drug problem in an interview with Time magazine.

Instead, he fled to stay with friends in Durban because he was not happy with the direction of the show, which is behind only “South Park” as Comedy Central’s most-watched program.

Comedy Store general manager Dean Gelber said Chappelle joked about politics and other topics but did not indicate whether he would return for another season on Comedy Central.

Calls to Chappelle’s publicist and Comedy Central were not returned Friday.