A Reflection on Chelsea Handler

     On Saturday, Chelsea Handler's new Netflix documentary launches, and I thought this would be a great time to reminisce about going to see Chelsea's last show, Chelsea Lately. I was visiting a friend in L.A. in the spring of 2014, just weeks after Chelsea announced her final episode would be in august. It was a bittersweet thought, because I love to see comedians bash celebrities (R.I.P The Soup), but it looks like she is on to bigger and better things.

     The show was right after Memorial weekend, and the broadcast that normally airs at 11 P.M. on the east coast, was filmed in the afternoon in a studio at NBC/Universal. When we finally were greeted by our host, we got a glimpse of the real Chelsea we've all read about in her books. She doesn't strive to fake any feelings and speaks freely and honestly. She is not super friendly and thanking everyone for coming to the show, which was strangely refreshing, and the complete opposite of the "show business" air I've felt at other shows. Fully in show mode, Chelsea was a professional (not pulling a Naomi Campbell and throwing phones in people's faces as some might fear). She appeared to take the show's teaser clip in a simple sweat and skirt, and walked right over to the first area of the set to begin the show. The staff entertained us pre-show and in between sections with a D.J. (with her own booth on the 2nd floor of the studio) playing party jams and the production assistants threw free stress balls into the audience. Even Chuy, Chelsea's dutiful munchkin and assistant took part in the action. He asked us, "Do you really want this ball this bad?" The clear answer is yes,w we want the free stress ball. I brought Chelsea's most recent book Uganda Be Kidding Me to the show, and in between scenes, she signed all copies of the books. It was awesome!

     Chuy's segment was about hot Latinas and their tabloid gossip, and the round table of comedians delved into important issues such as the sale of Beats headphones, allegations that testing turns student gay, and a study that short men liver longer than taller men. Chelsea's round table group was John Caparulo (always in a baseball cap), Fortune Feimester (now bringing her charm to The Mindy Project) and Matt Braunger (just an average guy). The show's main guest was Sarah Silverman, who was truly delightful in person.

     Sometimes, I can't tell with comedians if they're really happy to be on talk shows and making appearances, but Sarah was open and friendly to Chelsea and to the people in the audience and staff. Sarah does have quite a potty mouth at times (not that I'm judging) and she promoted new movie, 100 Ways to Die in the West and role as an old timey prostitute, but she has such a young and high-pitched voice that you don't feel dirty about the conversation. Sarah and Chelsea also gossiped and ended the conversation about the problems they faced with  with dating famous men (Jimmy Kimmel for Silverman, former E! President Ted Harbert for Handler).

Click here to Reply or Forward