Followers of Chelsea Lately and Chelsea Handler’s comedic wit on late night TV will surely miss her and her cheeky sidekick Chuy Bravo, after the show airs its final episode on Tuesday, 26 Aug.
When Chelsea Lately first aired on E! in 2007, reports said Handler was unsure she could hold her own show. The show became popular with a mostly female audience with the capable Handler, coupled with Bravo’s one-liners, and was signed to an extended run until 2014.
“I myself am more surprised than anyone that I was able to hold down a job for seven years, and it was a fantastic seven years,” the comedienne said. “I will always look back at my time on E! as most people look back at their time in college. I’m glad I went.”
Handler is also very happy to be moving on. In June, Netflix announced they made a deal with Handler that includes four documentary features and a talk show.
Earlier this year, Handler suggested that she would like to move on to an outfit like Netflix. ‘If I was going to continue working in this industry, I knew I had to do something outside the box to keep myself interested,’ Handler said.
The online TV network said it will update the format of Chelsea Lately to include Handler’s unfiltered opinions on topics of the day, but retain the comedic focus on entertainment and pop-culture.
According to Ted Sarandos of Netflix: “The Internet has disrupted many of the conventions of traditional television and together with Chelsea Handler, Netflix is looking forward to reimagining the late night talk show for the on-demand generation, starting with the late night part….”
Sarandos added that the network is excited to have her on-board. “Chelsea has built a huge following on tour, on nightly TV and through her bestselling books, and we can’t wait to introduce her breathtakingly honest and irreverent voice to our global membership.”
On the other hand, Handler’s “assistant” Bravo has not received an offer to join her at Netflix –not yet. TMZ reports that he is currently looking at other options.
Has Chuy gotten an offer from Chelsea Handler’s Netflix show?? http://t.co/SvgVlwQc4c pic.twitter.com/Nhoh57E1QY
— TMZ (@TMZ) August 20, 2014