I know, I know many of you don’t like Chelsea Handler…
She’s a little slutty and brash – drunk and high at times – but always a winner. Last night Chelsea said goodbye to her long running television series, CHELSEA LATELY. She did it with a star studded cast singing, WE ARE THE WORLD. Chelsea style. You know, Chelsea Hammer.
Oh, and it was star studded alright.
Goodbye, E Channel with Gloria Estefan leading the way. Even Jennifer Aniston showed up. No doubt Handler’s a big star with big bucks and big power. No, not enough to get her the hosting gig on the TONIGHT SHOW or LETTERMAN, but enough to get her her own talk show on Netflix.
Handler has produced and owned several television sitcoms and made millions. She even had an ill fated sitcom with Stanford’s regular Ali Wong. Oh well, you can’t win ’em all.
Johnny Carson made a big thing of giving undiscovered comics a shot at the golden apple. Comics like Rodney Dangerfield, Richard Pryor and George Carlin to name but a few. An appearance on his Tonight Show could pretty much launch you into a much bigger career. Towards the end of Johnny’s run it cooled off, as another Stanford’s regular Bob Zany learned.
Carson did try and help comics. Jay Leno and David Letterman have as well but not with the same conviction or regularity. If you weren’t already a star most of their guests came on last and didn’t get the coaching or much love from David or Jay.
Chelsea has been the new comedy launching pad.
She introduced us to today’s big name comics like T.J. Miller, Josh Wolf, Chris Franjola, Amy Schumer, Bobby Lee and an endless list of comics who were not known to the nation before Chelsea.
After being on Handler’s show it afforded the comics bigger fees at comedy clubs like ours across the nation. Sure there were other shows like Last Comic Standing and America’s Got Talent and all the various late night talk shows, but none came close to equalling her power.
Handler has a rep of being a bit wild, sleeping her way to the top, using drugs, booze and rock n’ roll. And she never denied it. She wrote a couple best selling books on the subject. Her stand up comedy included making fun of her sex life with stars like 50 Cent.
Hey, a girls got to make a living right?
Chelsea came to Kansas City a couple times, making a stops at Starlight with sold out stand up shows and book signings. I met her in Montreal a couple years back when Steve Kramer and I had our cartoon about Stanford’s nominated in the top five comedy pilots. She was kind and respectful though surrounded by comics and fans.
Ellen confront Chelsea in the shower
I can’t say I know her, but I do respect her for making it to the top in a man’s business. Stanford’s still draws more customers to see a JJ Walker than a young hometown female hero like Nikki Glaser. Women comedians are a tougher sell, always have been. Unless they’re one of the handful of comedy superstars like Ellen DeGeneres or Chelsea.
Comics will now have to look for other television outlets to get their big break.
I’m sure something new will pop up soon and of course there’s the internet.
Chelsea’s numbers began to fall, the E Channel isn’t mainstream and she saw the end coming and stepped aside. Many of today’s comedy stars owe their kick off to Handler.
She will be missed.
And thank you Chelsea, for all the Stanford and Sons shout outs. Much appreciated.
What no Chelsea jokes? Really…
Her books are good and she is funny. 99 % of female comics are absolutely terrible.
I’ve heard worse- not funny but not grating either. To cop a Joan Rivers line, she slept her way to the middle. The only female comic that makes me laugh regularly is Maria Bamford and they sure as heck aren’t letting her have her own show—-although that would be a great hilarious train wreck. Like the Tom Green show with more Aspergers.
Well by the few comments, I guess you guys are right nobody cares about female comics! No there are several good ones today and they do sell tix and get shows. Chelsea is just one of them.
No, people do. We just get worn out when you feel you have to interject yourself at every possible opportunity into a story about someone else.
It gets tiring, that is why nobody wants to comment on these types of columns you write.
Agreed, it is amazing how someone can mention themselves or their business that many times when talking or writing about someone else. Can you imagine how bad he is in person. If we started a drinking game by drinking every time Glazer references his business, his book, his screenplay or a girl he had sex with in an article, we would be drunk before we finished the article. Reading his blogs is almost as painful as listening to a cocky retired athlete talk about all the great things he did back in the day. Move on man, look forward.
72 if you knew anyone I know they would tell you GLAZER NEVER DOES THAT, EVER…why, I don’t have too…you don’t stand for anything and have likely done little thus the slight…called JEALOUS…hey lots of people have done more than me…I don’t hate them for it…NO I NEVER BRING UP MY BIZ, BOOK FILMS DON’T HAVE TOO, only when asked…a fact..ask Hearne…NEVER, only online to refer too or example…when you do a story on someone who crosses paths with you in life or biz you mention it cause it adds credibility..thats all.
I know thats why I get more comments than anyone else here and on tonyskansascity.com all that interjection. Its my job to ‘interject’ on subjects I have some background in, like comedy, like knowing these people, like meeting Chelsea in Montreal..adds up to ‘whats my opinion’ thats all.
Jesus Christ, this is like arguing with a childish 4 year old. No wonder you have the problems you do in your life.
Maybe humor can make CG come around to understanding why have an issue with him. This clip demonstrates it perfectly. The first 60 seconds about how telling everyone how great you are becomes pretty fuc@# obnoxious is exactly why people post “hateful” and “mean” comments to every Glaze comment or article. It has nothing to do with jealousy or hating the player, it is just annoying and makes people want a person to shut the hell up or go away.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mCDZMWVWuc
Well you can go away. I refer you to my other comment..p.s. get ready for many more stories on things I know about or am involved in 72, many more..p.s. just don’t read them. PS yes it is one thing total jealousy and general disliking yourself that drives those comments, nothing more.
Exmaple..”Glazer knows nothing about football” result…610 sports, “Glazer is right Chiefs are dogs, again” ps I have never bet against them in ten years on a serious bet and lost, never. Just saying. I’m not always right, but often enough to matter. Comments should be on story not me. But I am the more interesting. Like me or not.